・゚✧ ❛ — the creatures of ionia.
FROM A YOUNG age her destiny had been laid out before her curiously glimmering eyes. she was a cute child with chubby rose colored cheeks && an enigmatic smile on her lips. her long brown hair was always tied up into a pony - tail or in a quaint little bun. she was careful not to be caught running around the gardens of ionia; her mother's watchful eye almost burning. she would run to the rivers with a beam on her lips --- her little legs dangling in the water whenever she had the chance to just relax.
she didn't seem like she would grow up to become the embodiment of an icy warrior.
a small creature would sometimes approach her with big eyes && a questioning gaze, head tilted to the side. akali would grin, reaching out to pet it.
“ i am a comrade. ” akali would say with a warm smile on her little lips as the creatures would come to her, enjoying the company of the child. “ we will be allies forever. mother says that all the time. she has comrades && allies. you will be mine, okay? ”
sometimes she would sit inside a tree with all the animals surrounding her. they liked her && no harm ever came to the young girl. “ friends, friends, friends. ”
she was a strange being with warmth inside of her heart. a small child with life in her eyes && a knowing smile. this was never meant to last; a childhood dream.
her mother still trained her, always pushing the child's limits. slice this, kick that. jump however high. those enjoyable days of her youth began dropping in number && by the time she was eight years old the only thing that remained was a blank expression. she would smile the odd time, whenever something peculiar happened, or perhaps when she succeeded in her training.
it would last for a second.
then she would go back to slicing, kicking && jumping. her chubby cheeks, that warm smile; it had slowly disappeared over time. akali would take over her mother's role as the fist of shadow. she had to be calculating, vicious, amoral. it did not matter what she had to do as long as it kept balance in valoran.
today was a day just like any other. she had completed her training which hadn't taken her much time at all. the woman could spend the rest of the evening doing whatever she wanted. however, there was a void, an emptiness in her chest as she walked the path to the river --- every other time her thoughts were occupied with whatever had been occurring at the time. but now ?? it was too quiet. her mind was not busy with things to do.
there she was sat beside the edge of the land leading into the river. she stared at the ripples of water. it was somewhat cruel; reminding her of a life that could have been. but that was not her place. she enjoyed being who she was, didn't she ?
she is still. a creature slowly walks towards her && akali cannot help but turn her head in surprise. her hand reaches out to test the waters --- ever so slow, but also gentle. it is still her.
that little girl is not yet destroyed, but hidden. she is tucked away in a dream world where the sky is a wonderful blue && the sun is always in the sky. she is at peace in a tranquil land where nothing bad can ever happen.
but it does not matter for she is not here right now. there is a stranger with dark hues && an icy stare. it's too late. the creature runs away as fast as it's little legs can muster. her hand slowly falls back to her thigh.
she is the fist of shadow. the warrior. the keeper of balance.
yet, she cannot help but feel a pang in her chest. it was a childish feeling, she was AKALI. her name sent shivers down the spines of all men. here she was almost shedding a tear over the abandonment. who had she become ? the quiet, ruthless woman who did anything for the balance.
“ comrades && allies. ” the woman near whispers, standing up. she turns swiftly, her expression hardened --- before simply walking away.