Chesed paced the length of the laboratory, his brow furrowed in frustration as he glanced over at Hokma, looking over the field of destruction from the explosion of gold-pink (or was that fuschia? He could never tell the difference) that just wracked the lab. The room was a flurry of sonorous activity as the librarian assistants with them when the explosion happened was in the middle of cleaning up the mess to prevent any potential contamination along with various instruments beeping and whirring softly in the background, likely damaged by the explosion, not that it mattered; they could summon another batch with the Light, though given their limited source if the stuff at the moment, it would not be the most feastable of actions to take.
What was more worrying was the sight of Angela as she lay unconscious on a nearby examination table, the glowing light of the Shimmer mixed with Light still faintly illuminating the room as her fingers twitched.
Hokma, with his characteristic professional demeanor, was diligently inspecting one of the devices attached to Angela as the eerily glowing pink puff of what he assumed was evaporated Shimmer settled down while Chesed tried to wrangle a large, unwieldy jar of smelling salts that had somehow been knocked onto the floor. He picked it up, squinting at the label. "I'm starting to think we should have tested this stuff on a less important sample first, or perhaps on that Clive fellow who's been sobbing to himself ever since Tiphy gave him a visit~" The coffee-addict looked over to the unconscious AI, his yellow eyes shifting between her and the salts, attempting to mask the worry he had for the Library Director.
Hokma glanced over, raising an eyebrow. "You know, the smell of this stuff is so potent, it might very well bring back the dead. Are you sure you know how to use it?" The older-looking man rethought his previous sentence. "Can you even use it? Angela's mechanical disposition means she doesn't possess the necessary means to smell the interesting odors you've got there." He pointed at the jar, resisting an urge to pinch his nose to prevent the smell from getting to it.
Chesed waved the jar with a bit too much enthusiasm, accidentally bumping into a stack of papers that scattered across the floor, giving a quick apology to the closest by assistant - Thomas, one of Hokma's guys - who let out a sigh of frustration at the extra work he needed to handle now. "Well, I'm pretty sure it's not supposed to cause permanent damage. Or at least, that's what the manual says. But what I'm hoping is that Angela's body assumes this stuff is toxic and wakes her up to figure out what it is." After all, even with no conventional sense of smell, her body was more than capable of sensing the environment around it, and if the way these salts smelled couldn't be sensed, then Chesed didn't know how this world worked.
He unscrewed the jar and held it up to Angela's nose, trying to waft the fumes toward her. The smell of ammonia hit the air with a sudden, aggressive burst. Angela stirred slightly, but didn't wake.
Hokma furrowed his brows, slightly worried by the unresponsive reaction. "Maybe we should have tried something a little less… intense. Like, a gentle nudge or a friendly slap."
"Right," Chesed said, his voice dripping with good natured sarcasm. "Because I'm sure a friendly slap will make all the difference with metal flesh. Who knew we'd have a problem with how much Angela's body protects her~?"
Hokma straightened, trying to suppress his amusement. "Alright, let's try the scientific approach. We could use a bit of loud noise to stimulate her senses. Something harmless but jarring."
Chesed's eyes lit up with inspiration. "Got it. Air horn it is~!" He opened his hand, as if beginning to summon something.
Hokma raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "An air horn? In a lab? We're trying to wake her up, not wreck her ability to use her ears!"
Just as Chesed was about to reply, Angela's eyes suddenly snapped open. Her breathing came in rapid, shallow gasps, and she sprang upright with a jolt. Her usually composed and authoritative demeanor was momentarily replaced by an expression of bewildered disorientation as she looked around her, attempting to reorient herself.
Chesed quickly went over to her side, taking note of how heavily she was breathing, looking more human than ever at that moment. "Angela! You're awake! We were getting worried." He shook the hand with which he was about to summon the air horn, flicking it as if he was trying to shake off the smallest remnants of the idea.
Angela blinked, struggling to clear the fog from her mind. Her usually meticulous appearance was marred by the disarray of her hair and the visible fatigue etched into her features. With a deep breath, she forced herself to calm down, before looking straight into Chesed's worried gaze.
"Call in a new meeting. Now."
The meeting room was once again abuzz with activity as the Patron Librarians reassembled. Each seat was filled with the familiar faces of those who had been called away from their tasks yet again, with everyone wondering why another meeting was called so soon. The room, grand and meticulously designed, was illuminated by a large chandelier hanging from the ceiling, casting a warm glow over the polished wooden table and the intricate tapestries that adorned the walls. It was wholly unnecessary, but even with the limited Light of the Library present, Angela had some right to relax and begin treating her E.G.O. as her own, adorning it as she saw fit. Nothing was wrong with some aesthetic decisions here and there.
Powder, visibly agitated, was the first to voice her complaints once everyone was gathered; if she was going to voice her displeasure, she wanted everyone to hear it, damnit! "Seriously? I was in the middle of a big plan with Roland, Gebura, and Tiphereth! We were just about to finalize our strategy, too! What's the big idea? I get that you just got this new room and all, Angela, but we got the point from the first meeting! You don't have to keep showing it off!" She crossed her arms and pouted grumpily, falling back into her seat once she got one of Angela's infamous glares, shutting her up for the moment.
Roland, leaning back in his chair, seemed nonchalant. His life as a Fixer meant that urgent meetings were the norm, not the opposite, and the fact that he got a few hours more of rest without participating in Powder's plots. "Relax, Powder. I'm sure we'll get back to it soon enough."
Gebura, knocking her knuckles on top of the smooth surface of the table, added, "Yeah, and maybe this meeting will actually be important." Although in all honesty, the redhead was simply capitalizing on the chance to interrupt the plans she was devising with Powder; to her, these meetings were more of a time-off than a bother, much like how it was for Roland.
Tiphereth, sitting with her small hands clasped in front of her, chuckled slightly, her voice still hoarse from all of the yelling she had to do with Clive a few hours ago. "Think of it as a chance to detach our minds from everything so that we can start anew on a fresh plane…or something along those lines."
Malkuth, always eager to contribute, piped up, "What was that noise from the lab earlier? It sounded like an explosion! Did you two blow something up?" She looked pointedly at Chesed and Hokma.
Netzach, slouched comfortably in his chair, added lazily, "Yeah, we heard a big boom. What's the story?"
Chesed, ever the diplomat, raised his hands in mock surrender. "Calm down, everyone. It was just a minor... mishap. Nothing to worry about~."
Hokma, sitting right beside him, nodded. "Just an unexpected reaction. Nothing out of the ordinary for our line of work."
Yesod, ever the analytical mind, looked skeptical. "Minor mishap? It sounded more like a major catastrophe. What were you two really doing?"
Before Chesed or Hokma could respond, Roland leaned forward, his expression serious. "Angela, you've been awfully quiet. What's wrong?"
Angela, her usually composed demeanor slightly shaken, took a deep breath. "Yes, there was a minor mishap that led to an equally minor case of a major explosion." She ignored the giggles within the crowd. "When I mixed the Light with the Shimmer, it must've caused some form of unstable reaction, and whatever happened afterwards made me temporarily lose my consciousness, and during that…I saw Carmen."
The room fell into a stunned silence. The weight of Angela's words hung in the air, each Librarian processing the revelation.
Powder, her eyes the size of dinner plates, let out a loud "WHAT?!" She practically leapt out of her and rushed over to Angela, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her back and forth. "You passed out?!" Oh, that made a lot more sense; for a moment, the older bluenette was somewhat shocked that Powder cared so much about Carmen to produce such an animated reaction. "Are you okay? What happened? Tell us everything!"
Angela gently pried Powder's hands off her shoulders. "Calm down, Powder. I'll explain."
Taking a moment to collect her thoughts, Angela began.
"When I combined the Light with the Shimmer, there was a bright flash. When it faded, I found myself in a completely dark place. The only thing I could see was a figure bound to a chair…"
The Light was blinding, a golden, almost blindingly-bright space that stretched for miles on end. It had no dimensions to speak of, nor was it constrained by anything in sight. A brobdingnagian, non-euclidean space that had no apparent end. All this was to say that the Light from which Angela drew her E.G.O.'s power was quite big, large if you will, and it was not the first time for her to enter this space, although the last time she'd been here, she had to be pulled out of the Light lest she disappear into it, and now she didn't feel as if she was in the Light. It felt as if she was seeing a vision of something that resembled the real thing.
The Carmen she saw strapped to the chair seemed real enough.
"Angela?!"
"Carmen?!"
Their reactions seemed to fit the situation as well, although…something was different from the last time she saw the scarlet-eyed woman. She no longer had the dominant, maniacally confident attitude that she had adopted last she saw her, and considering the fact she was currently bound, it didn't feel as if she was this realm's master. If anything, she seemed like its prisoner.
"What are you- Where am I?! Why have you brought me here again?!" The Library Director snapped, every movement of hers coordinated as she prepared for yet another bloody confrontation. She knew that she'd have to fight the brunette again at some point, and although she didn't expect to have to do so quite so soon, she wasn't going to lose now that she had to act. "Haven't had enough last time?!"
"Wha- No- No! You've got this all wrong, Angela! It's- It's me, Angela! Carmen!" Quickly realizing maybe that wasn't the smartest thing to say, the bound woman outwardly cringed as she clarified herself, swallowing. "The- The real me! You know, the one that doesn't want everyone in the City to turn into a Distortion? That me?"
"The real you- What are you…?"
"Listen, I know it sounds confusing, and- and the explanation sort of is confusing, b-but bear with me here: You remember that woman you fought when you entered the Light? When the Library was still in the City and not wherever the Library disappeared to?" Perhaps that was a poor choice of words; it wasn't as if Angela could forget anything thanks to her steel, unforgetting memory developed by none other than Ayin himself.
"...Of course, it's difficult to forget." Angela shot back with grit teeth, her eyes narrowed, still awaiting the strike to come from anywhere within the blinding Light. "What, are you claiming that you're not the same woman who tried killing me before?"
"I…well…." The older woman sighed, looking at the 'ground' the chair she was bound to rested on, shaking her head. "I am….but I'm also not; the woman you fought was part of me, but she's also the Distortion. The very first Distortion to ever be born, actually: mine." Phew. At least Angela wasn't dismissing her admittedly incredible and somewhat inane story. Perhaps there was a chance to get her to realize the truth then… "So…Essentially- I don't really know how much time we get to say this: listen, that woman out there- It's me, but it's the bad me: She's the Distortion, and- I mean, I guess I'm still part of her, so I'm not too free from the blame either, but- but the point is, she's the part of me that Distorted, and I guess I….I'm the part that didn't. The original Carmen, if I can be called such. Maybe. I hope." She really, really did hope; what an awful realization it would be to realize that the Distortion was what who she was originally succumbed to.
"...I'm following." Angela wasn't a foreigner to such scenarios; she'd seen weirder and it turned out to be true, after all. "But in that case, where is…?"
"The Distortion? My other side- Well, she's out there. Somewhere." Carmen looked behind her, her movements jittery, as if her literal demon would appear out of nowhere at any time, which is something not outside the realm of possibility if what she was saying is true."The Light -although very powerful- doesn't make her omnipotent. She's- Or I suppose I'm busy with the City at the moment-"
"Does that mean she can affect the people here, then?" Angela interrupted the woman whose brain-scan powered her, attempting to disregard any sentimental thoughts or implications and instead focus on the details.
"No." Angela breathed a sigh of relief out of her simulated lungs, her mind significantly more at ease than it had been at any point in the last ten minutes. "The people here haven't been exposed to the Seed of Light like the Cityfolk from what I have seen so far. I suppose the distance should've also meant that I would never be able to see you, Angela, but perhaps the Library being a nexus of sorts for the Light means that you can access the ascendant part of the Light -this huge space we're in right now- though I'm not particularly sure why you are able to access it right now..." Confusion seeped into the ruby-eyed woman's voice, blinking a few times as she attempted to budge the ropes in her chair. "Unless you're not physically present in the Light like last time, but instead peering into it with your mind…"
"If it's of any help, I may or may not have gotten exposed to a potentially hazardous addictive material before ending up here." The bluenette started trying to move towards the ever-so-slightly shorter woman, grimacing as her hypothesis turned out to be true; she couldn't move here. It was as if she were in a dream of sorts, where regardless of how much she wanted to move, she remained planted in place.
"Oh, drugs!" Alright, this was definitely reminiscent of the Carmen that the Librarians remembered. Her simple nature, which should not have been mistaken for stupidity or lack of intelligence on her end, was what led people to gather around her in such large numbers, and the bluenette could see the charm of her method. Somewhat. To an extent.
"Fine, drugs." Angela conceded, not wanting to get into a debate about calling things by their scientific names lest she find herself out of time. "Although these particular ones have an otherworldly aspect to them, which the residents of this realm call 'magic', though I'm not sure how it would fit into our scientific understanding."
"Magic drugs?" Carmen furrowed her brows, slightly narrowing her left eye. "Regardless, perhaps the effect clogged your circuits, or maybe it affected your functions in some method….regardless, even though you're mechanical disposition would usually render you wholly immune to any of these effects, this must've been potent enough to at least momentarily disrupt your usually smooth bodily functions…or robotic bodily functions anyway…Or perhaps that 'magic' part of it is what's affecting you…" Slipping back into her scientist mindset, the ruby-eyed woman continued analyzing the situation, lifting her head to look into the younger woman's eyes.
"Then this means…?" It was her turn to start asking questions now, though the answer seemed to mystify Carmen for a moment before she replied at last:
"Your body is as high as a kite right now, and the amount of whatever it is you were exposed to is probably enough to make an elephant overdose." Something clicked within the Cogito pioneer's mind. "Make sure that the Librarians there don't get affected by it!"
"I could already reach that deduction, thank you very much." It was a little difficult to be grateful when so many thoughts were buzzing in Angela's mind; the original Distortion was none other than Carmen, and she was apparently talking to the part of her that remained undistorted….that explained a few things about the last time they met in the Light, and yet… "How much time do we have?"
"Not a lot. She's- Or I guess, I'm busy with the City for now, but not for long. She doesn't trust that I won't try to ruin her attempt at 'healing' the City if I'm left alone; she already has one thorn in her side in the form of Yinnie, and-"
"Excuse me?" Angela's voice became cold, her eye-twitched, and she had to resist the urge to make an outraged expression. "Yinnie?" She repeated, the mere word sounding like venom on the tip of her tongue, her hands turning to knuckles. "Is that, by any chance, the nutcase that I would know as 'Ayin'?"
"I, er." Carmen coughed, giving an awkward grin as she realized the faux-pas she just committed. "Right, well, erm, the point is that she's due to be back at any moment now, so you'd best be going but- but- I just wanted you to know what awaits you; she's tenacious, determined, and she really, sincerely believes that what she's doing is right. You're out of her- Or my range for now, but if you're planning on going back to the City, you'll need a plan to face her again, and if I were you, I'd try moving back as fast as possible before she finds a way to spread Distortions here as well."
"I figured as much." The Light was yet to affect anyone in Runeterra as of yet, but she didn't want to risk her war against the City derailing to become a war on both fronts. They might need to keep Clive around for just a while longer; who knows whether or not being in an E.G.O. that subsists almost entirely on Light did to him? She didn't want to risk him being Runeterra's first Distortion. "And- You, and- That madman that's there as well." She remembered to ask, attempting to stretch a hand towards the brunette. "Any chance you two could help? Or maybe offer some advice here and there?"
"Not likely; we can't contact people outside the Light like she can. That was supposed to be our role in the first place, before I Distorted and all, but- but we'll try keeping her busy." Or at least act as very brave meatshields for the greater good.
"Right. One more thing." Angela's voice went cold once more, sensing that her grip on this realm was weakening further. She must've been waking up in the real world. So she wasn't dead. That was a big relief. "When you see that sadistic cretin, tell him that-"
"Ah, er, ah-" Carmen's eyes widened, afraid of what she was about to hear. "Er, I can't hear you! Crrrrshhhhhh pshhhhhrrrrr fshhhhhh we're breaking up!"
"I can see you making the noises with your mouth."
"Take care of everyone and be careful of the Distorted me okaybyeseeya!"
"Hey, I'm not done yet! I've got a few words to tell that arrogant piece of-"
The Patron Librarians sat in stunned silence, absorbing the gravity of Angela's revelation. The usually light-hearted room was now heavy with a mixture of confusion, fear, and outright horror in some cases. The light from the chandelier overhead seemed to dim as the weight of the situation settled on everyone's shoulders.
Malkuth broke the silence first, her voice trembling slightly. "Carmen's Distortions... Are you saying that the Voice causing all the chaos back in the City was actually her?"
Angela nodded solemnly. "Yes, I fear. It appears that Carmen's Distortion that was born from her stay in the Well back in the Corporations has been the source of the disruptions and with her actual self trapped within and unable to stop this new being. The Shimmer, combined with the Light, created a link that allowed me to access the realm that this Distortion had imprisoned the real Carmen within. This connection can't be a coincidence, even though it was only temporary."
Netzach, looking more alert than usual, ran a hand through his tousled hair. "If the Voice causing the Distortions in the City was Carmen all along, then does that mean we brought her here when the Library teleported from the City to Piltover and Zaun?"
The room went silent again as the implications of Netzach's question sank in. Powder, her eyes wide with panic, began to breathe rapidly. "If that's true, then we've brought something beyond dangerous here! What if it starts causing Distortions in Zaun? This could be a disaster!"
Angela stepped forward and placed her hands gently on Powder's shoulders. "Powder, listen to me. Remember your breathing techniques. Inhale deeply, then exhale slowly. Focus on your breath."
"O-One chapter in a book, two chapters in a book…"
Powder followed Angela's instructions, her breathing gradually slowing down. Angela continued, her voice calm and reassuring. "Carmen -at least, the woman who claimed to be the real Carmen and acted like her- told me that the lack of Light spread here would make that difficult, but if we overstay our welcome in Runeterra, we could be risking her making a connection here, just as I connected to the Light, especially if Shimmer is involved."
Powder nodded, her breathing now steadier. "Okay, okay... But what are we going to do? How do we stop the Voice from causing more damage?"
Roland leaned forward, his expression serious. "Angela, you've always got a plan. How do we handle this?"
Angela took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "First, we avoid doing anything that could draw the Voice's attention to us here to Piltover and Zaun. We'll need to monitor for any signs of Distortions or unusual behavior that could be linked to Carmen's presence."
Yesod, having his analytical hat on, added, "We should also investigate the nature of the connection between the Light and the Shimmer and how it allowed you to get to Carmen in the first place. Understanding how they interact could provide us with valuable insights into how to sever or control this link."
Gebura knocked her knuckles on the table, a determined look on her face. "And if we find out that the Voice is here, we'll need to figure out a way to contain that shit. We can't let it wreak havoc in this world."
Tiphereth, always eager to contribute, spoke up. "I can help with monitoring and data analysis. We'll need to set up sensors and surveillance to detect any anomalies that are usually followed by Distortions."
Chesed, who had been quietly listening, nodded in agreement. "We should also reach out to any contacts we might make in Piltover and Zaun. They might have noticed something unusual that we can correlate with our findings."
Hokma, ever the embodiment of attentiveness born from experience, added, "We must proceed with caution. The presence of Carmen's Distortions in places such as Piltover and Zaun could have unpredictable consequences. Our actions must be measured and deliberate as possible if we are to put an end to the threat and save Carmen from her other self."
Angela took a moment to look around the room, meeting the eyes of each Patron Librarian. "We have faced many challenges together, and we have always emerged stronger. This will be no different. We must combine our strengths and knowledge to overcome this threat." She paused. "Oh, and one more thing: We keep Clive here. I don't want to risk discovering he was the 'patient zero' for the Distortion in Runeterra. If he gets rowdy about this arrangement, show him Tiphereth." She gestured towards her shortest Patron Librarian as the blonde grinned evilly.
The room seemed to brighten slightly as the Patron Librarians nodded in agreement, their resolve solidifying. Angela continued, outlining their plan of action.
The morning sun cast a golden hue over the grand structure of the Library, reflecting off its polished exterior and casting long shadows across the bridge leading to its entrance. The Patron Librarians stood outside, surrounded by a growing crowd, waiting on the bridge. Among them were Angela, Hokma, Chesed, Binah, Yesod, and Hod, poised for their various meetings with the elite of Piltover.
Angela turned her attention to Powder, who was standing nearby with a mix of excitement and nervousness. "Powder, are you sure you're ready for this? What exactly are you planning to do in Zaun?"
Powder rolled her eyes slightly, the way a teenager might when convincing their mother they'll be fine. "Yes, Angela, I've got it all under control. I'm just going to do some recon, maybe talk to some folks I haven't seen in years. Nothing TOO dangerous, fingers crossed."
Angela's golden eyes narrowed with what seemed to be concern. "I don't want any trouble, Powder. We can't afford to make our presence known to Piltover through any incidents in Zaun... yet. Do you understand?"
Roland, standing nearby Powder with Gebura and Tiphereth, stepped forward. "Don't worry, Angela. We'll keep an eye on her. She won't get into too much trouble."
Gebura rolled her shoulders, her expression fierce but confident as always. "Yeah, Powder knows better than to cross any lines. We'll make sure she sticks to the plan she made." The redheaded pointedly assured, receiving a loud raspberry in response.
Tiphereth crossed her, looking like the very picture of reliability. "We've got this, Angela. Powder and all of us will be fine."
Angela nodded, satisfied for the moment. She turned to Malkuth, who stood ready for her instructions. "Malkuth, make sure everything is in order while we're gone. Please keep an extra eye or two on the mix of the Shimmer and Light I created in the lab. It needs to stay locked away until further notice."
Malkuth nodded eagerly. "You can count on me, Angela! I'll make sure everything is perfect."
Netzach, who was standing right next to the Patron Librarian of History, yawned and stretched. "Yeah, I'll be around to help... or something." He then promptly fell asleep on the spot, his head resting on Malkuth's shoulder.
Malkuth sighed but smiled fondly. "Don't worry, Angela. Netzach and I will keep things under control."
Before the Director could reply to that, the sound of stomping filled the air. The group all looked towards where the source of the noise was and saw that the Enforcers were but a short distance - a borderline small army marching ever closer towards the Library.
Powder quickly turned to her group, wildly gesturing for them to follow her. "Alright, let's head inside! We'll get to Zaun from the other side of the Library. No need to have those hat assholes questioning us on our business."
Roland, Gebura, and Tiphereth exchanged bemused looks before following Powder back into the Library.
The Enforcers, led by Head Enforcer Marcus, arrived right in front of the remaining librarian outside. Marcus greeted Angela with a respectful nod. "Director Angela, it's good to see you again."
Angela returned the greeting with a nod of her own. "Head Enforcer Marcus, thank you for coming right on schedule. Allow the two new faces that shall join us today on our trip to formally introduce themselves." She gestured to the two Librarians, who stepped forward.
Hod smiled warmly, extending her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Hod, the Patron Librarian of the Floor of Literature "
Yesod gave a polite yet curt nod, choosing to cross his arms. "We appreciate your assistance. My name is Yesod, the Patron Librarian of the Floor of Technological Sciences."
Marcus shook their Hod's firmly, his expression as earnest as a man such as himself was capable of expression… which was not much, to be honest, "It's a pleasure to meet both of you. I pray to Janna that your efforts today shall greatly contribute to the future relations between Piltover and the Library."
Hod beamed. "We're looking forward to it. There's so much we can learn from each other."
Yesod added, "Indeed. The potential for collaboration is immense."
Marcus nodded in agreement. "I'm sure today's meetings will be very productive. Now, if you'll follow us, we'll escort you to your scheduled appointments today."
Malkuth cheerfully waved to her peers as they departed. "Good luck, everyone!" She called out, even as Netzach continued to sleep soundly on her shoulder.
With the Enforcer force leading the way, Angela, Hokma, Chesed, Binah, Yesod, and Hod were escorted towards Piltover, ready to engage in the day's crucial discussions. Malkuth stood firm, watching over the Library with a determined smile, ready to handle whatever came her way.
"Zzz…"
…Even if her current partner was practically dead on his feet and drooling all over her shoulder at this point and time.
The dull, oppressive silence of solitary confinement weighed heavily on Lena Dilford's mind. She sat on the cold, hard floor of her cell, the only light coming from a small, barred window high above her head. The bare walls seemed to close in on her, amplifying the sense of isolation and powerlessness that gnawed at her soul.
Two years ago, Lena had been a force to be reckoned with in Piltover. She had run a successful and highly lucrative illegal trading operation, dealing in rare and forbidden technologies. Her network spanned the entire city, from the dark alleys of Zaun to the gleaming towers of Piltover. She was untouchable, or so she thought, until the Enforcers finally caught up with her.
The raid had been swift and merciless. They had stormed her hideout, smashing through her defenses and arresting her and her crew. She remembered the look of satisfaction on that smug fucker Marcus had on his face as he slapped the cuffs on her wrists. They had paraded her through the streets like a trophy, a stark warning to anyone who dared defy the law.
Her trial had been a spectacle, a showcase of Piltover's justice system. She had been sentenced to Stillwater Prison, a place reserved for the most dangerous and influential criminals. She had vowed to rise to the top, to assert her dominance and control, just as she had done on the outside.
But things had not gone as planned as all of the work she had put into building her rep in Stillwater had been shattered just three days ago. She had underestimated Vi, the notorious brawler who had made a name for herself both inside the prison walls. Lena had tried to assert her authority, to establish herself as the top dog, but Vi had shut her down with brutal efficiency. The fight had been short but fierce, ending with Lena being dragged away to solitary confinement.
Now, sitting alone in the darkness, Lena seethed with rage and frustration. How dare they treat her like this! How dare they reduce her to nothing, to some worthless piece of trash! She was Lena, the queen of the underground, the one who had defied Piltover's rigid laws and thrived. The anger burned within her, a constant, seething presence that refused to be extinguished.
She replayed the events that had led her here over and over in her mind. The betrayal of one of her closest associates, the raid, the trial, the humiliation. She could feel the bile rising in her throat, her fists clenching tightly. She would have her revenge. She would show them all what happened when they crossed Lena.
Suddenly, a voice echoed in the silence, cutting through her thoughts like a knife. It was a low, seductive whisper, dripping with power and promise.
"If you want the power to get back at the world that abandoned you, all you need to do is embrace your true self."
Lena's head snapped up, her eyes scanning the cell. There was no one there, but the voice was unmistakable. It seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once, wrapping around her like a shroud.
"Who are you?" she demanded, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and curiosity.
The voice chuckled, a light, velvety sound that sent shivers down her spine.
"I am the one who can give you what you desire. Power, revenge, freedom. All you have to do is embrace who you truly are."
Lena's heart raced. Was this some kind of trick? Some cruel joke played by the guards? But no, the voice felt different, otherworldly. It resonated with something deep within her, something she had long tried to suppress.
"What do you mean, embrace my true self?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Somehow, the voice seemed to smile.
"You know what I mean, Lena. You've always known. The light inside you, the hunger for power, the desire to dominate and control. Embrace it, and you will become more than you ever dreamed possible."
Lena felt a strange, exhilarating rush of energy course through her veins. The voice was right. She had always known. The brightness inside her was a part of who she was, a part she had tried to hide but could never fully escape.
"What do I have to do?" she asked, her voice steady and determined.
The voice laughed softly.
"Accept it, Lena Dilford. Accept the light, the rage, the power. Let it consume you, and you will be reborn."