The first ally.

Yasuo was standing in front of Renzo, looking at the man identified by his master as the person seemingly in charge of the group.

Seeing the previous display within the group, Yasuo's impression quickly falled to the ground. Still, he heard about their battle prowess that they showcases this afternoon and wouldn't dare to belittle them... too much.

"I hope I wasn't interrupting anything important." He said while grinning towards Renzo, the man in front of him seemed haggard with his red eyes and disheveled appearance.

"No, nothing much." Answered Renzo after a brief moment and looked at Yasuo eyes "Need help?"

Yasuo furrowed his brows when hearing Renzo, he couldn't help but think 'This man condition is that poor that he can't talk correctly.' A look of contempt could be seen on Yasuo face when this thought passed through his head.

'They are supposed to be the leaders of this faction and are acting like this!? How they expect to be taken seriously like this?' It was clear that his attitude towards them passed from eager to meet them, to feel disappointed with their actions.

Renzo, seemingly sensing that Yasuo was having a bad Impression of them, with rights to do it, tried to salvage at least his reputation while quickly clarifying.

"I don't speak Ionian yet." He then pointed himself and said "I'm from Piltover."

When Yasuo heard this he looked at him in surprise, although he wasnt clearly someone that could be related to Ionia, he expected the man to at least speak Ionian.

"Can you understand what I say?" Yasuo asked him with a little bit of disdain on his tone.

'These guys are being lead by someone who don't even speak our language! I wonder how lady Irelia happened to join them.' He pondered to himself.

Renzo nodded his head while smiling at Yasuo "I can understand. Need help?" He asked once again.

Yasuo harrumphed and said to him "Yes, I wished to talk with your group but clearly none of you are in condition to even held a conversation, not even you who seemed to he the most clear headed one."

When Renzo heard Yasuo words he complained to himself while giving an apologetic smile at Yasuo, he then cut him "Irelia can speak." As he gesture towards her room.

Yasuo seeing this thought for a moment and decides to walk forward. Although he was displeased by what he saw, he didn't wanted to waste the opportunity to talk with someone he respected as Irelia.

Renzo moved his body back towards Irelia room and knocked on the paper door while saying "Irelia, can I?"

After a few moments, the door was opened by Irelia who was literally dragging her body on the floor. When she raised her eyes towards the figure of Renzo, who was accompanied by Yasuo she was stunned and took a moment to regain clarity of the situation while blushing in embarrassment.

"Sorry for receiving in such state, I've just finished training with Renzo and I'm incapacitate for a few hours." She said with a clearly embarrased look on her face.

Yasuo who was having a hard time believing this group actions, could at least understand the girl situation, after all, he himself found a few years ago being unable to move after training.

"If we're bothering you I can come back later..." Said Yasuo, Renzo who was looking at Irelia opened his eyes and shook his head slightly, Irelia who was looking at Renzo with questioning looks understood that this man needed to be talked with and answered to him.

"E-ehm no, no it's okay I know Renzo isn't capable of talking for the moment so I can talk with you meanwhile. Please take a seat and Renzo, mind if you help me getting comfortable?" She said with a wry smile the first part while giving a glare at Renzo when asking the latter.

Yasuo said "Pardon my intrusion" As he took seat while Renzo carried Irelia in princess carry to another seat, he himself sitting beside her while Irelia murdering him with her eyes.

She then took a deep breath and said to him "I'm sorry for troubling you with my group manners, we... have a peculiar situation at the moment." She said, not knowing that Yasuo actually watched the whole ordeal.

Renzo face-palmed while Yasuo looked at Renzo and decided to not put in a uncomfortable situation at Irelia, "It's okay, I also showed in a bad moment."

Such goodwill from Yasuo was unheard off in the school, however facing Irelia he put aside his own attitude.

"So, how can we help you? Have the school already discussed and decided their response?" Irelia asked while looking attentively to Yasuo, Renzo following her actions.

Yasuo sighed deeply and answered to her "They discussed your proposal, however, tomorrow they would decide after meeting you. I just wanted to meet your group and have a spare, after all, I heard of your group actions this afternoon and I wished to test my blade with all of you." When saying the last part, Renzo and Irelia could heard the tone change within Yasuo's voice to a more arrogant one.

Irelia looked briefly at Renzo and then said to Yasuo "It's a pity that my companions are currently unable to exchange pointers with you." There was a wry smile on Irelia face while saying this.

Yasuo notice this and nodded his head "Indeed it is."

Then a moment of silence permeated the room while Irelia tried to come up with something to say, however it was Yasuo that interrupted her by asking something that was bothering him.

"Lady Irelia, can I know the reason of you joining this group? Someone of your status and character shouldn't be with people like them, pardon me for my words, but what I saw out there is not something fitting of a group to the stature of someone like you. You might expect it from a group of soldiers or disasters, but not from people who are supposed to be the leaders of a new faction in search of allies."

When Renzo and Irelia heard the harsh words from Yasuo they could only shallow the embarrassment.

Irelia not knowing where to look at, could only look down for a while and try to think of something to rebuke Yasuo's words.

It was Renzo who opened the mouth this time and said "It's my fault" With a clear disappointed expression on his face.

When Yasuo saw Renzo taking responsibility, he furrowed his brows and asked "Why it's your fault? I saw it clearly.'" He was referring to everyone enjoying and passing the pipe even when Renzo was trying to stop them from further doing it.

Just as Renzo was about to open his mouth, Irelia decided to explain with long sigh.

"What he's referring to, it's that he was the one that asked them to smoke with him. This is not how we act, you could say it was an accident caused by our own ignorance in the matter." Yasuo looked at her with a complicated expression.

After all, she wasn't doing that with them and just stayed there, he first thought that she didn't wanted to engage and just lie on the floor, but now he knew because she wasn't able to move.

However Renzo added briefly while mocking himself "A poor decision, bad leadership."

'At least they are aware of it...' Yasuo couldn't help but shook his head while questioning if such people was really worthy of leading people.

Still, his question wasn't answered by Irelia and couldn't help but ask "Still, that didn't clear my doubts, how is that someone like you grouped with them?"

Hearing the clear contempt in Yasuo's voice, Irelia furrowed her eyebrow and looked coldly at him "Please don't refer them in such a way, they are my companions... -" Renzo however just patted her shoulder, making her look at him and saw him shacking his head sideways.

It was their fault after all, he would question the same thing to anyone that was respectable when seeing such thing.

Although it was something bitter to shallow, he could only endure and work on it later on.

Still, Irelia returned her gaze to Yasuo and said to him with a serious look on her face "They are the people I decide to rely on, I know their actions today were shameful, but I least I expect a bit of respect."

Yasuo just keep looking at the young girl while hearing her mentioning this.

She then continue "The reason I am with them it's because I trust in them and because I want more for this land. With them by my side, and more importantly, with Renzo guiding us, we'll be able to expell the Noxians from Ionia." When she said the latter part, Yasuo could see a look of respect in Irelia face when talking about Renzo.

With his interest picked by this fact, he couldn't help but ask her "And why do you trust that guy? For all I know until now he drugged his entire team when engaging in a diplomatic mission in a foreigner place."

Irelia sighed and smiled at Yasuo while answering "Those mistakes can be fixed, we are people united from war, none of us was meant to lead people or be warriors." She then looked at Renzo and while nodding at him she answered Yasuo "And the reason I trust him, it's because due to him we were able not only to defend the Placidium, but also broke the siege of Ionia City and presence a miracle, he's after all the Fist of Ionia, the whole reason for our hope and why Noxus is in such poor state."

When Yasuo heard Irelia last words, disbelief could be seen on his face while looking at Renzo without being able to believe it.

Examining again at Renzo from head to toes, he didn't believe he was the person that destroyed Noxus warhost with his fists alone.

Neither does he wear the same costume he was known for.

"...How?..." That's all Yasuo could said while looking at Renzo.

"He lost his mask and other things that people said about him in the battle outside the City, that's why." Answered Irelia sensing Yasuo's thoughts.

However Yasuo was looking at Renzo with another thought on his head, something more meaningful and important.

'With both of them leading this faction, it's almost a fact that they would gather more support, more so when the people known that The Fist of Ionia Is the head of them.' Yasuo thought to himself while remembering the various elders conversations.

They never thought that Renzo was alongside Irelia, this changed a lot of things they first thought.

Breathing deeply while gulping down the information given by Irelia he said after a while "That's a very good reason to trust him."

When both Renzo and Irelia heard his words, they chuckled at his remark and Irelia said "That is."

Renzo suddenly frowned and later on a bright idea popped up on his head, Yasuo who looked at his face changing expressions asked "What's wrong?"

Irelia turned and looked at Renzo who was smiling at her and said "Speak of Janna."

Irelia's brain stopped functioning for a moment until a knowing smile spread though her face.

Truthfully, she wasn't a devoted believer like Renzo, Karya, Hyuna and Tahru were. Still, she held a great amount of respect and faith towards her after being healed by Janna and seeing Renzo raising from death.

It was impossible to not believe in her after such actions. Still, she knew that Renzo probably wanted to bring Yasuo towards his religion and started speaking "Have you ever heard of Janna?"

After receiving a "Never heard of her." From Yasuo, Irelia started narrating the cursory introduction given by Karya when Renzo explained a bit more of his knowledge.

At first, Yasuo thought that the group were zealous believers like some monks or religious people around Ionia. However, when he heard that Janna was the reason that many survived after the battle of Ionia City, he started to understand the reason behind her actions.

It wasn't until Renzo said "Pray her, she's diety of wind." That he understood his intention, Irelia doing the same.

If Yasuo happen to obtain the blessing from Janna, his wind magic could be enhanced, or that it's what Renzo theorized in this short window of time.

Still, he couldn't help but started praying, seemingly seeking for an answer.

Sadly for him, the moment he started praying at her the only answer he heard was a lovable laugh and a breeze caressing his face.

Just as he was about to open his mouth to tried convince Yasuo further, he heard a melodious voice on his ear "... Not yet... I need more believers.." Hearing the answer, a large grin expanded on his face while Yasuo and Irelia looked around for the origin of the voice.

"That... that was Janna?" Yasuo asked in disbelief. Today semed to be a day that made him understand many things in the world.

Irelia gulped down and internally swear to pray more while nodding her head at Yasuo and said "Y-yeah, that's her voice if I'm not wrong..."

It was then that Renzo looked seriously at Yasuo and said to him "Pray her." Yasuo nodded unconsciously, taken aback by Renzo aura.

Nonetheless, he looked at the duo again and not wanting to stay any longer near this people for the time being, he excused himself and exited the room.

As he retired from the courtyard his head was filled with various thoughts and he started replanting various things.

Meanwhile Renzo and Irelia sighed in relief, more so when they were able to somewhat took a good turn from the beginning of the conversation.

Irelia looked back at Renzo and said to him with a pout "I hope you reward me later on with something good for making me work even while bedridden." Seeing the rare moment when she acted like a girl of her age, Renzo laughed heartily while patting her hair.

"Name it and later you go it." He said to her and Irelia nodded while moving his hand away from her hair.

"I go, goodnight." Said Renzo while leaving the room.

"Good night Ren." Irelia said while looking at his retreating figure, sighing deeply.

It was after hearing his footsteps quieting that she realized she was still sitting on the pillow. Cursing at Renzo she dragged her body to the bed while finally and hopefully resting.

Renzo did the same and headed towards his room while then resting on the bed, he found himself quickly falling asleep.

After an unknown amount of time he was waken up by someone knocking the door informing him of the meal, after thanking the man for bringing it, he looked the other rooms around the courtyard and saw that some other servants were still knocking the door of Karya, Tahru and Hyuna.

He sighed and entered back while eating the whole meal. Lefting the bowl of food near the door, he went back to sleep and rest until the next day.

It was morning when he opened his eyes after hearing his name being called by Karya, after a few minutes struggling waking up, he finally saw the haggard expression that Karya carried and far from laughing at her, he apologized.

Karya didn't blame him as he also warned them that the flowers could be quite powerful depending on various factors, still they were the ones deciding to try it.

When they reunited with the rest of the team, he saw the tired expression on everyone, Irelia from her body pain, Hyuna from the lack of good sleep and body pain, and both Tahru and Ymir, who looked awkward around each other, from the lack of sleep, body exertion and pain from the training.

Karya was also looking bad, although in her case from the bad trip and training pain.

Sighing deeply he looked around and said "I fucked up yesterday by letting you all smoke that when I should have been the only one testing it, I'm sorry for my lack of awareness and responsability." He bowed at them while Karya conveyed his words.

Hyuna and Tahru tried to shrug him from further bowing at them, saying that it was everyone's fault. However, Irelia, Ymir and Karya didn't said anything at him and took his apology.

He then straightened his back and smile slightly at them while saying "Also, I would like to announce that we successfully tested our gold mine, now we need to focus on finding a willing village that could farm them in large bulks so we can start selling them in the future."

When Karya said these words, she was also smiling while thinking of the possibilities this herbs could provide them.

The team could also understand that these things would be selling well and actually sustain them economically for whatever they wished to do in the future.

"Now, yesterday after the majority of you returned to your rooms, both Irelia and I received Yasuo and talked with him." When Renzo said this, the majority changed their expression to a serious one, Karya eyeing him while explaining his words.

Renzo explained them along the path about Elder Souma and Yasuo abilities. It was due to this they understood the importance that both characters held in their plants and the necessity of having them on their side.

"Although we started with the bad foot, somehow Irelia and I we're able to change his bad perception to at least, a better one. Now I need every single one of you to be today your best version, am I clear?" He asked and after a while he received an approving response from them.

"It's Karya that is clear though." Ymir chuckled while making the group smile at her remark.

The team then started to walk around the school while greeting the apprentices that passed by.

By now, the entire school already heard of yesterday events and how powerful three individuals from this group were.

Making their way through the various courtyards and rooms, they saw various teachers teaching younger kids some stances, while others seemed to be training the teenagers and adult apprentices military formations and basic discipline.

Quite intrigued by this, the group took a note of this while Renzo smiled at this. He didn't said anything to the group as he still wasn't sure, but he knew one thing from Ionia.

They didn't taught any form of military training to their people, at least not before the whole Noxus thing.

This either meant that the school was starting to change the ancestral teachings, or they were preparing for a future cooperation.

And as far as he knew, they were the only ones that proposed a cooperation with them.

It wasn't long until they were called by an apprentice towards the conference room.

As the group headed towards it, they couldn't help but be tense and anxious about the outcome.

Renzo being the exception as he looked relaxed and eager to see if his guess was right.

When the apprentices on both sides of the large door opened it, they were welcomed by a tall room with brown color, the architecture a mix between the common natural from Ionia and used in some pagodas back in the Placidium.

In the middle of the large room, a circular table with twenty six individuals sitting in, among them Elder Souma.

Behind the various elders, their disciples could be seen protecting them.

On the four corners of the room, at least four dozens of people sitting and watching silently the group entering.

After stopping in front of the table, in the only place that the various elders weren't sitting around, the bowed in sign of respect while the elders did the same at them in return.

Irelia was once again chosen to speak for them, receiving a small pat on the shoulder be Karya and thumbs up from Renzo and Hyuna she sighed deeply and said loudly "Greetings elders from the Kiheji Wind School. I am Irelia Xan from the Heralds of the Winds." As Irelia presented the group she looked at various elders and continue "Yesterday we approached your school and house seeking for Elder Souma, and by now I'm sure all of you already heard of our proposal."

As she said the last part, she saw the elders nodding while a bald elder speak "Greetings young Irelia, your fame and bravery is widely know, and yes, we already received the words from Elder Souma." He then took a moment and continue saying.

"But before we want to know, what its your goal and why we must join our forces with you?" After the bald elder finished questioning her, the various elders looked intently at Irelia, waiting for her answer.

Irelia who was already prepared by this, first asked " Elder...?" The bald elder smiled at her and said "Saito, Elder Saito."

Irelia nodding at him continue "Elder Saito, we look for the liberation and protection for Ionia. But we also seek for harmony and peace within our lands, we, as a group agree that with the way the Brotherhood of Navori was acting and the power they were wielding was going astray and away from our own wishes and goals." She paused briefly to relieve her dry mouth and continue "During this war we saw various things that we weren't happy with, mostly the treatment towards the Ionians who were force to submit Noxus and the old grudge and problems with the Vastayan."

As she said the latter part the eyes of the people in the room fell on Tahru, who was proudly showing his black feathers without fear.

"We also believe that if we wanted to prevent another invasion like this, we must be ready for it while also veiling for other threats within our own lands." As she said that, she tried to look briefly at Renzo, but was interrupted by Karya who poked her back and whispered "Look at them!"

Irelia did what was told and looked back at the elders, still her actions were noted by the elders who looked back at Souma and nodded at him.

"That's a good cause to fight for." Said Elder Saito while smiling at Irelia, the latter seeing him smiling remembered that she still didn't answered his other question and continue.

"It is, but we also know that war is expensive, not only in a material way but in human resources too. Lives would undoubtedly be lost when fighting for a goal like this, it's because of this that we offer your school certain concessions and rewards after the invasion is successfully repelled. Further talks regarding the matter could be talk later on, but we can agree now to compromise with certain privileges, resources and positions once our faction is well established." She said with a firm tone.

"Well done!" Karya whispered at Irelia who couldn't help but form a happy smile on her face.

The elders nodded at her words, it was within their expectations that such words would be saying.

"That's a good proposal, more so when it comes from a promising figure like yourself." Praised truthfully Elder Saito while smiling at Irelia, he then looked with Elder Souma and said.

"Elder Souma mentioned that you won't be asking for his Wind Technique, I'm sure you know of its importance, it's that true?" He asked while moving his gaze back to Irelia.

The later nodded while saying "Indeed it is, we won't be asking our allies for their techniques or abilities, what is theirs is theirs and no one is going to take away from them that. Unless it's from their will and volition, we'll respect their decision."

Glad with her answer, the majority of the elders were looking at each other with approval looks on their faces.

That was until they heard Irelia saying the following words "The only thing we'll be asking aside from answering our calls and orders, it's a personal request from all of us." As she said this words the elders looked back at Irelia with wary looks on their faces, while others such as Elder Souma looked at her with interest.

Elder Saito couldn't help but ask her "And what is such a thing?"

With a smile she said them "To adopt the faith of Lady Janna, we're not asking for raising statues on her names nor to be devoted believers, we only want to at least once a week for the people in our alliance to pray at her. She's after all the benefactor from every single member in front of you, alongside the reason Ionia is standing in such advantageous position."

When these words escaped the smiling mouth of Irelia, the elders looked at each other with surprise while Elder Souma chuckled while looking back at Yasuo, who was smiling at Irelia words.

Elder Saito lost at such request looked around while saying "That's... quite the unexpected request from your part, although it can be arranged we hope for further information regarding this matter, you know that faith isnt something to be taken lightly." The stern tone on his voice carried the seriousness of the matter.

Praying to certain deities carried a heavy importance, mostly for the implications that such thing could carry.

"Rest assure that we would gladly explain more information regarding Lady Janna, it's because of her that our group its name like that." She said while referring to the name chosen by them.

"It's because of the winds that you decided to approach me first?" Said Elder Souma with a knowing smile, he himself already aware of the answer after Yasuo explained him.

Irelia nodded her head and said "Indeed it is one of the reasons."

Elder Saito satisfied with the words said by Irelia looked around the room and exclaimed "Well, I don't see any problems with Lady Irelia words and no reason for not joining our hands into this goal, If all my peers agreed with my words, I declare that from this day onwards the Kiheji Wind School is formally allied with the Heralds of the Wind, and unless by any breach regarding the parties interests, this alliance would not be broken."

As Elder Saito declared this words the room burst into applauses while Irelia and the group smiled at his words.

"As motive of celebration from this important day, I invite our new allies to our banquet in honour for this cooperation and it's long hoped success." After finishing with this words, the various elders stand up from their seats and approached the group while greeting them and exchanging pleasantries with them.

After the elders finished presenting each one to the team, the various teachers and important figures within the school approached them while doing the same.

Renzo who didn't wanted to be recognized as the Fist of Ionia let Karya present him with his first name.

It wasn't because he didn't liked the renown it held, but mostly because he didn't feel fitting for himself.

He was here by the events, not because he wanted. If the future change and he was really willing to carry such title, then he would gladly used.

Until then, he felt more comfortable being know by who he really was, Renzo Berduc, the leader of the Heralds of the Wind, user of the "tremor magic" and a promising figure in this land.

That title, Fist of Ionia, held a responsability that for the moment, he wasnt really carrying with him. That was the reason he leave mostly the matters from Ionia to Karya and Irelia to decide.

He was more focused on improving himself, to explore this world and understand the reason of his presence here.

Looked at the five figures around him, chatting with the various other figures he smiled lightly while for the first time, feeling proud of achieving something.

It wasn't the same hollow feeling like reaching Master rank in soloq, or the first time he received his check on his first work.

It was a sense of accomplishment after thinking of something deeply, putting effort on it and most important, bleeding for it.

Yeah, this was wasn't his to fight in the beginning. But now, there was something from him in the middle. His people and his own ambitions were now in the board.

And he was about to shake it completely, announcing his entrance to the various players along Runeterra.

*****

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