Arcane: Begging for Help in a Parallel Universe!

"Why the hesitation?" Link Star asked, his voice calm and measured. "Not interested?"

"Ha—" Jinx blew at the strands of hair falling onto her forehead. Her eyes darted aimlessly, refusing to settle on a focal point. She rubbed the back of her neck, fidgeting with her bangs, her unease clear.

Watching her, Link sighed internally.

The fates of Jinx and Vi, the two main players in this story, were tightly intertwined. If he could help one of them, the path forward for both could shift dramatically.

But their struggles were deeply personal. One sister was trapped by inner conflict, the other by the shadows of her past. Neither could move forward nor leave their pain behind to build a better future.

Vi couldn't let go of her parents' death or Vander's loss. And yet, she was equally bound by her loyalty to Caitlyn, caught in a mire of unresolved emotions.

Jinx's case was different yet just as tragic. A childhood of rejection followed by trauma after trauma had left her on the edge of self-destruction. Killing Silco, the one who had taken her in and treated her as his own, only deepened the storm within her.

In Arcane 2, Jinx's spiral of self-destruction was evident throughout the story. From isolating herself after Silco's death to her confrontation with Sevika and her eventual breakdown at the Wind Temple, it all stemmed from her deep-seated turmoil.

It wasn't until she formed a bond with Little Hat Isha, raised hell in Stillwater Prison, gained Zaunites' recognition, and uncovered Vander's survival that her mental state found a semblance of stability.

But this fragile peace shattered when Jayce's Hextech cannon inadvertently drove Vander to madness, leading to Isha's sacrifice. Jinx spiraled into despair again.

Without Ekko's repeated time-rewinds using his Z-Drive, Jinx would have succumbed to her despair in her hideout.

And at the story's climax, Vi's inexplicable actions drove Jinx to leap with Warwick into the Hexgate, detonating a bomb—a simultaneous act of rescue and self-destruction.

That was Jinx's answer to herself: obliteration.

Like Vi's rage-filled shouts during the old cannery fire, Jinx saw herself as a harbinger of ruin, bringing calamity to anyone near her.

Now, though, Jinx hadn't yet met Isha. She was still lost, her destructive tendencies just starting to surface.

Her visit to the Last Drop was likely just an excuse to meet Sevika. After helping Sevika out, Jinx would, if nothing changed, return to her aimless wandering until the weight of her turmoil finally broke her.

If he wanted to save Jinx, Link knew he had to address her emotional wounds.

Little Hat Isha's presence and the recognition from Zaunites had once given Jinx emotional grounding. These were the forces that had motivated her to brag to Vi about being a hero who saved countless Zaunites.

Her boasting, in truth, was a cry for Vi's approval—a desperate attempt to fill the void inside her.

To change Jinx's fate, Link needed to rebuild her emotional foundation and address that emptiness.

Speaking of which—

Link glanced upward and spotted a flicker of movement near the pipe above. His eyebrows raised slightly.

It seemed Little Hat had already started following Jinx.

Jinx's life was about to take a turn.

With Isha's companionship, her emotions might stabilize, and she might begin to heal.

When dealing with Jinx, Link knew he had to be direct. No convoluted games.

"Who cares about that pink-haired gorilla with fists for brains?" Jinx scoffed, feigning indifference. "Besides, how do I know you're not just trying to scam me?"

She placed a hand on her hip and tilted her chin up. "I'm a wanted criminal in Piltover. My bounty's worth... well, a ton of gold!"

Jinx's voice dropped as she smirked, her eyes flashing with mischief. "How do I know you're not here for my bounty, huh?"

"You probably want something from me, but I don't think I've got anything worth your while!"

Link met her gaze evenly, his tone calm yet compelling. "Didn't your mother ever tell you stories about Janna's temple when you were little?"

"I want the location of that temple," he said simply. "In exchange, I'll arrange for you to see Vander again."

Jinx's eyes widened, her breath catching. "What did you just say?"

Ignoring her shock, Link pressed on. "Even Silco. I can make it so you'll see him again."

"How about it, Jinx?" He extended his hand. "Let's make a deal."

"You're lying!" Jinx pulled her gun and aimed it at Link. Her fingers trembled on the trigger as she muttered, "Vander's dead. There's no way I'll ever see him again."

"You're just trying to trick me, aren't you?"

"Silco too... I killed him with my own hands. How could I ever face him again?"

Her voice quivered. "I called out to him, screamed for him, and he ignored me. He kept hiding from me. How could I ever see him again?"

"You're lying! You must be lying for my bounty, so—" Jinx cut herself off, her face growing cold and distant.

"Ten days," Link said, ignoring the gun pointed at him. "Give me ten days, and I'll make sure you see Vander again."

"Ha... hahaha—" Jinx laughed, the sound hollow. "And why would I believe you?"

"A deal requires trust, fairness, and honesty," Link replied. "If you trust me and give me ten days, I'll make it happen."

"Ridiculous!" Jinx spat, though her grip on her gun wavered.

"I trust you," Link said firmly, cutting through her skepticism.

Jinx blinked, her posture faltering. "What did you say?"

"I said, I trust you. So trust me."

He stepped forward, allowing the barrel of her gun to press against his chest.

"Trust yourself," Link murmured, his voice softening. He placed his hand gently on the gun, lowering it.

"It's just ten days. If you let me, I'll make sure you see Vander again—and Silco, if you wish."

Jinx stammered, "You... you... you're just..."

In response, Link removed his helmet, revealing his face.

"Here's my sincerity," he said, meeting her gaze directly. "Everyone in Piltover is hunting me. Even Noxus wants me. My identity could make someone rich beyond belief."

"But now, you've seen my face. You know my weakness."

"I think we have the basis for trust now, don't we?"

Jinx stared at him, momentarily speechless. She glanced away, mumbling, "It's not like I care about seeing your face or anything!"

"However—" She shot him a sideways glance. "Since you're willing to trust me, I guess I'll believe you this one time."

"If you betray me—"

"I won't," Link interrupted, clutching his helmet. "I promise you'll see Vander again."

"So give me ten days, Jinx."