Chereads / Arcane: Mage from Noxus / Chapter 45 - Clockwork

Chapter 45 - Clockwork

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"Interesting hypothesis. Your idea surprised me," Ryan said, his voice calm yet probing.

"Would you mind showing me your body?"

Orianna's expression faltered, her porcelain face betraying a faint blush. Though she appeared shy, deep inside, she knew the truth—the other party had already deduced the extent of what she had done.

For someone to possess such extraordinary insight... Perhaps they truly could help her.

"Please..." she murmured softly, her voice carrying a mix of hesitation and resolve.

As she lowered her head and reached to loosen her garments, Ryan let out a quiet chuckle and shook his head.

"This is not what a gentleman does," he said, his tone steady yet firm.

"Relax. Stay seated."

With a small motion, he extended his right hand, index finger tracing symbols into the air.

Streams of water shimmered to life, coalescing into intricate runes that danced fluidly before him. The enchanted water spiraled toward Orianna, glowing faintly.

The rune seeped into her body through the center of her forehead, and Orianna shuddered slightly at the sensation.

She resisted the strange discomfort as the magical energy coursed through her. A warm current flooded her mechanical frame, lingering particularly in her chest—where her lungs and heart had once been.

What was this power?

A form of legendary magic? Could she... could she possibly learn such a thing?

As the warmth meandered through her body, a spark of emotion flickered across her face. For the first time in what felt like forever, her expression showed something deeply human—curiosity, wonder, and excitement.

How long had it been since she last felt anything?

It seemed that ever since her father completed her operation, her passion for the world beyond had faded.

Even her love for crafting dolls—once her most cherished pastime—felt hollow now.

Perhaps it was because she no longer breathed like a human.

Perhaps the yearning she once had for life had been sealed away, like the clockwork lungs that ticked rhythmically inside her—a box with no key to open it.

When the warmth finally dissipated, Orianna felt a pang of loss. But she kept her purpose in mind, her golden eyes fixed on Ryan, waiting for his judgment.

"You did this all on your own?" Ryan asked, his gaze unwavering.

"Just me," Orianna replied softly, the corners of her mouth curving into a faint, gentle smile.

She had always been alone. Each time her father left the house, she seized the chance to work on her secret aspirations.

It was the only way she could create something truly her own.

Ryan observed her for a moment, his expression inscrutable. Finally, he spoke.

"Would you like to serve under me?" His voice carried a rare weight.

"I can restore your father to how he once was—without the need for that human heart."

From the corner of the room, Katarina, who had been silent until now, raised an eyebrow at Ryan.

For once, his demeanor seemed utterly serious, devoid of his usual indifference.

It was a side of him she hadn't often seen. After all, she knew Ryan well enough—he was a quintessential Noxian.

"The price of helping this girl is merely an invitation to serve as a subordinate... What a rare privilege," Katarina thought, her sharp green eyes fixed on Orianna.

In her experience, few had ever received such an offer from Ryan. Among them, only Camille came to mind—a woman with the precision and determination to earn his respect.

Yet, Orianna surprised her. The clockwork maiden shook her head slightly, determination shining through her otherwise delicate features.

"Mr. Ryan," Orianna began softly, "I am willing to be your subordinate, but I don't want that human heart to go to waste. If you are willing to help me, I will follow you forever."

She lowered her head, placing her hands neatly on her knees.

She wasn't certain if her refusal of Ryan's seemingly magnanimous offer would one day haunt her, but she had made up her mind.

Regret was no longer an option.

Ryan's silence stretched on, and its weight pressed down on her.

For a fleeting moment, she felt as though the air itself had abandoned her, leaving her to be swallowed by a dark abyss of despair.

"Did he refuse me...?"

Her thoughts turned bitter, a self-deprecating smile curling at the edges of her lips. She lowered her head further, her expression shadowed by quiet desolation.

No protests. No hysteria. Only resignation.

"May I ask," Ryan's voice cut through the suffocating silence, steady and clear, "where are you planning to go from here?"

Orianna's head snapped up, her golden eyes wide with surprise. Without hesitation, she answered, her voice quick and earnest:

"Mr. Ryan, I've prepared everything I could. My father's body is too weak. The moment his heart is removed, he will die. I had hoped to stabilize him using a Hextech gem to sustain his life during the surgery and complete the heart transplant immediately after."

Ryan regarded her quietly before speaking, his tone firm yet patient.

"It's an admirable plan," he began, "but you overestimate the Hex Gem's capabilities. It cannot do what you imagine. Just because it sustains you does not mean it can prolong life in others."

Orianna's heart sank at his words. Her carefully laid plans unraveled in an instant.

Ryan's voice softened, offering an alternative.

"If I cast a spell to stabilize him, it could extend his life by another ten years. It wouldn't last as long as the transplant, but it would give you time."

Orianna lowered her head again, struggling to keep her emotions in check.

Her father was not yet forty. If it weren't for her—if it weren't for the accident—he wouldn't be in this condition.

Sadness lingered on her face, but she forced herself to find calm amidst the storm of her thoughts. Ryan's suggestion might very well be the best choice she had.

"Never catching the right moment..." she muttered.

"Opportunities always slip away..."

Just then, a soft, melancholic voice drifted into the workshop, carrying a hauntingly beautiful melody.

"When we feel broken, we begin to understand..."

"If you want to move forward, you must let go of what you hold dear..."

The singer's voice resonated deep within Orianna's chest, stirring emotions she had long thought forgotten.

Ryan's brow furrowed, a faint shimmer of magic in his eyes as he dispelled the enchantment threatening to sway him.

Turning toward the window, his gaze seemed to pierce through the walls, locking onto the source of the voice.

There, sitting by herself with her knees drawn up to her chest, was a pink-haired girl, singing softly to the empty street.

"A natural soul singer," Ryan murmured, almost to himself.

"What an extraordinary gift."

Before even meeting her, he had already judged the girl to be exceptional.

"Seraphine, sir?" Orianna asked, catching his gaze.

"She's... an odd girl from Workshop Street. She rarely leaves her room and doesn't talk to anyone. Most people think she's strange."

Despite the sadness lingering in her chest, Orianna felt a strange sense of relief as she listened to Seraphine's song. Her lips twitched into a faint, forced smile as she explained.

"Mr. Ryan," Orianna said after a pause, "please. I beg you to act on my behalf. If you do this, I will devote myself to you and sever all ties with my father and this workshop."

Ryan's lips curved into a faint, enigmatic smile.

"Perhaps there's another way—if you can persuade that singer to lend you her talent."

Orianna's eyes widened in surprise.

"Seraphine?"

Ryan nodded, his tone measured.

"Her voice has the ability to resonate with the soul. A rare gift. She is destined for something greater. Meeting her now could only mean she shares a destiny with Noxus."

Orianna stood quickly, bowing deeply before him.

"Mr. Ryan, wait here. I'll speak with her at once."

She turned to leave, but just as she reached the door, Ryan's calm voice stopped her in her tracks.

"There is no way back from the transformation of the body. You either become a machine, or you become scrap metal. Are you prepared for that?"

Orianna paused, his words hanging heavily in the air. Slowly, she turned her head, her voice unwavering.

"Mr. Ryan, thank you. To me, there's no difference between mechanical and physical. Call me a robot, a puppet, a clockwork demon—I will accept any title if it means I can continue forward."

With that, she stepped into the street, her resolve unwavering as she walked toward the source of the song.