Arcane: Mage from Noxus

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In the dim light, Ryan and Katarina walked across the white stone brick road, heading toward the Noxian embassy not far ahead.

As they moved, both Ryan and Katarina suddenly stopped in their tracks.

"Piltover really is a city with exceptional security," Ryan remarked with a faint smile, his tone dripping with irony.

Katarina sneered. "An airship blows up at the port in the morning, and by evening, a building is reduced to rubble. Are Piltover's law enforcers completely useless? They only seem capable of rushing in to clean up the mess after the damage is done."

Not far from where they stood, flames illuminated the night sky, and the roaring echoes of explosions filled the air.

A low-rise building had been obliterated, sending debris flying like fireworks. The surrounding structures bore the brunt of the blast, their walls cracking and groaning under the pressure.

"Should we intervene, Your Excellency?" Katarina asked, her voice cold and steady.

Ryan shook his head lightly, his expression contemplative.

The two silently observed as a delinquent girl with twin blue pigtails darted away from the scene with alarming agility. She turned back briefly, sticking her tongue out playfully at them before vanishing into the shadows.

"That girl was at the port earlier," Ryan murmured, narrowing his eyes.

"If the intelligence is correct, she works under Silco, the current leader of Zaun. Her name is… Jinx, isn't it?"

His gaze sharpened as he caught sight of the object in her hands—a glowing hex crystal. The energy emanating from it was distinct from the one he had handed to Viktor.

This one seemed more stable, an advancement in the technology of Piltover's famed hex crystals.

"Fascinating," Ryan mused, his voice low.

"She's also the one who attacked the port earlier today," Katarina added, her tone laced with disdain.

"That chaotic energy is unmistakable."

The two turned their attention to the site of the explosion. Amid the smoldering rubble, they spotted a figure lying prone on the ground.

"That's… Caitlyn Kiramman," Ryan observed as they approached.

Katarina raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. "Caitlyn Kiramman. Her mother, Mrs. Kiramman, is a prominent member of Piltover's council. She's known to clash with her mother frequently—her stubborn adherence to justice keeps her rooted on the front lines."

Ryan nodded, his expression unreadable. A faint blue glow emanated from the ring on his finger as he raised his hand.

A soft rain of blue light cascaded over Caitlyn's unconscious form. The warm droplets seeped into her injuries, visibly knitting them back together.

"She should wake up soon," Ryan said his tone calm.

"Thank you for your assistance, Mr. Meredith," came a voice from behind them.

Ryan turned to see Jayce Talis, his expression anxious and strained. He had arrived shortly after Ryan and Katarina, evidently rushing to the scene of the explosion. His laboratory had been at the heart of the blast.

Jayce hurried to Caitlyn's side, kneeling down to support her. Meanwhile, Piltover's enforcers finally arrived, belatedly beginning the grim task of clearing the area.

Charred bodies were carried out, and the weight of the tragedy etched itself deeply into Jayce's features.

"This… This is a disaster," Jayce muttered, his voice trembling.

"Mr. Meredith, I've heard Mel mention you before. But I'm ashamed that your visit to Piltover has shown you its very worst."

Ryan remained composed, his gaze shifting past Jayce to the shadowy figure lingering in the distance. Viktor stood hesitantly, half-concealed by the ruins of a nearby building.

"The continent of Valoran is far from peaceful," Ryan replied, his voice steady.

"Incidents like this are not unique to Piltover, nor to Zaun. Even the Immortal Bastion in Noxus is no stranger to chaos. Have you uncovered any leads on who might be responsible?"

Jayce clenched his fists, anger flashing in his eyes.

"It must be the people from the undercity—Zaunites. But… we're all citizens of Piltover in the end. I can't understand why they would do this."

Ryan's lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile.

'Who is this 'we' you speak of, Jayce?' he thought, shaking his head.

"What do you think of Piltover and Zaun?" Ryan asked, his tone probing.

"This is my first time visiting, but from what I've heard and what I've seen, neither of these places truly feels like a city."

Jayce hesitated, his grip tightening on Caitlyn's hand.

"My partner is from Zaun," he said earnestly.

"I hold no prejudice against them."

Ryan and Katarina exchanged a brief glance. The irony in Jayce's statement was almost laughable. If there was truly no prejudice, why did he feel the need to declare it?

Before Ryan could respond, Caitlyn stirred. Her eyes fluttered open, weak but determined.

"Jayce…?" she murmured.

"Caitlyn! Thank goodness you're alright," Jayce said with visible relief, his voice softening. He cast a quick, apologetic glance at Ryan.

"What about… the others?" Caitlyn whispered, struggling to sit up, but her body refused to cooperate.

Ryan stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "Miss Kiramman, my magic only healed the worst of your injuries. The damage from the explosion will take time for your body to fully recover from. Rest is imperative."

"Who are you? … And the Noxians from this morning—why are you here?" Caitlyn frowned, her voice sharp with suspicion. She didn't have a favorable impression of Ryan or his companion.

"Caitlyn, Mr. Meredith saved your life," Jayce explained, his voice somber.

His gaze drifted unconsciously toward the charred bodies lying nearby; his expression shadowed with guilt.

"How is this possible!?"

Following his gaze, Caitlyn saw the burned remains scattered across the scene. Her pupils shrank in shock, and for a moment, it seemed she might faint again.

Jayce knelt beside her, his expression urgent.

"Do you have any clues? This attack was no ordinary incident. Hex crystals were stolen, and several critical research materials are missing."

He clenched his fists as he spoke. The stolen items were far too dangerous in the wrong hands—if weaponized, they could spark a war.

Jayce's mind raced with shame and self-recrimination. He had just reassured Heimerdinger and Councillor Medarda earlier that Hextech security was airtight. Yet, within hours, the unthinkable had occurred.

The disaster also dredged up painful memories from years ago—when his lab was first attacked, the hex crystal stolen, and Piltover's foundation shaken.

Back then, the ordeal had ended on a hopeful note: the rise of Hextech, his partnership with Viktor, and Mel's guidance.

But this time… would the ending be as forgiving?

"Let me think…" Caitlyn muttered, breaking him out of his thoughts. She pressed a hand to her temple, clearly struggling to recall the details.

Moments later, her body stiffened, and her eyes snapped open with a burst of clarity.

"I remember now! It was the same people from the lower city who blew up the airship at the airport this morning!"

Jayce leaned forward eagerly. "Do you have a specific suspect?"

Caitlyn's face fell into frustration. "I… I don't have a name. All I know is that the perpetrators left a monkey-like symbol at the scene—it was painted on the airship as well. And before I passed out, I vaguely saw a blue-haired woman."

"That's enough for now," Jayce reassured her gently, though the mention of a "blue-haired woman" visibly unsettled him.

Caitlyn, regaining some of her usual resolve, raised her chin.

"I'll investigate this myself. The lower city is crawling with criminals. I wasn't able to interrogate the suspect we caught at the airship, but another gang member—one Mr. Meredith apprehended—provided some useful information."

Ryan's interest piqued, and he stepped closer. "Can you share what you learned? I doubt the green-haired fellow I captured had much of a tight lip."

Caitlyn nodded. "He claimed to be a member of the Wildfire Gang. According to him, it's one of the largest gangs in Zaun."

Hearing this, Ryan's expression grew faintly amused. The Wildfire Gang? If Noxian intelligence was accurate, Silco's faction far outstripped the Wildfire Gang in influence and power.

The Wildfire Gang was little more than a second-rate group, overshadowed by Silco's Shimmer-fueled empire.

"They believe Shimmer shouldn't exist in this world," Caitlyn continued.

"That's why they targeted the airship—it was transporting a shipment of Shimmer."

Jayce's expression twisted in disgust. "Shimmer… contraband. Mel told me as much about the cargo."

He turned back to Caitlyn. "Did your source mention who's behind Shimmer's production?"

Caitlyn shook her head, frustration flashing in her eyes. "He didn't know. We did capture someone who might have known more, but… the Council got in the way. Councillor Medarda was insistent on delivering the Shimmer shipment to the Noxians, and the Sheriff refused to let me question the prisoner. I couldn't do anything."

Her tone softened slightly as she looked at Jayce.

"But I'm not giving up. I'll find the truth myself."

Jayce's face tightened with concern. "Don't be reckless, Caitlyn. The people in the lower city are dangerous. I'll push for a thorough investigation in the council tomorrow. I'm sure both Professor Heimerdinger and Mel will back the motion."

While the two spoke, Ryan observed them silently, his sharp gaze drifting to a shadow behind Jayce. The figure that had been lingering there moments ago—Viktor—was now gone.

Interesting, Ryan thought to himself.

Finally, Ryan broke his silence.

"Mr. Talis, Miss Kiramman, it's getting late. I'll leave the rest in your capable hands. Have a good evening."

Jayce turned to him, nodding solemnly. "Mr. Meredith, on behalf of Piltover, thank you for your assistance tonight. You have my gratitude."

Ryan gave a small wave, his expression indifferent.

"It was a minor effort. Let's hope Piltover enjoys a quieter tomorrow."

With that, Ryan turned and walked away, Katarina following silently behind him.

As they disappeared into the night, Ryan's lips curled into a faint smirk. Piltover… things are getting far more interesting here than I anticipated.