Arcane: Mage from Noxus

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On the roof of Last Drop...

Silco gazed at the broken border bridge with a complex expression, a flicker of emotion glimmering in his sharp eyes.

Sevika, standing beside him, couldn't help but murmur in her usual blunt tone, "Well, Mr. Butler certainly outdid himself. Makes me wonder what we'll be facing next."

"Call him Viktor now," Silco replied, his voice firm.

"He's a hero of Zaun. For people like us, this is the moment we've always dreamed of."

His hands gripped the railing tightly as his eyes shifted downward, landing on the old sculpture of Vander in the square below. The tension in his voice carried unspoken words:

'You see, Vander? Only strength can secure Zaun's future.'

"What's our next move?" Sevika asked, crossing her arms.

"We push forward," Silco said coldly, his tone brooking no dissent.

"Viktor's will must be carried out. I won't tolerate discord among my ranks. He's shown us what power can achieve. We cannot afford to falter."

"Understood," Sevika replied with a nod.

Meanwhile, on another rooftop in Zaun...

A boy with white hair and a mask, symbolizing his role as the leader of the Wildfire Gang, stood silently, watching the chaos unfold in the distance. He had seen it—Viktor blowing up the bridge.

His name was Ekko. Once, he had been a ward of Benzo, Vander's close friend. But during the upheaval instigated by Silco, both Benzo and Vander had fallen on the same day.

Now, Ekko bore a deep-seated grudge against Silco, a blood feud that burned fiercely.

Behind him stood two women. Turning to face them, Ekko asked, "Piltover and Zaun are both in shambles. What are you two planning to do?"

One of the women, Caitlyn Kiramman, scowled.

"It's just another wave of corruption spreading through Zaun. That man needs to face justice for what he's done. Vi—don't tell me you're siding with him."

Vi, the pink-haired ex-convict who Caitlyn had reluctantly freed from Stillwater Prison, crossed her arms.

"I don't buy into your high-and-mighty version of justice, Cait. Honestly, Viktor's not entirely wrong."

Her words carried a hint of rebellion but also sadness. After all, Vi was not just any criminal—she was Vander's adopted daughter and Jinx's estranged older sister.

Caitlyn's expression hardened.

"I misjudged you," she said, her tone sharp and filled with disappointment.

She turned to leave, but Vi stopped her with a smirk and a playful tone.

"Relax, Cupcake. Didn't you hear what Ekko just said? Viktor and Silco are working together, and Silco's my sworn enemy. We're on the same side here—at least for now."

Caitlyn furrowed her brows. "So, what's your plan? Side with the Wildfire Gang against Viktor? Or come back to Piltover with me?"

Vi shrugged. "Let's be real. The bridge is gone. The ties between our cities are broken. Nobody in Piltover wants me around anyway."

Before Caitlyn could respond, Ekko spoke up, his voice cold but deliberate.

"Miss Kiramman, there's something you need to know. It's grim news, but you have a right to hear it. During the recent conflict, your family's manor was destroyed. Your father… didn't survive. As for your mother, Councilor Kiramman, she's badly injured."

"What?" Caitlyn's voice cracked, disbelief and horror etched into her face.

Her wide eyes locked onto Ekko, trembling as if the words themselves were too heavy to bear. Were it not for Vi catching her, she would have collapsed on the spot.

"Tell me you're lying," Caitlyn pleaded, her voice shaky with desperation.

"This can't be true!"

Ekko's gaze didn't waver. "I wouldn't lie about this. Go back to Piltover, and you'll see for yourself."

Without another word, Ekko turned and leaped from the rooftop. His green fire-lit skateboard carried him swiftly into the chaos below.

The delicate balance between Piltover and Zaun had shattered, and Ekko knew he had little time to prepare for what was coming next.

Hearing this, Caitlyn broke free from Vi's grip. She stumbled forward a few steps, clutching the railing as if it were the only thing holding her together.

Her eyes stared blankly in the direction of Piltover, her home now engulfed in chaos.

"It's not like you, Little Cake," Vi said, following her.

She leaned casually against the railing beside Caitlyn, her tone attempting to sound lighthearted but carrying an edge of concern.

"You're not one to just… give up."

"What do you know?" Caitlyn snapped, her voice trembling with grief and anger.

"It wasn't your family who died!"

She turned her head sharply, glaring at Vi with resentment etched on her tear-streaked face.

Vi let out a bitter laugh. "Yeah, you're right. It wasn't my family this time. But you think I don't get it? My family's been dead for years, Cait. First Vander, then Powder—well, what's left of her. I've had to live through it more than once. This world is seriously messed up."

Her voice cracked slightly, but she masked it with a smirk, hands stuffed deep into her pockets. Her gaze drifted toward Piltover and the broken bridge, her expression hardening.

For a moment, silence hung heavy between them. Then, when Caitlyn's breathing steadied and her sobs subsided, Vi broke the tension, her characteristic roguish grin returning to her face.

"So, Little Cake, judging by that look on your face… you've got some kind of plan, don't you?"

Caitlyn wiped her tears but didn't break eye contact. Her voice was resolute as she turned to face Vi.

"Vi, let's join forces!"

Vi raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical but intrigued.

"Join forces? With you? I mean, don't get me wrong, you're cute and all, but working with Piltover's golden girl doesn't sound like my style."

"No, not Piltover," Caitlyn said firmly, emphasizing her family name.

"It's me, Caitlyn Kiramman. I'll prove my sincerity to you. Together, we'll take down Silco and Viktor. We'll rebuild Zaun into something better—for Piltover, for Zaun, and me."

Vi studied Caitlyn for a long moment. Then, with a shrug, she extended her hand, a sly grin playing on her lips.

"Well, this oughta be interesting."

Caitlyn grasped her hand, her grip firm, her expression fierce. Justice—her justice—would be served.

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Noxian Embassy in Piltover, within Ryan's chamber...

The room was dimly lit, the air charged with faint magical energy. Katarina stood in the shadows, as she often did, ever vigilant, her emerald eyes locked onto Ryan.

She watched him in silent contemplation, studying the way the magical streams of water swirled around him.

The liquid shimmered, forming intricate rune patterns before seeping into his body, enhancing his power with every cycle.

It was a sight Katarina had grown accustomed to, seeing him meditate like this every day. Yet it never ceased to unsettle her.

The awakening of magic was rare enough, but mastering runes was something else entirely.

Katarina had once overheard Ryan explaining the potential of runes—they could amplify magic, reshape the battlefield, and even defy the laws of reality.

Teleportation, binding spells, gravity manipulation—all of it was possible for someone with the knowledge and discipline to wield them.

But unlike most Noxian magicians, Ryan didn't succumb to arrogance or complacency. He trained ceaselessly, refining his craft without rest, a trait that both inspired and annoyed her.

Suddenly, Ryan's eyes snapped open. His piercing, magical blue gaze flicked toward the window.

"Caw! Caw!"

The sharp cries of a crow echoed outside. Moments later, a dark figure appeared—a crow with feathers as black as night and blood-red eyes. It perched on the windowsill, watching them.

"Sir, I'll deal with it," Katarina said sharply, already reaching for the daggers strapped to her back.

"Don't bother." Ryan's voice was calm but firm, stopping her in her tracks.

"Open the window for him. He's an old friend—and you wouldn't stand a chance."

Katarina shot him a doubtful look.

"It's just a crow," she muttered under her breath, but she obeyed, opening the window.

The bird flew inside, landing gracefully on a perch that seemed to have been prepared for it.

Katarina leaned back against the wall, her sharp eyes tracking the crow's every move. Then, its gaze turned to her.

For a single, horrifying moment, Katarina froze. The crow's crimson eyes bore into her soul, paralyzing her with an overwhelming sense of dread.

Her breath caught in her throat, and she felt as though her blood had turned to ice. It wasn't just a bird. It was something far more sinister, far more ancient.

But just as quickly as the crow's gaze fell on her, it shifted its attention back to Ryan. Katarina exhaled shakily, her fingers trembling as she reached for the wall to steady herself.

The crow tilted its head, its voice dripping with unnatural intelligence.

"Ryan, long time no see."

Ryan smiled faintly, his expression unreadable.

"It's been a while," he replied evenly.

Katarina remained silent, recovering from her encounter with the creature's gaze.

Whatever this crow was, it wasn't just Ryan's old friend—it was something far more dangerous.