"Fate really is a strange thing."
Looking at the nervous little girl before him, Duke couldn't help but smile. Jinx stood with her hands behind her back, head lowered, but she kept sneaking glances up to study his expression.
"It's good to see you both still alive."
Duke's voice softened as he reached out and ruffled her blue hair. Vi, standing at the basement entrance, saw this and her expression lit up with emotion.
There was no mistaking it, this was the skinny boy from their childhood, the one who used to clutch a gear in his arms and mutter to the sky.
Meeting Vi's gaze, Duke smiled and nodded before gently leading Jinx over to the basement door. As they approached, he teased, "Vi Ohrai, remember the time you stole my spinning gear?"
"That was ages ago! You're still holding a grudge? So petty!"
Vi playfully punched him in the chest. Duke didn't even flinch, but Vi winced, rubbing her wrist and hissing from the pain as she shook her bandaged hand.
"What the hell have you been doing to end up with a body like this?"
"Apprenticing at a workshop. Life's been decent. I even caught the Council's trial earlier today."
"Whoa! Look at Mr. High-and-Mighty Piltover!"
Milo leaned casually against the wall, sarcasm dripping from his voice. Claggor elbowed him hard in the side to shut him up.
"The Council trial?"
The deep voice came from behind them. Duke turned and found Vander watching him, pipe in hand.
"I'm interested in that. Could you tell me more?"
Vander placed a heavy hand on Duke's shoulder. In that moment, his expression flickered.
This kid… he's no ordinary brat.
Far stronger than most his age. Vander's years of experience told him enough in an instant. He smiled.
"Of course, if you tell me what happened, I might be able to help you get the materials you're looking for."
"Here, in the tavern?"
"Let's talk downstairs."
Vander pointed to the basement. Duke just shrugged and followed. Truthfully, he'd only come to Zaun to check in on Vi and Jinx. The excuse about looking for materials was just a cover.
But this unexpected opportunity? He wasn't about to pass it up. Especially since he had his eye on something Jinx was carrying, a prototype Hex Crystal.
Unfinished, sure, but packed with immense power.
If he could get his hands on it, even one or two of them...
Inside the basement, Milo and Claggor were posted at the entrance, while Jinx stayed upstairs. Vi followed Vander and Duke below.
"It's a bit rough down here, don't mind it," Vander said.
"I'm from Zaun too. Grew up here with Vi and Jinx as neighbors. Even if I've moved up to Piltover, I still remember where I came from."
Duke sat down on the couch and smiled at Vander. "What exactly do you want to know?"
"This Council trial you mentioned, what happened?"
"It's simple…" Duke glanced at Vi, leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, and began.
"A building in the Piltover elite district was bombed yesterday. People say it was four petty thieves from Zaun."
He looked Vi in the eyes before turning back to Vander.
"The one who got caught up in it is named Jayce Talis. That building was his. After the explosion, the Enforcers found dangerous materials in his lab. Since it endangered the safety of Piltover citizens... well, you know how they are."
"Those Piltover bastards are such hypocrites," Vi scoffed. "Zaun is crawling with dangerous junk, why don't they clean up their own mess?"
Duke rolled his eyes but said nothing. Honestly, if Vi and Jinx hadn't interfered, Jayce's research might've succeeded, or killed him first.
"Anyway, what happened to this Jayce guy?"
"They revoked his Academy access and put him under house arrest. Kid was reckless."
Duke shook his head, clearly unimpressed. Vander puffed silently on his pipe. Vi stood by awkwardly, unsure what to say.
She hadn't expected a bit of mischief with her team would drag an innocent into the fallout. Even if he was from the upper city, it still felt wrong.
"Vi, take him to see Benzo. He's got the stuff Duke needs."
"Sure," Vi nodded. She jerked her thumb toward the exit. "Come on. Let's get you those materials, just don't expect a kickback."
"When did you start thinking about kickbacks?"
"Isn't it supposed to come naturally?"
Their banter faded as they left the basement. Vander sat alone in silence, his face dark.
"This is bad."
He knew how temperamental Piltover's elite could be. These four kids had stirred up more than they realized.
"Storm's coming…"
Frogen Tavern – Back Alley
"Benzo buys and sells, mostly shady stuff. But there's decent gear mixed in. He'll give you a small discount out of respect for Vander, but don't count on cutting a deal."
"Doesn't the upper city have everything?" Milo circled Duke. "Why would someone from Piltover come all the way here?"
"I do my own research. Funds are tight," Duke replied coolly.
"Oooh, big-time genius," Milo jeered.
Vi grabbed him by the collar and shoved him forward. "Shut it, Milo. Don't start your crap."
"Tch. Piltover pretty-boy."
"Duke's from down here. He's Zaun-born. Doesn't matter where he lives, that's who he is."
Vi barked back while Jinx approached shyly.
"Duke, now that you're back… are you staying?"
"I'm under contract. Apprentice work. If I bail, I'll be jailed. And besides, your crew's full anyway."
He ruffled Jinx's hair and turned to Vi, his tone turning serious.
"You were behind that explosion, weren't you?"
He hadn't said it in front of Vander, but now, with just them, he didn't hold back.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Vi stopped in her tracks, nose-to-nose with him. Duke shrugged.
"I gave you a pass earlier. But when you were escaping the elite district… you ran right under my window."
"And whatever that Jayce guy was working on, if you stole the wrong thing, it could be disastrous."
"Stole what? We dumped everything we got." Milo picked his nose and shrugged. Claggor gave him another elbow jab.
"Good. Because Jayce's research was dangerous."
Duke's voice turned grave. Vi blinked and asked, "What was he working on, anyway? Can it really be that bad?"
"He was researching how to harness magical energy artificially. Built a prototype, too. If that thing goes wrong…"
Duke pointed skyward.
"…blowing up a building would be the least of it. A third of Zaun could be vaporized."
"So I need to know, did you take anything?"
Duke locked eyes with Vi. She hesitated, then exchanged a glance with Jinx.
"You two," Vi said, pointing to Milo and Claggor, "go keep watch."
"Yeah, yeah. Ever since Prettyboy showed up, we're chopped liver."
"Shut up."
Milo grumbled and left with Claggor. Vi turned to Jinx. "Those blue glass marbles, where are they?"
"Here…"
Jinx pulled out a pouch from behind her back. Inside were the glowing blue Hex Crystals, unfinished, but unmistakably powerful.
Duke's mouth twitched at the sight.
"You've got guts, I'll give you that."
"They're dangerous?" Vi asked, holding one up. Duke immediately stepped ten meters back.
"One strong bump and, boom. Magical energy explosion."
He mimicked a firework burst with his hands. Vi's scalp went numb.
So her sister had been carrying a bomb that could level half the district?
"JINX!!!"
"I didn't know it was that dangerous!"
"So, what now?" Vi narrowed her eyes. "Planning to trade them to Piltover for a reward?"
Duke shook his head. "I'm not that shameless. I believe I can create something better, safer, cleaner, more stable."
"Then why ask?"
"At first, it was to protect you. Now… name your price."
Duke pulled out his coin pouch. "Even if I don't get my materials, this unknown crystal could still be worth studying."
With Vi and Jinx, he didn't play games or spin lies. These two had a nose for bullshit.
"You seriously want something this risky?"
"It's the only energy source I can think of. It'll make my design perfect."
Vi stared at him, then rolled her eyes and stretched out her arm.
"Fine. Take it."
"…You're giving it to me?"
"We're friends, aren't we? And besides… when we were kids, I…"
"Just take it already!"
Duke chuckled at her flustered expression and accepted the gems, but only took three. The rest, he pushed back.
"Three is enough. The rest… is your problem."
He winked. With a flick of his wrist, the gems vanished from sight.
A satisfied smile crept across his face.
"The Hex Crystal is mine!"