Chapter 2 – The Sprawling Western Mountains
Three years after Jinx firstly arrived in the continent, she found a city called Zirima.
“And you think we can sleep in the Inn?” Milio asked, his sunburnt freckles darkening under the cruel desert heat.
“I dunno, kid. Let’s see how much they charge us for it.” Jinx threw her backpack on the floor. She stretched her shoulders back, grunting as the tired muscles of her body cramped.
“I heard they have nomads from the Burning Lands living around here. Can you imagine that, Powder?”
Jinx smiled at the boy. She had met Milio shortly after her arrival in the Ixtal Kingdom, and the first time she saw him, she thought the hallucinations were back. She thought he was Isha, coming back to haunt her again.
But he was taller than she’d ever been. Not as skinny, not as small. His hair was darker and he had deep dimples on his chubby cheeks.
Still, he had wide golden eyes that seemed to look right at her soul.
She hated him.
Her life in the capital of Ixtal had been simple. She met some nice people who let her live in a hut above the trees, and they taught her some cool stuff.
They weren’t offended when she accidentally called them jungle people. They gave her clothes, taught her how to identify venomous berries. Taught her to hunt.
When they asked her for her name, for some reason she said Powder.
That name had not left her mouth in over a year, and yet still she said it.
“Powder. My name is Powder.”
Jinx. Powder. Jinx. Powder.
Both were her names, both were people she had been.
She was a bit more muscular now. The result from hours of walking and roaming free through the cities she’d lived. Her body adapted to her lifestyle quite rapidly.
Living in Ixtal had been good, mostly stress-free and very insightful. She learnt so much from its people that she started taking notes for the faint possibility of one day showing them all to Vi.
That had been a thought she was entertaining a lot more frequently then, coming home. Telling Vi all about her adventures around Runeterra. Her encounters with real monsters, gentle creatures. All that she’d learned since leaving.
But for some reason, fear or otherwise, she did not want to go back just yet.
Maybe a couple more years, she’d say to herself. Maybe I’ll find Mount Targon and then I’ll go back.
But Ixtal had treated her so well she even thought about staying forever. She truly did appreciate the simplicity of life in the forest. She even liked most of the people. Well, everyone except for Milio.
And he had been so insistent.
He followed her practically everywhere, hiding in the shadows, lurching behind, like Isha used to.
It made Jinx want to scream. The bleeding wound in her heart would never heal. The grief would never cease. That was her little sister, the only light in her fucked-up world, and she watched, helpless, as she got obliterated.
One simply does not come back from that.
Looking at Milio hurt too much. His youthful face, his eyes so full of childish glee, a spark only an innocent could bear in the weight of the world around them. She looked at him, and saw a tilted miners hat and a quiet smile.
It was too painful to deal with. Jinx had come a long way since the day she left Piltover, but some wounds were too deep.
But of course, her distance never worked on him. Little by little, he warmed his way into her fearful heart and made himself a home right by the ugliest part of it. Right by the aching, tender bit reserved only for a few. He nestled himself like he had no intention to ever leave, and Jinx was once again helpless to it.
She just didn’t understand why so many people insisted on loving her.
So when she finally decided to leave Ixtal in search of Mount Targon, he went with her.
“Ugh, the water here is disgusting.” He complained, scrunching his face and spitting the dirty water on the sand.
Zirima was right in the middle of the desert. From the information she was able to gather around, it was exactly half-way from Ixtal to the supposed location of Mount Targon.
“Don’t waste water, you jerk. We don’t know when we’ll be able to find it again.”
“Powder, it tastes like dirt!” He cried.
Jinx rolled her eyes. “You are really annoying.”
Milio smiled lopsidedly, with one of his front teeth missing. “Shut up, I know you love me.”
Jinx stuck her tongue out at him, and he responded accordingly.
“I’m going to find us something to eat. I think I saw a couple of merchants around. Do you think you can set up camp?”
“Oh, are we not sleeping at the Inn?” Milio put his backpack down.
“Not sure yet. Maybe we’ll have to improvise. You okay with that?” She got closer to him and ruffled through his hair. Milio looked down, clearly upset. Jinx knew he’d been looking forward to a nice bed and breakfast.
Unfortunately for them, the ride here had already burned through most of their money.
“Sure, no problem.” He smiled, faintly.
Jinx felt bad, but she had priorities to think about. She’d rather have food for her and Milio tonight, than a comfortable bed.
“Sorry, kiddo. Maybe once we get to Mount Targon we can stay somewhere nice.”
His face lit up a little with renowned hope, and he nodded. “And then you’ll take me to Piltover with you.”
Jinx’s smile faltered but she held on. “You got it, buddy.”
“And I will meet your sister,” He gleamed. “And she’ll train me to be a strong warrior like her!”
Jinx laughed, “Sure, just don’t tell her I said that.”
Milio giggled and opened his backpack. “I can’t wait to meet them all. Do you think they will like me?”
“Impossible not to like you, kid. Believe me, I tried.” She joked.
Milio showed her the finger.
–
Zirima was famous around the region as a place for nomads and merchants to rest before heading north, into the Great Sai. There weren't a lot of people going her way, so rides were rare. Still, she kept her ears and eyes open, listening to the conversations people were having to see if she could figure out her next step.
The only bar open in the city was right in the middle of a market. It would be noon in only a couple of hours, so Jinx had to find food fast.
“Good afternoon, lady. What can I get you?” The bartender asked.
Jinx looked around and took the place in. It was dark and not that big, but had quite a few people. No one particularly interesting.
“Do you guys sell any food around here? Cheap.”
“We sure do. I’ll get you the menu.” As soon as he left, a hooded figure sat three stools on her left. The hairs on Jinx’s arms shivered and she quickly put her guard up.
“Oh, wow. This place really didn't look like the kind to have a menu, right?” The person said, laughing. She turned towards Jinx a little. Enough for the blue-haired girl to see a portion of her face.
Blonde hair, pale skin, shiny blue eyes. Certainly not from around here.
“Right.” She said.
The girl nodded awkwardly. She fidgeted with her fingers and the empty glass bottle she held.
“Here you go, madam.” The bartender came back and handed her the menu.
Everything was so expensive, it made her heart beat faster.
She was no stranger to stealing, and she would do just that if it meant Milio and her would have a nice, warm meal tonight. But she was hoping to stay out of trouble for longer, damn it. She was reforming herself. She couldn’t be having slip ups at every hardship along the way.
“Can you get me a discount on the Fizz Shrimp?” She smiled nervously. The bartender raised his eyebrows.
“Sorry, lady. Business hasn’t been kind to the Desert Folk.”
“Please, I have a kid to feed.” She felt pathetic, begging for food like that. But she remembered Vi doing it when they were kids. When they had less than nothing and her eleven-year-old sister had no means of feeding them.
If Vi did it, so can she.
“Look, lady, I really can't help. If you want, we have the half portions for half the price, but that's the best I can get you.”
Well, it was better than nothing.
Defeated, her shoulders slumped. She would have to apologise to Milio again.
“Yeah, sure-”
“Get her the full portion, please. On me.”
The girl next to her spoke. Jinx looked at her, half surprised, half annoyed. The girl smiled.
“At your service, ma’am.” The bartender left again.
“I don't need your charity.” She said, and the woman recoiled a bit.
“Oh, no, I didn't mean to offend you. I just…You mentioned a kid and I just…”
Truth be told, Jinx wasn’t exactly mad. She felt bad for the stuttering girl in front of her and sighed.
“You’re fine, I’m sorry. I’m tryna be less…” She shrugged, gesturing with her hands. “Reactive.”
The girl visibly relaxed. She smiled back.
“No, no, I should have asked you first.” She held out her hand. Her dark blue cloak still covered most of her face, but Jinx could still see the greyish aspect of her iris’. “I’m Lux.”
“Jinx.”
“Nice to meet you, Jinx. So, are you from around here?”
Jinx scoffed. “I think you know the answer to that.”
Lux shrugged, but kept looking at her with a small tug on her lips.
“I try not to make assumptions about people. Takes out all the fun of actually getting to know them.”
“That’s a weirdly positive way to think about it.” There was humor in her voice as she teased. “I usually find people very annoying.”
“I have trouble believing that.” She responded. Jinx must have scowled or something, because immediately the girl’s guard went up again and she tensed. “I mean, it’s just that you don’t really seem to be the anti-social type.”
Jinx wanted to laugh. If only she knew.
“You’re the first person to tell me that.” She began swinging the stool side to side.
“So, where are you from?” Lux continued. She was persistent, and Jinx hadn’t made her mind yet as to if she liked it or not.
“Zaun.”
“One of the Twin Cities, right? Which one?”
“The one that sucks.”
Lux flinched. “I get that. I wasn’t very fond of the place where I grew up, either.” She didn’t sound like she was finished, so Jinx waited for her to continue. “Demacia has a very intolerant policy towards magic.”
At that, Jinx was impressed. It wasn’t rare for her to find mages and vastayas throughout Ixtal. Milio himself had a special relationship with magic, mastering the fire axiom from an impressive young age.
A prodigy. They called him. But Jinx knew the weight those words could have on someone.
She had to shake the sight of pink hair and big grey eyes.
“Is that why you left?” She asked. Lux finally pulled her hood down. It fell gracefully on her shoulders, and Jinx noted the quality of the fabric she wore.
Years back, it would have made her really mad to be chatting with a rich and spoiled brat – but she let go of that hate long ago. It wasn’t worth it and it weighed her down.
“I was exiled.” She smiled, sadly. “It was for the best, I suppose. I’ve never felt more free than in my travels. I’ve learnt so much about myself, y’know.”
Jinx knew. She might as well have been exiled, too.
“Do you miss it, though?”
There was a beat. Then Lux’s smile saddened a little.
“All the time.”
Yeah. Jinx sighed. Me too.
—
Lux ended up walking back to camp with her that night. Usually Jinx was more wary of the people she trusted her location with, specially with Milio there, but Lux had this ease about her that made her very easy to like.
Milio stood up as soon as he saw them approaching and ran toward the blue haired girl. He threw his arms around her with a force strong enough to knock some wind out of her chest.
“Woah there, kid.” She scolded, albeit not seriously.
“You took too long.” His voice was muffled by where he’d buried his head on her stomach. Then, he looked up at her, resting his left cheek on her sternum. “I was worried.”
She smiled at him and looked at Lux, who observed them with a soft smile on her face.
“I’m fine, dude. You never have to worry about me.” She rested her hand on top of his hair.
It was getting so big it started falling in his eyes. Jinx had to fix that.
“Who are you?” He let go of her to stare at Lux. His tone was curious, but relaxed. Jinx knew Milio had a tendency to be way too fucking trusting for his own good.
Sometimes she envied the way his guard was always lowered. How he never feared the bad in people, because he barely knew it.
Not even Isha had been this foolish, and she had followed a psychotic murderer around for days on end.
She had always felt protective of that quality of him. Perhaps because she’d never been like this, not even as a child. Misery had fallen upon her family too soon, she never really had the time to be a kid.
Lux awkwardly gasped, and held her hand out for him. “Oh, sorry. I’m Lux.”
Milio stared at her hand for a second and shook it.
“Milio.” He said. “Are you staying with us tonight?”
“Oh, no. I’m staying at the Inn, atop the hill.”
Milio’s mouth gapped and he looked at Jinx with pleading eyes.
She rolled her eyes and walked past him to set the food down near the campfire he had lit.
“Suck it up, kiddo. Some people got things you can’t have.”
“But Powder-”
“Don’t start, Milio. We’re perfectly fine sleeping here for one night.” She put both her hands on her waist and raised her eyebrows at him.
The boy deflated.
“Are you two sleeping here? It is really dangerous.”
Jinx internally groaned. Lux was cool enough for her to let the girl stick around for a while, but if she started filling Milio’s heads with expensive dreams she couldn't afford, she would have to politely ask her to leave.
“It’s fine.” She turned to the blonde. “I can take care of him.”
“I didn’t say you couldn’t.” Lux answered back. Jinx was slightly surprised she could talk back.
“She really didn't.” Milio punctuated. Jinx threw an angry look at him and he just shrugged.
“Look, Lux. I appreciate the food. I really do. But you don’t have to worry.” She hated how tired her voice sounded. “I’ve been doing this for a long time.”
“So what I’m hearing is that you deserve some rest.”
Milio looked at her again, his dimples back in place around his smile.
“We can’t afford the Inn.” She explained.
“I can get you two a room. I’ve been staying there for four days now, and the owner loves me.” She smiled. Jinx noticed how white her teeth were, how shiny her hair looked. The way her clothes were still white despite them being in the middle of a literal desert.
She reeked of money.
“Lux-”
“It’s been three months since my exile, and you are the first person since then that I have actually enjoyed talking to.” She blurted out. Milio’s eyes were getting bigger and bigger and Jinx knew she had little time left until she caved.
“I can’t pay you back.”
“I’m not asking you to.”
She thought for a second, weighing her options. Finally, with an exasperated sigh as she threw her head back, she nodded.
“Fine.”
“YES!” Milio shouted.