Chapter Six: The Pain Needed For Growth

[Play Age of Resonance by Secession Studios]

With her fists inside her pockets, Vi was strolling around a more isolated residential area. She spent the whole morning by herself roaming around, away from the crowd. Vi needed space to think, and moreover, to feel. Walking helped her process her emotions – and her pain. Her heart was still aching from that horrible experience at the old warehouse. She had given everything to find her little sister; yet, when she did, what she got in return was a harsh slap of reality.

"You can't change her" she recalled Ekko's words, now believing he could be right after all. And that possibility brought deep sorrow with it. Vi clenched her fists inside her red jacket pockets; her gaze fixed on the ground, walking with anger. "But she shot Silco to protect me. She is in there… somewhere. I can't give up on her just yet." Vi sighed, for her next thought was wondering where she could be. There were things she wanted to ask her little sister, but Vi also knew there was a higher chance it wouldn't happen. And, assuming Jinx would be up for a chat, it wouldn't be easy to talk to her alone.

– Wait a moment –Vi thought out loud–. That's it. I need to meet her alone.

The next question that popped in her mind was how. She was aware of how much was at stake, plus she had committed to escort Caitlyn back to Piltover. Her eyes fluttered the moment her image appeared in her mind, thus snapping her out of the intense train of thoughts she had been riding for who knows how long.

Her heart rate accelerated as her legs slowed down until she finally stopped walking. She took a moment to feel what Caitlyn woke up in her, no longer running away from those prominent feelings. Vi had allowed herself to feel the pain, which had also opened the door towards being honest with herself as well as how she truly felt about the Topsider. She smiled the moment she realized she had accepted that she wanted to be with her.

An unexpected scent caught her attention. Vi looked on her right and saw a small garden of roses. "Huh?" This surprised her, for she knew how difficult it was to cultivate anything organic on the ground of Zaun, let alone growing beautiful flowers like those ones. She squatted down in front of one of the red roses and took a deep breath in through her nose, inhaling her spores and sweet scent. She closed her eyes, and just for an instant, Vi allowed herself to be in the present moment. No thoughts, no big emotions; just her and the rose in absolute presence.

The light sound of the breeze, the sun kissing her skin… It all had no other purpose than to simply exist peacefully, in harmony with one another. And then, it all clicked: Vi finally realized that what she had been endlessly fighting for since her childhood was peace – peace for her family, for her city, and for her conscience. Vi lifted her head up, lashing out a cry from the depths of her aching spirit. At last, she understood Vander's lesson: "That path is not going to solve your problems. It only creates more of them," his voice echoing in her memory.

Slowly, tears rolled down her cheeks. Vi brought up her hands to her face and released a soft laughter in a sweet manner, having compassion for all that she had suffered to protect the ones she loved the most and failed. All the pain, guilt, and shame were coming up to the surface and being released. Vi was learning what true courage was all about, as she allowed herself to cry it all out while staring at the red rose, which was accompanying her on this deep process of surrender. Vi could feel the silent presence of the elemental energy around her, like a warm hug that enveloped her and soothed the pain. She wasn't sure what or who was with her, yet she simply allowed the mystery to be with gratefulness in her heart.

A flame of inspiration sparked within her being, for all the mental fog was gone. She wiped out her tears and got up with a clear sense of direction. Ekko had the responsibility to protect his people, and she felt the responsibility to do the same. Jinx was her only family left, and the key to stop the war between Piltover and Zaun. "If it's just the two of us, maybe Powder will listen", she thought. Her spirit got lifted at the sound of that hopeful and somewhat naive idea. Deep inside, and after her last encounter with Jinx, Vi knew this was a long shot. But it was worth the try.

Swiftly, Vi got up and set course to the village. She had to find Ekko and ask him to stand down. A sudden pressure on her chest caught her attention. She couldn't quite identify what this nauseous sensation was, but something inside was telling her to act fast.

In the unforgiving streets of Zaun, Vince and his team of three were finishing the last round on the southeast side when a familiar face appeared on the corner of the street. The robust lady was covered with a used coat, carrying a big backpack together with a stuffed bag on only hand.

– Hey, isn't that Sevika? –the shortest of the sentinels asked in a whisper.

– It is –Vince confirmed with a smirk.

With their Firelight masks on, they hurried to catch up to her, quickly encircling her in an intimidating way. Two of the sentinels had their guns up, pointing at her, while Vince and the taller sentinel kept their short range weapons in their hands. Unimpressed, Sevika stopped and simply gave them a dry look.

– Get out of my way if you don't want to lose a limb –her imperative tone let them know she wasn't in the mood for a casual conversation.

– We just want to ask you a question –Sevika stared in silence–. Do you know where Jinx is?

Sevika scoffed.

– That lunatic teenager… Why are you looking for her?

– That's not of your concern –the only female sentinel answered.

Sevika smiled and closed her eyes for a moment, showing a serene demeanor on her face.

– You are right, it doesn't concern me at all –she paused–. She's at the shimmer plant, on the East side waterfront. With Singed.

– The crazy doctor? –the taller sentinel couldn't help but yip.

Vince gave him a look, although unperceivable due to their masks.

Sevika smirked–. His reputation precedes him, doesn't it?

The Firelights look at each other with certain surprise. However, things were not adding up for Vince. It all just felt too easy.

– How come you are just giving Jinx away like that? –Vince asked, distrustful– I thought you played on the same team.

– Jinx was never a teamplayer –Sevika snapped with anger–. We would not be in this situation if it wasn't because of her.

Standing by the antiques store around the corner, a sneaky yet naive 'Pilty' was eardropping on the conversation. Adrenaline racing, his hands keeping his hammer closeby, Jayce was doing his best to remain quiet in order to not be exposed.

– I hope you nitwits end up killing her –Sevika continued, cold as ice–. You'd be doing the world a favor.

– Did you care for Silco that much? –Vince uttered with sassiness.

He tilted the scale on purpose to see her reaction, but Sevika was a tough bone to break.

– She ain't the same Jinx –she sneered–. The doctor did something to her, I guess that's why she went back to see him. She's out of control –she paused, then smirked–. Besides, it is only a matter of time until Zaun becomes a pool of sharks fighting for the Undercity's supremacy, or until a horde of enforcers invades us seeking revenge for what she did last night. Either way, I'm not staying to find out.

Sevika started walking, breaking through the Firelight squadron who did not oppose.

– So long, morons.

Confused, the team watched her leave without saying a word. They had known Sevika for years, and while she had proven to be a considerably dangerous opponent, she wasn't known for being a liar. With a queasy sensation on his stomach, Vince knew there was no time to lose. He got the team moving in order to return and inform immediately.

Jayce heard their footsteps running towards him and got frightened. His unconscious reaction was to step back, thus knocking down a box full of candelabra. The fuss was loud and drew the attention of the few nearby pedestrians. The female sentinel turned around at once, and then she saw the blue light of Jayce's hammer beaming under his coat.

– Topsider!

The Firelights jumped on their hoverboards and scattered the moment Jayce lifted his hammer to protect himself. Yet, he was unable to pull the trigger. The image of the kid falling down the multiple stories at the shimmer factory paralyzed him. The civilians ran away, while some Zaunites picked up whatever rudimentary item they could use as a short range weapon, such as a small knife or even the metallic bar used to roll out the canopy of their stores.

Sweating, Jayce tried to calm down while pointing at the possible attackers with his hammer.

– People of Zaun, I mean no harm! –He tried diplomacy, but holding up a hammer that big against them didn't help plead his case–. I am looking for a person, that's all!

Suddenly, a wire appeared out of the blue and swept him off. Jayce fell hard on the floor, his feet being entangled and unable to move. Scared, he looked up, but he saw the Zaunites as scared as he was. A pair of hands pulled the handle of his hammer from above. Jayce resisted, not letting go of it. And then, it all went black the moment a bag engulfed his head.

To be continued…

Thank you so much for reading! Please leave a comment on how this story is making you feel so far, what you liked and why, or any constructive feedback that can help me improve my writing skills, character development, etc.

Much love, and until the next episode!