Bets.

Our so well-planned itinerary was now left to crumble at the tricks of fate that brought changes. With free time ahead of us and no idea what to do, both Karya and I looked at each other with a knowing look.

Thus, we began walking around the village while sightseeing everything around our eyes could lay.

There was a surprising number of Ionians, Noxians, and vastayan mixed in this village, something that wasn't common nor usual around Ionia.

Karya made sure so that I could understand the problems between vastayan and humans, a problem that has been raised due to human's constant expansion and control over the magic veins around Ionia.

The Vastaya needed magic to survive, it was like air for humans, thus with the Quinlon Inhibitors, a structure from previous civilizations in Ionia that enabled people to control the quantity of magic, first to prevent more dangerous animals and beasts to appear, now being used for human necessities and breaking an ancient deal between the two races, the Vastayan tribes grew more hostile towards humans and started to raise their arms against them.

With that information and seeing with my eyes the sheer amount of Vastaya going around, it left me wondering what was required to see such a view in other places.

I remembered the Vastaya tribes that didn't want to speak with us when we were moving towards the coast, if those tribes could somehow be convinced to negotiate with us and establish relationships, it would be a great improvement for our cause.

Vastayan were after all stronger than humans in many aspects, be it physical strength, magic talent, senses, etc. They were descendants of some cool people that I didn't remember quite well.

' Honestly, I'm such an idiot for not reading more about the lore, but hey, blame riot for making such a fuckfest of random information without any organization.' I said to myself while remembering the complete lack of guide towards the game lore for any person that might be interested.

I was someone that enjoyed reading good stories, more so when I could see the representation of the characters and see cool things about them.

But alas, it was such a shame.

As we continue walking through the streets, be it by coincidence or sheer whims of destiny, we were passing through the village market when we saw Indah looking around to buy something.

As we were about to greet her since she didn't seem to notice us, the noise around the market area added with the high amount of people moving around made it harder for her to see us, however, even that much of sound didn't prevent us from hearing some remarks about her.

"Oh that's the other one, right?"

"I wonder how can she raise such a thing, my only hope is that the spirits are merciful with her."

What was even more nerve-wracking was that they didn't bother to lower the voice, I was sure that Indah did hear what they said.

"Indah!" I raised my hand while waving at her. Indah turned and gaze towards our position, drawing a smile on her lips while her droopy ears twitched cutely.

"Oh, Karya, Renzo! Are you still here?" Asked Indah while walking towards us. Since we were riding a mount, the people opened a pat to let us pass.

"Yeah, something showed up and made us postpone our travel, thus we're still here." Answered Karya, her eyes looking at the bags that Indah was carrying.

"Oh I see, I hope whatever that thing is gets resolved quickly." Her bright smile outshined every ill-intentioned remark that was sounding around. I couldn't help but put a smile on my face while saying to her "Want some help with the bags?"

Indah at first refused but after insisting on her, she agreed and we made company to her.

While she commented us the different vegetables, meat, fruits, and other things around the market, I noted down all the people that looked over her with clear contempt and disgust.

Honestly, it was infuriating to see such a thing, more so when Indah didn't do anything to deserve receiving such vile words.

Most of those words were coming from Vastaya, which was stupid in my opinion, why would they treat their kind like that just for having a son with a human?

Nonetheless, we didn't make any trouble for Indah, mostly because she was so nice while taking us around the village and being such a helpful and cheerful guide.

As we carried her bags with our mount, we made our way back to her home while chatting about various matters. We however stopped before reaching Indah's house, as we saw Sett beating someone's ass.

"Settrigh!" Indah's voice resounded through the street, making Sett flinch and stop his actions, while bringing all the crowd's attention towards her, her stern expression alongside her heavy walk towards her son's position, was enough to give enough deterrence to the people.

"Mom!" Exclaimed Sett while standing up and leaving the bloody figure lay unconscious on its blood pool. Other figures are lying unconscious with various degrees of bruises and weird angled arms.

Seeing his mother's usual gentle face with a stern look and a furrowed frown, made Sett gulp down while being unable to return her mother's gaze, looking at the floor in embarrassment.

"What did I tell you? I didn't want to see you fighting again! It's this what I've taught you all these years!?" She asked while looking down at her son's towering figure, the height difference was nowhere to be found as for all the onlookers, it simply looked like a mother nagging at her son.

"No mommy, you didn't teach me that, I'm sorry." Sett didn't argue back nor say any excuse, he knew that such things didn't work with his mother.

What she wanted to hear was him acknowledging his wrongdoings, even when they were justified by some people's opinion, how could he let other people call him bastard boy, freak, unwanted son, monstrosity, etc, etc? What was even worse was that these people were insulting her mother, calling her in such ways that only made Sett's blood boil in anger.

"I deeply apologize for my son's actions and behaviors, I didn't raise him in such a way and I'm deeply embarrassed by his actions." Said Indah while closing her eyes and bowing in apologize towards her neighbors and onlookers.

The people around just scoffed at her words, while others only confirmed their previous notions, such as Sett being a half-blood was nothing but an abhorrence.

Others attributed his attitude to his bestial bloodline.

Since he was neither a human nor a vastayan, both sides only felt disgusted towards his existence, while others simply didn't care about him.

When Sett heard his mother's apology, he could only tense his body while gritting his teeth and clenching his fist in response. He didn't want his mother to do such things anymore, she deserved much more than this.

Nonetheless, he only endured for now and maintained his head down.

After the crowd started dispersing, someone tried to treat those people unconscious but soon give up. Meanwhile, Karya and I greeted back at Sett who wasn't in the mood to joke with us.

"So, what have they done to deserve such beating?" Karya with a knowing smile looked over Sett while asking.

"Karya please refrain from asking him such questions it wo-." Indah tried to make Karya not add more fuel to the fire, however, the latter just shook her head while saying "Please Indah, we only wanted to know the reason for his impulse, nothing more and nothing else."

As Karya's words made some sense within Indah's mind, she only sighed while turning dejectedly and started taking the purchased bags.

Sett followed his mother and started also downloading the bags and stuff his mother bought, at the same time he started narrating "At first they were only words towards me, something that I've already known how to deal with, but when they started talking about her..." He didn't finish his words, but we could see his firing eyes burning in dark flames when he looked at those people's positions.

Added with his murdering aura and the uncontrollable might hiding on his young body and muscles, it was understandable how did happen.

When he said this, Indah happened to be in front of me while I was passing her the bag with food and I saw a brief look of guilt on her eyes before she closed them and recomposed herself. Acting like if nothing happened.

'She held some practice on this, I wonder how long it took someone like her to mask her emotions like that. How much pain she must been feeling all this time?' I thought briefly with a sympathetic look in my eyes.

"... That was a good reason to do it..." I muttered under my breath, receiving a frowning glare from Indah while Sett raised his head and looked at me with a slight smile on his face.

He then looked over Karya who was raising her thumb in approval while she said "Well, your mother was right, I hope you can learn from this Sett." She said while tilting her head towards me as she said this.

Sett at first looked at her strangely but then a grin expanded on his face before quickly hiding it after seeing his mother looking at him while she carry her last bags.

The rest were on both my hands as I followed closely behind Indah, with Morpheus running at my side after smelling the unconscious bodies of those men.

Karya entered alongside Sett after a few moments.

"...so you'll be stayin' for a few more days?.." Asked Sett to Karya, who nodded and added "Yes, we'll be also working there, so I guess we will be annoying you both for a few more days if that's not too much."

When Sett her Karya's words, he couldn't help but scowl, not only would they keep preventing him from winning on the arena, but they'll prevent him from getting a bit of spotlight, something which he find quite of his liking after a few weeks in the arena.

"Great, now I need to see my earnings dwindling and also sharing my workspace with you." The look on Sett's face told Karya that he wasn't fond of the idea.

She raised her eyebrow and exclaimed "Hey, weren't you the one that keep pestering us to take with us to our destination? What's the reason for the sudden change?" Seeing the cocky expression on Karya when asking this, Sett looked towards the other side and decided to Ignore her.

As I heard them speaking, I couldn't help but grin myself too at Karya's remarks, it hits bull's-eye since Sett didn't utter a single word for the following minutes, while we both chatted with Indah.

The conversation was no more than rambling and simple banal topics. Be it the price of food getting higher since the invasion. The recent lack of certain food in the market, gossips about the noxian soldiers in the zone and such.

It was only after we touched again the theme regarding both Indah and Sett's stay in the village and the hardships that I asked a simple question, but complex one.

"Why are you willing to remain here after all the things you've been through?" It was with the help of Karya that I was able to ask this clearly.

Something of which Indah sighed deeply, her cute ears drooping even further, while the expression on her face changed from her cheerful and expressive face, towards a pained look and regretting face "It's simply because we have nowhere to go. Where should we go? In most villages, we would face the same, while I couldn't even think about returning to my own."

The defeated tone and longing in her voice, alongside the crack on it that marked the vicissitudes she went through her life.

When I moved my gaze to Sett, however, the aura and demeanor were completely different, bright eyes burning with passion and hope, two hands clenching tightly with the strength enough to change their fate, yet his young face showed me something I wasn't able to appreciate from this young man until this point.

The willpower and sheer spirit he carried.

He didn't need to say anything, seeing him was enough to answer any question one might have.

Smiling at this, I said to Indah "Time changed, and with it brought possibilities and maybe were impossible before." I said with the help of Karya, making Indah raise her head and look over her son.

Seeing the same image I saw, tears started gathering in her eyes while I could tell that the defeated look on her eyes was changed for an immense amount of pride and satisfaction.

You didn't need to be a detailed person to notice how proud, happy and hopeful she was for her son to raise in such a way.

Even if she wasn't aware of the whole truth.

For only being a fifteen years old kid, Sett proved to be much more capable and better than I was on his age.

Hardships makes the best men after all.

With his age, it was quite easy for him to form other goals, act much differently, and most importantly, be ungrateful to his mother. Something I saw a lot of times back on earth and that I was glad that wasn't the case here.

"Yes, you are right about that, now I can afford to dream further..." Indah's voice broke while her emotions poured for everyone to see and appreciate, with a hug that conveyed her love and gentleness, Indah petite frame engulfed the tall Sett, with the latter melting down between the feelings on the surface that she sprouted while caressing, not only the physical but the soul and mind of the tormented young man.

Sett shell fell quickly under the overwhelming emotions that assaulted his entire being, not being able to keep them in check like he always do. Resting his face on her neck, while savoring the caress on his hair while she embraced him, he didn't let the embarrassment he felt for doing such a thing in front of two strangers stop him.

As we watched the family showcase their appreciation and love for each other, I couldn't help but feel that although life could be difficult, it always let us a way to relieve our tormented minds.

Sometimes with family, like Sett. Other times with our imagination like it always did for me when I focused on books instead of the strange changes that adulthood brought into my life.

Looking over at Karya, and grabbing her hand, I knew that I have someone else to calm my mind when I needed it, someone, that I was willing to make aware of the important role I wished for her to be in my life.

This short-travel allowed me to clear my mind and appreciate what I have, something I am deeply grateful for happening.

Unable to contain my smile, I pulled closer to Karya while surrounding her waist with my arms and whispering into her ear "This sudden atmosphere caught up with me too."

Karya's face suddenly changed after my abrupt actions while looking with panic and shame over the mother and son duo that didn't seem to notice us.

Muttering under her breath, she blushed meekly while saying to me "You dummy, let's save that for later, okay? I was also caught up but at least I can contain myself.." her mouth might be telling that, but her warm hands resting over mine, while she closed her eyes and supported over my frame didn't said the same.

Nonetheless, I didn't wish to reveal what I knew as slowly I broke the hug while holding her right hand.

Indah and Sett continue hugging while speaking with each other, sometimes we'll hear Sett laughing or Indah chuckling.

We decided to do the thing we should have done in the first place, leaving them alone and letting them enjoy their bonding time.

Going towards the backyard while making sure to be watchful with our steps, we stepped outside just in time to see the rays of the sun disappearing on the horizon.

Sitting on the grass, with Karya at one side and Morpheus jumping into my thighs, I watched silently the night overtaking the remaining sunlight.

It must have been fifteen to twenty minutes until Indah appeared behind and call us to get inside.

We begrudgingly stand up and walked inside, the starry night was indeed a beautiful sight to behold.

Nonetheless, inside we smelled the tasty meal that Indah was preparing, she apologized for the previous display as we then started speaking about other things.

By the time the food was about to be served, Sett appeared while giving us a glare and then, when Indah wasn't looking, a motion with his head to exit outside later on.

It seemed like he wanted to speak about tonight's pit fight. Thus, after eating the delicious meal that Indah prepared for us, we told her that we would go to work in the meantime, she only wished us good luck as we moved away through the dark roads.

"So, if you both are plannin' to win all the days you'd be stayin' here, then you shall better add me with your business. I can prove myself to be trustworthy." Sett confident voice suddenly said after moving a good distance away from his house.

"Look, what we're doing to do requires just more than being trustworthy, it also requires prevision and responsibility." Karya's voice tried to reason with Sett, who just frowned, clearly disagreeing with her.

"Tell him that if he wishes to leave this kind of life, he needs to be smarter than he currently is. The money from winning the arena is just a part, the real deal is managing such places or even the entire village alongside other fightings pits and business." I told Karya while pointing out the fish rod instead of the fish itself. Sett needed to see those kinds of things if he wished to improve their lives and prevent her mother from further suffering grievances.

But he was just fifteen years old, it was already surprising enough that he was already thinking like that.

'At his age, I was lost on those sites, alongside good ol' total war; Warhammer.' I thought to myself while reminiscing my fifteen years.

Sett and Irelia were examples of life's that were forced to mature and focus on more serious matters on early age. And that wasn't a good thing.

Axing their teenage years would undoubtedly left sequels behind. From the likes I wasn't even able to think about.

'Maybe like that generation of grandpa's that were forced to grown up during the second world war and such.' I suddenly thought while remembering reading how fucked was that generation due to that.

As Karya told him my words, Sett suddenly furrowed his brows while analyzing what I said to him. And after a few moments of epiphany, he seemed to agree with what I said, as the seconds passed I saw his first slightly nodding head gradually getting intenser, until a wide smile spread through Sett face while he exclaimed "Indeed! That's the path I should follow if I wanted to get richer and being respected."

The bright eyes of Sett filled with greed and hope were too much for both Karya and I to bear, so we decided to continue looking forward and not pay attention to him.

Sett started rambling about how would he take off the arena and manage it, and then proceed to do the same with the village, once he had enough people.

We just hear him and added few things that he may necessity for that to happen, such as arms, workers, commanders, and a scapegoat.

The last one was needed to prevent his mother to know what he was doing. After all this would not be an imperceptible process, the people would inevitably know that there were changes and the moment they investigate to find out who he was, in addition to needing him to lead the village in his various responsibilities, Indah would hear from him.

What we were doing was nothing but give him copium so he can focus more in that, rather than asking what we we're planning to do afterwards.

By midnight, Sett was sitting on the grades, after being convinced by Karya that he would gain much more money by betting on them, they went as far as agreeing a time-frame to make the bet even more interesting to others, this suggested by me.

What we agreed was making Sett open his mouth arrogantly and start making people around him upset, thus forcing them somehow to bet against him while making Sett win money.

Even of the odds were 3:1 it would be worth, after all both Karya and I, passed the previous night to the finals, while I won.

Inevitable there would be people who didn't want to bet against me, but the time would be enough bait for people to raise their bets as many only saw me defeating people after a brief fight or taking my time.

'I didn't use tremors after all.' I thought to myself while erasing some memories, like when I slapped the air.

Thus, with Sett raising bets and angering the espectators, both Karya and I were preparing ourselves to fight.

I didn't waste time seeing the people here, and I just immersed myself with Karya, just chatting while petting Morpheus.

It was after a few minutes that we both fought our rounds, being victorious over more greener enemies than the previous night, but it was to be expected since these were the first fights of the night and they wouldn't put the best fighters yet.

Not like that would matter against me, anyways.

The next round was the same, I was called to fight one slightly stronger opponent, but I didn't gave him any chance as the moment the battle started I vibrate the tremors around my body while rushing to his position, and with one slam of my hands, I broke though his blade, armor and hit his body.

All of this in less than ten seconds.

Katya was also having an easy time, although she took more time to defeat her enemies. They might be good fighters, but Karya was already battle hardened in war, and she was partaking trainings and sparrings with a quakeman, a great swordswoman such as Hyuna, against a freljordian, and a Vastaya.

The people in the arena was mostly consisted of Noxians soldiers that wanted to make more money, Ionian farmers that heard of the responsability or were forced by other means, and actual arena slaves that were permitted to pass through the blockade.

Thus, after another round 1vs1, we both were once again in the finals. The people around Sett had unsightly looks on their faces while they regret making bets against the shitty brat.

They were one fight away from lossing their money and actually giving reason to Sett boastful smile and annoying claims.

But alas, they could only saw me and Karya crushing everyone in less than a minute, and when it was time to decided between us two, I surrendered while letting Karya win this night. Making Sett win even more money after betting for her.

Sett with a wide grin and loud laugh walked through the corridors with five pouches and two bags filled with cash, those who betted against him with dark looks looming over their faces while looking at him.

Some even followed behind him, not intending to let the matter be over just like that. Even when other people advice them to not do such thing, they followed nonetheless.

Even if Sett was a previous undisputed fighter, their irrational minds weren't letting this matter go.

Thus, when we met Sett outside and saw him with his shitty grin, we smiled back at him, but we couldn't even talk to each other when those who followed him tried to attack him.

Karya channeled her magic attacks and flew her balls though some individuals chests, while Sett throw the money to me as he turned around and evaded the attacks while punching those who left an opening.

With the help of Karya, they both dealed with the sore losers, letting their bodies rest on the streets outside the arena while the noxian soldiers looked over as they shook their heads.

After tidying themselves and handing the bags to Sett, he told us with a wide green how he won the bets with a 5:1 ratio, and with Karya, winning over 9:1.

Since he didn't have all of that half we gave him previously, he wasn't able to bet a large amount of money, however what he won was just enough to buy a large house, alongside a plot of land and live carefree for a year after that.

"I need to take that whole arena, just imagine the amount of money I would get! And I could even take more from those unwilling to loss just like today HAHAHA!" With a laugh that held some resemblance to a madman, he told us while we have to agree with him.

It wasn't a small amount, and in such places more money was bound to flow.

"Well, I hope you are satisfied with that money for this night, after all it was due to us that you won it." Karya opened her mouth while a grin appeared on my face.

We didn't wanted to pay him another night after all.

Sett stopped laughing and looked over us, but then he shrugged his shoulders while saying "Well, I can't argue against that, so I'm not charging you for this night." His arrogant tone was telling us like he was merciful and wouldn't beat our ass for not paying him.

'Like he could, heh.' I scoffed to myself.

We then headed towards his house while we stayed outside, mostly chatting about the places outside this village where Sett and his mother could go.

Although we saw some unwillingness on Indah eyes, she knew that it would be more wiser to move into another place rather than staying somewhere that you wasn't welcomed.

Even if the majority of Ionia shared the same opinion regarding her son, some people wouldn't mind it.

And my intention was to create or expand a village to a town, or city were people could live carefree without those kind of estigmas.

"So you both are fighting against Noxus, I can't say that I wasn't expecting that to be honest." Sett said after a while, although we didn't said it directly, we were just being roundabout about the matter.

"We're scouting." I simply answered while Sett have a thoughtful expression on his face. He had a lot to think about.

But first, he wanted to clear some of his questions, so he began to ask us "So how you fare against Noxus? Are the rest of your teammates as powerful as you?"

Seeing his curious eyes looking carefully at us, we decided to answer him "Well, we have two renowned figures in our ranks from previous battles, and pretty much everyone is powerful on their own rights." Katya answered as Sett listened cross legged and looking like the kid he was.

"Our group is called The Heralds of the Winds, in honor to the spirit of our goddess, Janna and the mission our leader, Renzo, was tasked with..." She started to tell him while Sett asked a few questions.

"...So we name it The League of Legends after being suggested by Renzo, although our allies are yet to be informed of it." As Karya reached the last important aspect of our story, I looked over to Sett who now have an eager expression on his face.

"So I can really join you? Will I be on your group or with the rest in the League of Legends?" He finally asked what was weighting on his mind after hearing all of this.

Karya looked over me, she herself wanted to hear the answer too.

I simply smiled while I thought 'He would be a nice person to rely this region of Navori in the future, if I'm not wrong he is the boss of the arena, and underworld lord.' I pondered to myself while trying to remember the description I read on the champion page once.

'But he's too young to being put in such position, so I can only guide him and prepare him to take over that position, that if no one more talented showed up first.' As I planned inside my head, I decided while looking over him.

"Well, we can take him into our group for the time being, let's make it so they both move towards our salt post and settle there, train with us and then march to clean the noxians. Like that he would get both experience and also see what we're going to do." I started telling to Karya who nodded her head.

"Although he's still young like Irelia, he still have his mother and I don't want them to he apart from each other, not when she rely on him." I finished while letting Karya know my thoughts. She sighed and let Sett know, who immediately went ecstatic as he laughed heartily and clapped his thighs loudly unconsciously.

It was after we reminded him what hour was that he calmed down and started hearing our words. We spend around fifteen minutes explaining to him a few rules and our goals, we didn't wasted the opportunity to also give him a brief summary of who was Janna and why she was our lord and savior.

Then, we went inside as we called it for the night. There was still more to talk, but that was after informing Indah about our circumstances and let her decide wether she wanted to move or not.

After entering our room, both Karya and I make ourselves comfortable on the bed as we drifted to the dreams lands after caressing each other and making out.

It was another good night.