Before the Day of Progress

Tomorrow was the Day of Progress, and yet, we still hadn't caught that bastard. Since the encounter with the decoy, Jhin had refrained from any killings, but his presence loomed large over our efforts. Sheriff Caitlyn spent countless nights meticulously reviewing our collected clues and devising various plans, haunted by the elusive nature of our quarry.

I assisted her whenever I could, while Vi pursued her own leads, apprehending criminals and spies. Many Noxian spies were captured, even within the Medarda Family, a Noxian clan. It appeared that they had turned against their own empire, as numerous spies attempted to infiltrate them to uncover their weapon-making techniques. However, it seemed that someone had already reverse-engineered Piltover's hextech technology, evidenced by Jhin's firearm, which bore hextech components and engraved bullets imbued with spirit magic.

Today marked the end of our collaboration, and we celebrated our partnership at a restaurant. Caitlyn insisted on commemorating our teamwork despite our failure to apprehend Jhin.

"Lucas, pass me the salt!" Vi called out, gesturing toward the seasoning with a playful grin. I handed it over, watching as she liberally sprinkled it over her meal, much to Caitlyn's disapproval.

Caitlyn, in contrast, ate with the poise befitting her status. Vi's upbringing had clearly been different, lacking the refinement typically associated with nobility. But it was hardly her fault.

"Thanks," Vi said with a grin, before digging back into her food.

Observing their dynamic, I couldn't help but smile. Vi, the rough-and-tumble enforcer, and Caitlyn, the sharp-witted strategist, made for an unlikely but effective duo.

"So," I began, cutting into my steak, "what's next for you two?"

Caitlyn glanced at Vi before answering, "Maintaining order in Piltover, as always."

"And Zaun," Vi chimed in with a smirk.

"And what about you? You've been rather tight-lipped about your life before Piltover," Caitlyn inquired, sipping her wine.

I chuckled softly. "Just heading home, back to my friends and those who rely on me," I replied with a warm smile.

Vi grinned approvingly, while Caitlyn's expression softened. "A noble pursuit. But where exactly do you come from? You're a mage, so Demacia seems unlikely, you're not Ionian or Shuriman, and you seem to have no fondness for Noxus."

"From a land far, far away," I replied cryptically, returning Caitlyn's gaze with a playful twinkle in my eye.

Vi let out an exasperated grunt, reaching for her food with renewed gusto. "Always with the secrets," she muttered between mouthfuls.

"Heh, secrets keep life interesting," I replied with a playful wink.

Caitlyn rolled her eyes in mock exasperation before returning her attention to her meal.

As we continued dining, two figures entered the restaurant. Despite their attempts at disguise, I recognized them immediately: Shen and Akali. Akali appeared visibly injured, with bandages covering her arms and cheeks, while Shen's expression held a mixture of surprise and curiosity as his gaze met mine.

I offered Shen a subtle nod of acknowledgment, wondering if he had sensed my presence.

I sensed Shen's attention on me, and we shared a silent understanding through our eyes. As they approached, Shen pulled out three chairs, drawing curious glances from the other diners. It was unusual for such a bold move to be made in a Piltover restaurant.

"Greetings," Shen said as he settled into his seat, while Akali offered a muttered acknowledgement, resting her head wearily on the table.

I observed the third chair next to Shen, noticing the subtle movement of shadows, and soon recognized the figure that materialized: Zed, the ninja leader of the Order of the Shadow.

Vi's demeanor turned hostile as she clenched her teeth, her eyes darting between Shen and Zed's bloodied blade.

"Vi, calm down," Caitlyn interjected, her tone more diplomatic. "They surely have a valid reason for being here."

Vi's expression softened slightly at Caitlyn's words, but she remained wary.

"I apologize for not informing you earlier," I interjected, trying to defuse the tension. Vi's glare shifted to me, her frustration evident.

"We were supposed to celebrate our partnership!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with indignation.

"I understand your frustration, Vi," I said apologetically, drawing Caitlyn's attention. "But this ties to Jhin."

Shen nodded in agreement. "Indeed, young man," he said, addressing me. "Jhin was a prisoner that Zed and I captured years ago. As he has escaped, it is our responsibility to capture him once again."

Vi scoffed, but Caitlyn remained attentive, nodding for them to continue.

"What clues do you have?" Caitlyn inquired, her tone businesslike.

"We have already captured a dozen copycats," Zed explained, gesturing to Akali, who bore the scars of their encounters. "But we were ambushed by Jhin. Akali here is a testament to his danger."

"We had the assistance of the Gray Lady for our investigation," Shen added calmly.

Vi scoffed. "As if we're going to believe that. The Gray Lady is just a myth."

"Am I?" came a synthetic voice from above. We all looked up to see Camille, the Gray Lady, observing us from a beam in the restaurant.

Vi's eyes widened, while Caitlyn maintained her composure, though I could detect a hint of surprise in her gaze.

Camille descended gracefully, the metallic sound of her legs striking the ground reverberating through the room.

"Catching Jhin is a task that requires my expertise. This hasn't happened since Silco," she declared as she took a seat at a nearby chair.

"Why didn't you cooperate with us from the beginning?" Caitlyn asked, her brow furrowing as she regarded the group.

"Because we can't trust you," Zed replied bluntly. "You're not trained to handle Jhin's trickery and weaponry. You would have perished if it weren't for the mage here, girl."

Vi growled, her frustration evident, while Caitlyn lowered her head in shame. I placed a reassuring hand on Caitlyn's shoulder, offering her a comforting smile.

"Don't be ashamed. You're young, and talent alone doesn't solve everything in this world," I reassured her.

Turning my attention to Akali, I utilized my magic to swiftly heal her wounds, enveloping her body in a soothing golden light. The others watched in astonishment as I worked.

"If we're going to find Jhin, we can't afford to have anyone be a liability," I explained, scanning the surroundings.

"You can come out now, Vagran. I sense your presence," I called out. From the familiar shadows of the restaurant, an enormous demon clad in black armor emerged. Shen and Zed exchanged surprised glances, sensing something significant with their heightened perception.

"Is replying to my messages too much for you, you bastard?" I scolded him, my frown deepening as he simply shrugged in response.

"You're not my mom," he retorted casually, grabbing a chair and joining our table. "And I did something I've been itching to do for a while."

"What did you do?" I pressed, knowing full well that Vagran's definition of 'punishment' could be rather extreme. His grin only confirmed my suspicions.

"I handed out some well-deserved retribution for the past few months," he explained with a bloodthirsty gleam in his eyes. "Don't worry, we won't be hearing from the Mageseekers for a while."

I sighed, fearing the diplomatic fallout from his actions. Demacia had initiated hostilities first by hunting us like animals, but Vagran's methods tended to be much more direct and destructive.

As Caitlyn and the others looked on, she inquired, "Is this one of your friends?" Her gaze lingered on Vagran's impressive human form, his muscular physique drawing attention.

"Yes, meet Vagran, a Demon Lord," I introduced, though I could see their confusion regarding his title. To them, he was simply a demon.

"Isn't that a bit too handsome for a demon?" Vi quipped, eyeing Vagran's muscular physique.

"Well, what can I say? I was just born different," Vagran replied with a cocky smile, conjuring a bottle of wine and taking a swig straight from the bottle.

I sighed at Vagran's antics, feeling Caitlyn's disapproving gaze on me. I shrugged, silently acknowledging her unspoken question.

"Vagran, can you track Jhin throughout the cit -" I began, but before I could finish, his hand abruptly cut me off.

"I already bagged him," he interjected, taking another swig from the bottle. "Found him trying to off Renata, but I swooped in like a hero and put the clown to sleep for a while."

With a snap of his fingers, Vagran opened a portal, dropping Jhin's unconscious body at our feet, much to everyone's surprise.

"Why didn't you just use your magic to catch him, Lucas?" Vagran questioned, his tone bordering on accusation. Caitlyn and Vi turned their questioning gazes on me, mixed with a hint of disappointment.

"The last time I used magic so overtly, how was I rewarded?" I countered, meeting Vagran's gaze head-on. "Piltover is our only way home, and I refuse to risk our safety by drawing unnecessary attention. Especially in a city where the top researcher has a deep-seated fear of magic."

"Scaredy cat mentality," Vagran continued, his words sending a chill through the room. "If they're scared of you, you just need to kill them and take what's theirs."

His callous remark earned horrified gazes from everyone present, except for Zed and Camille, who remained impassive.

"And this is precisely why you're a demon, Vagran," I replied, my tone firm as I rose from my seat. Meeting the disappointed gazes of Vi and Caitlyn was difficult, but I held my ground. I knew I had allowed people to die in pursuit of my own desires to return home, but what were a few lives compared to the safety of millions? To me, it was a sacrifice worth making, even if it meant stalling our investigation for a time.

Vagran grunted in response. "Perhaps you have something to say to me, Lucas Aldaric? Do you wish to fight?" His eyes blazed with a fiery intensity as his demonic armor began to manifest.

"You're not in your right state, Vagran," I said firmly, trying to defuse the tension. "Go back to the hostel and cool off. You seem more aggressive than usual."

"Am I?" he retorted, his voice tinged with frustration. "All I want is a fight now. I sought out the Mageseekers for a challenge, but they fell so easily it was pathetic. And now, I've obliterated a criminal in Ionia in an instant. So yes, Lucas, I do want to fight people like you. People who can level a city with a single spell. It's what gets my blood pumping."

"And I don't want to," I replied firmly as I made my way toward the door. But before I could reach it, I was met with a fist encased in armor. Reacting quickly, I created a magical shield just in time to block his punch, sending a gust of wind that sent nearby tables and chairs flying.

"Stop!" Caitlyn's voice rang out, her gun trained on Vagran as she looked at me with pained eyes. "You're fighting in a restaurant. If you want to fight, take it outside the city and settle it there!"

I sighed heavily. "Caitlyn, if you were in my position, you would have done the same."

"I don't think so, Lucas Aldaric," she retorted, her voice strained with emotion. "I prioritize the lives of my citizens over whatever plan you've concocted."

"You don't understand the stakes of what I have to do," I countered.

"Then tell us now," Caitlyn demanded, her grip on her rifle tightening. "What is it that you're planning to do in Piltover, or I'll have to restrain you right here!"

"No! I want to fight!" Vagran interjected, his body pulsing with chaotic energy.

Without hesitation, I moved my hands, conjuring a portal above him that sucked him inside before disappearing, teleporting him to another location.

As the tension in the room began to ease, I turned back to Caitlyn, who still held her weapon at the ready.

"Fine, I'll explain," I said wearily, returning to the table. "But it's likely to shock you."

I took a seat and addressed the group gathered around me.

"What do you know about the Void?" I asked, scanning their faces. Most of the Piltover residents seemed puzzled, while Shen seemed more familiar with the topic, his gaze shifting to Akali for confirmation.

"The Void is a plague, an insatiable force of monsters that threaten to devour our realm," Shen replied solemnly.

I nodded. "Indeed. And what you may not know is that the Void poses a grave threat to your world. According to information I've received from the Veiled Lady of Demacia, the Void will consume your entire world within the next twenty years."

The revelation prompted gasps and widened eyes from everyone present.

"But here's something I haven't shared yet," I continued, drawing their attention. "I'm not from this world. I come from a distant realm, and I was teleported here along with Vagran due to an accident during one of our explorations."

"We found ourselves in Demacia, where Morgana aided us in traveling to Piltover. The Hexgates played a crucial role in our plan," I explained further.

"I made a promise to Morgana that our world could serve as a refuge, an island of safety where all inhabitants of Valoran could find shelter after the impending cataclysm."

As I finished speaking, I could sense the weight of the information sinking in, and the gravity of our situation becoming ever more apparent.

"We must speak to Jayce and Heimerdinger immediately!" Caitlyn exclaimed, her urgency palpable as she began to rise from her seat.

"Let's not rush into this, Caitlyn," I interjected, trying to temper her impulsive reaction. "Tomorrow will suffice for our discussions."

"Tomorrow?" Caitlyn's voice rose incredulously. "Our lives are at stake here. We need to act swiftly!"

"Calm yourself, Kiraman," Camille's synthetic voice intervened, her presence a soothing influence on the tense atmosphere. She settled back into her seat, her expression composed.

I glanced around the table, observing Shen's pensive demeanor and Akali's restless fidgeting with her kunai.

"The importance of securing the council's approval for the use of the Hexgates cannot be overstated," I emphasized, addressing the group. Camille nodded in agreement with my sentiment.

"You'll have the backing of my family for your proposal," she offered, directing her assurance towards Caitlyn.

"I'll speak to my mother as well," Caitlyn pledged, her voice laced with optimism. "I'm confident she'll support our cause once she understands the gravity of the situation."

"If necessary, I can propose to her a noble title," I suggested, offering a potential incentive to sway Caitlyn's mother. 'Even though noble titles may not hold much significance, it could still serve as leverage.'

A hush fell over the table as all eyes turned towards me, awaiting my response.

"A noble title? Are you a king or something?" Akali's voice broke the silence, her tone laced with amusement, prompting a smirk from Vi and a frown from Caitlyn.

"In fact, I am," I replied with a smile, causing Akali's eyes to widen in disbelief, mirroring the reactions of Vi and Caitlyn, whose jaws practically hit the floor.

"What?!" Their incredulous exclamations filled the air as they struggled to process this revelation.

I met their shocked gazes with a serene smile.

—

Well that'll be all for today

See you soon :)