League Of Legends/Arcane: Earthbound

The knights had been kind enough to let me ride into Demacia with them, though I still felt like the odd man out. My fur-lined armor and worn cloak contrasted against their pristine, polished plate. I was the guy who showed up to a black-tie event wearing jeans and a hoodie.

As the city gates finally loomed into view, my eyes widened in disbelief. It was like walking into a dream.

The walls were immense, impossibly clean, shining under the sunlight. Towers rose up like jagged peaks of light, their gold accents catching the sky's glow. I couldn't help but stare, slack-jawed, as we passed through the main gate. Inside, it was even better.

The streets were broad and alive with people. Merchants shouted about their wares, knights patrolled in gleaming armor, and banners of royal blue and white fluttered everywhere. The air itself seemed cleaner. And the buildings—holy crap—the buildings were works of art: white stone with intricate carvings, spiraling rooftops, and golden embellishments that screamed wealth.

For a second, I forgot everything—the Noxians, my strange arrival, the cold survival of the Freljord. I felt like I'd stumbled into some kind of fantasy utopia.

"Goddamn," I muttered under my breath as I stepped down from the cart, rolling the stiffness out of my shoulders.

Ser Darius, the knight I'd been traveling with, glanced over at me. "Welcome to Demacia, Adam. This city stands as a beacon of honor and light."

"A little dramatic, don't ya think?" I said with a smirk, earning me a small glare. I quickly backtracked. "Nah, I'm just kidding. It's beautiful. I've never seen anything like it."

He gave me a nod, mounting his horse. "Safe travels, then. Remember what I said: Demacians don't take kindly to strangers causing trouble. Keep your head down."

I saluted lazily. "Head down. Got it. Thanks for the lift, Ser."

With that, the knights rode off, leaving me alone to soak it all in. For a moment, I just stood there, staring at the bustling city. Then reality hit me like a brick to the face: I had no idea where I was going.

"Alright, Adam," I muttered to myself, hands stuffed into the pockets of my cloak. "You're in the city of knights and light… now what?"

I figured I needed information. Knowledge. Books. Maybe this place had some dusty old scholar who could explain how I got here. A library seemed like the best bet, so I started walking.

First person

Walking through the streets of Demacia felt like stepping onto another planet. Everything was orderly and clean, and everyone looked so put together. It was a far cry from the snow and chaos of the Freljord—or, hell, New York City for that matter.

I noticed people eyeing me as I passed. Their expressions were wary. I guess I couldn't blame them. I looked like someone who hadn't seen a bath in weeks, walking around with fur armor and gauntlets like I was fresh out of Skyrim. I tugged my cloak tighter and tried to ignore it.

"Don't stare at them, Adam," I muttered to myself sarcastically. "Totally normal to be a fur-wearing weirdo in Gondor wonder if I'll run into Gandalf."

My internal monologue was cut off by the sound of yelling.

"Thief! Someone stop him!"

I turned just in time to see a guy barreling down the street, clutching a small bag under his arm. Behind him, a blonde girl in white-and-gold clothing was chasing after him, her voice sharp and commanding. "Stop him! Guards!"

The thief had picked the worst possible path because he was sprinting straight at me. My brain didn't even have time to think. Instinct took over.

"Alright, pal, you're done," I muttered. As soon as he got close, I spun, lifted my leg, and sent a clean roundhouse kick right into his face. I'll be honest—I didn't even know I had it in me. He crumpled like a paper bag, landing flat on his back.

"Whoa…" I muttered, staring at the guy as he groaned on the ground. Did I really just do that?

The guards were on him in seconds, yanking his arms behind his back and dragging him away.

"That was impressive!"

I turned and found myself face-to-face with the blonde girl. She was about my age—maybe a little younger—with bright blue eyes and a big, disarming smile. "Thanks for that," she said. "You really saved me some trouble."

"Uh… yeah. No problem," I said, scratching the back of my neck.

She tilted her head, looking me over with curiosity. "You're not from around here, are you?"

"Uh, no," I admitted. "Just got here. Literally."

Her eyes lit up. "Wait! Are you the one they're talking about? The ranger who came out of the woods and saved one of our caravans from Noxians?"

I groaned inwardly. Seriously? News traveled fast in Demacia. "I mean… I wouldn't put it like that," I muttered. "I was just passing by, and I figured I'd help. That's it."

She grinned. "That's still really impressive. I'm Lux, by the way."

"Adam," I replied. "Nice to meet you."

"So, what are you doing here?"

"Looking for a library," I said honestly.

She blinked, surprised. "A library? Not exactly what I was expecting."

I shrugged. "I'm looking for information. Thought it'd be a good place to start."

"Well, I can show you where it is!" she said cheerfully. "Come on!"

Before I could protest, she grabbed my arm and started pulling me along the street.

The Demacian library was just as insane as the rest of the city. It was huge, for starters, with columns of white marble and tall windows that let in golden light. The inside was even crazier: rows upon rows of shelves stacked with books and scrolls that probably weighed more than me.

"Welcome to the Grand Library," Lux said proudly. "Pretty impressive, right?"

"Yeah," I said, staring up at the massive ceiling. "I feel like I need to whisper in here or I'll get smacked by a ghost librarian."

Lux laughed as she led me deeper inside. "So, what exactly are you looking for?"

I hesitated for a moment. "Information about… other worlds. Dimensions. Stuff like that."

Lux frowned, confused. "Other worlds? Why?"

I shifted uncomfortably. "Let's just say I'm a long way from home."

Her expression softened. "Well, I'll do my best to help."

We spent a while searching. Lux grabbed books and scrolls off shelves, but nothing was even close to what I needed. Most of it was about Demacian history, wars, and noble houses—stuff I didn't care about.

Eventually, I sank into a chair, rubbing my face. "This is hopeless. There's nothing here."

Lux sat across from me, frowning. "It's a strange thing to look for… but you seem serious."

"I am," I said quietly.

Before she could ask more questions, a deep voice boomed from behind us. "Lux."

I turned to see a man who looked like he could bench-press a horse. He was huge, decked out in armor with a massive sword strapped to his back. His eyes were sharp as they landed on me.

"Garen!" Lux said, jumping up. "What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you," Garen replied gruffly. "You've been gone all day." His gaze shifted to me. "Who's this?"

"This is Adam," Lux said quickly. "He's new here. He helped some of our soldiers fight off Noxians."

Garen's eyes narrowed as he studied me. "Is that true?"

"Yeah," I said, meeting his gaze. "They were under attack. I just helped."

He frowned, stepping closer. "You don't sound like someone from the Freljord."

Oh, boy. I forced a casual shrug. "My mom's Demacian," I lied smoothly. "She taught me everything I know. My dad's from the Freljord—he's the one who taught me how to fight and survive."

Garen's expression stayed hard, but he didn't push it. "Is that so?"

"Yeah," I said, forcing a small smirk. "Not everyone up north is all grunts and battle axes."

Lux stifled a laugh, and I bit back a grin. Garen didn't look amused.

"Enjoy the city," he said finally. "But don't cause trouble. I'll be watching."

With that, he turned and walked off, his heavy armor clanking.

Lux sighed dramatically. "Don't mind him. He's just overprotective."

"No kidding," I muttered.

She smiled brightly. "Well, if you're staying in Demacia, we should hang out sometime."

My face felt hot. "Uh… yeah. Sure. That'd be cool."

Lux waved as she left, disappearing around a corner.

I sat back in my chair and exhaled, staring up at the high ceiling.

"Well," I muttered to myself, "that could've gone worse."

I had no answers, no plan, and I was stuck in a city that probably thought I was some weird ranger kid from the sticks. But at least I wasn't alone.

For now, that was enough.