Orders from the Academy
Caitlyn was making her way through the sprawling halls of Piltover Academy. As she approached the corridors of the research wing, she noticed a door with a brass plaque sign: Arcane Energy Research Wing. She pushed it open without hesitation.
Inside, the room was a controlled chaos of parchment, strange contraptions, and glowing crystals. Viktor was seated at a cluttered workbench, his sharp features lit by the pale glow of a shard resting under a glass dome. Nearby, Jayce paced back and forth, gesturing animatedly as he rattled off theories.
"Ah, Caitlyn," Jayce said, stopping mid-step when he noticed her. "You're just in time. Viktor and I were about to reach out to you."
"I assumed as much," Caitlyn replied dryly, her gaze landing on the glowing shard. "This isn't just a social call, is it?"
Viktor looked up from his desk. "No. We need your expertise."
Jayce clapped his hands together, stepping closer. "You've heard the rumors, haven't you? Strange arcane energy detected in Zaun—unstable, but with enormous potential."
Caitlyn frowned. "I've heard whispers. Something powerful enough to cause small-scale disruptions in Piltover's power grid. Is this related?"
Viktor nodded. "Yes. We acquired this fragment recently through… unofficial channels." He gestured toward the shard on the table. Its pale, flickering glow seemed almost alive, pulsing faintly like a heartbeat. "It's unlike anything we've encountered before."
"The energy readings are off the charts. This could change everything—not just for Piltover, but for the world," Jayce added enthusiastically.
Caitlyn folded her arms. "So what's the problem? If this is such a breakthrough, why not continue your research here?"
"That's the issue," Viktor said. "This fragment is only part of something much larger. The source itself is rumored to be hidden deep in Zaun, and if left unchecked, it could destabilize the region—or worse, attract the wrong kind of attention."
Caitlyn arched an eyebrow. "And I assume by ‘wrong kind of attention,' you mean Zaunite gangs? Or Piltover's Council?"
"Both," Viktor admitted. "The Council would seize it and use it for their own gain without understanding its risks. As for Zaun… Let's just say it's not a place I can easily return to."
Caitlyn studied him carefully. Viktor rarely spoke about his upbringing, but everyone knew he came from Zaun. "Why not send someone else? Surely there are others better suited for this."
Jayce shook his head. "We need someone who can navigate both worlds—someone who can handle themselves in Zaun but also report back with integrity. You're one of the few enforcers who can do that. Plus, you have a knack for… unconventional problem-solving."
"Flattering," Caitlyn chuckled sarcastically. Still, she couldn't deny the challenge intrigued her. "And what's the real reason you're not going yourself, Viktor? You know Zaun better than I ever could."
"Zaun remembers its own. My presence there would attract too much attention—attention we cannot afford. You, however, would be an unknown element. A calculated risk."
"Lovely," Caitlyn muttered. "So, I'm to go to Zaun, find the source of this energy, and what? Bring it back here? Deliver it to the Council?"
"Absolutely not," Viktor said firmly. "Your priority is to gather information first—determine if the source can be stabilized or safely contained. Anything else would be premature."
Jayce added, "Think of it as reconnaissance. You're not stealing it or making promises to anyone. Just… figure out what we're dealing with."
Caitlyn sighed, already calculating the risks. Zaun was volatile at the best of times, and she'd be walking in blind. But the thought of uncovering something so powerful, so unknown, was irresistible.
"Fine. I'll do it. But if this goes sideways, I'll expect more than your gratitude."
"You'll have it. And probably a medal," Jayce said.
Viktor smirked faintly. "Just return in one piece, and we'll call it even."
Caitlyn shook her head, grabbing her satchel. "I'll hold you to that."
As she left the lab, the glow of the shard lingered in her mind. Whatever it was that waited for her in Zaun stirred an excitement brewing in her chest.