Heartsteel: The Price of Fame (A League of Legends story)

Chapter 19: Redemption

The night was thick with tension as Akali and Kayn made their way through the city's maze-like alleys. Every shadow seemed to hide a potential threat, and every distant noise made them jump. But Akali's determination and Kayn's newfound will to fight kept them moving forward.

They found refuge in an old, abandoned church, its stained-glass windows shattered and pews covered in dust. The place had a sense of serenity, a stark contrast to the chaos outside.

Akali, catching her breath, turned to Kayn. "They'll never look for us in here."

Kayn, looking around the church, nodded slowly. "It's strange... I feel a sense of peace here."

"Well yeah, anything's better than that creepy hospital," Akali said.

Kayn chuckled. "Maybe it's just the absence of Rhaast's constant chatter."

Akali's expression turned serious. "We need to figure out how to get rid of him for good."

Kayn sighed, "I've tried, Akali. Every time I think I've pushed him out, he comes back stronger."

Akali, recalling the information she had found online, said, "There might be a way. But it's going to require something... unconventional."

Kayn raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Faith," Akali replied hesitantly.

Kayn laughed. "Faith? In what? Some higher power?"

Akali shrugged. "Look, I know it sounds crazy. But after witnessing you being possessed by... whatever Rhaast is, maybe it's not so far-fetched."

Kayn frowned and glanced away, "I've done things, Akali. I've hurt people. And the memories from that ritual... they're starting to come back. I don't know if I can be forgiven."

"I'm struggling with the idea too. But we've seen the darkness. Maybe it's time to look for the light. We need to be on the right side of this fight. It's not just physical; it's spiritual," Akali admitted begrudgingly.

"Rhaast told me it's too late. I made a deal with the devil. There's no turning back from that." Kayn sat on a pew and buried his head in his hands. Why had he been such a fool? He didn't even give it a second thought. All to get back at Akali, because he'd been hurt by her.

Akali placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "He's lying, Kayn. He has to be. There's always a way back."

"Maybe," Kayn admitted, lifting his head. "It feels like everything we thought we knew... it's all been a lie..."

Kayn's gaze wandered restlessly around the room, his mind racing with thoughts of Silco's pursuit and the danger they were in. He noticed Akali's weary state, her eyes heavy with fatigue. He found a blanket, worn but clean, folded over one of the pews and handed it to her.

"You should get some sleep. You look exhausted," he said, a concerned look on his face.

Akali accepted the blanket, wrapping it around herself and watching her breath turn to mist in the air of the unheated, abandoned church. "What about you?" she asked.

Kayn found an acoustic guitar in a corner and began to strum a calming melody. "I'm too wound up from barely escaping the hospital. I doubt I'll sleep, but I'll watch over you. It'll help if at least one of us is well-rested," he said.

The last chord of Kayn's song reverberated through the empty church, fading into the stillness that surrounded them. Akali, her eyes heavy with fatigue, struggled to keep them open, her mind grappling with questions that needed answers. She glanced at Kayn, who was setting the guitar aside, his expression a mix of reflection and regret.

"Kayn," she began hesitantly, "why did you take Silco's offer?"

Kayn leaned back against the pew, his gaze drifting to the stained-glass windows where moonlight filtered through. He let out a dry laugh, the sound echoing slightly in the vast space. "You know, for someone who always seemed so out of reach, I thought maybe, just maybe, it would get your attention."

He turned to look at her, his eyes carrying a depth of emotion he rarely showed. "I walked right into Silco's trap, accepted Rhaast without a second thought. All for a shot at being seen by you. Funny, isn't it? How things turn out."

Akali's heart ached at his words, the realization of their shared past and missed connections weighing heavily on her. She reached out, her hand hesitating in the air before resting gently on his arm. "I should have realized."

Kayn looked down at her hand on his arm, a small, genuine smile breaking through his usual facade. "Yeah, well, I wasn't exactly great at expressing it back then. And now, here we are, in an abandoned church with a demon on my back. Life's full of surprises."

Akali couldn't help but smile back, despite the gravity of their situation. "We'll figure this out, Kayn. Together." Akali's eyelids grew heavy, her body begging for rest, but her concern for Kayn kept her awake. She reached for a worn Bible on a nearby pew and tossed it to him. "Someone recommended we read this."

Kayn caught it, looking at the book with a mix of skepticism and curiosity. "Because reading an old book is definitely going to scare away my inner demon. But hey, why not? I've done stranger things lately."