Arcane: Mage from Noxus

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Ryan listened to Camille's words, a faint smile lingering at the corner of his mouth.

He wasn't bothered by the sharpness in her tone.

Camille had always been straightforward, her bluntness a reflection of her confidence and strength.

He had a preference for dealing with honest people like her.

"The stagnant waters between Piltover and Zaun must flow," Ryan began.

"Only through this can we foster a stable, strong, competitive relationship."

Camille, however, remained unconvinced.

"This is no time for an arms race, Ryan. Military competition leads to the unchecked development of weapons and technology, which ultimately does little to improve people's livelihoods."

Her tone was measured but firm, and her disagreement was clear.

Ryan's smile didn't waver.

"Camille, what makes you think our weapons are powerful enough as they are? You've seen what some individuals in Ionia are capable of. The enemies the future empire will face will be a hundred times stronger than even them."

Lifting the teacup from the table, he took a calm sip, his expression unreadable.

"A hundred times stronger than Ionia?" Camille echoed, her Hextech-blue eyes narrowing slightly.

A flicker of memory crossed her face—an unpleasant one, tied to her experiences in Ionia. Tilting her head, she allowed a mocking smile to tug at her lips.

"If these enemies are so powerful, then I hardly think Piltover is in any position to imagine itself as their rival," she said dryly.

Ryan remained unperturbed. "Piltover and Zaun house the most advanced ideas in all of Runeterra. Yet, this pursuit of innovation is starting to stagnate, becoming nothing more than a hollow formality. We must take action to preserve it."

Camille leaned back slightly, crossing her legs. Her posture was relaxed, but her gaze was as sharp as her words.

"I agree with that sentiment, but an arms race? That's your solution?"

Ryan met her eyes with a calm confidence.

"Threats drive progress. Competition forces innovation, pushing individuals and societies to surpass their limits. The empire thrives under this pressure, and Piltover can do the same."

His words carried a weight that hinted at the futures of countless people.

"Noxus might be the most powerful nation now," he continued, "but it doesn't hold the foresight to advance for the sake of others. In the face of the looming crises Runeterra will face, the entire continent must mobilize."

"And naturally, Noxus will take the lead," Camille interjected with a wry smile, already seeing through his intentions.

Ryan didn't deny it, nor did he need to.

Camille sighed softly, shaking her head. "Well, at least I can hear your conviction. I don't know whether I should feel sad or proud. I won't object to your experiments here, but remember—this is my home. I won't let you ruin it. Keep your meddling limited."

Ryan nodded. "I have no desire to spoil this place. But some competition, confined to a select few, can act as a catalyst for growth."

Camille's lips curled into an almost imperceptible smirk.

"Silco, Ekko, Viktor, Jinx, Vi, Jayce, Caitlyn?"

She listed the names with a playful glint in her eyes.

"Speaking of Jinx," she added, "to reassure the people, the council has decided to execute her publicly. It's set for a week from now. Any rescue plans from Zaun?"

Her tone was light, but there was a sharp edge to her words.

"One will come," Ryan replied calmly.

"The others..."

He turned his gaze to Seraphine, his expression softening.

"Seraphine, do you plan to intervene?"

Seraphine straightened immediately, waving her hands in protest.

"Master Ryan! Absolutely not!" Her tone was filled with righteous indignation.

"I have no intention of getting involved in this!"

Seraphine had no desire to create trouble for Ryan or to tangle with the likes of Jayce or Heimerdinger, both of whom were masters of technology.

Soul magic would be ineffective against them.

She recalled the warnings of her own soul, which had screamed at her during her time at the academy. Standing up now would land her in prison alongside Jinx.

And besides, Jinx wasn't the type to sit quietly and listen to peaceful reasoning or soothing music.

"Then it seems only one will go," Ryan mused a trace of regret in his voice.

"What a shame. But at least his strength is sufficient. I doubt Piltover will be able to hold him."

Camille shrugged nonchalantly. "Take her if you must, but don't make a spectacle. The divide between Piltover and Zaun has grown too deep. The younger generations in both cities lack any sense of unity. A split is inevitable."

Ryan chuckled softly, his eyes glinting with amusement.

"Not quite the pessimism I expected from you, Camille. I thought you'd take it further."

He raised his teacup once more, sipping leisurely, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.

"Joining the Trifarix has given me the opportunity to revisit Piltover," Camille began her voice calm yet laced with thoughtfulness.

"It would be foolish for this city to continue dragging Zaun along. People like me, or even Heimerdinger, often reminisce about the days when Piltover wasn't as fractured…"

She paused, the faintest sigh escaping her lips.

"But when we examine the reality, it's clear that Piltover and Zaun are as much a burden to each other as they are allies. Zaun doesn't truly need Piltover, and Piltover, in clinging to Zaun, has lost pieces of itself."

Camille shook her head slightly, her Hextech-blue eyes glinting as she reflected on her words.

She hadn't abandoned her loyalty to Piltover or her sense of duty to her family's legacy.

However, after reassessing the interconnected fates of the two cities, Camille had come to a stark realization:

Piltover needed something more than outdated ties to Zaun.

"Neither Zaun nor Piltover should bind themselves to the other," she continued, her tone steady.

"As long as the two don't spiral into outright war, their separation would benefit both sides. In time, these cities will forget their history of love and hatred. They'll forge a new model of competition—one unburdened by the past."

The faintest trace of a smile played across her lips as she added, "And thanks to my Hextech heart, time is no longer a concern for me. I have every opportunity to witness the emergence of a better future for the Twin Cities with my own eyes."

Ryan, listening intently, gave her a small nod of approval.

"It seems you've stepped beyond the limited perspective of a city-state. That's an achievement worth congratulating. By working with the Trifarix and the empire, I'm confident you'll gain even greater insights in time."

He lifted his teacup and took a thoughtful sip. As he set it back down, his hand paused briefly. Sensing the thoughts of the young woman behind him, he turned slightly and said with a calm smile:

"Seraphine, if you have questions, feel free to ask. Camille is a very patient woman."

Seraphine blinked, her blue crystalline eyes gleaming mischievously as she looked at Camille.

"Dear Ms. Ferros, may I ask what happened between those two yesterday?"

"Kiramann and Vi?" Camille's lips quirked slightly as she spoke the names.

Seeing Seraphine nod eagerly, she continued,

"Thanks to your restraint yesterday, the enforcers regained consciousness quickly and got them out in time. However, even confined to hospital beds, those two emotional fools couldn't stay calm. I'd wager more trouble is brewing already."

Seraphine's expression turned apologetic as she touched her index fingers together.

"That was my fault… I caused yesterday's problems."

Camille's gaze was sharp but not unkind as she responded.

"Your issue lies in strength. Theirs lies in their mindset. Improving your abilities is within reach, but those two? They might be hopeless."

Turning to Ryan, Camille gave him a wry glance.

She'd only learned today that Seraphine was his student. She shook her head faintly, both impressed and exasperated.

"Don't take all the blame on yourself, child," Camille said gently.

"This mess has Vi written all over it."

"Vi? Why her?" Seraphine's confusion was evident as she tilted her head.

Since entering the room, she hadn't heard the souls of Ryan or Camille stir.

If not for Katarina's ever-present soul song resonating faintly in the background, Seraphine might've thought her abilities were faltering.

After Ryan's lesson yesterday, she'd come to understand the level of power Camille wielded. The woman before her wasn't just a guardian of Piltover—she was a true Champion.

Camille's reply was straightforward, tinged with her usual bluntness.

"Vi is an unqualified sister."

Seraphine hesitated, her voice soft but filled with conviction.

"But… she's been trying to save her sister. Even if that's not what Jinx needs."

Camille chuckled lightly; her smile tinged with irony.

"Trying to save someone without understanding what they need? Acting on nothing but wishful thinking? That's the mark of a failed sibling."

For a brief moment, Camille's gaze turned distant. She was reminded of her conflicts with Stevan, her brother, when her family was still whole.

"I'm a sister, too," she said softly, her voice carrying a rare note of nostalgia.

"Whenever Stevan and I disagreed, I never made things harder for him. I was always the one to make concessions."

Camille paused, her tone growing more resolute.

"Whether it was before my Hextech surgery when Stevan wanted me to stay and uphold the family legacy… or after, when he sought to cast me out for what I'd become—I never allowed him to bear the burden of choice. That's my responsibility as the eldest."

She folded her arms, her eyes focusing once more on Seraphine.

"Vi might mean well, but good intentions alone don't make a good sister."