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Vladimir had spent plenty of years all across Runeterra, sometimes more than he even remember. He liked it, so much so that in younger days, he would stay with the Noxii tribes for their nomadic culture.
Once Sahn-Uzal had passed, his wife, Emilia took charge of the tribe he had stayed with for the longest time. But just as every human before, Emilia would die and he would move on. It had been so long that he struggled to remember what she looked like, what her voice sounded like.
He had made a cave into his home when a knock on the door resounded, and he quickly got to his feet to answer it. Vladimir, at first, thought he was losing his mind, that Emilia’s magic was long gone, yet there stood someone with the exact same magic. The way her eyes glowed deep gold, a staff in her hand, not that different from what she would have had.
“Who are you?” Vladimir asked, a lot more harshly than he intended.
“Vladimir, you look like you haven’t aged at all.” The raven-haired woman wrapped her arms around him with her staff still in her hands.
“Emilia?” He gaped, completely blindsided by everything. Her body was different, but everything screamed that it was her.
“Emilia Leblanc. You can call me Emilia in private though. Mordekaiser said a new name would be best for us both, but I decided against changing it completely.” She explained, as if he would know, but the way she spoke, there was only one person that she could be talking about.
“Sahn-Uzal? He’s alive?” Vladimir choked.
“Mordekaiser now, I suggest you don’t use his old name, he is… temperamental about it. He is requesting your aid, and I would like your company as well.” She let go of him and looked at him with a smile that truly confirmed it was Emilia in the blood. “An alliance of sorts, not too different than the one we promised, years past. We want to unite the Noxii again, would you join us?” Emilia offered her hand, and he stared at it like a bug-eyed fish. Then Vladimir took a deep breath, taking her hand and kissed her knuckles.
“I am at your disposal, Leblanc.” The hemomancer whispered, lifting his head to connect their gazes. “Were you resurrected?”
It felt all too good to be true, that she would truly be there when her soul should have long dissipated. Sa—Mordekaiser resurrected her, and there she was, making the warlord's dreams come true as she had done before. He was asking for him, but there was no way in telling if that was an order as Sahn-Uzal often asked when he was ordering people around. It mattered little, because he had the opportunity to speak with someone dear to him.
“Yes, and with it, this body will continue to decay.”
“Then I wish to provide something that I have given no others, Emilia.” He pushed up her sleeve on the hand she had offered, and she didn’t say anything as she watched him. The trust she had in him despite all the time that had passed. It made him weak, and just as her previous body was beautiful, her current was world-shattering. He never had the opportunity to give a worthy mage immortality, and no one better suited could exist to rival Emilia Leblanc.
He bit his thumb, painting with the blood over her forearm, diligent like a surgeon. Then with his claws, he slit down the middle of the symbol he had made. That was when Leblanc finally showed any indication of pain, clenching her hand closed and her arm shaking from him holding it in place. She faltered, gritting her teeth as she braced through the pain. Yet she didn’t say a word, and Vladimir felt confused about why.
He healed it shut, no signs of what he had done other than the blood marked down on her arm.
“What was that, Vladimir?” She panted, finally saying something in response to his actions.
“A promise. As long as I live, you shall do the same. I don’t wish to say goodbye to you again, Emilia.” Vladimir admitted, looking down at her with a wide smile.
“Neither do I.” She echoed, and Vladimir wished he knew if she was still Mordekaiser's wife in that moment. If she was even slightly obtainable, but he found his ego waver under those bright gold eyes.
“Will you stay for a dance?” He asked, offering his hand to her.
“Of course.” She answered so quickly, she let go of her staff that disappeared once out of her grip. She took his hand, wrapping her other arm around his back. He placed his other hand on her hip, using his magic to turn up the music he had on in the background.
“How long has it been?” Vladimir asked as they started to move across the floor.
“A week, but much of that was spent kneeling over a bucket. So I assure you, you have not missed anything. We barely are ready to start.” Her face was more stony than he was used to, but he knew that things would change. A new body, and an older soul. One that was familiar, yet now grew to show her experience, and it only proved to him that he couldn't let her go.
This was the first time he would have a companion, one that had history shared with him, that continued to share history with him.
“Why have you two returned now, of all times?” He couldn't help himself from asking, and her eyes moved away from him. Silence lingering for a few moments.
“I cannot say for certain, as I don't believe Mordekaiser is being forthcoming regarding his resurrection. He's… Different, Vlad. Even in comparison to you, he feels alien to me.” The way her face scrunched up as she spoke, the thought giving her genuine grief. That she would share that thought with him continued to rip into his heart. It really felt like a part of his soul was returning to him.
“It has been only a short time for you both, maybe it will pass.” He reached up to brush her hair behind her ear and caress her cheek.
“He isn't human anymore. He chose to be a soul embedded in armour. To forsake the weaknesses that flesh has. He has always been brazen, but it…” She leaned away from his touch, and the two came to a stop. “He had died on the battlefield, fighting for what he believed in. But something, must have happened. He refuses to say anything about his death.”
“I don't know, Emilia. You are the only one he ever imparted his thoughts to.” Vladimir reminded her and she tsk’d in response.
“Exactly, and that's exactly why I need you, Vlad. I cannot stand by Mordekaiser as I once did. I need someone who understands me.” She explained, and he was surprised she was being so vulnerable with him. Something was certainly wrong with Mordekaiser to shake her like this.
“Then I'll do whatever you need me to.” He reassured her, before she grabbed onto his shirt and tugged him down into a kiss before he could think twice. Mordekaiser would kill him if he knew, but not for a moment did he want to stop it. He tried to continue the kiss, but Emilia pulled away.
“I will leave you to get ready. We have a camp ten kilometres from here. See you soon, Vladimir.” She said so decisively as if she hadn't kissed him, as if she didn't rock his entire world to the foundations. He was in shock, and she seemed to smirk at him as she left.