Runeterra: Alexander The Eternal

. . .

— POV Arrika —

The dense canopy above filtered the sunlight, leaving the forest in a perpetual green twilight. The air was thick, carrying the scent of damp leaves and earth. Marching deeper, the atmosphere grew heavier, every rustle and distant cry a reminder of the lurking dangers.

We'd faced several attacks during the day—packs of strange creatures that seemed drawn to the chaos of our presence. While my unit handled themselves well, Alexander's precision in dispatching threats was… frustratingly impressive.

By the time we set up camp, the men were visibly weary. I sat near the fire, sharing rations with Lyssa, one of the youngest soldiers in my unit. Her sharp features were softened by the glow of the flames as she glanced at Alexander across the camp.

"He's something, isn't he?" Lyssa said, nudging me with her elbow.

I followed her gaze. Alexander sat in the shadows, speaking quietly to one of his men. His posture was as relaxed as ever, but there was a sharpness in his expression, a constant calculation behind those crimson eyes.

"He's too arrogant. It's infuriating," I replied, my tone clipped.

Lyssa raised an eyebrow, smirking. "But you can't deny it—he deserves his fame."

A reluctant smile tugged at my lips. "No, I can't."

Lyssa leaned closer, her voice dropping to a teasing whisper. "Are you interested in him?"

"M-ME? NO WAY!" I nearly choked on my ration, my voice louder than I intended.

Several heads turned toward us, and I quickly cleared my throat, muttering something about the food being too dry. Lyssa chuckled, clearly enjoying my embarrassment.

. . .

Later that night, I lay in my tent, staring at the fabric ceiling as the camp settled into silence. The question Lyssa had asked earlier echoed in my mind.

"Me, interested in Alexander?" I murmured to myself, the words sounding absurd even as I said them aloud.

But the memory of his actions over the past days crept in. I thought about the way he'd helped me with my injury, his calm precision in battle, and the strange mix of arrogance and restraint he carried.

"Why did he bother helping me?" I wondered aloud. "Does he even see us as equals?"

I rolled onto my side, pulling the blanket closer.

"Despite his arrogance, he doesn't seem reckless," I admitted quietly.

'There's something about him—like he's always two steps ahead. It's unsettling, but… reassuring at the same time.'

I closed my eyes, the faint crackle of the campfire filling the silence.

"I want to understand him," I whispered.

And with that thought lingering, I drifted into an uneasy sleep.

— POV End —

. . .

The clearing came into view, bathed in the muted glow of the forest's eerie light. At its center stood a massive, ancient tree with sprawling roots that pierced the ground like talons. From a distance, we could see the glint of pale, smooth eggs nestled in its hollow.

"That's it," I said, my tone calm but sharp with anticipation.

We approached carefully, the units maintaining their formations. The atmosphere grew heavier with each step, the faint sound of crackling leaves underfoot mixing with the distant calls of unseen creatures.

Then, the shout came.

"Commander, we've got a problem!"

I turned, following the soldier's outstretched hand. My gaze swept over the scene—and froze.

Not one egg.

A dozen.

And they weren't intact.

The broken shells littered the ground, glistening like shards of polished stone. Small, scaled creatures skittered among the roots of the tree—dragonlings. Their curious chirps and high-pitched screeches echoed in the clearing, their tiny wings flapping as they tested the air.

'A clutch this large? And all hatched?' My mind raced. 'Something this significant shouldn't have gone unnoticed.'

Arrika stepped beside me, her expression tense.

"This complicates things," she said, her voice low. "If the mother's nearby—"

"She'll be ferocious," I finished, my gaze narrowing.

Behind us, Cedric and his men broke ranks, moving closer to the tree despite my warning shout.

"Hold your positions!" I barked.

Cedric ignored me, striding forward with exaggerated confidence. His men followed reluctantly, their movements jittery.

"Little pests," Cedric sneered, nudging one of the dragonlings with his boot. The tiny creature hissed, flapping its wings in protest.

"Get back here!" Arrika growled, her voice laced with anger.

Before anyone could act, the air changed.

The ground trembled slightly, and a low, guttural growl reverberated through the clearing. The dragonlings froze, their heads snapping toward the sky.

And then she came.

The mother dragon descended with a deafening roar, her massive wings stirring the air into a violent gust. She landed near the tree, the ground trembled as her talons dug deep into the soil—THUD-CRACK—each step carrying the weight of an earthquake.

ROOOAAARRRR

"Fall back! Fall back now!" I ordered, but it was too late for Cedric's men.

The dragon moved with terrifying speed, her claws sweeping through the air like a scythe. Three soldiers were sliced aside, their bodies hitting the ground lifelessly.

Cedric stumbled backward, his face pale with terror.

"Retreat!" he shouted, panic overwhelming his voice.

As he turned to flee, the dragon exhaled a torrent of fire. Flames consumed the area in an instant, and Cedric's screams tore through the chaos as the fire licked at his armor and flesh.

Though the flames didn't claim his life, he fell to the ground, writhing and screaming.

"Units! Form up!" Arrika's voice cut through the chaos, her command steady despite the panic spreading among the soldiers.

I stepped forward, taking the lead beside her.

"The formation we trained for," I said sharply. "Hold the line!"

The soldiers snapped into formation, their shields interlocking as they braced for the dragon's next attack.

. . .

The fight was brutal.

The shield wall held against the dragon's fiery breath, but the heat alone was enough to sap their strength. Soldiers fell back with burns and fractures, the beast's tail and claws tearing through their ranks with relentless precision.

ROOOAAARRRR

Each time the dragon lunged, it retreated just as quickly, hovering near the tree to protect its young. Its movements were calculated, its intelligence evident.

My jaw tightened.

'We're barely holding. At this rate, we'll lose everyone.'

Arrika caught my eye, her face glistening with sweat and determination. "We're not doing enough damage!" she shouted, her tone desperate.

I scanned the battlefield, analyzing every possible angle, every flaw in the dragon's tactics.

"Focus on defense," I ordered, stepping away from the front line.

Arrika blinked, confused. "What are you—"

I didn't wait for her question.

The slimecite pulsed to life on my arm, its liquid form shifting into a sharp long sword.

"I'm going in."

"What? Are you insane?!" Arrika called after me.

"Keep them covered," I said firmly, my tone leaving no room for argument.

The soldiers braced as I advanced alone.

The dragon's piercing eyes locked onto me, its massive frame shifting as it prepared to defend its brood.

'A duel, then.'

My grip on the handle tightened as I stepped forward, the beast's roar echoing through the forest.

'I didn't want to reveal too much of what the sword can do, but—'

The slimecite in my hand shifted effortlessly, its fluid form solidifying into a sleek, black blade. I felt its weight adjust under my grip as I advanced steadily toward the silver dragon.

Using a subtle wave of telekinesis, I augmented the flow of my movements, each step light but deliberate. The forest floor crunched faintly beneath my boots, the sound drowned out by the rhythmic pounding of the dragon's heartbeat, audible even from this distance.

The beast's golden eyes locked onto me, narrowing in what seemed like mockery. Its massive body tensed, scales glinting faintly under the fragmented sunlight.

'A heavy sword has raw power, but it slows me down,' I thought, as the dragon reared back and unleashed a torrent of fire.

The flames surged forward like a wave, swallowing the ground in molten light. By the time they receded, my silhouette was gone.

Reappearing at its flank, I slashed upward with surgical precision, my blade carving through the softer scales near its torso.

'But if I shift it at the last moment—'

My thoughts were interrupted as the dragon's tail whipped toward me with blinding speed.

CRACK!

The impact sent me hurtling through the air.

At the last second, I willed the slimecite to morph into a shield, absorbing the brunt of the blow. Even so, I landed hard, the metallic taste of blood pooling in my mouth as it escaped the corner of my lips.

BOOM!

The ground shook beneath me, as the dragon took flight, already preparing its next assault.

'Too fast!' I thought, forcing myself to rise despite the pain shooting through my ribs.

"Alexander!" Arrika's voice cut through the chaos, tinged with fear.

Other soldiers echoed her concern, their shouts blending with the roar of the flames as the dragon exhaled another wave of fire.

Diving to the side, I narrowly avoided the inferno, the heat searing my skin.

Arrows flew from the defensive units, pelting the beast's sides. The dragon screeched in irritation, turning its attention toward the volleys and lowering itself to retaliate.

'Perfect,' I thought, surging forward.

While it was distracted, I closed the gap, landing several precise cuts along its exposed neck and underbelly.

But the victory was fleeting.

The dragon, now enraged, bellowed a guttural roar and lashed out again, forcing me to retreat as its claws gouged deep trenches into the earth.

The battle dragged on, my body bearing more wounds with each exchange. Despite the numerous cuts I'd inflicted on its pale scales, the creature showed no signs of faltering.

'If I were alone—able to use everything at my disposal—I might have a chance,' I thought grimly, clutching my side where fresh blood seeped through my armor.

Then, a sound tore through the battlefield, low and menacing.

THUD-THUD-THUD

The soldiers turned, their expressions shifting from determination to terror.

Emerging from the shadows of the trees came a second dragon—towering, jet-black, its eyes burning with malice. This was no ordinary predator. This was the father, returning from his hunt.

'The situation just got worse,' I realized, my mind racing as I assessed our dwindling options.

"Retreat!" I commanded, my voice cutting through the rising panic. "Fall back immediately! I'll cover you!"

For a moment, the soldiers hesitated. Arrika's face twisted into a mix of desperation and defiance.

"We'll fight and die together!" she shouted, her voice cracking.

"No!" I barked, my tone sharp and unyielding. "I'm not dying here, and neither are you. Trust me—I have a plan! Now move!"

I didn't wait for her response. Channeling all my strength and focus, I darted toward the dragonlings near the ancient tree. The mother roared, lunging to intercept me, but I slipped beneath her claws, narrowly avoiding death.

ROOOARRR!

The father dragon shifted its attention to the soldiers, flames pooling in its mouth, ready to unleash devastation.

Grabbing one of the dragonlings by the scruff, I turned sharply and bolted into the forest.

The mother's roar grew more frantic as she saw her child in my grasp. The father hesitated, its flames dying in its throat as its glowing eyes locked onto me.

Both dragons took flight, their massive wings stirring up gusts that sent leaves and debris flying.

Arrika stood frozen, her fists trembling as she watched me vanish into the dense woods. Tears welled in her eyes as realization dawned.

"Move!" she ordered finally, her voice breaking. "We're retreating!"

The soldiers scrambled to obey, their steps frantic as they followed her lead.

Behind them, the roars of the dragons echoed through the forest, growing fainter with each passing moment.