Ren's words had struck a chord with the youths. As children of Zaun, who among them hadn't dreamed of something more? But they had been beaten down by reality, trapped by the struggle to survive, and their ambitions had worn away.
Now, someone had finally stood up to fight for that dream—and he was powerful. The boys had to consider if this was the only chance they would ever get in their lives.
They wanted to join. They wanted to help. They wanted to do something for Zaun.
"Welcome," Ren said, placing a hand on the shoulder of the boy who had spoken for them. "Let's do something for Zaun. Together."
With a new piece of turf successfully claimed, Ren held a brief meeting, after which everyone split up to handle their tasks.
Graves was put in charge of the Bluebird Gang, responsible for organizing and training the new recruits. Arthur was assigned as his second-in-command to help manage the gang, but his first task today was to head back to the Black Lanes and the Entresol to find his old crew and bring them into the fold.
Ren and Jinx, along with their two little companions, made their way to the House of Hope in the Entresol district. Before leaving, Ren left Graves with several crates of weapons (a portion of Sarah's thank-you gift, detailed in chapter nine).
Twisted Fate, meanwhile, took the funds Ren had given him and went to Piltover to purchase property. He'd had his eye on a three-story building that was up for sale. While there, he would also deliver a formal invitation to the Kiramman household on Ren's behalf.
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"A large volume of Hextech research reports... missing." Viktor sat in his chair while Sheriff Marcus stood beside him, adding, "There will definitely be more to this incident. So far, no one in the undercity has claimed responsibility."
Professor Heimerdinger stood alone by the window, gazing down at the streets below as if he could see straight through to Zaun. "How did it come to this?" he murmured.
Back at the council table, the seated councillors began to voice their opinions. "The undercity has been left to its own devices for too long. Our oversight has been lax."
"It is we who ceased communication," countered a dark-skinned female councillor who looked as if she'd just walked out of Wakanda. "You may not like the people of the undercity as constituents, but they are still citizens of our city."
The de facto head of enforcement, the portly older councillor, scoffed. "Those undercity folk are ungovernable. They're a stubborn, defiant lot."
A councillor with a robotic demeanor posed a question: based on the stolen research, could the undercity actually build corresponding weapons?
The "Wakandan" councillor believed it was unlikely to be a major problem. While the undercity's chem-tech and augmentation technology were advanced, they couldn't construct the weapons without the Hex-gems, which had not been stolen.
The councillor who had just been rebuked fiddled with the puzzle box Mel had gifted him and sneered, "Not a major problem? They stole research this time. Next time, it could be the gems!"
The older councillor, Jayce's patron, spoke up, his tone seemingly harsh but actually protective. He cut in before Jayce could be put on the spot. "We must resolve this immediately."
Jayce held Viktor back as he started to rise, taking all the blame upon himself. He then proposed to the Council that they suspend all Hextech research and development, including the Hex-gates, until the incident was fully resolved.
Mel's brow furrowed. This was bad. As she expected, the councillors erupted.
Piltover was a port city, its prosperity built on its strategic location and thriving trade. The Hex-gates had only amplified its success. Shutting them down now would severely damage the interests of everyone in the room. (The Professor: ?)
Good heavens, Mel thought. If she didn't know better, she'd think Jayce was a master politician who understood the art of "threatening to tear the roof down" to get what he wanted, rather than someone genuinely saying it out of concern.
Only Professor Heimerdinger, a man dedicated purely to his research, was truly moved. He was stunned that his student was willing to sacrifice his life's work for the safety of the city.
Mel began to speak. The other councillors, always willing to give face to Piltover's wealthiest woman—a woman of powerful family background, deep political skill, and excellent connections—fell silent to listen.
Looking at the complaining councillors and the roof-lifting Jayce before her, Mel played her trump card, a move akin to pulling the rug out from under them all. She proposed that the Council add a new seat, to be filled by Jayce Talis as the representative of his house.
The proposal stunned everyone. "The Council has only seven seats. That is a tradition spanning generations," the "Wakandan" councillor protested. The "robot" councillor also questioned Jayce's utter lack of political experience.
Facing the skepticism, Mel shrewdly deflected, gesturing toward Heimerdinger. "He only has experience as a scientist. Just like Heimerdinger." She used the Professor as a shield, drawing their fire.
At the mention of his name, the little yordle pondered for a moment before agreeing with Mel's proposal. He was willing to let his brilliant, self-sacrificing student become a councillor responsible for the security of Hextech.
Ultimately, after a vote, Jayce Talis became the eighth councillor of Piltover.
==========
Centuries ago, when the bustling port city was still known as Zaun, its people sought even greater profit by carving a canal through the isthmus, hoping to create a strait that would open a direct shipping lane through the Valoran continent.
On the day the work began, an excessive amount of explosives not only blasted the channel open but also shook the very foundations of the earth, triggering a massive earthquake. An entire district along the Pilt River collapsed.
The sea rushed in, claiming countless lives, while the explosives triggered a chain reaction that released a deadly, toxic alchemical gas. In an instant, it shrouded the sunken district, a fog of death that seemed determined to extinguish all life.
As the unfortunate people faced this cataclysm, they prayed for salvation from the spirit of the wind. They cried out to the heavens, calling the most ancient and sacred name they knew: Janna.
At that moment, a wind blew in from the distant sea. The wind goddess materialized in the heart of the collapsed city. She raised her staff, summoning a holy gale that swept away the toxic gas, saving most of the people. A wind wall, powerful enough to swallow clouds, held back the surging ocean, allowing people to escape the drowning cityscape. Howling gusts dispersed the thick smoke from the fires.
She saved countless souls, but she could not save them all. Thousands still lost their lives. But the survivors all bore witness to Janna's greatness and compassion.
From that day on, the sunken district became what is now Zaun, while the city on the cliffs above became Piltover.
In the wake of the disaster, many children were left without parents. A kind soul established an orphanage, which the people called the House of Hope. Its funding came from Piltover's wealthy merchants, many of whom had once been citizens of Zaun before moving topside after the catastrophe.
But a hundred years later, the funding trickling down from above dwindled, and then stopped entirely. Those wealthy upper-class families felt they had done enough over the years.
Without money, the orphanage staff left one by one. Generations passed, and now, the only remaining staff member—or rather, the director—of the House of Hope was the woman standing before Ren now: Elodie.
"May the Wind Mother protect you, and may the Gray never enter your home. It's been a long time, Mama Elodie," Ren said, addressing the kind and loving woman with deep respect.
"How many years has it been, Ren?" Elodie's eyes crinkled with a warm smile. "To see you safe and sound... it truly makes me happy." Her gaze shifted to the others beside him. "Powder?"
At the sound of her old name, the girl's demeanor shifted instantly. She lowered her head in pain, hands flying up to shield her head as if defending against a blow. The sight made Elodie's heart ache.
For a moment, Jinx's world fractured into a chaotic storm of twisted, overlapping images, voices whispering all around her...
Ren reached out, his heart clenching, wanting to comfort her, but his hand froze mid-air. She had already recovered.
Jinx snapped her head up, a wide, bright grin on her face as she bounced forward. "Heya, Mama Elodie! It's me! Long time no see! How've you been? Still performing at the Babette Grand Theater?"
It was clear that Elodie held an important place in Jinx's heart. But then, which of Zaun's orphans and children didn't adore Mama Elodie? Even Silco and the chem-barons knew not to disturb this place. If they wanted to recruit, they waited until the children were old enough to have left the orphanage's care.
Hiding the pain in her eyes, Elodie smiled back. "I'm doing very well, don't you worry. And yes, I've been performing quite often lately. If you'd like to hear a song, I can sing for you later." There were some things she couldn't bring herself to say to the children, so she changed the subject.
"And who might this little gentleman be?" she asked, her voice gentle as she turned to the small, fish-like creature. "Are you a Vastayan?"
Fizz, who loved making human friends, was overjoyed that someone was asking for his name.
"I'm Fizz! I'm a yordle! It's nice to meet you! Let's be friends!" he chirped, holding out his small hand. Elodie's smile was warm as she took it, giving it a few earnest shakes.
"Of course. We are friends now."
Her gaze drifted past the ecstatic yordle to the small girl behind him, and her heart ached anew.
"Isha? I was so sorry to hear about your parents. I went looking for you as soon as I heard, hoping to bring you here, but by the time I arrived, you were already gone..." She reached a hand out, only to let it stop uncertainly.
Isha looked at the kind woman and stepped forward, tucking her small head right under Elodie's waiting hand.
Elodie gently stroked her hair, her eyes moving between Ren, Jinx, and Fizz before she let out a soft sigh. "But it seems my worries were for nothing. You've found wonderful companions. A family."
Beneath the gentle hand, Isha beamed, nodding her head vigorously in agreement.
Ren chose this moment to speak. "Mama Elodie, I came to see you today because I want to help the House of Hope. I'd like to fund the orphanage, so that more of our city's children can receive help and live better lives."
Before a surprised and questioning Elodie could respond, Ren continued.
"I've spent the last few years at sea and managed to earn a bit of money. I'm fairly well-off now, so funding you won't be a problem for me. Please, don't worry."
"He's right, I can vouch for him," Jinx added, leaning against Ren. She slung an arm over his shoulder, her head resting near his. She held her other hand out in front of them, wiggling her fingers. "I've seen it with my own eyes. Dozens of chests, filled to the brim with gold kraken coins." She gave Ren a playful nudge. "So, don't worry about his wallet. You can spend whatever you want~"
Elodie didn't stand on ceremony. She accepted the offer. "Then, on behalf of all the children in this house, I thank you."
After that, Elodie gave them a tour of the House of Hope and introduced them to the children. Fizz was the happiest of all; in just a few days, he had made so many human friends. Following Ren here was definitely the right choice!
Finally, with the small group and the children gathered around her, Elodie began to sing.
The lyrics were in a language none of them understood, but that didn't stop them from appreciating the beautiful melody. The music seemed to possess a kind of magic that filled them with warmth. Her voice was full of power, a gorgeous song that seemed to wash through their bodies, cleansing them from the inside out.
When the song ended, everyone felt refreshed, their heads light and their lungs clear, as if the very air they breathed was purer than before.
Not wanting to overstay their welcome, Ren and his group left the funds and departed. Only Fizz was reluctant to leave, promising the children he would come back to play with them again soon.
As he walked away, Ren glanced back at the House of Hope. He had come here with two purposes. The first was to help this respectable woman and the pitiable children of Zaun.
The second was for Janna, the most ancient guardian of Zaun.
In his past life, in the lore of the League of Legends universe, there was a story about the House of Hope and Mama Elodie. Many fans believed the story held a hidden secret: that Mama Elodie was, in fact, the wind goddess Janna. The theory went that she had exhausted her power during the great disaster. With her believers dwindling, the weakened goddess took on the mortal form of Elodie to protect the people of Zaun with what little power she had left.
The evidence was that Riot Games wouldn't publish a story that wasn't about a champion, and the only champion it could possibly be connected to was Janna. Furthermore, her magical song, which healed the listeners and cleansed their lungs, corresponded perfectly to Janna's in-game abilities of wind and healing.
Opponents of the theory would point out that Elodie claimed to be an Ionian princess and sang a Vastayan song, suggesting she was Vastayan herself. She also had dark skin, while Janna was depicted as a fair-skinned goddess.
But the resourceful fans had counterarguments for everything. Elodie only claimed to be a princess; when you're a stranger in a new place, you can say you're anyone you want. As for the song, Janna wasn't just the goddess of Zaun's wind—the wind blows everywhere. Was it so hard to believe she might have heard and learned a Vastayan song on her travels? And her skin color? Janna first appeared as a bluebird, then as a fair-skinned goddess. Why couldn't she later appear as a dark-skinned woman?
The theory was all but confirmed when a new Janna card was released in Legends of Runeterra. The card art depicted a dark-skinned goddess surrounded by a group of children.
Riot Games had never officially confirmed it, but whether the theory was true or not, Ren was fine with either possibility.
As far as Ren was concerned, even if Elodie wasn't Janna herself, she was very likely a devout follower. That would explain why her song possessed such miraculous effects—she could channel a sliver of Janna's power.
Spreading the faith of the Wind Mother needs to be prioritized, he thought. Once Janna's divine power is restored, Zaun will have a true protector.
"Eyah~"
Isha's soft call, and the sight of Fizz being held high in the distance by Jinx, waving like a doll, pulled Ren from his thoughts.
Far above them, on a high cliff, a figure with a hoverboard strapped to their back and a pocket watch in hand stood silently, their masked face watching everything. A member of the Firelights.