Faces From The Past

"Memories are no longer mine to steal. They're mine to make."~ Ahri, The Nine-Tailed Fox

Ah... I'm trying to track all of the things happening in the lore at this point in time..... it is getting difficult. But if I'm correct... after this mini arc we go straight to Zaun for Arcane S2.

I'll be changing the story's picture and add in quite a lot of images by tomorrow. Let me know how it looks.

Also this chapter might feel off but it would make sense after two separate chapters, one where he goes after the Darkin in Targon and one after the events of the Ruined King.

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What greeted Gregori wasn't the woman he had known but another woman. She looked at him inquisitively and then to the children behind him. Her eyes widened at the sight of the beasts.

"W...Who are you?" She asked.

"Does Iula still live here?" Gregori asked, skirting around her question.

Her hand on the door loosened for a second before tightening once more, "Who are you?"

"Someone who owes her." Gregori answered, "I'd like to speak to her and then I... we will be on our way."

The door closed shut and he heard her call out from inside, "Iula? A man his here to see you."

"Alone?" Came a shout in reply.

The voice was strained now.... older.

Gregori closed his eyes in wait for what was to come. "Children." He spoke with his eyes closed, "Regardless of what happens from now on.... do not react."

The children frowned at his words but didn't reply.

The door opened and an aged face stood in front of him. "Who are you?"

"Someone who wants to talk to you." Gregori replied.

She looked him up and down, "Well you are doing so.... go on." She then tilted her head, looking past him.

"Two decades and some years ago, you took care of me." He said as he braced himself for what's to come. "My name is Titan."

Her eyes that were on his children, Willa and the two beasts widened and then shot toward him. She squinted trying to place the face in her memories to the one in front of her.

"You... you are alive...." She muttered softly as she began to see some resemblance. She looked him up and down, this time to check for his wellbeing rather than the scrutinizing glance she had given him earlier. "How?"

Gregori took a deep breath before answering, "I.... I ran."

Her eyes widened, "You... ran? How could you? And you ran away from Targon entirely?" Disgust filled her face, "You.... you.. you coward."

"Daddy isn't a coward." Annie growled.

Gregori raised his hand, "It is fine Annie. I was a coward then."

"But..."

"It is fine firefly." He repeated.

"Your children?" She asked as she looked to the side. "Seven.... The fear really made you act."

"One is of my blood." Gregori answered, "The others might as well be."

Iula took a step back and began to close her door, "I cannot let you in.. not a deserter. Not into the home I shared with my beloved. A true warrior. It wouldn't honor him. Leave."

"I understand." Gregori answered, "I... I returned to thank you.... for taking care of me."

Iula looked at him coldly, "I think.... I regret that decision now."

A baby's cry erupted from within the house. Iula turned her head inward and then turned back.

"You are still taking care of people even now." Gregori spoke.

Iula sighed, "Cannot stop now... not even with people like you."

He sighed and turned around, "One moment." He said. Walking up to the beasts he took a sizable piece of fur and brought it over to her, "A gift. As thanks for taking care of me."

"I do not accept thanks from deserters." She said eyeing his gift with suspicion.

Gregori nodded before holding it out, "But a gift from an avenger would do."

She frowned, "Avenging what? The creature killed the Aspect of War. Look at the skies, do you see its constellation?"

Gregori looked up, "I see." He turned back, "But I can kill it.... him."

"And I can bring my husband back to life. But we cannot get what we want now can we?" She shot back with a growl.

"I have beaten two of his kind." He replied. "And am chasing him before he starts a war that would destroy the whole world."

"That is your word." She scoffed, "How am I to believe you?"

"I would show them to you but the moment I remove the seals every Aspect on the mountain will rush to this position." He explained.

She frowned.

He held the fur out further, "Keep it. For the child at least. The fur is from the Freljord. Worth a lot."

She reached out and grabbed it. 

"Repayment." He said.

She nodded, "Repayment."

At that moment, heavy footfall echoed as a group of men in armor walked toward the house.

Iula, catching sight of the men called to the woman inside, "Hanne! Bring the sword. The one above the fireplace. Now."

Gregori heard footfalls behind him as he walked in front of his children and the beasts to face the warriors coming toward them.

A large man with a spear and shield in hand stood in front of him. His entire person covered in armor. His spear glowing, as if the sun was within it. And his shield larger than any standard Solari shield. His eyes glowed yellow.

"Outsider. You have attacked one of us. Threatened one of us." The man's voice rumbled, "What is your reasoning?"

"He threatened my children." Gregori answered, "Unprovoked."

The man turned to his people, "Is that true?" He asked. The group split to the sides revealing the man.

He shook his head vehemently, "He is lying!" He turned to Gregori, and spat on the ground, "Filthy outsider." He turned back to the large man, "He even claimed to be one of the Ra'Horak."

"The Ra'Horak were destroyed a long time ago." The man said as he leveled his spear in Gregori's direction.

Gregori looked at the man without flinching. "I lived."

"We cannot prove that." The man said. "And in Targon.... his word means more than yours."

"He is here for me Rahvun." Iula said as she walked up to them, sword in hand.

Rahvun looked at her, "You know this man?" He asked.

"You know him too." She said. "The Demacian child who joined all those years ago. Titan."

Rahvun turned to Gregori, "You.... live..." His spear fell a little.

"Yes." He answered, "I ran."

The spear straightened, "You did not face your death with honor."

"No." Gregori answered, "I ran for another chance."

"A chance for what?" He asked, the spear inching closer. "Abandoning your allies is not something you can excuse."

Gregori nodded, "It cannot be excused. But I was a child. Younger than my oldest. And in my travels I have grown strong. Strong enough to fight that creature alone and win."

Rahvun moved his spear from Gregori and to his children but then found himself unable to move further.

"Your spear stays on me." Gregori spoke. "And me alone."

Rahvun grunted and his spear glowed brighter.

CRAAAAACK

His spear moved.

"You have grown stronger." He said as his spear moved back toward Gregori. "But can you really fight your way out of this?"

Gregori sighed, "If I wanted to. Easily. But then I would be breaking a deal."

"A deal?" Rahvun asked. "What kind of deal does a deserter honor?" He asked with a scoff.

"One with an Aspect." Gregori answered. "One that would shake this world to its foundation."

The spear shook imperceptibly, "Which one?"

"Twilight." He replied.

"The Aspect of Twilight has not left Targon in nearly three hundred years." Rahvun spoke, "You lie." The spear tip glowed brighter. "Only once has she left after being chosen."

"There is a new one?" Gregori asked, surprised at the reveal. "What happened to Myisha?"

The glow on the spear completely vanished as the spear dropped completely, "You know the previous host?"

"That is the one I have a deal with." Gregori answered.

"You couldn't have formed a deal with her. You are not old enough." Rahvun spoke.

Gregori nodded, "I personally? No. But the being I host? He has one. He was the reason the Darkin were sealed."

"Ta'anari?" Rahvun asked. Asking about the panther Ascended who had been instrumental in sealing away the Darkin.

Gregori shook his head, "Caalyx."

Rahvun took a step forward, his golden glowing eyes, boring into Gregori's, "You are hosting the general of the Ascended, true Shuriman royalty?"

"Would you like to talk to him?" Gregori asked as He raised his hands.

A fully sealed Caalyx and his shield shot toward Gregori. Sliding his hand into the shield, Gregori moved to unwrap Caalyx.

"Wait." Rahvun spoke. "That shield."

"You recognize this?" Gregori asked surprised.

"I am the Solari Chief." Rahvun said, "I have learnt of every Darkin and the weapon they were sealed into."

"Then you recognize him." Gregori nodded.

"Is it...?" Rahvun spoke.

Gregori interrupted, "Dead? Yes. But I do not think you can remember his name anymore. Now anything about him."

Rahvun blinked. "What did you do?" His voice went lower.

"Granted him rest." Gregori explained as he looked at the shield, "Death."

"They cannot be killed." Rahvun denied.

Gregori held out his hand, the shield slid out and hovered in front of Rahvun. "Check."

BOOOM

Rahvun's shield dropped to the ground, its weight kicking up dust. He reached and grabbed the floating shield and inspected it. "It is true...." 

The weapon had returned to the state before the Darkin was sealed within it.

He looked at Gregori, his thoughts complex, "You have found a way to kill those deemed immortal."

Gregori nodded, "There are a couple more I can try it on but the process is not immediate. It took me a couple years to let him rest."

"Is this what you meant by chance?" He asked.

"Yes." Gregori answered, "I am more than enough to hunt, seal and kill every Darkin on the planet."

"Then you are here for the Lodestone." He spoke.

Gregori looked surprised, "No. I came to visit those who have impacted my life and show my children the world." He frowned for a moment before nodding, "Though if I can seal Horazi.... I will do so." 

"Our Aspect watches over it." Rahvun said.

Gregori nodded, "I will go to her."

Rahvun nodded before turning around and walking away, his group moving to the side as he did.

"That man looks really cool daddy!" Daisy said as she walked up to him.

"Yeah.... he does." Gregori said with a smile.

"W.... was that true?" Iula's shaky voice sounded, "You have found a way to kill them?"

Gregori nodded. "Sealing? Instant. Killing? Takes time. Years even." He began to lead his group away. "Thank you for stepping forward once more Iula."

Iula stood silently, not replying as she watched Gregori's back recede. "Oh Atreus.... my dear friend... it seems your pain is not for naught."

She looked at Gregori, happy that she could see him once again. Happy that he had lived. But she could never accept that... not out loud.

She turned around and walked back into her home.

Hanne stepped in with her newborn, "Who was it?"

"Someone I took care of as a child." She answered. "Someone who has grown beyond anything I could have expected."

She was not lying. 

At least the guilt Atreus felt would lessen. That alone was worth more than anything.

Her late husband, Pylas..... he would have thought the same.