Chapter 5

“I did everything that you asked,” Akali said, impatience gleaming in her eyes while she stared down Thresh. Yet Thresh wouldn’t be intimidated by this strong-willed girl.

“There’s still more preparations to be made,” Thresh said, guiding her through the Shadow Isles to their usual spot. “You must fight against Zed in the midlane during the next match. I’ve arranged things so that you and Zed are likely to be matched together. There, you guys can have an uncaged match against one another.”

Akali suddenly looked weary. “What if I can’t defeat him?”

“Are you having second thoughts?” Thresh said. If he could grin, he would’ve, though that is to say, as a skeletal being, his visage was frozen in a perpetual monstrous sneer that mocked all life and humanity.

Akali shook her head. “No. I mustn’t feel hesitation. Hesitation is the seed of defeat. That is what Shen always told me. I have to do this.”

“I will also be part of your team,” Thresh said reassuringly, putting a hand on her shoulder. She didn’t tense this time. She probably was thinking about killing Zed with that bloodlust within her. Good. “If you need my assistance, I will be in bot lane. But I’m pretty sure that you can handle Zed yourself. I do have faith in your abilities.”

“Seems like you’re the only one who does,” Akali membered, remembering that Shen doubted whether Akali could face Zed in midlane by herself. “Why does everyone insist on seeing me as a child?”

In comparison to Thresh, almost everyone else, including Shen and Zed, were considered children to him, though he decided not to pass on this remark to Akali. He needed to be in her good graces, because she was the key to discovering something that he had suspicions about. Though Thresh knew that Akali would probably lose against Zed, this was an essential part of his plan. Akali would probably go after Zed with more fervor and bloodlust in frustration, and end up dying some more every time. Though Thresh may have had a certain fondness for Akali’s determination and her violent nature when tempered, Thresh knew that Akali needed to experience ‘death’ in the league to understand what his suspicions are about.

“It doesn’t matter,” Akali muttered. “I’m going to prove them both wrong. I’m perfectly capable of handling myself. I don’t need them to act like my parents. I’m an adult now. And I want to be seen as their equal rather than the little girl that they mentored.”

“Then you’ll agree? To fight in a match against Zed?” Thresh said, trying to hide the amusement that threatened to emerge in his voice.

“I agree,” Akali said. “I’ll do it.”

“Good,” Thresh said, before he ushered her out of the Isles. “Don’t keep me waiting.”

Akali nodded, before she disappeared into the shadows. Her title as the Fist of Shadow was especially apt. He knew that she would be an important part of his plans, and Thresh wouldn’t be disappointed.

—x—

Akali sensed someone watching her while she returned to the League Institute. Emerging from the shadows was none other than Zed himself, the master of Shadows.

“Zed,” Akali said as she stiffened in anger. “What are you doing here/”

“I came here to tell you that I know your secrets,” Zed said, watching her intently with red eyes. “That I know you very intimately. You will fight against me if you wish, but you will lose. I am the one who mentored you, after all, before you turned your back on me to Shen.”

Akali’s hands clenched into fists.

“I will defeat you,” Akali said with deadset determination. “It was my greatest wish to finally surpass you. I will never forgive what you’ve done. I will never let you forget, either.”

“You will never let go of the past, will you, Akali?” Zed said while brandishing his blades.

“I hate you,” Akali said as she clenched her hands into fists. She really wanted to strangle the man, snap his neck, make him bleed. To do anything that would hurt him as much as he hurt her.

“Let that hatred sustain you, then,” Zed said before coolly disappearing into the shadows. “It’s the only way that you’ll ever defeat me and surpass me as your mentor…”

Akali watched him go. There was some kind of tension between them that eventually ignited from the spark of attraction that Akali still felt for him. She hated to admit it, though she hated Zed for bringing up the past, for bringing up their previous relationship before things got complicated. He’s probably playing mind games wit her, there’s no way that a man like him could possibly still harbor feelings for her whatsoever. He opposed everything that she stood for, so she must stand firm against him. She will not waver. She will defeat him, as she promised.

Though self doubt plagued Akali as well. In comparison to Shen and Zed, who both have been slightly older than her and mentored her when she was a young girl, they were stronger. True, Akali could hold her own in matches and she was a strong and independent woman who was competent at her job and fighting, though her temper was one thing that often clouded her emotions and often led to hesitation, which led to defeat. Why was she hesitating now? She could easily chase after Zed in his realm of shadows. But she let him go.

I will never forgive him, Akali thought fiercely to himself. Even if he pleaded and begged for his life, I wouldn’t let him get away with what he did. What he did to Shen was…

She wouldn’t think about that. Zed was mocking her as always, and Akali felt she needed support from the one who stood steadfast and unyielding all this time; Shen. However, when she approached Shen, he clearly was in a mood, despite it not showing in his expression.

“What is it, Akali?” Shen said.

“Zed says that I can’t hope to defeat him,” Akali said. “But this time, I will surely defeat him.”

“Thresh planned this,” Shen said in disapproval, and Akali froze. “I don’t approve, Akali. You’re not ready to face him yet.”

“Why does everyone insist on treating me like a child?” Akali said, her temper flaring. “Even you, Shen.”

“True, you may be eighteen,” Shen said. “But you need to learn the art of impatiecne. You’re still very much impulsive, and it will lead you into doing something that you regret.”

“I thought you supported me, Shen,” Akali said, feeling a little stung. “But I see. I now know that you still view me as a little girl rather than a woman.”

Akali disappeared into the shadows. Shen didn’t even bother chasing after her. He could act incrredibly cold at times, trying to restrain his emotions. That, and Akali hated how he stayed so reasonable even when she got at her angriest, chiding her and telling her that she needed a cool head rather than the hot temper that often flared and sparked whenever she was provoked.

I’m going to fight him, Akali thought. Even if everyone disapproves, I will do it anyway.