Chapter 17

Shen meditated into his cell. He heard news from Kennen that on the outside, The Champions were gathered into one dome-like area of the Institute and told to wait there, as there was a Pandemic virus going around. Kennen, being a mischevious and slippery one, managed to break through the barricades without anyone noticing. Shen thanked Kennen for this news, and Kennen says that he will continue to investigate.

Zed remained in the other cell, not saying anything to Shen. Shen refused to speak to him. Zed pushed his buttons and pressed him to the point of a great despair that he could not give voice to. The Summoners left them to their own devices…and yet Shen couldn’t help but feel an ominous foreboding about this entire thing. Did it have something to do with Akali? The Summoners kept their secrets from the Champions, and Shen knew that the Summoners were up to something. But what it was, he never questioned it, never asked about it. He was loyal and steadfast and dedicated to his cause, of bringing balance to Ionia and the League institute.

Shen then thought about Zed.

They had been close, once, like brothers. As Zed had said. How did it all come down to this? They both had the same master. They both fell in love with the same girl. But their paths have wandered different ways, and Shen sadly thought that they would never intertwine again once like they had. Though Zed made him think for a while. He wondered if Zed wasn’t completely heartless like the facade that he usually puts on in front of others. What if the entire thing was a facade? Did Zed play the role of the villain because that’s what other people have forced him into? Were the Kinkou ninjas right after all? Or did Zed know something that could upset the balance of everything that he possibly knew?

Shen didn’t know. However, he heard Zed rapping against the wall to get his attention.

“What do you want?” Shen said in an unusually sulky tone. He wasn't in the mood to talk to negotiate. “Haven’t you done enough damage?”

“I was thinking of teaming together with you,” Zed said. “I was reluctant to ask, though, because I knew you would be that way. You never really liked losing, did you, Shen? Well, I also hate to lose. That’s why we need to find Akali…together.”

“I don’t think there can be any reparations,” Shen said in a little sad tone, that meant he felt regret. “You killed my father.”

Zed remained silent, before saying, “Fine, then. I’ll do it on my own.”

“I’d advise you not to rouse the Summoners any more than you have,” Shen said, to which Zed snorted.

“Just watch me, Shen,” Zed said.

“But it’s going to be hard to break out of these cells, to begin with,” Shen said.

“I don’t need your help,” Zed said, to which he shook his head and said. “I won’t bother you again, Shen. But remember…there is something that is going on in the League. If you refuse to do anything on it, you bear responsibility on your shoulders.”