In the early morning, Marna woke up before sunrise. She was just about to nudge her husband awake when she patted the spot beside her—and froze.
"Huh? Aren't we off work these days?"
Her husband had already gotten up before her, which left Marna confused. After all, Zaun's factories had been on holiday for half a month now. Councilor Logan had called it… what was it? A statutory holiday?
A holiday to celebrate Zaun's rebirth—so every Zaunite could spend the end of the year happy.
Breathing out white mist, Marna climbed out of bed and put on her padded coat. Yesterday, it had only snowed in Zaun for one afternoon, but after the snow melted, the temperature had dropped several degrees overnight. Colder than usual.
Like the icy winds of the Freljord had crossed the mountains and swept straight into Zaun.
Marna stepped outside and saw her husband bundled up like a bear, grinning as he painted something on the wall of their house with a brush.
"What are you doing?" Marna walked closer. She looked around and realized a lot of people in the Hope Community were up early too, all doing the same thing—writing something on their walls.
"The enforcer came by," her husband said, turning around. His brush was dripping with paint. He shifted aside so she could see. "He said the community's hosting events. Told me to tell you—Hope Community needs to mark out a fireworks zone. No stalls there. The other communities are doing it too."
Marna's husband stepped aside fully, and Marna saw what he'd written:
HAPPY REBIRTH DAY.
Beside the words was a trail of colorful painted petals—really pretty.
Marna's eyes lit up. She reached out her hand. "Let me paint too!"
"Sure."
As she started adding her own strokes, Marna asked, "Did the enforcer say anything else?"
"He said, 'Happy Rebirth Day.'"
Marna paused, then nodded with a smile. "Yeah. Happy Rebirth Day."
"We finally have a holiday that belongs to Zaun."
By noon, Vi was out enforcing with her team. She'd just returned from the Firefly Community and arrived at the Hope Community, but she didn't go home—she still had a mountain of work to do.
"Move that box of fireworks over there. And this box—these are for kids. Take it to the central square and hand them out. Tell them they can only play with them tonight."
Vi barked orders efficiently, took a sip of hot meat soup, and muttered, "Oh, right—send a few people up topside and bring Sevika back. Zaun's celebrating these days. Logan said she has to come back too."
"For real… anyone could do the 'go get Sevika' thing. Why does it have to be me? That's just worrying about everything for no reason!"
Vi gritted her teeth.
Around her, more than a dozen Sump Enforcers took the orders and hurried off to their tasks.
Vi started hauling boxes herself. Every box was fireworks—some made by Jinx, some by Ekko, some by Viktor, and some…
Some made by Jayce Talis, that ridiculously handsome guy.
And the moment Vi thought of him, she saw him stepping out of a building. He was impossible to miss—tall, built, handsome, rich, talented. A guy like that could never be background noise anywhere.
"Hey, handsome," Vi called, whistling at him like she was messing with him. "Where you going?"
Jayce—still sporting a thick beard he hadn't bothered trimming—rolled his eyes. He snatched a piece of bread out of Ekko's hands, took a vicious bite, and said loudly, "Back up topside."
"Oh? Going home to visit the family?" Vi teased, grinning.
Jayce snorted and walked past Vi. Then he said to Ekko, "Ekko, I'll be back tonight. Tell Viktor not to rush making that thing. Wait for me—we'll study it together."
Ekko shrugged. "The boss said you can stay up topside a few more days. You came to Zaun as a councilor, not a hostage. As long as the work's done, you can go wherever you want. He won't stop you."
"I know." Jayce paused, then snapped back, "I want to come back. Is that not allowed?"
Then he stopped again, suddenly serious. "And remember—don't let Viktor secretly build it alone. That's our project. All three of us."
"If we make this thing, the whole world's going to shake. We're changing how communication works, Ekko!"
Seeing Jayce's obsessive look, Ekko laughed. "Yeah, yeah, I'll tell Viktor. But Jayce… you sure you want to go up like that? You're going topside looking like this?"
"No time." Jayce dragged a hand through his beard like it was nothing. "Once I'm there, someone will clean me up. Ugh. I really don't want to go to those banquets."
During his time in Zaun, Jayce had genuinely found himself again—the old feeling. Being obsessed with science. Forgetting to eat and sleep. Getting stuck on a single component for days, then finally cracking the solution and feeling that burst of exhilaration…
Those emotions pulled Jayce back to who he really was. Viktor and Mel had been right—Jayce didn't belong in politics. He belonged in science.
Soon, Jayce left the Sump. No one stopped him. A couple of Sump Enforcers even recognized him and offered to escort him up—
But Jayce refused.
Zaun didn't need that anymore. After living here for almost two months, Jayce knew it clearly: Zaun was safe.
He didn't know what Zaun used to be like. But the Zaun under Logan's leadership did a lot of things better than Piltover.
Being poor wasn't shameful.
"In short," Logan said, "the enforcers' tasks are extremely important. Vi, you're going to have a hard time these days."
Vi nodded from where she stood.
"Vander, you take a group tonight and focus on guarding the flammable areas. Prevent fires. But don't be too tense—Janna will help us too."
Inside the Council building, Logan, Silco, Vander, Scar, Heimerdinger, Marna, and the other councilors were all present. And yes—Janna was there too.
Her spot was honestly hilarious. Everyone else was sitting in chairs. Even Vander had an enormous chair that took up the space of three seats. But Janna was sitting directly on the table.
Because if she sat in a chair, then aside from the councilors directly beside her, no one else would be able to see her at all—so she could only curl up on the table.
As the councilors looked at her, Janna nodded.
She was still weak, but whipping up a gust to put out a flame or two—she could still manage that.
Well… assuming the fire didn't flare higher because of the wind.
"Alright," Logan said with a smile. "We're taking time off too. So unless we call an emergency meeting, you don't need to come to work during this period."
"Then here—Happy Rebirth Day to everyone."
"Happy Rebirth Day!"
The moment Logan finished speaking, he bolted out of the room like a streak.
Heimerdinger stared after him, baffled. "Didn't we agree we could rest? Why does Logan look even busier lately?"
Silco and Vander—who knew exactly what was going on—exchanged a glance and smiled, but neither of them explained what Logan was up to.
Silco stood and said, "That's all. Go enjoy yourselves. Happy Rebirth Day."
Piltover, 3:10 p.m.
With Mel's help, Jayce changed into a beautiful new outfit. He looked at her with a smile and reached up to touch her face.
"Don't move," Mel said.
"I just… missed you," Jayce admitted quietly. "I really didn't expect the thing that's been tormenting me for so long to get solved by Zaun. Mel—Viktor's doing really well now. His body's getting healthier and healthier."
Mel smiled too. She patted Jayce's chest lightly, straightened his collar, then rose on her toes and kissed him.
"Even with a beard, you look good. I like you with a beard. But, Jayce… can you at least groom it a little?"
"So I should really keep it?" Jayce considered.
"Yes." Mel laughed. "A bit of beard helps. People won't underestimate you as easily. Your age has always been your biggest weakness—now, just from appearances, no one would guess you're only in your twenties."
She ran her fingers along his beard, then grabbed his collar and stepped forward, the faint glow of her legs visible under her gown.
"Come on," Mel said coolly. "It's time for the banquet."
"Alright, my queen," Jayce said, smiling as he let Mel lead him.
Piltover, 7:11 p.m.
After drinking quite a bit, Jayce tore open his collar, tied the loosened strip around his forearm, and stood on a gorgeous open-air balcony, looking out over Piltover at night.
The streets were bright as day. People gathered everywhere. Parks were full of kids setting off fireworks. Scientists had stalls lining the roads, pitching their inventions to merchants.
Jayce watched it all, eyes narrowing.
And for some reason, he suddenly thought of Zaun.
What was Zaun doing right now?
Logan had said he'd make Rebirth Day even better than Progress Day, but Jayce had thought that was pure fantasy. With Zaun's money and resources, how could it possibly compare to Piltover?
Piltover's Progress Day was a major festival—traveling merchants from all over the world came for it. Wealthy houses hosted events, invited merchants to witness inventions, and traded that spectacle for investment and sponsorship.
Thinking of that, Jayce glanced back into the banquet hall.
Men and women danced. A band played beautiful music. Yet hardly anyone paused to listen, because everyone at this banquet had an agenda.
Business. Connections. Favors.
Everything Jayce hated.
Jayce lowered his head, let the cold wind brush his face, closed his eyes, and enjoyed a moment of quiet.
Then someone ruined it.
"Councilor Ta—Mr. Talis," a voice said awkwardly. "Why are you out here alone?"
Jayce opened his eyes. It was a representative of House Sandrla—the family that built cargo ships—wearing a polite smile.
Jayce said flatly, "Drank a little too much. Came out for air."
"Perfect." Mr. Sandrla's smile grew warmer as he stepped closer. The man was only about five feet tall, but his mouth never slowed down. "Mr. Talis, I have a business deal I want to discuss with you."
"Our house has served for generations—"
"I believe Hextech could be applied to—"
"Relying on the Hexgates alone still leaves many places that can't—"
"Mr. Sandrla," Jayce cut in, forcing down his irritation, "I really don't want to talk business today. I just want to enjoy Progress Day in Piltover. Can you give me some space? We can talk when we have time."
"But Jayce, I don't get many chances to meet you." Mr. Sandrla leaned in, all sincerity and greed. "I think we really should talk. Councilor Hoskel controls the sea routes, but his house doesn't build ships."
"And shipbuilding is pure profit. You used Hextech on the Hexgates—so I think you can use it at sea too. Is it too troublesome? That's fine. Just authorize me. I'll handle everything. You just sit back and wait to fill sacks with money."
Mr. Sandrla smiled obsequiously—money in every sentence.
As the head of his house, he could see Jayce was annoyed, but he didn't care. He wasn't letting this chance slip. Besides, everyone in Piltover knew Jayce Talis's reputation: shy, polite, too concerned with appearances.
Plenty of small-house leaders had shamelessly begged him before, and in the end they'd gotten his support—then suddenly became rich.
To them, Jayce Talis—the richest man in the city-state—was the ultimate prize.
Mr. Sandrla was never going to let the prize walk away.
"Look, I even brought—" Mr. Sandrla started, lowering his head as he reached into his coat to pull out a proposal he'd prepared specifically to ambush Jayce with.
"Fuck, are you seriously still going?" Jayce suddenly snapped.
Mr. Sandrla jerked his head up, staring at Jayce in shock.
Jayce looked at him with raw impatience and said, "Let me make this clear one last time, Tavin Sandrla. I am not talking business today. If you want to talk business, go find someone else."
"I'm so sick of you people. Business, business, business—every day, all year, it's nothing but business. Can you take a single day off? Just one day. Is that so hard?"
"Mr. Talis…?" Tavin Sandrla couldn't believe it. Jayce—famous for being polite and reserved—was swearing, dropping noble manners entirely, and talking to him like this.
"How… how can you speak like that?"
"How am I speaking?" Jayce shot back, eyes hard.
Jayce might not understand politics, but he wasn't stupid. He knew why they came: because he was young, because they assumed he wouldn't want to look bad, because they thought he'd be too embarrassed to refuse, so they could cling to him like leeches.
In the past, Jayce might've endured it, held firm, and let it pass.
But… why endure it?
"Y-you just said—"
"Fine." Jayce took a step forward. "Listen carefully."
"Go fuck yourself. You understand now?"
"Get the hell away from me!" Jayce barked.
Tavin Sandrla froze. He noticed how many people in the hall had heard the commotion and turned to look. Face burning, he dropped his gaze and hurried away.
Jayce didn't care about the stares. He just stood there letting the wind blow, and glanced at the time on his watch.
Mel had been watching him too. Seeing Jayce finally lose his temper, a flicker of pleasure passed through her eyes.
Yes, Jayce.
Sometimes, stray dogs needed a stick.
You were too polite, and they thought you were easy prey.
Even if those words were filthy.
Mel chuckled to herself.
Night. Piltover's Bridge of Progress, 11:55 p.m.
Jayce and Mel embraced. After a few quiet words about taking care of themselves, Jayce turned and headed down toward Zaun.
As soon as he got onto the Shrieker, Jayce leaned back against the rust-stained wall and half-closed his eyes—
And heard fireworks.
Boom!
Fireworks blossomed over Piltover—streams of flame shooting up and exploding into shimmering color that lit the night. Jayce heard the cheers, loud and bright:
"Happy Progress Day!"
Once the clock passed midnight, it would be Progress Day.
"Happy Progress Day!"
The voices echoed in Jayce's ears, and he couldn't help smiling. Even if Progress Day had turned more and more utilitarian—more and more like a marketplace—this was still a holiday for ordinary people. Still a day worth celebrating.
But suddenly, the voices changed.
"Happy Rebirth Day!"
The shout coming from the Entresol drowned out Piltover's sound, ringing clear in Jayce's ears.
"Happy Rebirth Day, buddy!"
"Go, go, go—West Community's doing a fireworks show! If we hurry, we can still grab a spot!"
"Don't go to the West Gate—Gorge Community's got fireworks too! I saw box after box get moved there this evening!"
Jayce stepped off the Shrieker and froze.
Zaun was densely packed—he'd always known that. But tonight… wasn't this a little too packed?
The Dancewalk Corridor was empty overhead, but the Entresol was crammed full of people!
A sea of bodies. Faces painted bright. Thick winter clothes—maybe not new clothes, but decorated with painted petals. Petals had become Zaun's symbol now, replacing the old mechanical crest.
Zaunites clustered together, greeting each other with crude, cheerful shouts.
"Fuck, it's this late—why are you still working? Come watch the fireworks with me!"
"Where's the free lemonade? Didn't they say free grilled meat and lemonade? Give me a cup!"
"Damn it, does your ice machine even work? My hard-liquor ice cream still isn't done!"
"Look—there! They're launching it, they're launching it!"
Standing in the Entresol, Jayce followed everyone's gaze—
Then heard a sharp, thunderous crack.
Fireworks shot into the sky—straight toward Piltover.
Pop!
They exploded… and they had words.
Red, blue, green, pink, purple—forming five huge characters in the night:
HAPPY REBIRTH DAY!
"It's so beautiful! Oh my god—those are fireworks we made ourselves, in Zaun!"
"Over there too! They're launching over there too!"
Pop!
Another firework burst—this one forming a blue horn symbol, bright and striking.
Jayce watched the fireworks, listened to the roaring crowd, and lowered his head with a quiet shake—then smiled.
"Yeah… if we're talking scale and spectacle, Piltover still wins," he murmured. "But there's one thing we lost."
He looked up at the crowd.
Piltover had money. The cost of Progress Day was beyond counting. Just the free food alone dwarfed what Zaun could offer.
Zaun's free grilled meat was basically simple grilled chicken.
Piltover handed out delicate pastries, sizzling steaks, fresh seafood.
Free drinks. Juice. All kinds of free games and activities where you could win prizes.
Zaun didn't have those.
But Zaun had something Piltover didn't.
The heart—the way everyone, all of them, were truly enjoying the holiday.
Jayce started walking deeper into the Sump.
"Hey, Councilor Talis!" A Sump Enforcer spotted him and fired a toy party popper in his hand—streamers and confetti bursting all over Jayce.
Jayce spat out the strips of streamer that had gotten into his mouth and looked at the Sump Enforcer.
The man was laughing, shouting at the top of his lungs:
"Happy Rebirth Day!"
Jayce stared for a beat.
Then he said, "Happy Rebirth Day."
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