Chapter Text
“SIR, THEY’VE SMASHED THE LEFT FLANK! THE ENEMY’S GONNA BE ON US-”
“THIS WAY!” Zed called, carrying a young girl in his arms. “Into the tunnels, INTO THE TUNNELS!”
Shen teleported back, stumbling slightly and panting as he came back to the living world. A few soldiers stood around him, discussing what they should do next or how they weren't going to be able to hold on until morning. Zed was near the door to the underground refuges, softly reassuring a young girl. All Shen heard was 'I swear I won't let anything happen to you' before he threw up and staggered back before collapsing.
Zed turned toward him in concern. "Shen!" He exclaimed, coming to check on his friend. "Are you okay?"
Shen groaned after a second. "I need a spiritual anchor." He answered, his legs shaking as Zed helped him back up. "I was too busy looking for you to have one made, and the sword is passed when the Eye dies."
"Do you know how to get one done?"
"... More or less?" Zed looked at him blankly. "We might be fucked." Shen then admitted.
"Not yet." Zed answered, narrowing his eyes. "We still have an option, and it only takes a few hours to get there."
Shen immediately caught on. "Thanjuul." He then frowned. "I don't think fa- Kusho would give me the sword."
"Fight him for it, then." Zed answered. "He knows how to get another anchor."
"I'm not gonna take the sword, Us- Zed!" Shen snapped, before sighing. "Once Noxus is gone, Ionia is still going to need the Kinkou. Hell, Noxus being there doesn't make the Kinkou useless. Demons and evil spirits are still a thing."
"Right." Zed thought for a moment. "Fight him for the sword, use it to push back the Noxians there, and then let it return to him." He proposed. "I can grab something in Thanjuul to make into an anchor for you later. Do you have anything in mind?"
"Do you remember that old hairpin I used to wear at fancy events, before I... erm..."
"Chopped off most of your hair in a hot summer night-induced frenzy?"
"I don't regret it."
"Good. You look better with shorter hair anyway."
"Thank you. Anyway, do you remember the hairpin?" Shen asked again, and Zed nodded. "Should be hidden in our former room, on the upper shelf of the closet. I can probably figure out something with it."
Zed nodded, before looking off to the side. "There's... something else I was thinking off, that could help us." Shen tilted his head inquisitively. "The Tear."
"No." Shen immediately protested.
"Shen, come on-"
"No! It's too dangerous!"
"To what? Ionia?" Zed snapped. "We're in the middle of an hostile invasion-"
"It's not that!" Shen answered, before taking a deep breath. "It's not just that. If- if you take it, it will overtake you. That ichor came from a demon, and has created demons." He started explaining, Zed's eyes widening to the realization that Shen worried for him. "At best, it will change you. At worst, it will kill you." Shen's eyes started glistening with tears. "I just found you again. I can't loose you now."
Zed looked at him for a moment. "I... I still need it." He told Shen. "Just... I'll just take the box, okay?" He reassured him. "I'll take the box, and figure out how to use the magic safely, and keep it as insurance." He and Shen held gazes. "Do you trust me?"
"With my life." Shen answered.
"And I trust you with mine." The two sighed, bumping their foreheads.
"I'll go get Akali, and then we'll be on our way." Shen told him, voice low enough that only Zed could hear. "Alright?"
"Good for me." Zed answered. "I need to tell my men anyway." Shen nodded, and ran down the tunnel to go get the younger girl. "REN! SHI!" Zed then called. The seer teleported next to him, and the warrior came to stand by his side next. "I'm gonna go to Thanjuul with Shen, and retrieve the magic box I talked about. We should be back before the next sunrise. Can you two stay here and watch over the town?"
Shi and Ren nodded. "I see you've made your choice." The seer then noted.
"I have." And so has Shen. "Will you two be alright?"
"Don't worry about us." Ren told him.
"I'll try not to." Zed answered, and Shi and Ren ran off to organize with the rest of the soldiers.
Shen came back out a few minutes later, Akali behind him. "Ready to go?"
Zed nodded. "I'll have to be, and that's gonna have to be enough."