"Where are we even gonna find Singed, Vi?" Mylo asked, shoving his hands into his pockets.
The group moved through the dimly lit alleyway. Despite the late hour, Zaun's streets buzzed with life. Here, rest was a luxury few could afford if they hoped to survive another day.
"I don't know," Violet replied curtly. "We'll ask around. Someone's gotta know."
Their footsteps echoed as they delved deeper into the labyrinth of alleys. Suddenly, a voice cut through the gloom.
"Hello there."
A hooded figure emerged from the shadows, blocking their path. His dark cloak obscured most of his face, but the staff he carried glinted faintly in the flickering streetlights.
Startled, Violet stepped forward, fists clenched. "Who are you? What do you want?" she demanded.
The figure tilted his head slightly, his voice calm and measured. "I believe I hold answers to the questions that plague you... a cure for your family."
Before he could say more, Violet lunged. Her fist shot toward him in a blur, but the man sidestepped with practiced ease. Her punch struck the wall behind him, sending chunks of brick and dust scattering. She hadn't intended to land the hit—just to intimidate—but his quick reflexes only made her warier.
"You might consider listening before acting," he remarked, unfazed. "There's a workshop in Piltover—a place many overlook but not I. Inside, there's a crystal. Rare. Potent. Its properties could restore your brother's strength—perhaps even free him from his affliction entirely."
Violet's eyes narrowed. "And what makes you think I trust you? You just happen to know about Duke, about what he needs? How do I know this isn't some trap?"
The figure tilted his head again, the faintest hint of a smile curling beneath his hood. "Trust is irrelevant. What I offer is a path. Whether you take it or not is your choice. But time, I imagine, isn't something you can afford to waste."
Her gaze hardened as she studied him, searching for any sign of deceit. "Why would you care? What's in it for you?"
The hooded man stepped closer, his presence heavy but not overbearing. "My motives are my own. They needn't concern you. In time, when the pieces align, you'll understand."
He turned to leave but paused, glancing over his shoulder. Though his face remained obscured, his voice carried weight. "Good luck with your endeavors, Vi. You'll need it."
And then he was gone, vanishing into the shadows.
"Vi, this guy's shady," Claggor muttered, placing a hand on her shoulder. "We shouldn't rush into this. Maybe Vander can help—"
"Don't bring up Vander," Violet snapped, shrugging his hand off. "I don't want to rely on him anymore."
"Oh, come on, Claggor," Mylo said with a grin. "The guy's right. We need that crystal for Duke. We grab it, we leave, and no one even notices. Easy."
Violet hesitated, clenching her teeth as doubt churned inside her. But the thought of Duke suffering another day was unbearable. She shoved her hands into her jacket pockets, fists tight.
"Let's go," she muttered, her voice hard with resolve. "Nothing wrong with trying."
Claggor sighed, his worry etched on his face, but he followed.
...
As they neared the Piltover checkpoint, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed behind them. Violet spun around, fists raised, only to see Powder sprinting toward them. The younger girl was panting heavily, clutching a small bag against her chest. Her flushed face glistened with sweat, but her wide eyes gleamed with determination.
"Let me help, Vi!" Powder pleaded, her voice trembling. "I don't want Big Brother to suffer anymore!"
Violet's jaw tightened. "Powder! What about Duke? Why'd you leave him alone?"
"Vander's home," Powder panted, struggling to steady her breath. "He'll take care of Duke. I didn't tell him you're looking for Singed, I swear! Please, Vi—I can help!"
Violet's fists clenched. "Powder, this is dangerous! If Vander finds out, he'll lose it!"
"But—!" Powder's voice cracked, her eyes brimming with tears. "I can't just sit there! Please, Vi—I want to help Duke too!"
Violet hesitated, her frustration warring with the fierce determination in her sister's face. Finally, she let out a heavy sigh. "Fine. But you stay back. You don't do _anything_ unless I say so. Got it?"
Powder's tears vanished, replaced by a bright, determined smile. "I promise, Vi!"
"Well," Mylo snickered, a grin spreading across his face. "This just got a whole lot more interesting."
Claggor rubbed the back of his neck with a groan. "We're gonna regret this, aren't we?"
Violet ignored him, her focus already shifting back to the path ahead. Whatever came next, she refused to fail Duke—or her family.
...
Unlike Zaun, Piltover's nights were quieter, though not devoid of life. The streets weren't bustling, but a few stragglers lingered—scientists engrossed in their work and the occasional patrol keeping watch.
Inside Jayce's workshop, Violet moved with purpose. "We're here for the crystal. Don't screw this up," she ordered, kicking open the balcony door.
The gang slipped inside, their footsteps light and quick. Mylo's jaw dropped as he scanned the room, marveling at the strange, glittering contraptions scattered on shelves and tables.
He picked up an ornate figurine and smirked. "You know, we could grab some of this stuff for ourselves. Maybe get Duke something nice while we're at it."
Claggor rolled his eyes and smacked the back of Mylo's head, making him drop the figurine with a loud clatter. "Focus, Mylo. We find the crystal, then we get out. Fast."
Violet shot a warning look over her shoulder, though her gaze briefly lingered on the shiny trinkets. "He's right. Don't weigh us down with junk. We've got bigger problems."
Mylo grinned sheepishly, rubbing his head.
Meanwhile, Powder wandered into a side room. Her eyes lit up when she spotted two sandwiches sitting on a small table. She took a bite, savored it, then stuffed the other into her bag. Her gaze shifted to a curious chest-like object in the corner. She approached it, her heart racing with anticipation.
"Vi! I think I found it!" Powder's excited voice rang out.
The gang rushed to her side as she opened the chest. Inside, nestled among strange instruments, lay the crystal. Violet reached in carefully, cradling the pulsing gem in her hand.
Violet reached in, her movements deliberate as she cradled the gem in her palm. "This is it," she murmured, holding it up to inspect.
"Doesn't look like much," Mylo muttered, squinting at it. "Just a shiny rock. Can it really cure Duke?"
Claggor shuffled uneasily. "Let's not stick around to find out. We've got what we came for. Time to go."
Violet nodded, her grip tightening around the crystal. "Pack up. Mylo, grab the bag. Let's move."
As they turned to leave, a faint creak echoed from the workshop's main door. Her head snapped toward the sound.
"Claggor! Mylo!" she barked. "Block the door!"
Claggor lunged, throwing his weight against the door, while Mylo jammed a chair under the handle. Violet spun to Powder. "Hurry, Powder! Grab the crystal and anything else we can use!"
Powder nodded nervously, fumbling with the bag as she stuffed the crystal and other objects inside. She didn't notice the crystal slip from her grasp in her rush. It fell to the floor with a small clink, bouncing once... twice...
It bounced once.
Twice.
Then it stopped.
The crystal pulsed violently, sparks of energy flaring outward.
"Powder!" Violet shouted, sprinting toward her sister.
Before Powder could react, the crystal detonated with a deafening roar. Blue energy ripped through the room, sending shockwaves that shook the building. Violet tackled Powder, shielding her as debris rained down. Sparks crackled across the floor, splitting wooden planks and filling the air with electric-blue light.
A sharp whistle cut through the chaos—the sound of a train horn—and the distant shouts of enforcers pierced the night air.
"What do we do, Vi?" Powder whispered, trembling as she clung to Violet.
"You've really done it this time, Powder," Mylo growled, brushing soot from his jacket. "What's next? You gonna blow up the whole city?"
"Enough!" Violet snapped, silencing him with a glare. "We're running. Now!"
The gang bolted for the balcony, leaping across rooftops as the glowing remnants of the explosion lit Piltover's skyline. Below, enforcers flooded the streets.
"There they are!"
An enforcer's shout was followed by the hiss of a bolas net flying through the air. Claggor ducked, the net narrowly missing him and tangling in a nearby railing.
"Keep moving!" Violet yelled, leading them through the maze of rooftops and narrow alleys.
Their lungs burned as they pushed on, zigzagging through Piltover's crumbling outskirts. Violet spotted a release valve on a pipe and smashed it as they passed. A thick cloud of acrid smoke billowed out, masking their escape.
Finally, they huddled in the shadows of a narrow alley.
"Think we lost 'em," Claggor panted, leaning against the wall.
Mylo shook his head, scowling at Powder. "Barely. Maybe next time, don't drop the glowy death rock, huh?"
Powder wanted to argue back but remembering it was about her brother, she wimped clutching Violet's hand. "I'm sorry... I just wanted to help."
Violet sighed, her voice softening. "We got out. That's what matters. Let's get back to Duke."
They disappeared into the night, the faint hum of enforcer activity still echoing in the distance.
Meanwhile, atop a nearby rooftop, a figure in a dark robe watched the smoldering ruins of the workshop. His staff glowed faintly in the moonlight as he muttered, "This is all I can offer you, Jayce. Intervention beyond this would disrupt the weave of what must be."
He turned, his voice low and resolute. "The course must remain unbroken. The past dictates the present, and the present carves the future's path. Progress demands sacrifice, no matter the pain."
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