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And so, the time had come; Vladimir spent countless hours going through his archives to retrieve and refresh his old memories of his family and kingdom—old memories that were integral to the events of the world.
He had seen the Mist, he had seen the sentinels in Noxus, he had seen Draven and the exile. His own circle couldn’t do anything against it, but these people, the sentinels, could. He could use them to get this entire ruination over with; that seemed to be their plan already, anyway, so it wouldn’t be too hard to tack his own agenda onto it.
The faces in his memories were always losing names, but due to the Mist, he regained one, and just barely, he could give it a face. He made his way to his studio to confirm, gazing upon the portrait of a man whose life had been a tragedy.
Viego, his distant nephew.
He now had a new reason to venture to the Shadow Isles; a place he had studied and kept an eye on for many years since it became the forsaken land it was today. The sentinels would assist him in his quest, of course; they’d do most of the work for him. He had no ill will towards his nephew, he simply wanted to see him down, and perhaps take the throne of Camavor for himself.
After about a millennium of silence, Vladimir would be able to interact with his homeland once more, even if it was just his crazed nephew hellbent on destroying the world for the commoner he decided to make his wife.
Vladimir thought of the last time he went to the Shadow Isles; that was when he was sent to collect artifacts for that witch and her group. That little mission had almost ended his long life, all thanks to that Noxian who sic’d Lady Vengeance, Kalista, on him. She did not care that Vladimir was family and would have killed him simply because some lady called upon her naming him her betrayer… Quite rude in Vladimir’s mind. Viego’s brother should have raised her better before he died.
Vladimir shivered at the thought of having to fight Kalista again, but he trusted that he may be safe from her around the sentinels. If they can repeal the Mist and wraiths, they can repeal that problem child.
Though, to be fair, that could go for both Kalista and Viego.
He should have taken the title of king when he had the chance, but the suffering that his decision not to brought was certainly entertaining. It did force him to change his location from the Blessed Isles to elsewhere, but that was 1000 years ago. He couldn’t be bothered to care about something he hardly remembered, though perhaps there were those on the Shadow Isles who remembered him, but he wouldn’t remember them.
He looked out to the Immortal Bastion from his manor, the mist still swirling around. Oh, how he wished he could see the looks on the Grand General and Hand of Noxus’ faces at the fact that their dear Draven had been taken by Viego. Others will be taken too, and Vladimir just had to see it.
Viego was building everything up for himself, and Vladimir just had to see it all come crashing down on him. It would be amusing, and after everything was said and done, Vladimir would take care of the aftermath, even if it required force.
It was about time for him to finally depart from Noxus. If he wanted to get to the Shadow Isles before the sentinels, he’d have to go through Bilgewater, and he knew for certain that there were people who would be less than happy to see him. However, when it's the end of the world, petty disputes should be the last thing on their minds.
He organized transportation beforehand, using his status as a way to get the best he could despite the short notice. It would take a few days, but he can wait it out. He would prefer to get there quickly, but he left in no way to travel back and forth between his home in Noxus and the Isles quickly; he never had time to set it up. That was another reason he wanted to arrive early: to be able to set up a place to easily access the Isles when needed.
Vladimir sat patiently on the ship to Bilgewater. In the event that anything were to attack the ship, he’d help somewhat, but overall kept himself out of sight so he wouldn’t catch any unwanted attention from any wraiths. The closer he got to Bilgewater, the more there were, but that was to be expected. Bilgewater being the closest landmass to the Isles makes it a prime target for the Harrowing and its wraiths.
After a few days of travel, the ship touched land at Bilgewater. It would only stay there for a short period of time to prepare for the rest of the journey to the Shadow Isles.
Bilgewater was busier than normal, but that was understandable considering the mist had been hitting it since the beginning. Pirates, thieves, and the commonfolk all ran about the cramped island city as the mist spread about. Vladimir took this as an opportunity to look around; perhaps he could see his dear nephew before the Shadow Isles.
After maneuvering around the people crowding the walkways, it didn’t take too long to find Viego. He was here, just as Vladimir guessed, and he seemed to be standing off against the leader of Bilgewater.
‘Oh Sarah Fortune… You don’t want to fight him, but pirates will be pirates, I suppose,’ Vladimir mused. He contemplated going out to separate the two and speak to Viego himself, but he decided it would be better to see how this played out.
It only took a few minutes for Fortune to realize she needed backup if she truly wanted to fight Viego, and as such she surrendered that fight, quickly making her way through the alleys of the port city to get to her crew.
Just as Viego turned to leave, Vladimir made himself known, walking out from the shadows and calling for his nephew's attention.
“Well, what do we have here? My darling nephew, how has your… crusade gone so far?”
“Hello, Uncle. Whatever are you doing here? Centuries after you decided that you wouldn’t help me?”
“Ah, well, Viego…I did offer to help, you just never responded. You did read the letter, yes? Or do you only know of its existence and not the contents?”
Viego paused for a moment, the expression on his face unsure. Vladimir smirked. Of course he never read it, and now he gets to suffer those consequences.
“I-”
Vladimir cut him off.
“Well, this was fun. Good luck on your attempts to bring back your wife.” Vladimir started to walk back the way he came, but stopped, turning back to his nephew. “You remember the King’s Blade, yes? The true version of your current blade? It is lost somewhere on the Isles, and I would appreciate it if you could go find it for me. At least put it above ground where it can be found. Now, goodbye darling, I’ll see you again soon.”
And with that he was gone, leaving Viego alone. Vladimir could hear a scream come out from behind him; it seemed his words angered his dear nephew. Not that Vladimir cared. Problem children will be problem children, not much he could do about that.
Vladimir made his way back through the cramped streets to the docks, reaching his ship relatively safe. Evidently, the sentinels had not reached this place yet, which was good for him as that meant he’d have time to prepare on the Shadow Isles
The ship set off as soon as it was ready, starting the second leg of Vladimir’s trip to the Isles. The wraiths grew more abundant as they got closer, the mist getting thicker and harder to navigate through. This was supposed to be the short part of the journey, but it was certainly not the easiest. Vladimir would assist the ship’s crew to fend off any wraiths that dared to attack, if only so that he could stay on schedule and get to the Isles with enough time to spare to do as he wanted.
After a few more days of travel, the ship landed on a small island on the outskirts of the Isles. Vladimir gave some parting words to the captain, telling him to leave and go back to business as usual, or at least, as usual business can get during a world-ending situation. If he needed them, he would call for them, but with his abilities he wouldn’t have to, should things go well.
He got off the ship, making his way through the island. It was a small place, but he would be able to get around somewhat easily. There was a land path to the inner islands, where the fallen capital sat in disrepair. The mist swirled around him, but he wouldn’t let it take him. He would be able to handle the mist now, but when he would have to venture deeper, he will need a source of protection. He will cross that bridge when it is time.
Walking along, he kept his eyes to the ground, looking for the perfect spot. Preferably a small body of water, a pond or such, but he would take whatever he could. While walking, he eventually found a small spring, which would serve perfectly for what he wished to do. He set up markers in the ground before the spring, using a few vials of blood he had on him to solidify the base he wanted. He channeled his magic to the spot, using the blood to make a spot of transport between the Isles and his home.
The portal wasn’t be used too often, sure, but it was a good thing to have, especially since only he and those he allowed through could access and use it. He looked into the pool, turning the water to blood. The destination point was set and he could see his estate in Noxus. Everything had gone well, and he would be able to get back home quickly after he dealt with his nephew.
Vladimir knew that he had time to spare until the sentinels got there, time that he would spend planning. Depending on what was to happen, he would obviously have to change his course of action, but the baseline would always be the same: once the sentinels took care of Viego, he would make sure to get the title he deserved. Better late than never, really, and the title was something he should have always had to begin with given that he was the only truly living member of the Royal family of Camavor. Kalista was a wraith, therefore dead, and Viego…Viego was a special case, but he was still a wraith.
There would be no coronation, of course, but just having the title would be enough; Vladimir did not care that Camavor was long gone, he simply wanted his birthright.
After about a day or so, Vladimir spotted the Sentinels reach the Isles. It was time, and he would have to make himself known to them eventually, however he decided that would have to happen later. Knowing the type of people they seem to have recruited, it would be better to stay unknown for as long as he could before having to reveal himself. He would simply become a shadow to them.
He walked at a decent pace behind them, careful not to make any noise that would attract their attention. The last thing he needed was a fight, and this was the best way to avoid one, even if he didn’t like having to do it like how he was.
Soon, the sentinels made their way to the fallen capital of the Isles. Vladimir hadn’t stood here since he left a millennium ago, and seeing it in the state it was in was something he didn’t prepare for. Even if he didn’t remember it clearly, there was a sadness that hit him to see what was once a beautiful city reduced to what it is now.
Viego met the sentinels when they arrived, the 12 of them against him. Vladimir laughed to himself. How would these people attempt to get him down, he did not know, but the doll girl, Gwen, surely would end up doing more than the rest of the sentinels combined. It was a feeling he had, but he also didn’t believe that the sentinels really could do anything themselves.
The Blade Dancer, the Noxian Exile, and the Moon Aspect gave up their sacred blades for whatever the sentinel blades were, the so-called apex predator was given a fancy new dagger but cannot use his teeth, and the others simply got upgrades to current weapons from what he could tell. It was also quite surprising to him that Pyke, of all people, joined them. Criminals can get paid off and others reasoned with, but for them to have gotten a murderous Revenant…they had to have gotten outside help.
Personal judgements aside, what was important was the fight that was going to happen. For the past few minutes it has just been dramatic speeches back and forth, and it's not that Vladimir dislikes them, he tends to give them himself after all, but these speeches are boring; they’re just back and forth of “I want Isolde” and “Your reign of terror ends now” and genuinely cliche things. Eventually the sentinels decided to start the attack, thankfully. Vladimir was about to reconsider his journey here, but now that things were speeding up, he’d hopefully be able to get what he came for.
As the sentinels fought, more of Viego’s army came. Among them was Sarah Fortune… she should have left Viego alone when she had the chance. Vladimir felt no pity for the ones taken by the mist, though he did know that there were a select few people who were mourning them, and he smiled to himself thinking about just how worried both Demacia’s boy-king and the leaders of Noxus were at the news that each of their most trusted had been taken.
The fight was over within minutes, the sentinels being overpowered by the mist. Viego walked towards the collapsed bodies of Gwen and Senna, dragging both of them along. It seemed that he was handing Gwen with much more care than Senna, but that wasn’t all that surprising; Gwen might as well have been his daughter, considering that she was Isolde’s creation, though to get back Isolde would be to kill that figure of a daughter… How heartless of him.
Suddenly, a yordle that he had not noticed before appeared out from the shadows. Viego had called her over, the shadow behind her seeming to enjoy this much more than she was. Viego called for her to open a passage to Camavor.
Camavor.
He had no business being there now, not after being the reason for its destruction. Even if Vladimir didn’t care about the fallen kingdom, he could still feel a sting hit his heart at the implication of what he wanted to do.
Viego took the bodies of the fallen women, taking them into the portal. Vladimir had to act quickly, using his powers to quickly make a run into the portal. He would not let that spoiled brat get away with doing whatever it was he wanted. To onlookers, there was a rush of blood heading into the portal. The sentinels were unable to do anything, being too busy trying to fend off their other attackers.
On the other side of the portal sat the ruined throne room of Camavor. There before him stood Viego, Gwen, and Senna. Senna had regained some of her strength to fight, doing her best to fend off Viego with her gun, but it wasn’t enough. Vladimir sighed, it seemed like he would have to get involved in a fight after all.
“Viego, are you seriously trying to go through with this? Even after what happened last time?”
Vladimir spoke out to him, startling Senna and drawing Viego’s attention away from her.
“Who are-” Senna started to speak before getting cut off.
“SILENCE! Who are you to say anything to me, Uncle? You only mock me! First in Bilgewater, and now my very own court!”
Viego sent out a wave of mist towards Vladimir, causing him to stagger. If he wanted him down, he’d have to try much harder than that.
“Remember Viego, we could have avoided this if you had simply read my letter all those years ago, but you didn’t, so now you’ve had to waste everyone’s time for this quest that you have been so set on… Have you considered trying to die again? Properly this time?”
Viego seemed to have been taken aback by his remark, his expression growing angrier.
“Me? Die?! Never! I will not die until I am reunited with Isolde, and I will die only with her!”
Vladimir looked stunned for a moment. Was it that he didn’t realize, or did he simply count his current form as living?
“You’re a wraith, Viego. You already died long ago,” Senna spoke suddenly. “You were denied your rest after death, and now you wish to deny another theirs? Isolde wants to be in peace, and she wants you to be in peace as well!”
“I will hear none of this! Isolde is waiting for me to bring her back; you know nothing about her!”
“Viego, I know that the grief you felt from her death is hard to overcome, Lucian felt that way too when Thresh took me, but if you simply accept what has happened and respect that she wishes to stay dead, then-”
Viego dragged Senna towards him with his power, stopping her mid-sentence.
“YOU will be SILENT! You know NOTHING of how I have suffered!”
Viego started to rip the fetter of Isolde from Senna, but a shot of blood stopped him, making Viego drop her.
“What is the meaning of this?!”
“You aren’t going to bring her back, Viego, you’re just a spoiled brat who is so stuck in his own delusion that he’s more important than everyone. You don’t even care about your kingdom, you only care about yourself and your own desires.”
“Uncle! You will be quiet and stay out of this! You have nothing to do with this! You will not come between me and Isolde!”
Viego sent out a strong wave of mist, a wave strong enough to knock down Vladimir and keep him there. He then brought Senna back into his grasp, extracting the fetter from her and tossing her aside. He now had all of the pieces, now he could bring back his beloved Isolde.
Putting all the pieces together, Isolde’s spirit started to slowly form. Vladimir could only watch as Viego reached out to it, wanting to claim her as his once more. Isolde, once fully formed, flinched away from him, knowing full well what Viego had done to get to where he was now.
“Viego… Why have you brought me back? I shouldn’t be here; I should be with the Viego who I loved so long ago… You are only a shadow of that man.”
Isolde’s words rang through the hall. Sounds of disbelief came from Viego, who was struggling to find the words to say.
“But…But Isolde… Everything I’ve done! Everything I’ve done has been for you! It’s only been for you!”
“No, Viego, everything you have done… has been for yourself.”
“What!? But-” Before Viego could speak, a bolt flew over his shoulder, hitting Isolde and dispersing her energy, the fetters no longer to be found.
Senna and Gwen began to stir, regaining their bearings before getting up. Viego was too stunned to notice them approaching, only realizing when Gwen’s threads took hold of his arm.
“Viego! This is your end. I’m sorry that it had to end like this, but we cannot let you keep terrorizing our home. Your reign ends here!”
The threads continued to spin around his limbs, binding him in hallowed mist. It now swirled around him, keeping the black mist from leaving his chest. Eventually, it may even overtake the black mist within him, allowing him a moment of respite, but that would be something for the future.
Vladimir walked over to Viego, looking down at him before looking back at Senna and Gwen. There was another with them, a man that he did not know. He assumed that he was the one who had shot Isolde. Suddenly, Gwen turned to face Vladimir.
“Mister, what are you doing here, anyways? Who are you?”
“Who I am is unimportant, I am simply someone who needed to make sure Viego here was incapacitated. I am of no harm to you or your fellow sentinels and can take care of Viego from here on.”
“But how can we trust you? We don’t even know you.” Senna said.
“How can you trust Pyke? Or that Bilgewater criminal? If I wanted you dead I would have let Viego kill you when he originally tried to take the fetter out of you. There were plenty of opportunities.”
Senna couldn’t think of how to respond before the yordle from before came out from the shadows.
“Hey, uh, do you people want to go home? You kind of messed my old boss up and I don’t think you want to be stuck here… and I’m the only one who can make the portal work.”
The sentinels nodded to her, wary of the offer.
“Sure, but how do we know you aren’t going to harm us?”
“Because, the loser that was my old boss is kinda tied up back there,” she motioned towards where Vladimir and Viego were, “now get through before I change my mind and decide to let you starve here alone.”
That threat was enough to make the trio of sentinels go through the portal without much question. The yordle then looked towards Vladimir.
“Are you coming or what?”
“I’ll stay, I can get myself back when I’m ready.”
“If you say so…”
The portal closed once she walked through it, leaving Vladimir and Viego alone together.
Vladimir looked back to Viego. He looked pitiful, as if he was going to cry.
“Well, Viego, was it all worth it? Was it all worth rotting in your own hate and obsession for years only for you to end up tied in your own throne room with no one beside you?”
Viego couldn’t respond. He didn’t seem to want to respond. The pain of the loss was definitely hitting him now, everything that happened up until this point catching up to him.
“I sincerely hope you don’t mind, but I’ll take the title of king from you. It’s nothing against you, but the title has brought you nothing but pain over these many years, hasn’t it? And there is no use being king if you have no land to rule… no subjects to govern. I’ll take that title from you, as it is my birthright and duty to take once the last king is unfit to rule…”
Viego was caught in his own sorrow, and Vladimir did not know if he was even listening to him, but he heard weak words come from him.
“Isolde… Isolde why did you leave…” His eyes hit Vladimir. “Take what it is you want. I’m nothing now...“
Vladimir cringed. How could he be this pathetic?
“...Listen to yourself right now. Sadness is something I enjoy, but this is far too much. You’re acting like a teenage girl who got rejected by a tool she had a crush on. How about this: I’ll come visit you every so often. Would you like that? Would that make you less lonely, having someone visit and talk to you?”
Viego didn’t answer. Vladimir didn’t know why he offered to visit his nephew; he had no emotional attachment to him and he didn’t even like him that much. Perhaps it was because of how pitiful he was. Perhaps it made Vladimir want to see him get better over time.
“If I really wanted to, I could kill you once more… Then I’d have killed two kings of Camavor... But I will not. Take this experience as a lesson.”
Vladimir walked out of the hall, making his way outside. Looking towards the sky, the sun beamed down on him. The land around him… it was once his home, but it was still his birthright.
He turned to look at the building behind him. The once beautiful architecture was nothing more than ruins of a lost kingdom, but Vladimir preferred them this way. He had little memory of his time here, but he knew that it was still an improvement from how it used to be.
He’d have to make another gate to reach Camavor now if he were to visit Viego, so it was a good thing he brought more than he needed to make one. Once he found a suitable place, he set it up making sure it would work. For the first trip through, he wanted to go back to the Shadow Isles. There was something he needed to collect, something important. He opened the gate, turning into blood so that he could get through easily. Within moments he was back at the Isles where he first set up the original gate.
He made his way back to the fallen capital. When he got there, it struck him as odd that there was no one there. No sentinels, no wraiths… something had happened while he was in Camavor, and he had no desire to find out.
He looked around the rubble, his instincts telling him that what he was searching for was hidden somewhere close. He made his way through the abandoned streets, his search having no luck until he reached the sanctum that would have led to the blessed waters. The water was no more, but the building still stood. Lying under the rubble that blocked the entrance was a sword. The very sword that Vladimir had been looking for. He forced the sword out from under the rocks, the weight pressing down on the sword making it difficult. Eventually, he managed to get it out however.
He held the blade out in front of him. It was the sword that was passed down from king to king in Camavor, and now it was his. He carried it back to the gate he had made, fending off any wraiths that attempted to attack him with his magic.
He wasn’t one for swords, but it was a good thing to have. His possession of it marked him as Camavor’s king, even if Camavor was gone.
It took him over 1500 years, but he finally had his birthright… Now he could continue on with his plans for Noxus. He had his title, he had his status, and he had his followers. He could only wait for what happened next.
But for now, he would relish in his own victory.