Snippet #2292556

So this was the infamous Proving Grounds he had heard so much about in tales of old? Aleph set his gaze over the old, musky bridge that had been the last place many fallen soldiers had seen. It was a place of death and decay, this made obvious by the rough wear-and-tear that could be seen in the cracks of the concrete, the dirtiness of the bridge and the disgusting air Aleph was forced to inhale while he was here in this godforsaken place.

He had already his gear with him. His custom-made, custom-decorated set of armor which would shine brilliantly had there been much light in the area at all, but it was dark really until they had begun bringing down the Nexus. In his right hand was his sword, which he held almost as if it were part of his arm, for in a sense, it was. The years of training from the Might of Demacia – his own father – had made not wielding a blade make him feel as if he were bare or naked. It was a part of him and who he was, and nothing in the world could change that….. or stop it.

As the battlefield became just that with the lowering of both of Nexus’, he held his sword out in front of him, as if to taunt his foe whom he could not see at this moment. He would soon enough, and they would find their deaths at the end of his blade, as many do. He didn’t care what this opponent would throw at him – he would take it and return it tenfold. The strength of his father and himself ran through him. The Crowngaurds were not to be toyed with and they were not to be defeated. Ironically enough, he was also supposed to fight his cousin, wasn’t he? That really saddened him. Not knowing he would have to make battle with his own blood – that excited him actually – but that she did not know why they were to fight. “Friendly” is what it was supposed to be, but even though Luxanne had raised a smarter child than Garen, she was ignorant to the state of the Crowngaurds. To everyone, save maybe Luxanne herself and her own child, Garen along with his “Noxus-spawn” were not welcomed by the family. While not stated to him directly, he figured that the other Crownguards (again, save for Lux) were probably hoping to save the honor and glory for a ‘true’ Crownguard. It really disturbed him. Trully did. She was so beautiful, innocent and proud – as any Crownguard ‘should’ be, yet they would easily use her to make sure he did not succeed in…….

What was it he wanted to succeed in? Becoming famed? Earning the right to claim victory in this tournament? It was, at first, what he had wanted, but faced on the Fields of Justice, he questioned his own motives towards entering.

Maybe he was fighting for something to fight for.

In any case, he would think about all that was happening in the near future – in the near future. He took a prideful step forward and spoke to the dark air, in the direction of his soon-to-be opponent. “May your strength be admirable as your will.”