TALES OF RUNETERRA: IONIAN
THE CHARMER'S FRIEND

Agile and charming, Rakan is a Vastaya nation who is famous as a troublemaker and a reliable dancer from the tribe of Lhotlan. For the people of Ionia, his name was symbolized as a wild festival, an unplanned feast, and also anarchist music. Some may know that he is the spouse of another Vastaya fellow, Xayah, and with him, they both seek the same goal.

As the site of the last bridge between magic and the world, Lhotlan is located in the interior of the Ionian forest. It was a place where magic was inhaled like air and everything felt ordinary. The magic there is very thin. For this Chimeric creature, this mortal world was an unforgiving desert, and would be void without magic. Lots of people from his tribe traveled far, but Friend has long been running at great risk. As an adventurer, he had already explored the ends of the world, found a place filled with magic, and wanted to tell his tribe to come here.

Working as an entertainer, he had a performance at a festival in the village. At least, by then Rakan was satisfied with what he lived everyday, until he finally got the opportunity to meet Xayah at a festival in the city of Vlonqo.

Friend saw Xayah in the crowd. Friends at that time were playing an old Vastaya song, and all the audience was so swept away in the atmosphere when they heard it. Although many women from Vastaya and humans have fallen in love with her, the woman she sees does not seem to work with all her seduction. How could anyone see me but not be interested in me? Questions that are not easy to answer.

Not knowing where to go, Friend followed where Xayah went. He was amazed by how Xayah interacted with this world. He looks like a man who always has a plan, focused, friendly, yet so reckless in a fight. But with their presence to each other, they were both struggling in an incomparably solid harmony. Before long, they were inseparable.

After months together, you begin to see the world Xayah has seen. Inspired by her lover, she is also determined to bring back the glory Vastaya has, and pay for what the Vastaya people have been fighting for.

Friends have found their purpose and love for Xayah.

... NOTHING RHYMES WITH TUBEBOWS...

“Two roads lead to the temple fortress from the village below,” Xayah started.

I followed his eyes and saw a pair of golden stairs that descended from the mountain temple to the farmhouse below. Each wooden house may contain a complete family in it. There, humans are born, die, and—most importantly—create new songs.

Maybe with a harp and a drum. Maybe flute? I'll have to make a flute from the reeds later. First of all, I have to clean my robe. Have I cleaned my feathers? The city below must have lodging. A bottle of wine must be a lot of fun for now.

“Rakan..” says Xayah.

Damnit. He was telling me his plan. I refocused on his face, on his strange smile. The last light of the setting sun reflected in his eyes. I like her eyelashes. I want—

“Try to repeat again.”

Something in the temple. He's. Uh…

“I gathered with you at...” I said, but I was wrong. I pulled one from the feather in my head, hoping to get an idea of it.

A glint of light flashed from under his lips. Are his lips purple today? Yesterday the violet.

“They will kill me if they catch me,” he said.

That thought surprised me. I felt my face twist. “Who?!” my many.

“the guards,” reply. ”Always guard.”

“Then I will outwit them! When?”

He pointed to the sky. “See the green light before sunset. Then lure the guards away from the west wall as I run towards the cell.”

“I make a mess at sunset,” I said. “We meet where?”

“At gate. I'm gonna throw a golden knife into space. But you should be there in ten breaths,” said Xayah, while pulling feathers from my robe.

“I'll be at the gate when you throw that knife,” I said. Nothing is that sure in my life.

“I know.”

He nodded, and began to tell me the safest path to take. He made a plan, so I knew he was going to be okay. Wow, the sky today is beautiful. The cloud is shaped like a cloud. I've seen the shape of a dog…

I'm not on this road. Don't like it at all. The golden leaves covering the stone were almost the same color as my fur. It's annoying. I thought about changing the color, but it would take magic. Shit, I can't be tired when he needs me. Xayah may have sent me in this direction because she realized the color of my fur would be disguised here. The red robes will look better for this plan. Maybe an indigo color? How's it at this corner?

Another path. Only humans cut stones into flat shapes to make mountains boring! I have to climb that cliff. Xayah said take this path.

I picked up some stones and started juggling. I heard the sound of magic from my northern direction, within the roots of the Lhradi Forest.

The forest song found its way into my head, and I started singing it.

“What was that?” the sound of the echo from above.

Entry lane! A human guard appeared. His clothes were as dark as shadows.

“Who are you?” said.

“I'm Friend!” my reply. How could no one know that?

“Who?”

I don't like it. I hate it more than the road.

“I'm Friend! The Battle-Dancer of the Lhotlan tribe. I am the morning song. I was dancing in the middle of the night. I am the charm that—”

“dia Vastaya's entertainer,” by another guard. He was also wearing boring clothes—clothes I had never seen in this area before.

The first guard wore a gold necklace on his chest. I stole.

“Hei!”

“What is this?” my many. He doesn't deserve this. Whatever this is.

He reached it, but I turned around and my other hand was still doing the stone Junggling earlier.

“Give me!”

I put every stone in his face.

“No,” I said. Then, as best as possible, I asked, “Is this important?”

He pulled out a pair of hooked swords. I picked one up before he could lift it.

“Open the gate, then I'll give you this shimmering.... uh..” I said as I turned the necklace around my palm, then twisted it in my hand.

But, that fool even swung a sword at me! I turned his attack, and landed behind him. He turned around to slash again. I slid under his sword, using my front to push it. He fell down on the path while shouting.

Another guard saw his friend roll away, then he saw me. I shook my head at him.

“Really, how can someone not know me?”

This guard stabbed me with his spear. I spun towards him, covering him with my fur cloak for a moment. Unable to see, he stumbled and fell. He fell down on the shield and slid down the stairs with a noise. Until he hit his friend who fell first.

The crash made them fall. I laugh. Now I have this road.

“You poor dancer,” when I see my dirty robes.

The two people who fell down looked at me.

“You all right?” I asked, who was grateful for the entertainment.

They shouted while running up the path. Basic don't know it's lucky.

I jumped away from them and asked, “Want to know the difference between a party and a fight?”

They were constantly slashing with their weapons.

“One is an entertaining day,” I said as I returned them to the bottom of the stairs. “Others... Shorter.”

A deafening gong sound rang out behind me. I smile. The fun part is just beginning.

Running through their bedroom is a bad idea. But I did get to freshen up.

Some people use strange crossbows. They shot through a tube. They have names. I'll call it a tubebow. Their shots exploded all around me, creating a hole in the wall as I left that space.

I glided into the courtyard, spinning around to display the beauty. Gate's open. I could have run, but Xayah needs me.

Hiding in a niche, a guard attacked me with a large tubebow. Or a better name bowtube? He pulled the trigger. I jumped at him, jumped over his shot.

“What is a good rhyme for tubebow?” I'm loud.

I kicked the guard into the air. When she fell, I turned around and brought my hand to her chin. The sound was louder than the gun.

“Oh, slap!” I said, imitating the sound that was happening. The man fell down, pulling a short sword. “How could you not receive the message?!”

I can find a kitchen. There must be some chocolate there.

The light in the sky changed. I jumped back to see the location of the sun again. He had already disappeared into the back of the hills, and a green light lit up above him.

“Time to party!” I said. Now, the whole castle is after me.

“Give up!” said a guard wearing a metal hat.

“No! I'm outwitting you!” I said. He looked at me in confusion. Next I'll slap him.

A rain of arrows shot out from the other side of the wall. I passed by, enjoying the sound of the arrows whistling past me.

Am I gonna look good in that metal hat?

The golden blade floated in the air for a moment before falling down. Xayah was ready to go.

I took my first breath. He said I had ten, but four was too long. I need to know she's safe.

“Ingin to see cool movements?” I asked the nearest man.

He doesn't look enthusiastic. I rolled past the group and appeared behind him. He spun around in time to meet my robe. My hair turned it in the air like a top. Twelve laps is my record, but it's on the hill.

Second breath. The man hit the tnaah after nine rotations. Damnit. I don't have time to try it again.

Third breath. I have to go back to where I belong, back to Xayah.

I jumped over the crowd, then landed on the roof towards the gate.

I took a fourth breath in the air.

Xayah ran towards the gate with luxurious juloah—she was haired whereas we had colored fur. It must be from the Sodjoko tribe. It looks too formal, but I like the dense hair dangling behind his forearm. I have to make a feather like that. Sarong elder seems like a bad idea.

“We will not succeed,” he said. “They have guns!”

“You mean tubebow?” I said.

Akunir looked at me sharply.

“That's run out of bullets,”my. “ Xini longbow it too.”

“What?! How can?”

“I'm a Friend,” I said. I thought the question was from a human, but from my own people?

“All of you, run to the trees,” said Xayah.

Dozens of men, covered in floats and chocolates, ran outside the guard room. Mixed with eggs, they will be something called ‘kue.’ But Pies are better…

“Running!” xayah. When the old juloah couldn't move, I pulled him.

Coll knelt down beside the body of the guard. He and Xayah prayed for his soul to find our land. One of the signs was broken, blood pooled around him. Coll released the last arrow on his corpse. He brought her here, even after humans hurt her.

Juloah is not supposed to die. Someone loved. They will sing the song. Only silence will answer.

My eyes are swollen from tears. Slowly, I sang his death, and to his family.

Xayah stood with her clenched hands. He won't grieve now. But the pain will find her tonight when she thinks I'm asleep. That's how. I'll kiss him to take away his sadness.

The consultant was named Akunir. He was probably a Battle-Dancer when young. He and Xayah started to quarrel about politics.

Coll kissed the guard. His jaw was tightly closed. He was even more angry than Xayah. She looked at her husband, Akunir. He had waited too long for her to hear.

“I'll be back to the north, Akunir,” Coll said as he stood. “I'll tell them what humans do to us.” His hands were as stiff as a tree branch, folded beside him.

“Coll, no,” protest Akunir.

“I will pass on Jurelev's fate to his family, and grieve with them,” he said. That must be the name of the guard. Maybe he's good. I love the smile line on the side of his face. “Then, I will collect weapons and prepare tribes to fight.”

“You can't do that!” said the consultant.

“I withdrew my claim to you. I withdraw your claim to me,” he said coldly.

Akunir looks like someone has been stabbed. Did he not expect this to happen? Or in the woods? Or next to the dead guard? It has been determined for a long time. Months ago.

“Coll.. please.”

“No,” reply. He moved to hold it. I blocked.

“I'll talk to my friend,” he said.

I can smell his breath on my chin. He just ate a guloo. My nose almost touched his forehead. She's staring.

I shook my head. I don't need to talk. For this, silence is better.

The other two guards looked tense. They don't want to dance with me. I'm Partners. They know my name. They looked at Xayah nervously who was grasping her knife. They also know his name.

“Thank you, Xayah,” Coll said before going away.

Akunir and his guards saw him off. Without words, they went south, leaving us alone.

I moved closer to Xayah. I felt his sadness for Jurelv, Coll, and Akunir. I'm gonna have some wine tonight. Then sing a rough song.

“Ppromise something like that won't happen between us, mieli,” he said.

“We're different from them, miella. We won't be like them,” reply me. I can feel his worry. He's smarter than me in many ways, but sometimes stupid about love.

“Where to now, Xayah?”

“Here alone longer for a while.”

I wrapped it in my robe and my hand. I'll tickle him later. We would laugh and drink together. He'll make plans and I'll sing. I felt his cheek on my chest. I'm glad Xayah needs me right now.

“Repeat me again,” he said.

“We are different from them,” I said again. “We are different from them.”