Black Market, before dawn.
I stepped onto the stone-paved streets of the nocturnal harbor, entering the black market docks. The place looked similar to a common black-alley. A small area hidden by surrounding tall buildings.
There were no torches. No man-made light. The entire area was lit only by the moonlight, casting its glow over the stalls and ocean.
"Stay close," Rael said quietly. "And let me speak first."
The father of the girl. He'd offered the chestplate as a gift at the bar, so he brought me here to take it.
I navigated past tightly packed stalls and moved deeper into the area, feeling the clandestine, back-alley atmosphere.
Vendors nodded as he passed. A few touched their chests in a gesture I didn't recognize yet.
Ahead, several wooden transport boats were tied to the pier, loaded with cargo.
I observed the items.
Shuriman relics laid out on cloth. Bundles of dried herbs with faint residue. Noxian spears. Maps of ship routes. A crate of Noxian uniforms, equipment, weapons stripped of insignia. Information on patrol routes hand-written on strips of leather. And many more things.
Rael spoke briefly to a merchant, then returned carrying a breastplate.
Silver-white, reflecting the moonlight better than any polished metal should.
"Here it is." He held it out.
I picked it up. Lighter than I thought. Detailed. Built for movement without sacrificing coverage. Everything about its craftsmanship screamed masterpiece.
'Petricite. Legitimate.'
"I'll also need a name," I said.
Rael raised an eyebrow.
"Something that gets me through Piltover without questions."
He considered it, then gestured toward one of the boats.
The man there didn't ask my real name. Didn't look at me longer than necessary. He simply worked, stamps and wax and ink moving with efficiency.
"Shuriman merchant," he said as he handed over the documents. "Based in Vekaura."
One of the papers had a list of things a local might know. Cultural references. Landmarks. Names of streets.
I read briefly.
'...They have a replica of the Sun Disc. And a temple.'
Thoom. Thoom. Thoom.
Distant but unmistakable. Iron-shod boots, coordinated, growing louder from the far end of the harbor.
The market moved before anyone gave an order. Stalls collapsed in seconds. Cloth bundles disappeared into bags. Vendors were already stepping onto their boats, untying ropes with the practiced speed of people who had rehearsed this exact moment.
"Now." Rael grabbed my arm briefly, already stepping onto the nearest boat. "Come."
I looked at the soldiers emerging from the far street. Noxians. A full column, torches raised.
Then I stepped aboard.
The boats pushed off from the pier, sliding silently into the dark water. But as we cleared the dock, Noxian patrol ships appeared from around the harbor mouth, lanterns burning, cutting off the exit.
Everyone was silent. But heavily anxious.
"First Light, what are we gonna do?" The boat owners asked Rael, who was tense.
Rael didn't answer.
'...first light. So he's some type of leader.'
Time was running thin. Everyone locked onto the Noxians ships.
'Well,'
I stood on the boat end. Since I was the only one who moved, they all noticed me.
'Since he helped me, I guess I should retribute.'
I raised my open hand, calm,
Gracefully,
I pressed it against the air, like touching a mirror's surface.
Together with [Nullifying Orb], a blue current spread outward from my palm, threading through the space between us and them, expanding until it filled the width of the harbor mouth from water to sky.
Forcefield.
'I learned how to force certain runes to activate through magic,'
The patrol ships hit it and with a shake they stopped dead.
'Even without the rune I can mimic its effects, but nothing beats the real thing.'
As we cleared the mouth of the harbor, a Noxian soldier walked out to see what's up.
He stopped, observing the energy field sparkle.
Then murmured as he watched us go:
"Warlock of Kalduga…"
.
.
.
Five days later.
The open sea gets boring after the first thousand miles, no matter how grand the view is supposed to be.
So, I decided to lay on the very bottom of the ship. Limbs spread like a star, arms behind my head, completely naked.
My mask and clothes were tucked away on my magical storage–I call it limbo.
Without all that heavy fabric, the cooling current of water felt incredible against my bare skin. It was very liberating.
Of course, lying starfish-style on a moving ship meant my manhood was just casually swaying with the rhythm of the waves.
Not that I hate it.
'...Piltover. First, I'll confirm the timeline by peeking at the girls. Next, test my skill-copy theory. Then the hexcore.'
Through the shimmer of my own magic, the dark ocean floor lit up. I watched the lazy dance of bioluminescent jellyfish, massive schools of fish swimming in perfect unison, a lone hunting shark, and the silent sway of the corals.
It was beautiful. Peaceful. And quiet. Something I never thought possible to experience in my old life.
'Once in Piltover…maybe I'll even...plant a seed or two for future use.'
A muffled shout echoed from above:
"There's the city!"
My ear twitched. A smile.
'I'm actually hyped for this. The god-damn city Arcane took place.'
Pushing off the hull, I made an air pocket to slide into my clothes dry before floating out onto the deck.
I threw the chestplate strap over my head, willing the back straps to shut in a Clench—tightening on their own. Then I snapped the bracers into place.
The armor looked more golden now.
'Apparently, petricite turns copper-ish when it sucks in too much mana. Didn't know that. But the guy said high-class Demacians have these as heirloom. Like their king, Jarvan III, who wears full golden armor. Rare shit.'
I looked out across the water.
Piltover was still just a silhouette on the horizon. Pointing. Sparkling. The city's reflection casting into the ocean, fluctuating beautifully across the rolling waves.
Pling!
"Finally." I muttered, opening the Ui.
[Recall–!]
I tapped it.
[Ixtal 🜃 / Piltover ⚙]
My finger hovered over the glowing Piltover text. I hesitated, recalling what had happened the last time I rushed and materialized straight inside a statue.
But then, a familiar, reassuring presence whispered to me.
[Go forward, Master. It's safe,] Aery said inside my head.
Click.
.