Here it is, my magnum opus:
DEMACIA, AT DAYBREAK
The sun begins to rise, its rays cutting through the morning haze. The smell of bread fills the air as bakers prepare to open their shops. Children began to wake for school. And in a courtyard in Demacia's capital city, one man in commoner's clothing practiced maneuvers with a greatsword, while another in full plate offers suggestions, adjusts his posture, demonstrates with his own weapon.
After a particularly challenging set of exercises, the smaller man lowered his sword and leaned on it, breathing hard. He wiped the sweat from his brow, and smiled at the man in plate. "Well, what do you think?"
"It may not feel this way, but your form is beginning to improve, my friend," said Garen, watching the man in front of him attentively. "Though maybe not as much as I'd expect. Have you been practicing daily?"
"I've been trying," said the smaller man, with a hint of a whine. "It's difficult, with so much going on right now. I don't always have time..."
"Cactopus," said Garen, his voice stern. "There are many things you need to learn, to become a knight. The most important of those right now is the vigilance and dedication of daily practice."
Cactopus swung the sword in a final complicated maneuver and then sheathed it. "You have explained this lesson over and over," he said, frustrated. "You tell me daily practice is the most important. I understand. I do the same exercises over and over, as you ask. It's just not always possible, and beyond that, I'm bored. I want to learn something new, for once."
Garen raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? My student wishes for a new lesson, today?"
"Yes, PLEASE," said Cactopus, slightly petulant.
Garen looked up at the sky speculatively for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. We will head into the wilds. Meet me at the Eastern gate in an hour." Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked into the guard tower that flanked the courtyard.
An hour later, the sun higher in the sky, they met. Provisions for a day's journey in tow, they made their way down the winding road away from Demacia's capital, through the plains outside, and into the forest. They made their way through the brush as the trees gave way to more exotic plant life, and soon enough they found themselves deep in the jungle. Garen led Cactopus down apparently invisible paths in the lush flora, with familiarity that suggested he had walked them many times before. The farther they went in, the more the sun overhead was obscured by the canopy of trees above them, and the quiet of the plains they had traversed was filled with the calls of strange creatures, the buzzing of insects, and the rush of a nearby river.
Eventually, they came to a clearing in the jungle, the grass and twisted vines underneath their feet giving way to sand. "Where a-" started Cactopus, but Garen raised a finger to his lips, pointing to the north side of the clearing. A family of raptors slept in their nest, unaware of their presence. "You want to learn a new lesson? Then have a practical example," whispered Garen. "Fight." He backed away until he was at the edge of the clearing, and then clapped loudly and suddenly. The raptors jumped to attention, terrified and furious at being woken from their rest. Cactopus drew his sword.
The raptors circled around him in the jungle glen, hissing. He kept a watchful eye on them, sword raised, confident. With a series of shrieks, they descended on him in a frenzy, and his confidence immediately dissipated. His maneuvers forgotten in his panic, he raised his arm to shield himself as they battered him, their beaks and claws tearing at his clothes and skin. They threw themselves over and over at him, the thumps echoing throughout the clearing. Eventually the force of the barrage was too much for Cactopus to handle, and he collapsed to the ground. The raptors fled into the jungle, and Cactopus was left lying silent on the sandy jungle floor, the wind knocked out of him, his sword thrown several feet away. Through it all, Garen stood and watched, until he was satisfied that the encounter was complete.
Garen walked to Cactopus, knelt, and held his hand out to his friend. Cactopus looked away for a moment, ashamed at his defeat, before accepting the hand and standing to his feet. He brushed the dust off his trousers and walked to his sword to pick it up and wipe it clean on a bush before sheathing it, still avoiding Garen's eyes.
"My young friend," said Garen, kindness in his voice. "Have you learned the new lesson you desired yet?"
"I'm not sure," said Cactopus. "What exactly was I supposed to learn, here? Patience? That I am a fool?" He raised his head and finally met Garen's eyes.
Garen smiled. "Patience was one, yes. But there is another. My ten long years fighting for Demacia's honor have taught me much about combat, about honor, and even about politics. My most noteworthy lessons, however, have been about friendship." He clasped Cactopus's shoulder, brotherly. "I was here the whole time, but you let yourself be overwhelmed without a word. I would have rushed to your aid, the moment you asked. My friend and student... do not be afraid to call on friends when you need them. That is the most important lesson you can learn. Doing so is never a sign of weakness, but one of strength. Because it is together that we are most strong. And..." He paused, his tone serious. "The first time I fought these raptors, I, too, attempted to fight them sooner than I should have. And I, too, failed to either defeat them or to call for help. Perhaps neither of us is well-suited for the jungle." Garen burst into deep chuckles, and a moment later, Cactopus followed suit, their laughter intertwining with the bird calls and the babbling of the river in the jungle air. Together, they began the long trek back to the Demacian capital.
Happy 10th anniversary League of Legends!!!!!!!!! Don't play Garen jungle btw you weirdo
devtrackers.gg