Arcane: Winds of Change

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Chapter 42: Return (Settling Scores)

"Ekko, is this your research?" Professor Heimerdinger examined a weapon that resembled a sword but wasn't quite one. 

"Thanks to you, professor," Ekko smiled, picking up the weapon. "I modified it using the clock tower's hands. I call it the Z-Drive." 

"You truly are a genius, Ekko." Heimerdinger did not hold back his praise. He had spent days in the lab with Ekko without leaving, witnessing Ekko's talent firsthand. "Oh heavens, this is an exquisite invention. Unbelievable, this thing can manipulate time." Though Heimerdinger had been assisting Ekko in completing this invention over the past days, his contributions were more theoretical, while the practical work was executed by Ekko himself.

Ekko picked up the longsword (or so it could be considered) and swung it a few times. "Not bad, it suits my taste." 

"Boss." A keen-eared Vastaya entered upon seeing the lab's previously shut doors open.

"What's the urgent issue?" Ekko patted his shoulder, signaling him to sit and speak. 

"Piltover has declared war on Zaun!" His words startled both of them present. 

"What? No, this shouldn't be possible," Professor Heimerdinger paced back and forth in the room. 

"It's only been a few days. What about Vi? Caitlyn?" Ekko thought there was still time. It took him less than ten days to create the Z-Drive, and now war was upon them? 

"What's the situation?" Heimerdinger also inquired.

"You mean the red-haired girl, Vi? I heard she was caught trying to destroy Silco's pharmaceutical plant, together with a councilor. Now the war has just begun, both sides are probing each other. But yesterday, the first skirmish occurred, and Zaun lost many people." 

"Something this important should have been reported sooner!" Ekko grew anxious.

"But with your lab sealed, we had no way to inform you," he replied, feeling wronged.

"Alright, alright. Let me think about what to do now," Ekko stood deep in thought.

"I think I should return, Ekko," Heimerdinger's eyes showed a hint of compassion. "As the founder of Piltover, I know why I created the city in the first place, to escape the wars brought by magic. And now, they've strayed from their original purpose. Perhaps, I should see why my creation turned out this way," his words carried a tinge of sorrow.

"Professor, you can't return on your own. Let me help you," Ekko offered. While Firelights couldn't directly face off against Silco's forces, they could help the professor dismantle this conflict from within.

"Alright, we can work together," Heimerdinger agreed after some consideration.

Ekko picked up his hoverboard. "Next, your job is to protect your families. Don't let them be harmed by the war," he instructed. 

"Got it."

---- Sun Gate ----

"Look, the Sun Gate is completely closed," Jinx stood at the bridge, the sea breeze strong, blowing her blue-green hair into the air. 

"Clearly, something's happened," Phil's brows furrowed tightly. "Let's take the alternate route back to Zaun."

Following a tributary, Phil and his group circled around until they returned to Zaun.

Jinx took a deep breath and exhaled, "Zaun is still the best. After being at sea for so long, even my breath smells fishy," she complained. 

"When we left, Zaun wasn't this desolate," noticing the deserted streets, the two quickened their pace. 

The stalls that used to sell Glowtoad were all closed. It seemed like something serious had indeed happened. 

The two went directly to Silco's office. Seeing who it was, Silco was about to reprimand them for not knocking but held his words back. 

"Hey, what's going on in Zaun?" Jinx took a chair and sat right across from him.

"How should I put it?" Silco organized his thoughts. "They've declared war on Zaun, but our Councilor Talis wants to go back for negotiations. He said he can calm this war. How reliable do you think his words are?" 

"War? What about the casualties?" Phil asked. 

"Not optimistic. Although it was just a probing skirmish, Zaun still lost a lot of people. I've given high compensations to the victims," Silco shook his head. 

"The deal failed. Plank never intended to trade. Maybe Zaun is too weak in their eyes," Phil sighed. "However, I did make a little profit, just enough for emergencies." Phil recalled the gold he got with Twisted Fate, which could temporarily tide him over. 

Silco nodded, recounting the events during Phil's absence. "He can be trusted, but let him leave his hexstone. It should be a stable hexstone, possibly even a crystalline core from the Brackern," Phil thought for a while. "Let's visit our dear councilor." 

They then went to the prison cell. Hearing sounds, Jayce quickly stood up, "Have you decided? I told you I can stop the war." 

"You can try, but don't think you'll get your weapon back," Phil appeared at the door, directly unlocking the shackles. Jayce knew he had no room to bargain. 

"And what about her?" Jayce pointed to Vi. Jinx was standing next to Phil, but Vi was still in the shadows, unaware of Jinx's presence. 

"She gets to leave with you," Jinx answered Jayce's question roughly. 

"Powder?" Hearing Jinx's voice, Vi looked up immediately. "Powder, what are you doing here?" 

"Powder? Powder is dead, as per your choice, sis." Jinx looked at Vi coldly, her tone filled with sarcasm. Perhaps a simple hug could melt Jinx's icy exterior, or maybe nothing Vi does could heal the sisters' rift. Vi felt anxious, wanting to reach out but unsure of what to say. 

Phil patted Jinx's shoulder, signaling her to calm down. Then he left with Jayce. This was a moment for the sisters alone; others shouldn't interfere. Phil knew this was Jinx's inner demon, and only she could overcome it. He allowed Vi to interact with Jinx because he understood what Vi had been through and that those who endure hardships without losing their true selves deserve respect, no matter their stance. 

"Wait here for a while, see if you can recruit a teammate," Phil smiled at Jayce. 

"Were those mechs your invention? Do the people of the undercity know such things?" Jayce suddenly thought of something and asked, though his tone still showed a lack of respect for the undercity.