TALES OF RUNETERRA: IONIAN
LEE SIN THE BLIND MONK
Among the many souls of the Ionians, there is no one whose story is as great as the dragon. Although many believe him to be the embodiment of destruction, many others view him as a symbol of birth. Few understood, and fewer were able to channel the dragon's soul, and no one could do as well as Lee Sin.
When he arrived at the Shojin monastery as a child, he claimed the dragon had chosen him to carry his power. The elder priests saw a flash of fire inside the gifted child, but he also felt the carelessness, and calamity that it could produce. Carefully, they accepted him as a disciple of—akan but, as the others continued to advance, the elders still told him to wash the dishes and mop the floor.
Lee Sin became impatient. He wanted to make his destiny come true, and did not want to waste it with the task of cleaning.
He settles into a secret archive, he finds an ancient inscription that explains how to summon the spirit realm, and he chooses to ignore his abilities on fighting lessons. In a rash manner, he released the dragon fury with a loud kick, he crippled his teacher. Embarrassed that he had been driven out of his arrogance, the young man went to pay for his sin.
Years pass. Lee Sin had walked far, to a very foreign place, while helping those in need. Until he finally reaches, where he meets Udyr, a wild man who is able to channel the power of wild animals from his hometown. The Spirit Walker had difficulty controlling the power that was within his body, and Lee Sin began to be confused as to whether controlling the dragon was possible. In need of a spiritual director, the two men became close, and he invited Udyr on his way home.
They were shocked to hear that the kingdom of Noxus had invaded and occupied Ionia. Pastors from every province have retreated to protect the sacred monastery in Hirana, which sits high up the mountain.
Lee Sin and Udyr saw it had been surrounded. Noxus' army had broken through into Hirana's great hall. When Udyr jumped into the fight, Lee Sin hesitated, seeing his former friends and elders dead from enemy swords. The policies of Hirana, Shojin, even the ancient culture of Ionia— will all be lost.
Having no other choice, he summoned the spirit of the dragon.
A vortex of fire began to surround him, burning his skin and eyes. Using that great power, he managed to cripple the invaders with consecutive punches and kicks, the wild flames burning even brighter and hotter with each strike.
The priests won, but Lee Sin's actions destroyed the monastery, and he could no longer see. At least, in that darkness, he understood that no human being could completely master the power of the dragon. Devastated, tormented, he tied a cloth over his blind eye and tried to descend through the mountain path.
But the elder who managed to survive stopped him. By forgetting all the desire to gain strength, the exiled disciple would be reborn. Although they do not forget their former arrogance, the priests offer another way of redemption: the anger of the dragon is deadly and unpredictable, but the smallest and best human soul can resist the nature of the fire, and direct it with time.
Feeling grateful, Lee Sin stayed with the priests to rebuild the monastery, and after the task was completed and the Spirit Walker returned to Freljord, Lee Sin devoted his life to seeking enlightenment.
Years since the war against Noxus ended, he continued to meditate in Ionia. He understands his hometown has yet to face the final test, Lee Sin must master himself, and the spirit of the dragon within him, to face any enemy that comes.
ALL THAT GLITTER...
The old roots, the tangled trees and the densely leafy vines were wrapped around the rocks where they all covered the path to the dense forest. Three sweaty men cut down a plant they met on the way, fueled by greed and a dream of untouched treasure. Six days passed and the forest made it difficult for them, but now they found a temple sticking out behind the bushes. The front is a large carved stone outcrop, with red and blue plants scattered at the base. Golden-clad statues and golden orchid wreaths encircle the top.
“You see, Horta?” said Wren. “Don't we already tell you that the temple really exists?”
“As long as the treasure within is truly real,” said Horta, tossing the blunt machete and raising the newly sharpened sword. “You two risked your lives for it, remember?”
“Do not worry, Horta,” said Merta, with a hoarse cough. “You can definitely buy your own palace after from here.”
“It's best so,” Horta said. “Now raise your swords. Kill whoever stands in our way.”
The three bandits approached the temple, with weapons glittering in the light of the setting sun. Horta saw that the tip of his sword was not sharp and sharpened; each end was curved. Upon entering the temple, they passed through a section flanked by two magnificent Ionian Whipwillows, with the trunk forming the entrance, covered in tree bark so white as to be painted.
“Why are there no guards?” tanyanya, while stepping in.
The question went unanswered as his eyes familiarized with the atmosphere of the silent room that was fused with the stone. The arched roofs are embossed, and each wall shimmers with shards of colored glass that form a mosaic of bright scenes rich in light and life. A white tablet plate engraved with the story telling of an ancient Shojin was placed on a carved bronze pillar, and a solid black idol decorated with gemstones stood firmly in the submerged alcove. The statue of the knight gods, which was gilded, gazed down from the porphyry and jade pedestal.
Horta grinned. “Take. Download all.”
Wren and Merta raised their swords and opened the bag. They began to fill it with all that could be reached: statues, idols and gemstones, accompanied by excitement as they dragged the treasure behind them. Horta surrounded the room, already planning their deaths upon returning to civilization, when she realized one of the statues had started moving.
Initially, he thought of it as the idol of a colored knight monk, who sat with his legs crossed and hands propped up on his knees. The figure had originally turned its back on Horta, but now the man stood up and turned so quickly as the snake. Slim and muscular, he wore loose trousers and red bandanas around his eyes.
“It turns out that it is not really empty,” said Horta, relaxing his fingers on the handle of his sword made of leather. “Good. I wish I could cut someone.”
The monk tilted his head to the side as if hearing a voice he could hear and said, “Three men. One lung is damaged, another has a weak heart that will not last until next year.”
“There is a problem in your spine,” said the monk. “That makes you sick in winter and forces you to rely on your left side.”
“Who are you, a fortune teller?” horta asked, licking her lips nervously.
The monk ignored the question and said, “My name is Lee Sin.”
“Does that name mean something?” ask Horta.
“I gave you one chance to return what you took,” said Lee Sin. “Then leave this place and never come back.”
“You have no right to demand anything, my blind friend,” said Horta, dragging the tip of his sword on the stone floor. “There are three of us and you yourself don't even have a gun.”
Wren and Merta laughed nervously, realizing the monk's selflessness despite not excelling in numbers. Horta signaled with his free hand, and the two comrades moved to flank the monk, raising their respective curved swords from leather sheaths.
“This is a sacred place,” said Lee Sin, sighing. “Cannot be tainted.”
Horta nodded at her two friends. “Let this blind man out of misery.”
Wren stepped forward. Lee Sin moved before his feet hit the ground. The monk went from being completely silent to issuing a blurry movement in the blink of an eye. He swung his arm and the hard end of his arm hit Wren's neck. His bones cracked and the bandits fell, his neck twisted at an unusual angle. Lee Sin swung to the side as Merta slashed her sword. His attack was quite wild, and his retreat swing passed Lee Sin's head. The monk flopped, spinning as he swung his shins and swept Merta's legs from below. The bandit fell, his weapon slipping onto the tiled floor. Lee Sin jumped to his feet and slammed his heels toward Merta's breastbone.
Merta groaned in pain feeling her fractured breastbone and found her bones touching her weakened heart. The stolen gemstone fell out of his bag with his eyes wide in pain and he was panting like a fish stranded on the ground.
“Your movement is nimble for a monk,” said Horta, shaking his air into the air with such rapid movement. “But I am adept at using the sword.”
“You sure you can fast enough?” ask Lee Sin.
“I was trained by the best swordsman, so you won't be able to beat me as easily as those two idiots,” said Horta, nodding at the corpse of his former comrade.
Lee Sin was silent as they surrounded each other. Horta watched as the blind man guessed every move. The monk's steps were flowing and supple, and Horta felt a bad premonition that every passing second further revealed his abilities before his opponent.
He shouted and lunged towards the monk, attacking with a series of slashes and lashes that were hard to see. Lee Sin moved sideways, like a young tree blowing in the wind while dodging, fending off and away from the indiscriminate attack of Horta. His sword swings were so regular, that it forced Lee Sin to retreat dodging the attacks. The monk has not even shed sweat. His unmoving mouth, his closed eyes and the humiliation he threw out annoyed Horta.
He gathered strength for one last strike, expending every knowledge gained from the practice, as well as anger and strength that could be deployed. His sword cut through the air around the monk, but never made contact.
Lee Sin turned around last time and bent his knees, tightening his body.
“You have speed but your ability is not how much,” he said, his muscles are beating behind his skin, “but anger has entered your mind. That anger controls you and will lead you to your death.”
Horta felt the air in the room warm up as the flow of energy converged around Lee Sin. The roar of wind surrounded the monk and Horta retreated in fear, his sword loosened from his grasp. Lee Sin trembled, as if fighting to control an energy that was stronger than he could master. The room echoed with the sound of the wind growing.
“Please,” says Horta. “I'll give it back. I'll return everything!”
Lee Sin jumped up, driven by the thump of wind energy. His leg hit Horta's chest, banging him backwards. Horta hit the wall and the surface rock cracked. He fell limp to the floor, all the bones on his back shattered like a broken pot.
“You had a chance to avoid this, but you threw it away,” Lee Sin said. “Now you have to bear the consequences.”
Horta's vision began to fade as death approached, but not before seeing Lee Sin return to his original position. The monk's body turned its back, and, as he stretched his body, the vortex of deadly energy wind that surrounded him began to vanish.
Lee Sin lowered his head in greeting and continued his meditation.
***