Chapter Text
A new life.
To phrase it like this was quite correct, he had been given a second chance to start all over again, this time in the kingdom of Demacia. Viscero was dead and Xin Zhao was alive again. Oh innerly he hadn’t really changed, still a part of this young boy taken from the First Lands. He was still the same, at the difference than now he would be able to truly give a purpose to his life.
Everything had been going really fast. From the moment he was sent West with the other Reckoners and fought this joke of a battle, to the time he was accepted at the king service, there must have been merely a few days. Now he was at the capital of the demacian kingdom for barely more than a few days.
Really, life could be strange in its ways but it seemed to have more for him. For a very long, Xin Zhao was happy. Not just the quiet cheering for still being alive after another fight in the arenas. Had he truly been happy since their small boat had been captured by Noxus many decades ago ? Such light feeling was like a blurry memory from childhood, looking at the ionian sea from the boat and he had found the same feeling when he first saw the great city of Demacia.
In itself it was so different than Noxus, as if the two nations were opposite. The only common point was the busy life, many people living here. Everything was golden, blue and white, luminous city showing the splendor of its kingdom. So far from the rough and imposing architecture of Noxus, all in dark tones. At the same time, Xin Zhao hadn’t seen much back then, he had no reason to wander.
Everything was new and it looked like he would always discover something worth seeing. The palace sure was a great surprise, in no way he would have been able to imagine this. And he was led there, in a reserved area for guards. He wouldn’t be given as quick the task of the king personal guard, it was too early and there were still many things he didn’t know about, like the whole organisation in this palace.
So far he had mainly known the training ground and the quarters reserved for guards. Life was so busy, he had no time to sit and think except once the day was over. Xin Zhao wouldn’t complain, he was used to a certain harsh routine and this was still better to endure than anything in Noxus.
There were still a lot of silent stares, comments unvoiced wherever he went. It wasn’t always so judgemental and he might understand why. He was a sort of foreigner here. Not everyone could manage to pronounce his name right, even after repeating it clearly. Words still ran fairly well and without a doubt he was now known as that one noxian gladiator that managed to enter the king’s favor.
A few soldiers had seen him fight – alone against so many – and since everything seemed to be told quickly, he had already a certain reputation. Xin Zhao didn’t know yet if he minded or not. There was no real bad side so far. To be given recognition for his fighting skill was still good but it might be because of the potential threat he represented. He was supposed to be free now but probably people would still consider him noxian, even partially. Again, as long as it didn’t hurt him or anyone in the process, he couldnt’ care less. He and King Jarvan knew who he was loyal to and that was all that mattered.
From the start he knew he would have to prove himself, as personal guard and as newly demacian. So it began on the training grounds, indeed showing his skill acquired through all this time spent in the arenas. This was one way to show he was worthy of the trust given by the king. Himself had explained it may take many years to be given the honor. He wouldn’t disappoint. Even less the few times King Jarvan actually paid a visit in the training grounds. Indeed he was equally used to the fights and practice was the best thing to stay efficient.
Overall Xin Zhao saw the king many times, through this long series of explanations and walks in long corridors after. It was rather normal, his duty was to be by his side and to protect him. Yet many times Captain Crownguard repeated it was a honor for a man like him to be able to even approach the king of Demacia. Her tone wasn’t pleasant and it never changed since he had first seen her in the royal tent the day he was set free. Probably seeing him walk around the palace was an outrage in her limited views.
Xin Zhao still understood many things. As close and fair the king may be to his people, there was still a sort of respectable boundary between the royal family and the common folks. Nothing too drastic but for someone so respected, it was curious to see such zeal from his entourage to keep his back. Protected. Was there such danger in the kingdom of Demacia ? It was so different from Noxus, Xin Zhao had still to understand the nuances. Everything seemed so peaceful here but was it truly the case ?
In any case he was still as serious in his duty. He learned quickly and followed every order. Such new environement left him any things to see yet but he got used to it little by little. He had time, after all. Furthermore, they told him he would be given specific quarters due to his own duty as personal guard. He wasn’t meant to be a simple soldier in the army and they were adamant in providing him what came rightfully with this role. Xin Zhao didn’t fight it. He had a roof, a bed, clean clothes and a reason to look forward. Unlike the arenas and the pure aim to still be standing by the end of the day. It was curious, in Noxus he wasn’t so badly treated but it was different to be seen as person more than a weapon worth a lot of money. This change of consideration was slow to understand but he would get used to it.
Now honor guided him and he felt proud to have chosen this path at last. May it give him the purpose he always seeked.