We were flying toward the elven forest when I noticed a village.

  Small. Stone houses, dark wooden roofs, a trampled square.

  And—movement. Too sharp. Too chaotic.

  A fight.

  About thirty people—men, clubs, knives, shouting.

  Someone else’s rage, old hatred, dust underfoot.

  — We’re landing, — I said.

  — ZEEEN! — Noxus yelled. — Again?! We were flying on business!

  I didn’t answer.

  We dove like an arrow.

  The air compressed. The dragon folded its wings. The ground rushed up.

  BOOM.

  We crashed straight into the center of the brawl.

  The shockwave scattered people like bowling pins. Someone flew into a cart, someone into a fence, someone just rolled across the ground, losing both weapon and dignity.

  The dust settled.

  People started getting up. Groaning. Looking around.

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  I jumped off the dragon.

  — What’s the problem? — I asked calmly. — Why are you fighting?

  Someone laughed hoarsely.

  — And who are you? — said a man with a split lip. — A hero or something?

  — Possibly.

  He looked me up and down and laughed again.

  — That small—and a hero?

  You lost your mind, snot-nose?

  I looked at him.

  — And you’re old, — I replied evenly. — Why are you covered in bruises?

  The laughter died.

  Another man rose from the crowd.

  — It’s them, — he said hoarsely. — People from the neighboring village.

  They stole our girl. Without consent.

  — LIES! — someone shouted. — She went herself!

  A young man of about twenty stepped forward. His hands were shaking, but he stood straight.

  — We love each other, — he said. — I didn’t steal her.

  — YOU STOLE HER! — roared a man in his thirties, face twisted. — She was supposed to marry someone else!

  — You? — I asked quietly.

  He fell silent.

  The crowd buzzed again. Shouts. Accusations.

  Stupidity. Stubbornness. The urge to solve everything with fists.

  I sighed.

  And raised my hand.

  The wind tore loose instantly.

  A vortex spun around the square, lifting dust, cloaks, straw, weapons. People were pressed to the ground—not painfully, but enough to make the difference clear.

  I let my voice turn cold.

  — Yeah…

  Adult problems, huh.

  The wind intensified.

  — You’re ready to kill each other…

  because you couldn’t talk.

  I lowered my hand.

  The vortex vanished as abruptly as it had appeared.

  — I don’t even want to waste time on you, — I said and turned toward the dragon.

  Noxus snorted:

  — Legendary. Flew in, knocked everyone down, called them idiots, and flew off.

  Classic.

  I smirked.

  — They’ll remember it.

  I mounted the dragon.

  As we took off, I saw the people in the square silently watching us leave.

  No shouting.

  No fighting.

  Just one question in their eyes:

  “Who was that?”

  I looked ahead, toward where the elven forest began.

  If I’m no longer a student…

  and no longer a soldier…

  then I’m a wanderer.

  And maybe…

  a legend that doesn’t yet know what it will become.