Initiation Rite

I hadn't planned to return to the Kinkou Order, but then I thought that since Kennen was so powerful, if I helped him investigate this matter and then asked him to come to Noxus with me, we'd have a much better chance of success.

Whether he was willing or not, I couldn't give up as long as there was even the slightest chance!

"Could the strange magic in the Kinkou Order be Zed's doing? Master Shen told me he'd been sending people to keep the Order under surveillance. Anyone who tried to get close to the Order was killed—even people who merely gave them directions."

"I don't think it was Zed. He's always been arrogant and never stooped to sneaky tricks like that."

Kennen had no doubt about Zed's innocence, which surprised me. "If he doesn't stoop to sneaky tricks, how do you explain what happened last night? He attacked me under cover of darkness. How is that not sneaky?"

"I've already heard Poppy tell me what happened to Alanta. I was surprised, and angry. I'll investigate the matter thoroughly, but Zed wasn't necessarily behind last night's attack. We didn't see him, did we?"

Not only did Kennen not suspect Zed, he seemed to be taking his side. Weren't they sworn enemies? Or was there something else going on?

Since he was also a Yordle, he might know more than most. "You don't seem to hate Zed."

"I watched him grow up. I know exactly what kind of person he is. Zed was clever from a young age, and he worked hard at his training. He was one of the best of his generation. My master and I both liked him very much."

"Then why did he kill your master?"

"That's something I've never understood, either. Zed was my master's eldest son. He was always proud, but he respected only my master and me. It doesn't seem likely that he'd have done something like that. The Order claims he was influenced by Dark Magic, but when you think about it, there are still too many unanswered questions. To learn the truth, we'll have to meet him in person."

His words astonished me. As far as I knew, Zed was Shen's father's killer, but according to Kennen, the two of them were brothers!

Wouldn't that mean Zed had killed his own father when he killed his master? The whole situation was getting confusing.

"I don't know what happened between you, but everything we've seen so far suggests that Zed isn't the junior brother you knew anymore. Maybe Dark Magic changed him. I saw him kill Alanta with my own eyes."

"Don't blame every unfortunate thing that happens on whatever seems like the most convenient cause. That's a very biased way of thinking. If Zed didn't do these things, it would be terribly unfair to him."

I didn't know why Kennen trusted Zed so much, but he had a point. Even what you saw with your own eyes could be misleading. From Leivo to Zhao Xin, I should have understood that better than anyone.

"All right, I admit I was being too biased. What are you going to do?"

"Someone is definitely pulling strings behind the scenes. I'm going to find out who!"

On the way back, Kennen told me a lot about the Kinkou Order's past. It turned out he was an old-timer over three thousand years old, born around the same time as Kled.

One pursued balance, while the other loved war. They embodied two completely different Yordle ideals, yet they remained good friends. Maybe that was because so few Yordles had been born in the same year.

Kennen had originally lived in the Yordle world. Later, Kled talked him into coming to Runeterra, but the outside world was far from peaceful, and Kennen didn't like it here. That changed when he met a young man called Sifang.

Sifang was well-read and had founded a school of thought based on the balance of all things. When Kennen heard him speak, he was deeply impressed by the wisdom in his words, so he became his student. The two were both master and student, and friends.

Later, Kennen helped Sifang found the Kinkou Order and gather disciples. It became a famous order in Ionia, and Sifang, known as Master Kusuo, rose to great renown.

Since Kennen always thought of himself as a student, the Order's later members called him their senior brother.

Alanta was an orphan they'd rescued during a mission. She had a powerful bloodline, and when she grew up, she became a pillar of the Order, known as the Fist of Shadow.

Sifang's sons, Zed and Shen, also gradually showed extraordinary talent, and the Kinkou Order continued to grow stronger.

Not long afterward, Noxus launched an invasion. Western Ionia was ravaged, and just as everyone eagerly awaited the Kinkou Order's rescue, Sifang strictly forbade his disciples from joining the war.

This angered many people, especially Zed. He repeatedly asked to join the fighting, but was refused. Before long, the rebellion took place.

At the time, Kennen was far away in the south, dealing with other matters. By the time he returned, Sifang was already dead. Alanta was still away and hadn't returned, while Kennen had no interest in taking charge of everything, so they chose Shen to become the Order's leader.

Some said Alanta hadn't returned because she'd gone to fight in the war, and that Zed had disobeyed Sifang's orders to help her, which led to the tragedy.

Others said Zed had acted that way because he'd been tainted by Dark Magic. Whatever the stories claimed, Zed had indeed left the Kinkou Order.

After the war ended, Kennen tried many times to find Zed and confirm what had happened, but he never managed to do so. Now that Alanta had been killed and turmoil was spreading through the Order, he could no longer stand by and do nothing.

We talked as we traveled, and before we knew it, we'd returned to the Kinkou Order. The temple was no longer as quiet as before. People were standing everywhere. When I asked, I learned they were holding Akali's initiation ceremony.

Shen bowed respectfully to Kennen. "Senior Brother, you're back. Please, take your seat."

"You're the leader now. You don't have to call me Senior Brother."

"You taught me everything I know. I'll never forget what I owe you. Even as the leader, I wouldn't dare presume to stand on equal footing with you."

"Fine. Let's begin."

The ceremony wasn't just for Akali. They were also choosing a new "Guardian of the Order," so it was a very grand occasion.

I quietly asked Kennen about it and learned that the position had once been held by him, Alanta, Zed, and Shen.

Strangely, the two people who'd gone to capture Jhin yesterday were also there. Had they already caught him? I thought their names were Tianshu and Haishi. I'd have to ask about it later.

The ceremony was taking place beside the Illusion Stone. The sculpture still stood before me, as miraculous as ever. With everyone looking on in reverence, Shen stood in the middle of the stone platform.

"We are the guardians of balance and the keepers of order. For decades, that has never changed. But now, many things have happened that go against balance.

"Zed betrayed his order and turned against us. Our senior sister Alanta has returned to the embrace of all things. In these difficult times, we must stand together and make it through.

"Now our senior sister's daughter, Akali, has returned to the Order. This is a good thing for all of us. Since everyone is gathered here today, I've decided to choose a new Guardian of the Order and restore peace to the Order. Balance exists in all things!"

"Balance exists in all things..."

The crowd echoed him in unison. Shen clearly commanded great respect. He raised a hand to silence them, and their voices stopped at once. Their discipline was stricter than the army's!