"Hmm, it's getting cloudy. I hope it drizzles chocolate soon!"~ Candy King Ivern
Is it interesting? And are you enjoying this arc? I know its just been building but it has to be at a point where it finally matters. Simply because of Gregori being too strong right now. Its like dropping a nuke to beat a normal human. The scale of a Darkin battle is so large that they all will just die without the Darkin actually trying to kill them.
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"You built all of this?" Faye asked Viktor as he led them through the town.
"I didn't build them." He titled his head trying to figure out the right words, "I merely..... gave the present structures a nudge."
"Through this Arcaneof yours?" Faye asked.
Viktor nodded, "Quite alike the magic she possesses." He pointed toward Rell.
Rell fixed the man with a stare, "Your magic is like Ferromancy?"
"Ferromancy?" Viktor frowned, "Power over metals...." He looked at Rell, "Can you control my body?"
Rell shrugged, "Haven't tried. And not interested. But I can control every single metal object in the vicinity. The whole place is charged with magic."
"Considering you managed to restrain this one without major strain." He gestured toward Vander who lumbered alongside them. "I can only estimate that you can do a lot more."
Rell nodded.
"Then how do you hold all this power and act normal..... as if your power cannot bring about changes that would take the average person years to do." He waved his hands, "You could build all of this in mere moments."
"I could." Rell answered, "But why? I don't see any need to."
Viktor frowned, "But you are so much more."
"Am I?" Rell asked the man, "I am the very same as anyone else. The presence of magic doesn't make me any less human than anyone."
"But you need to have a sense of responsibility to those weaker than you." Viktor preached.
Rell shook her head, "No. Everyone has their own lives to lead. Just because I can do things they can't doesn't mean that I should lead their lives for them. I want to lead my own life.... as a normal person."
Viktor looked at the girl, contemplating his own decisions.
"Daddy saved us when we were younger." Briar stepped in, "And after that he's been taking care of us. Our younger years weren't very good. That's why a normal happy life is all we desire."
Daani bent to Faye's level and whispered, "She is surprisingly eloquent when she needs to be."
"That's because she is smarter than you." Faye shot back.
Daani turned to her in mock anger.
Meanwhile, Viktor looked taken aback due to the revelation, "Your father? He isn't here?"
"He is taking care of something right now." Faye answered, "Should return soon.... I'm guessing anywhere between this month or the next. Then we'll be on our way."
Rell reacted a little sadly to that comment.
She didn't want to leave.
Piltover seemed like a pretty good place for a fresh start.
Their home in Targon was great but..... it was still isolated. And she understood the reason for the isolation, the Darkin couldn't be anywhere with a lot of people. Just one misstep and they'd all die.
But she wanted to live her life.
Not be caged again.
She felt grateful to her father for all that he had done, as well as for the unconditional love and affection he showed them, but over the years it got stifling.
Sighing, Viktor continued walking, "Vander's psyche is deeply entangled with that of the beast." Pausing, he found a nearby fountain to sit beside.
"You figured out the name...." Sevika stated.
"Yes. He told me."
"Ask for a miracle healer and get a metal fortune cookie." Jinx said as she walked around.
A brief smile flashed on his face as Viktor continued, "I saw your father Powder. His dream of your family and his visions for what Zaun could have been." He looked at Vander wistfully, "It was.... beautiful."
On the mention of her name, Jinx flinched.
"You have much to offer to the commune, Powder. Your talents can be used to build instead of destroy." Viktor said calmly.
"I'll stick to what I know thanks." Jinx replied, "The question is..... can you fix him?"
"I'll do all that I can." Viktor answered, "But I have one condition."
"Seems like you have a couple." Sevika interrupted.
Viktor looked at Vander, "Just one. I only ask that he be restrained at night. I've seen the harm... of which he is capable."
Sevika looked at Vander and then at Jinx.
She nodded.
"Okay." Sevika answered.
"You can wait for an extra opinion on this if you'd like." Viktor spoke.
"Hm?" Jinx asked.
He raised a finger pointing to the entrance of the commune, "Your sister is making her way here right now."
"How'd you know that?" Faye asked.
Viktor smiled, "Those touched by my magic, if they wish to, they can send messages to me. Distance is never an issue. All of us are connected with my magic creating a web holding us together."
"Can you control them?" Mel asked, frowning at those words.
Viktor turned to her, "Control? No. But I can speak through them. Their actions are their own. But it is all peaceful. And they can speak through me as well. I'm sure you remember councilman Salo..."
Mel nodded.
"The explosion.... it left him crippled."
"I know this." Mel said.
"He came to me for healing and I helped him. He walks among us at this very moment. Happy and content." He said, "Would you like to speak to him?"
"Through you?" Mel clarified.
Viktor nodded.
Mel let out a shaky breath, "No. I don't think so."
Viktor nodded once again before turning to the side, "Here they come. Your sister and another person." He turned to the others, "Presumably someone you know."
"Brother." Briar answered.
"And the two waiting outside?" Viktor asked, "Would they not give up their weapons?"
Briar shook her head, "Iceborn cannot give up their weapons."
"Cannot?" He asked.
"They prefer it if they have it close to them or on their person, even during sleep."
"And this Iceborn is from?" Viktor asked.
"Native to the Freljord." Sydell answered as he got within earshot of them, "She was with our father before any of us and we are not going to force her to give up her weapon. It is just not possible."
"And you must be.." Viktor asked.
"Sydell." He answered, "Their brother."
"Nice to meet you." Viktor answered.
"Is that..." Vi asked as she looked at the creature had father had become.
"Vander." Jinx confirmed.
She walked up to him and stopped inches from his face.
Recognition flashed in the beast's face. It opened its mouth, "V.....Viioooollleettt." It drawled.
Tears flowed down Vi's cheeks, "Vander."
"Viiiolet." Vander said, raising one hand toward her.
Jinx moved forward to pull Vi out of the way but Viktor's hand sprung up between them, "Watch." He said.
Vander's clawed hand fell softly on Vi's head. "Viiiolet." An expression akin to a smile formed on his face. He turned to Jinx, "Poowder."
Vi reached in and pulled the transformed Vander into a hug. Not to be left behind, Jinx leapt into the embrace as well.
After a moment to think, Isha ran up and hugged their legs.
Vander held them both.
"Daddy can get bigger." Daani whispered.
THWACK
Rell hit him over the head, "Shut up. Don't disturb their reunion."
"It was soft." Daani whispered. "They couldn't have heard it."
"I did hear it idiot." Jinx spoke through the hug.
THWACK
Rell hit him atop the head once more.
"Sorry." He eked out.
"Are you willing to make your decision now?" Viktor asked as he watched them break up the hug.
Vi looked confused.
Viktor explained his condition again.
"What should we do?" Vi asked Jinx.
Jinx looked surprised, "You are asking me?"
"He's your father too." Vi seemed to let go of her unbreakable persona and looked more vulnerable than anyone had seen her be before.
"Great fucking family dynamic we have here." Jinx chuckled.
Vi chuckled helplessly, "Shut it."
"Do it." Jinx told Viktor.
The man nodded and led Vander to a large metal greenhouse.
Meanwhile, Sydell slipped away and started exploring the place. The architecture had him confused. The colors. He had seen them before.
Just where exactly had he seen them?
Where?