Arcane: Mage from Noxus

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When Night Fell - Piltover Enforcers Bureau

"Children, this isn't going to be a game. Are you sure you want to come?"

Camille stood gracefully on the school grounds, her piercing gaze sweeping over the three young individuals standing before her.

"It's my duty to protect Piltover!" Caitlyn declared firmly, her face etched with determination.

"This all started because of me," Jayce said, his voice heavy with guilt.

"Viktor's actions are my responsibility to end."

"Don't look at me," Vi interjected with a shrug.

"Silco and I have unfinished business—he killed my father."

Vi's hextech gauntlets clanged together with a solid thud, the sound echoing in the quiet night.

These gauntlets were a treasure Caitlyn had won for her from Jayce.

Vi adored their weight and power. The price for them hadn't been too high—just cooperation with the law to bring down Silco and Viktor. That suited her just fine.

Camille let out a small, amused laugh, her eyes gleaming like sharpened blades.

"Emotion, loyalty, ideals—all riddled with flaws."

Her words sent a chill through the group, making Caitlyn and Jayce unconsciously avert their eyes. Vi, however, bristled at the implication.

"I've had plenty of fights in Zaun," Vi said, her voice sharp with annoyance.

"I know the streets better than anyone."

"Fighting? Fists?" Camille's smile widened, her voice dripping with amusement.

"I outgrew such crude tactics before you were even born. And Zaun? I was rooting out destabilizing factors there while you were still in diapers, little one."

Vi clenched her fists but said nothing. After a moment, Camille softened her tone.

"That said, I like your spirit. It's a good foundation—better than the other two."

"Thanks," Vi said casually, unbothered by the backhanded compliment.

"I feel the same way."

Camille turned her attention back to Caitlyn and Jayce.

"Alright, young enforcer, Miss Kiramman, and Mr. Talis—we should get moving."

With Camille leading, the group moved through the darkened streets of Piltover to the Ferros family's private dock.

The night cloaked the area in darkness, and the bustling merchant ships of the day were gone. All that remained was a single small boat tied to the pier.

"Are we crossing the river in that?" Caitlyn asked, pointing to the small wooden vessel. It looked barely large enough to carry the four of them.

"Why are you all looking at me?" Jayce sighed as the others turned their eyes toward him.

Reluctantly, he tied his hammer to his back and picked up the oar.

"Alright, ladies, time to board," he said, gesturing to the boat.

Camille nodded approvingly. "A gentleman of Piltover. How fitting."

She stepped onto the boat with her usual elegance, followed by Caitlyn and Vi.

Once everyone was seated, Camille gave a quick directive:

"Head to the northwest corner of Zaun. Someone will meet us there."

Jayce nodded and began rowing, the small boat gliding swiftly across the water toward Zaun.

As they moved farther from Piltover, Caitlyn turned to look back at the city. The glow of its lights reflected on the water, casting a serene beauty over the scene.

"I've never seen Piltover from this angle," Caitlyn said softly, her voice tinged with awe.

"It's beautiful."

Vi broke the moment with a teasing laugh.

"See those cannons on the shore?"

She gestured to the massive artillery lining the coastal wall.

Caitlyn nodded. "Yes, that's Professor Heimerdinger's design. One shot from those cannons could obliterate this boat in an instant."

"Exactly," Vi replied. "Piltover's a city built on brains and tech. Without them, Silco would've run you over ages ago."

Caitlyn bristled at the remark. "That's not true! Piltover has law enforcement to keep the peace."

"She's not entirely wrong," Camille said, her sharp tone cutting through the conversation. Her eyes rested on Vi with intrigue.

"The current enforcers are little more than puppets. Children like you, Vi, are exactly what they need."

Vi smirked. "Guess I'm just what the doctor ordered, huh?"

The boat continued cutting through the water, its passengers bracing themselves for what awaited them in Zaun's shadows.

"Is this an invitation? Sorry, but I'm from Zaun!"

Vi pointed to the "VI" tattoo on her face, her tone brimming with pride for her origins.

"The two cities were once one," Camille replied calmly.

"And I can tell you don't agree with Viktor's ideology. If you became a law enforcement officer, you'd have a chance—perhaps even hope—of rising to the level of a councilor."

Vi snorted, folding her arms. "Ha! A councilor? I was there that day. They were groveling like dogs in front of you and that Noxian mage. Let's not kid ourselves—it's all about who can fight, plain and simple."

She waved her fists for emphasis, her expression filled with contempt for the corrupt and cowardly councilors she had seen in Piltover.

"Perhaps," Camille replied with a faint smile.

"But to see who can fight better, you'll at least need to start by becoming a enforcer. Who knows? One day, Piltover could be yours."

Her gaze shifted to the shore, which was quickly approaching. Then, turning to Jayce, she added sharply:

"And you, Mr. Councilor, should strengthen yourself. Piltover's future can't afford to be so... fragile."

Without waiting for a response, Camille's legs extended two razor-sharp hook lines, which shot out and latched onto a wooden pier on the shore.

"Hold tight! Unless you fancy feeding the fish," she said with a smirk.

With a sudden pull, the boat surged forward with incredible speed.

Jayce, Caitlyn, and Vi clung desperately to the sides of the vessel to avoid being thrown off.

In mere seconds, the boat slammed to a halt at Zaun's shore.

Vi exhaled deeply, her shoulders relaxing as she muttered, "Enough!"

"We don't have time to linger," Camille said curtly, her sharp gaze shifting to a figure kneeling in the shadows nearby.

The man, clad in black, bowed his head respectfully.

"Where are Viktor and Silco?" Camille demanded.

The man's hoarse voice broke the silence. "They're headed to the mineral warehouse tonight. A new batch of raw hex crystals has just been excavated from the mines."

Camille's lips curved into a satisfied smile. "It seems fortune is on our side. We're close. This mission may be completed sooner than expected."

With that, Camille stepped forward, her bladed legs stabbing into the soft soil with each deliberate stride.

She began to advance deeper into Zaun's industrial shadows.

"Follow me, children. It's time to see the world."

Vi scoffed, adjusting her hex gauntlets. "I've been here for over ten years. Don't think I need you to show me around."

Caitlyn raised an eyebrow and glanced at Jayce before slinging her rifle over her shoulder and jogging to catch up.

"I haven't been here long enough," she remarked dryly, "but I'll figure it out."

Jayce hesitated briefly, sniffing the air thick with chemical fumes. He grimaced.

"The air here is still as bad as I remember," he muttered to himself.

Shaking his head, he steeled his resolve and followed, his hammer ready in hand.

----

Noxian Embassy – A Room on the Top Floor

"News from the river," Ryan said with a smirk.

"A small boat has just crossed from Piltover to Zaun. One man and three women are aboard."

Before him, a sphere of water shimmered, showing Camille's group rowing toward Zaun's shadowed docks.

"Ah, it seems the other party has set off as well. What a fascinating ensemble," Ryan murmured.

The watery image shifted, revealing another boat heading in the opposite direction—from Zaun to Piltover.

Sevika was rowing with a grim expression, while Jinx sat cross-legged, humming a lighthearted tune with her signature Gatling gun resting lazily across her lap.

"Are you always this carefree?" Sevika growled, her tone tinged with annoyance as she continued to row.

"What's there to worry about?" Jinx replied with a cackle.

"Silco's plan is foolproof—blow up those two locations and call it a day!"

"We're approaching Piltover's coastal defenses. One shot from those cannons, and this boat's as good as gone," Sevika warned, her voice sharp.

Jinx's grin widened. "Heh. Eh~" she giggled, her gaze sweeping over Sevika mockingly.

"What's wrong? You scared?"

"Scared? No. I'm worried about finishing the mission," Sevika replied curtly.

"Relax," Jinx said with a wicked smile. Her hands shifted the massive Gatling gun into bazooka mode, and she aimed it squarely at the Piltover coastal cannons.

"This baby can take out those cannons from here."

But just as her finger tightened on the trigger, her mischievous expression shifted. Her eyes narrowed as she muttered, "Huh? Something's not right."