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Deep in the Rokrund Plains, near the base of the Varju Mountains, Rell carefully dismantled her horse for the first time in days. Though she had to, its absence from her side made her feel strange. Her entire ensemble didn’t help. A loose top with long sleeves, pants held up by a braided belt, and a floral headwrap that covered all of her hair - none of it was familiar. But it’d have to do if she wanted to blend in.
Out in the plains, there was little to eat. She could kill a rabbit if she was lucky. She usually wasn’t. If she wanted to make it to Qualthala anytime soon, she needed to get her strength up. Between imperial forces and this village, she’d take her chances with the latter.
Armed with fresh resolve if nothing else, she finished sweeping shards into the depths of her leather bag and strolled across the boundary line, head held high. The people there, especially the other teens, did a double take. They tracked her presence with confused eyes. Her skin crawled. Rell ducked into what had to be an inn, finding it mostly empty. At least I can take a break from the scrutiny.
“Hullo,” she nodded at the bartender, “are there any available rooms? I want to sleep here for the night. I don’t have a lot of money on me, but I can work to earn my keep.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Ain’t seen a proper Noxian in a long time.” He said in Va-Nox, each word coated in a rich accent she didn’t recognize.
Her spine stiffened. “Uh. I’m not…” She began, fumbling. “I don’t mean any harm-”
“M’not gonna hurt you, kid. Relax. Keep your money. Prolly need it more than me anyhow. And in exchange, you stay for the festival tomorrow. A’ight?”
She blinked at the giant man’s nonchalance. “What kind of festival is it?” Rell dared to ask. She had never actually seen one before. Her mind conjured up images of shouting and marches, nothing she held any love for.
“Eh, I won’t spoil it. But it’s a fun time for someone your age. You’ll see.” And that was that.
When he left her alone in her room for the night, she didn’t rest right away. Her hands turned the metal room key over and over, like meat on a spit. In her hands, such a simple object was a weapon. But the bartender didn’t know that. He only saw her as a teen who might enjoy a festival, proper Noxian or not.
Whatever. Rell thought, almost sulky, as she flopped over onto the scratchy sheets. It doesn’t matter, really. I’ll eat and go in the morning. There’s no point in doing more.
Still, the idea ate away at her peace. The key rested in her lap, the lantern at her side continued to burn, and she fell into an uneasy sleep.
She woke to the sound of laughter outside her window. Her head throbbed. Groggy, Rell slowly patted down the wrinkles and headed downstairs.
A plate, piled high with elmark meat and scrambled eggs, waited for her already. She sat before it, flashing a tired yet grateful smile. “Has everything started yet?” She yawned around the question.
The bartender shook his head. “Nah. You’re up just in time. Was gonna go knock if you slept in much longer.”
Rell nodded and began to eat her fill. The thickness of the meal repulsed her, but she needed the protein more than she wanted to be picky. “Thanks. Really, I mean it.” She told him once the plate was clear of everything but grease.
He cocked his head towards the door. “Don’t mention it. Have fun.”
She exited to organized chaos. Stalls lined the streets, giving out candy and confetti. Kids raced each other, brightly colored ribbons tied around wrists and ankles. She couldn’t make sense of what the shades might mean or what the adults were talking about in their blend of Va-Nox and another tongue, but they all looked so… content. Focused as she was on it all, she almost missed the boy beckoning her over.
“Hey! You! Come sit!” He slapped at the bench he was sitting on. Rell only did so because his feminine face and light voice reminded her of Gabriel. But she stared warily at him and his friends as she settled down.
“Are you here for the festival?” asked one of the girls. Her voice was deep and comforting. When she spoke, the pink ribbon wound around her neck shifted.
“I guess.” Rell lied softly. “I don’t know what it’s for.”
“It’s to… I don’t know how to say it in a way you’ll understand.” The guy looked frustrated now, but even that didn’t dull his prettiness. “It’s to accept ourselves. We do this, and we take pride in the choices we make to say who we are to the world. This is who I love. This is my new body. This is who I am.”
“I didn’t know people did that here.” She whispered her confession, though even she didn’t know what she meant exactly. Maybe, she meant that it could be possible to be happy, even here in Noxus.
The teens shared a strange look. “Come dance!” said the boy. He grabbed her arm, tugging her up despite her protests. And off they went. They spun. They stomped. All the while, Rell fought to keep up. She laughed, big and loud, as she messed up the steps. For an entire dance, she thought nothing about her life. She was here, dancing with beautiful people her age. She was present. She was having fun.
She was alive, and Gabriel wasn’t.
Her joy cooled. “I need to go.” Rell told them firmly.
“Go where?” The boy pressed, reaching out for her. But she was already running, past her peers, back into the wilderness.
It was lovely, the festival. Still, she couldn’t accept it fully for herself. Until this world was torn down, she didn’t have that right. Rell could only continue on, just her and her horse, riding to the end of everything.