-217- Helping with the lighting?

"Father, how do you think they managed to do it?"

In mid-May, the prince of Demacia was standing with his hands behind his back, staring in astonishment at the peculiar and enormous structures rising from the magnificent square below.

The predominant color of the building was deep blue, a stark contrast to the traditional Demacian architecture, but undeniably striking. Under the scorching sun, the deep blue color, wrapped in silver-white surroundings, dazzled in the eyes of Jarvan IV.

It looked like a massive house made of sapphires.

That shade of blue was enchanting.

"..."

King Jarvan III stood behind the prince in silence, though his eyes also betrayed a sense of astonishment.

These days, he had been observing the people from Piltover and Zaun; they hadn't done anything improper within the capital city, diligently working every day.

And yet, in just over ten days, these people from Piltover and Zaun had managed to establish the prototype of a Hex gate in Demacia. Looking at the structure before him, King Jarvan III couldn't help but feel impressed by their efficiency.

Their Hex gate seemed to change every day.

What exactly is science?

What makes Piltover and Zaun's scientific advancements so powerful?

Where is the difference between science, magic, and knowledge?

Unconsciously, King Jarvan III found himself intrigued by Linwin's words and the concept of science mentioned by the people from Piltover and Zaun.

In fact, Demacia was not as closed-off, indifferent, and aloof as outsiders believed. Just as outsiders always assumed that mages in Demacia would be sentenced to death upon capture, they never truly understood Demacia. It was merely their biased perception of Demacia.

In reality, the fate of mages in Demacia was—

Mages could choose to renounce their magic and live peacefully within the country. Or, if their abilities weren't deemed threatening, they could join special units to assist the nation.

The most severe consequence was expulsion from Demacia.

But regardless of the outcome, mages had choices and weren't summarily executed upon capture.

And technology—magic technology.

With King Jarvan III's foresight, he was well aware that in the future, whether it was Hextech weapons or devices created by Hextech, they would significantly impact the world's current state.

Just like Hex gates and Hextech phones, these two had diminished the world's distances—especially Hextech phones. Nowadays, the nobility of Demacia couldn't function without these convenient little boxes.

And the Hextech hoverboards and Hextech rifles used by Piltover and Zaun's enforcers, the powerful Hextech weapons, had changed the plight of the weak.

With just a period of training, ordinary people could become soldiers whom even the most fearless vanguards needed to treat cautiously.

This was also why the population of the city-states was small. 

If Noxus possessed Hextech weaponry—

King Jarvan III could imagine what would happen then.

So should Demacia change?

Times have changed.

With this in mind, King Jarvan III suddenly spoke, "My son, are you interested in studying?"

Upon hearing this, King Jarvan IV turned his head, looking perplexed at his father, with a hint of confusion on his face. "Studying? Father, haven't I already studied enough?"

Extending his hand to pat King Jarvan IV's shoulder, the king just smiled meaningfully at his son, who was already as tall as himself.

In fact, while the king and the prince were amazed at the efficiency of Piltover and Zaun, the people from the city-states were also astonished by Demacia's military prowess.

"Can anyone tell me how they managed to do it?"

Watching as Demacian soldiers effortlessly lifted heavy stacks of metal, an engineer stood with his mouth agape, "Even though I've seen it many times, every time I see this scene, I'm still amazed."

"Back in our place, without construction vehicles, it would take a dozen people multiple trips to carry these goods. But him, he's doing it all by himself!"

"What a monster....."

"If this guy worked at the western docks, he could accomplish what others do in a month in just one day!"

The people from Piltover and Zaun were also astonished by Demacia's military might.

How were these monsters trained? What did they eat to grow like this?

How could one become like them?

---

Time slipped away in such days, and soon May passed quietly.

June, a change of seasons, Demacia officially entered the height of summer. Outside the city of Demacia, now, as Demacians walked a hundred miles, they were likely to encounter peculiar tall structures.

The time it took to construct them varied, but the difference was not significant.

Yes, in just under two months, with the assistance of Demacian soldiers, the people from Piltover and Zaun quickly erected numerous Hextech stations within Demacia.

Of course, the most magnificent structure was still in a corner of the Grand Plaza in Demacia, the grand square used by Demacia for celebrations, where a building covering thousands of square feet and reaching halfway up the grand statue had been erected.

---Hex gates, half built!

And the remaining work was something Demacian soldiers couldn't help with; it was up to the engineers.

In such days, within the Crownguard family, Lux sat on her large bed, excitedly looking down, clutching her Hextech phone in her hands, her cheeks flushed with excitement.

"Whether this call works or not depends on this phone call!"

"Demacia City and Piltover can be reached, so can we connect to Zaun now?"

"Please, please, you have to succeed! You must succeed!"

"Seraphine said that there are Hextech stations all around Noxus, so we should. We should be able to use it, right?"

Her fingers tapping on the keypad, Lux dialed a number, then closed her eyes, her nose lightly touching the cool Hextech phone as her heart pounded chaotically. She was eagerly anticipating, hoping this call would go through.

To connect to her friends.

She really had so much to say to them.

Although she had only known Powder, Zeri, and Seraphine for a short time, she couldn't deny that she was extremely happy when she was with them.

It was a friendship formed purely out of shared interests, with no ulterior motives.

Especially Powder, Lux liked her.

She had told Galio in secret when she went to see him a few days ago that if she had the chance, she wanted to take Galio to see Powder. Lux wanted to show off in front of her friends.

After all, she had a super-sized giant friend!

And Powder would definitely be interested in Galio!

"Beep beep beep"

The Hextech phone made buzzing sounds, beeping continuously.

Until Lux pouted, starting to feel a little disappointed.

A voice came through.

"Hello? Hello? This is Zeri! Who are you? I don't think I know you?!"

The lively voice echoed from Lux's Hextech phone.

"It-It's through!"

Lux exclaimed, and the next moment she quickly raised her head and spoke into the Hextech phone, "Is it Zeri?"

"Why are you repeating what I said? Of course, I'm Zeri, I'm obviously Zeri. Oh right, who are you?"

"Zeri, it's me, Lux!"

"Lux? Sounds familiar! Oh, it's you, the Lux who helps with the lighting."

"...?"

Little Lux, holding the phone, froze: (.__.)