Arcane: Broken Mechanism

The next day.

The wounds and pain from the early beatings had not yet passed. But the time for the first assignment had passed. And now he was standing in Finn's office, trying to remain calm. The room he had been brought into was filled with the stifling smell of cigars and chemicals, which mixed with the hum of the factory outside the walls. Finn was sitting in his chair, his head slightly bowed, looking at Sirion with interest. Jerry was standing behind the Chemical Baron's chair.

"Well, my new dear courier," he drawled, taking a drag on his cigar. "Jerry has already reported your successes to me. They say you are quick. Even too quick for a simple boy from the slums. Praise from such a seasoned courier, who himself raised so many messengers for me, is worth a lot," he narrowed his eyes and smiled at him. Sirion felt a cold sweat run down his back. He resisted the urge to wipe the sweat from his palms, which he had hidden behind his back.

"Thanks, boss," he said shortly, trying not to meet Finn's eyes.

"Don't get cocky. Every other guy around here thinks he's special until he's faced with real work." He chuckled, leaning back in his chair. He put his cigar in the ashtray and stood up, walking around the desk to come closer. "Your first assignment is simple," Finn said, looking Sirion straight in the eye. "You need to deliver one small package." He narrowed his fingers to make the picture more beautiful, showing Sirion a small gap between them.

"Deliver where?" He frowned, trying to understand what was hidden behind the simplicity of the assignment. His gaze fell on Jerry, who looked from the man to the teenager and back again.

"Upper Piltover," Finn answered calmly. The words hit Sirion like a hammer. Upper Piltover? He knew that the border between Zaun and Piltover was more than just a territorial line. It was a nearly impassable chasm, filled with enforcers, checkpoints, and harsh laws. You could cross over a bridge, but at the bridge you would be stopped for an illegal check. At least, he didn't know of any other way to get there at the moment. He'd been told that his first job would be easy, but he'd been sent straight to a enforcer lair that could put him in jail for a long time.

"How… should I do that?" he asked carefully. Finn grinned, clearly enjoying the confusion on the boy's face.

"Your mentor said you were smart, you'll figure it out. I'll just have to see how smart you are," he said, waving his hand. "Jerry will show you where to pick up the package. And then it's your head and feet." Sirion felt the ground shift beneath his feet. That damn bastard - he lied about the mission being easy! He still didn't know the geography of Zaun and Piltover, what would happen if he got lost somewhere where the enforcers were swarming?

"If I deliver?" he asked.

"Then you've proven yourself fit for the job. If not..." Finn leaned closer, his eyes narrowing. "Then you're useless to me. And I don't keep useless people," Sirion nodded, fear and adrenaline mixing in his blood.

"Got it, boss."

"Okay," Finn patted him on the shoulder, making the boy almost flinch. "Don't disappoint me."

Sirion left the office with a heavy heart. His first real challenge in this dangerous world was waiting for him.

***

Jerry stood to the side, watching Sirion peer into a small package wrapped in brown paper and tied with a simple rope. It looked like nothing special - light, a little bigger than a palm. But Sirion knew that it was just a disguise. Inside, most likely, there was something that could tear your head off if you were caught.

"Here's the map," Jerry threw him a sheet of paper folded in four. "This is your route. But remember: no one guarantees that everything will go smoothly. And my main advice to you is not to open the package, and throw away all thoughts about its contents.

Sirion unfolded the map. It was hand-drawn, with signs for the streets of Zaun and crossings that, apparently, were little known to the general public. The path led to underground tunnels, then across a narrow bridge over a river of chemical waste, and finally to one of the lifts that led to Piltover.

"You say you've been this way before," Sirion said, not taking his eyes off the map. Jerry smirked.

"What do you think?" he replied ironically. "I've been there too. Just don't relax. This path may look simple, but it's rife with risks. Drop a package and you're dead. Leave too many traces and the Piltoverians will come after you."

"And if they catch you?" Sirion asked, folding up the map.

"You know how they answer such questions in this city," Jerry chuckled. "Make sure you don't get caught."

Sirion sighed, putting the map in his pocket.

"I advise you to study the route first," Jerry continued. - You have a few hours before the task needs to be completed. You better figure out where you can hide if something goes wrong.

"Once I get up the elevator and reach the bridge that separates our cities, what do I do next, how do I get past all the guards there?" - he asked the most important question.

"I can't believe I actually overestimated your mental abilities", - his mentor laughed in response. - "I told you, study the map and the route carefully. Crossing the bridge is the end for you. The Pilties will definitely search you from head to toe before letting you into the city, and that can't be allowed. The best way to get in is through the sewers."

"The sewers?" - Sirion wrinkled his nose in displeasure, imagining all the stench.

"What did you think, we live in a fairy tale?"

"Thank you, I got it" - Sirion answered shortly, unfolding the map with the route to its full size.

"You're welcome," Jerry raised his hand in a warning gesture. "I'm not trying for you, I'm trying so that Finn wouldn't be left without a courier." Sirion nodded and headed for the exit. The map was in his pocket, the package in his hands, and his consciousness was a heavy weight on his shoulders. The unknown lay ahead.

***

Sirion walked through the narrow streets, his thoughts returning to his conversation with Jerry. Sewers… It sounded disgusting, but it was the only way. He unfolded the map, checking the route against his surroundings. The stench was already part of everyday reality in Zaun, but the prospect of walking through actual sewage was still revolting.

There were several manholes marked on the map, one of which was a few blocks away.

The elevator was shared by all residents of the lower levels of Zaun, taking them all the way up to the highest level, to the area that bordered the bridge that led to Piltover. As he rode it up, he saw the sun for the first time in days. The elevator rumbled one last time before coming to a stop at the top level. The doors slowly slid open, and Sirion stepped out. A rush of fresh, if slightly bitter, air hit him in the face, mixing with the first glimpse of the sun in days. It was so bright that he had to close his eyes, shielding them with his hand. Unaccustomed to such light, he felt dizzy for a moment.

"Amazing…" he whispered, looking around.

The upper level of Zaun was completely different from the lower ones. There was no suffocating dampness and impenetrable darkness here. Instead, there was a strange contrast. Iron and glass buildings towered over the cliffs, their surfaces glistening in the sunlight. But despite the brightness, dirt and rust remained everywhere. Pipes twisted between the buildings, throwing out toxic fumes that slowly rose upward, mixing with the rare blue sky.

Having reached his point, he stopped. The area looked quiet at first glance, but he knew that it could be an illusion. The clatter of guards' boots or an unexpected cry could disturb this deceptive peace at any moment.

Sirion checked the map again. It marked the nearest entry point to the sewers. It was at the base of the bridge that connected Zaun to Piltover. If all went according to plan, he would be able to bypass the guards and deliver the package to its destination.

"The main thing is to not attract attention," he reminded himself quietly. But planning was one thing, and acting was another.

Sirion took a deep breath, but immediately regretted it, smelling an even more concentrated stench of rot. Removing the hatch cover, he saw that below lay a network of pipes and tunnels filled with dirty water.

Along the way, he met people who lived on this level, or were simply passing through on business. The people here were dressed a little better than the Zaunites in the crime-ridden area he had lived in for the past few days. Although he couldn't say the contrast was too strong. The clothes of the people here were still dirty and torn in many places. But not as bad as the people he had met before. Most likely, due to the enormous influence of Piltover on the upper levels of Zaun, for their own comfort they somehow influenced the standard of living here, or so it seemed to Sirion himself. He did not yet know all the details of life in Zaun.

He walked exactly along the route, to the sewers. The border in the form of a bridge was getting closer. He passed through the metal rusty buildings of Zaun, when suddenly he noticed them beyond the roofs of the buildings - the outlines of Piltover. A glimmer of light on the horizon, too clean and bright for Zaun, made him look up. Between the roofs of the buildings, the outlines of Piltover began to appear. Smooth, shining surfaces, tall towers with graceful structures, completely different from the crude architecture of his native Zaun.

"There it is, Piltover…" he whispered, pausing for a moment.

It was a contrast that was difficult to fully comprehend. The Zaunian buildings looked like an ugly scar against the background of the refined neighboring city. Their rust and corrosion added to the effect of the flawless beauty of the shining towers. Sirion swallowed. The border, the bridge that connected the two worlds, seemed like a motionless, but no less frightening barrier. It was only a short distance away. He looked at the map again, locating the nearest entrance to the sewers.

"Almost there," he thought, beginning to feel his heart beat faster. "Now the main thing is not to screw up."

"Well then," he muttered under his breath, holding the bag closer to his chest. "If this is the only way, then go ahead."

As he descended, he immediately felt the heavy air mixed with the foul smell of waste. The dark tunnels seemed like a maze, but the map was quite accurate. Sirion picked his way, trying not to fall deeper into the sewage sludge. The water reached his knees, and each step was accompanied by an unpleasant squelching sound. After a while, he stopped to check the map. There should have been bars ahead, which, according to the markings, could be bypassed through a side passage.

"Wonderful, just wonderful," he muttered under his breath, trying to hold back the nausea that was rising. He kept glancing over his shoulder as he moved down the dark corridor, listening to the echo of his footsteps. He placed the package, wrapped in thick cloth, in a small bag on his back, as if it could protect him from the dirt and stench around him.

Soon the path began to rise, and he could make out a faint light coming from cracks in the walls. The water splashed under his feet, and once Sirion almost slipped, grabbing a nearby pipe to keep from falling into the murky stream. Several times his stomach clenched, especially when he accidentally inhaled too deeply. Once he almost fell to his knees, covering his mouth with his hand, but at the last moment he forced himself to calm down.

"Come on, be patient," he whispered, peering at the map and checking the direction. "It won't change anything if I throw up here." After a while, the stench seemed almost familiar to him. He began to move more confidently, avoiding large puddles and trying not to touch the walls covered in something disgusting.

When he finally saw the light ahead, it was like a breath of fresh air, even if he knew that he would be getting out into another not very pleasant area.

"It's done," Sirion exhaled, climbing out of the sewer tunnel. His clothes were dirty, and his breath was still ragged from trying not to inhale the surrounding air. "Now the main thing is to get to the point."

Sirion climbed out of the hatch, trying not to make any noise. When his eyes got used to the bright light, he realized that he was in a completely different world.

Piltover, as he imagined it, came to life before him in all its glory. People dressed in bright and expensive clothes, hurried about their business. Snow-white suits, elegant dresses with gold embroidery and accessories sparkled in the sun. The color palette of their clothes - white, blue and red - looked harmonious, emphasizing the atmosphere of order and wealth.

Sirion stepped away from the hatch, quickly straightening his clothes and trying to shake off the dirt. In his torn, shabby clothes, he stood out like a dark spot on a perfectly clean canvas.

He looked around the streets and involuntarily froze. Tall buildings with marble facades towered around him, some decorated with gilded ornaments and statues. Huge windows reflected the sun's rays, and balconies dotted with flowers gave the whole city a refined look. Even the pavement under his feet was laid out of smooth marble, sparkling in the rays of light.

"Damn it... this is like a completely different world," he thought, carefully walking along the street. The smell of freshness and some unfamiliar aromas that resembled flower perfume hit his nose.

Piltover wasn't just a city, it was the embodiment of grandeur and wealth. Even the lanterns that lined the streets were ornate and seemed to be decorated with silver.

Sirion shuddered involuntarily, fortunately the sewers were located a little away from the pedestrian part of the city, apparently in order not to scare away the city's residents with stench, the manholes were mostly located a little further from the streets. He looked up at the building that was directly above him and without hesitation jumped up, grabbing the ledge. He had to get up as quickly as possible, before anyone noticed.

"Need to move quickly," he thought, clutching the bag tighter to himself. There was no place for someone who looked like him.

Sirion looked around the building, calculating his route up. It was made of white marble, but there were many decorative ledges and cornices that made the climb easy. Without thinking, he jumped up, grabbing the nearest ledge, and began to climb. His body moved as if on autopilot, every muscle working in perfect coordination.

When he reached the first ledge, he checked the route map he had hidden in his pocket. "Excellent," he thought, looking at the direction. "From the roof of this building to the next one, it's only a few jumps."

When he reached the roof, he took a deep breath. The wind ruffled his hair as the city unfolded below him in all its glory. Piltover's towers looked like a fairy tale set, graceful, gilded, shining in the sun. But there was no time to admire the view.

Sirion picked up speed and, without slowing down, jumped onto the roof of the neighboring building. His movements were so smooth and precise that he barely noticed the obstacles. His hands automatically grabbed the ledges, his legs deftly found points of support, and his body flexibly bent when it was necessary to change the trajectory. It was as if he was made for this. Every jump, every movement was easy for him, as if he had been training for such tasks all his life. Sirion checked the route, simultaneously looking at the roof ahead. One of the buildings that he had to pass through turned out to be higher than the others, but this did not bother him. Running to the wall, he took a few quick steps up and, pulling himself up on the ledge, found himself on the next level.

Sirion looked around the building in front of him, checking his route. The balcony on the third floor from the roof looked almost inconspicuous, as if specially chosen for covert affairs. He recounted the floors several times to make sure he was not mistaken. "The main thing is not to screw up," he thought, clutching the bag with the parcel to himself.

With the ease that he had already begun to take for granted, Sirion jumped onto the desired balcony. The silence and solitude of this place made him feel relatively safe, but he knew that it was too early to relax. Looking around and checking the route again, he carefully placed the parcel under the balcony door.

"That's right. The third balcony. Exactly the place," he muttered under his breath, double-checking the details. His heart was beating louder than usual, although everything had gone smoothly.

Pulling himself together, Sirion turned and ran back. His goal was now clear: return the way he had come, without attracting attention, and as quickly as possible return to the shadows of Zaun. Leap after leap he raced back, praying that no one would notice the strange boy bounding across the rooftops of Piltover.

Having successfully returned to the hatch cover, he headed back to Zaun through the sewers. A surprise awaited him in the elevator on the way to the lower levels of the city. Sirion looked in amazement at the sign in front of him, which glowed in bright letters, as if stopping the whole world around him for a moment. The words that seemed so ordinary actually made his heart skip a beat.

"Congratulations, the Inventor's system has been successfully loaded."

He felt something change inside him. It was like a long-awaited event, but at the same time like something frightening that would now be with him forever. The system he received was a part of him, and now it was coming into effect.

Looking at the screen of his device, he saw several new messages, as well as system indicators:

— Inventor's system activated

— Loaded: 100%

— Mode: Waiting of activation

— Available functions: design, improvements, engineering.

Sirion did not yet know how all this would work. But one thing was clear: his life in this world was just beginning.