"Marcus, someone's here to see you."
Vander's voice echoed from outside the workshop door. Since Marcus was still deep in his research, the former enforcer could only call out rather than enter uninvited.
However, Marcus had made considerable progress with his Prime equipment upgrades recently, putting him in a much more receptive mood than usual.
"Come in!" he called back.
At the sound of his voice, the two Void Angels stationed as silent sentinels beside the entrance responded in perfect synchronization. They stepped aside with fluid grace, creating a clear path for Vander to enter.
Walking into the workshop, Vander's attention was immediately drawn to several pieces of gleaming equipment scattered around Marcus's workstation. The golden accents and intricate engravings caught the light in ways that spoke of incredible craftsmanship and value. Even with Zaun's recent economic prosperity, they didn't have access to such quantities of high-quality gold.
The precious metal could only have come from Marcus himself—after all, Vander still remembered their first meeting, when the mysterious man had casually produced an entire bag of pure gold as if it were pocket change.
"Someone wants to see me?" Marcus asked, his curiosity genuinely piqued. "Who exactly?"
In this world, very few people knew of his existence or whereabouts. There was Kai'Sa, who had arrived in Runeterra alongside him, but she seemed to be managing perfectly well on her own.
Then there were the various heroes he'd encountered during his time in Freljord—several demigods, a great wizard, two tribal leaders, and the ancient Frost Witch who had chosen to remain in the Howling Abyss. But none of them seemed likely to send envoys to Zaun.
"They're from Demacia," Vander replied, a peculiar expression crossing his weathered features.
He wouldn't have been particularly surprised if Noxian representatives had appeared in Zaun—after all, the Empire had become Singed's largest customer for his enhancement potions. But Demacians? That was unexpected.
The group had arrived disguised as a merchant caravan, but when the young woman leading them had approached him specifically asking to meet "the person who could change everything," Vander had realized they weren't ordinary traders.
Still, he wasn't particularly concerned about their motives. No one could force Marcus to do anything against his will, and Zaun's current prosperity depended entirely on the man's continued presence and goodwill. Even if these visitors had demands or requests, the final decision would rest solely with Marcus himself.
"From Demacia?" Marcus raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by this development.
None of the people he'd been expecting had materialized, and now representatives from a kingdom he had no direct connection with were seeking him out.
"They specifically came to see me?" he mused aloud.
After a moment of consideration, Marcus began connecting the dots. Tryndamere had trained Garen during his younger years, and Ashe's Avarosa tribe maintained diplomatic relationships with Demacia through various channels. It wasn't too difficult to imagine how information about his activities in Freljord might have reached Demacian ears.
"Alright, let's go meet them," he decided, gesturing to dismiss his scattered equipment back into storage.
Marcus took a moment to adjust his appearance—not out of vanity, but because maintaining an unassuming exterior had served him well in the past. Then he followed Vander out of his workshop.
Zaun Foreign Affairs Office
A gold coin flipped lazily between Silco's fingers as he waited with characteristic patience. Vander had been gone for quite some time, and in his absence, the young woman from Demacia had settled into quiet contemplation, occasionally turning pages in a leather-bound tome she'd retrieved from her travel pack.
This behavior intrigued Silco considerably. The visitor seemed remarkably composed about the dramatic changes she was witnessing in Zaun—not the reaction he'd expect from someone experiencing the undercity's transformation for the first time.
In reality, Lux was struggling to process everything she'd encountered since entering Zaun. The technological marvels, the clean air, the obvious prosperity of what had once been described to her as a wretched hive of pollution and desperation—it was all so overwhelming that she'd retreated into her magical studies just to maintain some semblance of mental equilibrium.
The familiar comfort of light magic theory helped center her thoughts while her mind tried to reconcile Demacia's outdated intelligence about Zaun with the gleaming reality surrounding her.
"Hmm? Such pure light..."
As Marcus approached the Foreign Affairs Office, his enhanced senses immediately detected something unusual—a source of radiant energy so clean and focused it made him pause in surprise.
Upon entering the building, his attention was instantly drawn to the young woman absorbed in her reading. It wasn't her physical appearance that caught his interest, but rather the extraordinary purity of the magical light that emanated from her very being.
Marcus had encountered numerous powerful mages during his travels through this world, from the ancient Ryze carrying his world runes to the ice-bound Lissandra in her glacial prison. Even the mighty demigods he'd faced possessed immense strength.
Yet despite their overwhelming power, none of them carried magic as absolutely pure as what he sensed from this unassuming girl. Even Anivia, whose elemental essence was remarkably clean, only approached the level of pristine energy this visitor radiated naturally.
"From Demacia, wielding the purest light magic I've ever encountered," Marcus thought to himself. "This must be Lux."
The pieces fell into place with satisfying clarity.
"Are you the one looking for me, Lady of Radiance?" he asked aloud.
The nickname caused Lux to freeze mid-page turn, her eyes going wide with surprise. The other occupants of the room exchanged confused glances, wondering how Marcus could possibly know this young stranger.
It took several seconds for Lux to recover from her shock. She quickly stood up, closing her book and staring at Marcus with obvious bewilderment.
Based on her brother Garen's dramatic accounts, she had expected to meet someone who radiated power and authority—a larger-than-life figure whose mere presence would command respect and inspire awe. After all, this was supposedly the man who had opened Void rifts with casual ease before personally sealing away cosmic horrors that threatened entire civilizations.
Instead, she found herself looking at someone who appeared completely ordinary. Marcus could have disappeared into any crowd without attracting a second glance. The only thing that set him apart was a peculiar quality to his bearing—an understated confidence that suggested hidden depths beneath his unremarkable exterior.
"Are you really the warrior who sealed the Void incursions in Freljord?" Lux asked, her voice carrying a mixture of hope and uncertainty.
Her words sent shockwaves through everyone present. While most of them had heard rumors about Void creatures—particularly given Zaun's proximity to Shurima and its ancient Void scars—the reality of what such entities represented was genuinely terrifying to contemplate.
The revelation that Marcus had not only faced but actually defeated such cosmic threats left them speechless with awe and newfound respect.
Vander and Silco exchanged meaningful glances, both realizing that their already high estimation of Marcus's capabilities had still fallen woefully short of reality.
"I didn't expect Mr. Marcus to be the legendary Void Sealer," Benzo muttered, scratching his head in amazement. "I spent months trying to figure out who could have accomplished such a feat."
Privately, he was reconsidering every interaction he'd had with Marcus. He'd thought his respect for the man's abilities was appropriately calibrated, but clearly his imagination had been far too limited.
Similar thoughts ran through the minds of everyone present. The more one understood about the Void's true nature, the more terrifying it became—which made Marcus's victory over such entities all the more incredible.
"How did you learn about that?" Marcus asked, though his tone suggested he already suspected the answer. "Through the tribal leaders in Freljord?"
While he had a strong idea of how this information had traveled, he wanted both confirmation and to establish his credentials publicly. There was no shame in his achievements—quite the opposite. In this world, very few beings could pose any real challenge to him. The Celestial Aspects residing on Mount Targon represented potential competition, and perhaps the Aurelion Sol in his current shackled state might prove an interesting opponent. After all, any being whose title suggested the power to forge stars with casual gestures deserved serious consideration.
"Yes, my brother is General Garen of Demacia, and King Tryndamere served as his mentor during his training years," Lux explained carefully. "When Garen led our forces to provide assistance in Freljord, he learned about your achievements directly from King Tryndamere."
While this information didn't particularly surprise Marcus, it sent another wave of shock through the assembled Zaunites.
Neither Zaun nor Piltover operated under traditional nobility systems, but they certainly understood the concept of aristocratic hierarchy. Before Marcus's arrival had changed everything, both the upper and lower cities had been ruled by councils dominated by wealthy merchant families who functioned essentially as nobles in all but name.
"This girl is sister to a Demacian General?" whispers spread through the room as people tried to process meeting someone with such an elevated social position.
The discussions continued for several minutes until Marcus's voice cut through the chatter.
"I see. So tell me, why have you traveled such a great distance to find me?"
All eyes turned expectantly to Lux, everyone curious about what could have prompted such a high-ranking diplomatic mission.
Rather than answering immediately, Lux reached into her travel pack and withdrew an official-looking document sealed with royal wax.
"Prince Jarvan IV asked me to deliver this personally," she said, extending the letter toward Marcus. "Everything should be explained once you've read it."
The revelation that she was acting as a royal messenger clarified the situation somewhat, though it raised new questions about why a young noblewoman had been chosen for such an important diplomatic role.
Marcus accepted the letter and broke the seal, scanning its contents with practiced efficiency.
The document began with elaborate flattery and expressions of admiration—standard diplomatic courtesy that he skipped through quickly. The substance came later, when the prince explained Demacia's current crisis.
Noxian forces were pressing their borders relentlessly, and traditional defensive strategies were proving insufficient against some new enhancement their enemies were employing. Demacia needed to stabilize both their military situation and domestic political problems, and they were prepared to offer substantial treasures in exchange for Marcus's assistance—or at least guidance.
"I understand the situation," Marcus said finally, "but I don't involve myself in conflicts casually."
Lux's expression fell slightly at his words. During her journey to Zaun, she'd learned more about the desperate conditions along Demacia's borders. She understood the enormous pressure her brother was facing as their defenses slowly crumbled.
If their front lines collapsed entirely, all of Demacia would be consumed by warfare and suffering.
"However," Marcus continued, causing her to look up with renewed hope, "I can provide you with two items that should be sufficient to maintain your defenses."
Lux's eyes lit up with gratitude and excitement. She was intelligent enough to understand the implications of Marcus's offer. Direct intervention from someone of his power level would likely attract attention from other cosmic entities—attention that could prove far more dangerous than any conventional military threat.
Since Marcus had established his residence in Zaun, he naturally preferred to avoid drawing such scrutiny. Providing indirect assistance through powerful artifacts was a much more subtle approach.
"Follow me," Marcus instructed, turning toward the exit.
The two items he intended to give Lux were already clear in his mind: one of the Void Feathers that had molted naturally from his guardian Void Angels, and a specially crafted staff designed to complement her unique magical abilities.
The Void Feather possessed remarkable properties—it could integrate with weapons, equipment, or even living beings. Once bonded, it granted access to a spiritual form that dramatically enhanced combat capabilities while providing various protective effects.
The staff was a more spontaneous inspiration, born from his genuine curiosity about Lux's potential.
This young woman would eventually become known as the Lady of Luminosity, wielding light magic with a purity and intensity that no one else could match. She was quite literally a child of radiance made manifest.
Marcus found himself genuinely interested to see what kind of power she might achieve when provided with a focus specifically designed to amplify her natural gifts.
Marcus's Workshop
Upon reaching his private workspace, Marcus headed directly to his equipment bench. The Void Feather was easily accessible, but the staff would require some focused crafting time.
"Just set your offerings on the floor for now," he instructed Lux casually, already beginning to visualize the optimal design for her focus item.
Lux hesitated for a moment, then nodded and reached for the enchanted dimensional pack at her waist. While Demacia maintained official hostility toward magic, they still encountered various magical artifacts in their daily lives through trade, conquest, or necessity.
The storage device she carried was itself a valuable magical creation, capable of holding far more than its external dimensions should allow.
When Lux opened the pack and began emptying its contents, the resulting cascade of materials caused the entire workshop to tremble under their combined weight.
Even Marcus paused in his work to look back at what she'd brought.
"It seems Demacia is quite serious about this request," he observed with genuine surprise.
The floor was now covered with stacks of petricite (forbidden magic stone) and gleaming silversteel—already incredibly valuable materials that formed the foundation of Demacian magical defenses. But beyond these basics, Lux had also brought a collection of rare magical components that would be difficult to obtain anywhere in the world.
After studying the impressive array of treasures, Marcus considered for a moment before addressing his slightly embarrassed visitor.
"Very well. In recognition of this generosity, I'll provide you with two additional items beyond what we originally discussed. However, you'll need to wait while I complete the crafting process." He gestured toward his workbench. "For now, you can take the feather resting on that table. I'd strongly recommend being very careful about when and how you use it—this particular item is specifically intended for your brother's use."
Lux nodded eagerly and moved to collect the massive silver plume. She'd expected something light and delicate, but the moment she lifted it, the feather's surprising weight nearly caused her to stumble.
It felt as solid and heavy as if it were forged from actual metal rather than grown naturally. This discovery completely changed her understanding of what she was carrying—clearly this was no simple magical trinket, but rather a artifact of considerable power and complexity.
"Take your belongings and explore Zaun for the next few days while I work," Marcus continued. "If you want to practice your magic safely, I'd recommend visiting the Gray—there are areas there that will be... educational for someone with your talents."
Recognizing her dismissal, Lux carefully secured the Void Feather in her pack and prepared to leave. But as she stepped through the workshop doorway, her attention was immediately captured by the two imposing sculptures flanking the entrance.
"What are these...?" she whispered, studying their intricate details.
The feathers adorning these statues looked remarkably similar to the one Marcus had just given her, down to their metallic sheen and impossible weight. As she leaned closer to examine them more carefully, her hand unconsciously reached out toward one of the figures.
"Don't touch them," Marcus's voice called out from inside the workshop, carrying a note of genuine warning. "They're extremely dangerous."
The moment he finished speaking, both Void Angels simultaneously turned their heads to focus directly on Lux, their previously lifeless eyes now gleaming with predatory intelligence.