Arcane: In This New World

Tarren sat in his dorm room at the academy as afternoon light spilled through the window, casting soft shadows across his cluttered workbench. Before him lay his testing machinery, a series of circuits and crystals glowing faintly as he took meticulous notes on his findings. Each adjustment to the machine brought him closer to finding the right frequency to harness the crystal's energy. It was a task that mirrored Jayce's work.

Despite his focus on the experiment, his mind was elsewhere. His thoughts churned with unease about the events in the Undercity. He had done everything he could to steer the timeline away from catastrophe. Singed was out of the picture, eliminating the immediate threat of shimmer. Most of Jayce's crystals were relocated, reducing the stakes of the impending heist. He had even warned Vander about Vi's plans, hoping to put an end to her scheme.

Yet none of it brought him peace.

Vi was stubborn. That much was certain. In the original timeline, her determination had set the tragic events in motion. And while Tarren had altered many details, he realized he didn't know the exact sequence of events. He could guess the general time frame from everyone's ages, but that wasn't precise enough. He couldn't predict the exact night Vi would act—or even if the events would unfold the same way.

Fate, he thought grimly, was a fickle force. He had done his best to create failsafes, to minimize the damage should the heist occur despite his efforts. But he had no way of knowing if his actions were enough.

Leaning back in his chair, he rubbed his temples, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on him. He had taken risks, made choices, but the future still loomed uncertain. It was the most annoying thing for him.

—

In the Undercity, Vi sat on the worn couch in Vander's bar's basement, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her foot tapped against the floor in a steady rhythm, a sign to her frustration.

It had been days since Vander found out about her plan. Days since he grounded her and the others, locking down any chance of sneaking topside. And yet, her anger burned as hot as ever.

Tarren had snitched, that much she had known. Her jaw clenched at the thought. She couldn't even muster real anger at him, not entirely. After all, she had lied to him. She had told Tarren she wouldn't go through with the plan, and yet the idea had never truly left her mind.

Still, she hated the feeling of being told what to do. Hated the idea of being boxed in by anyone, even Vander.

She slammed her fist into her palm and stood up abruptly. "That's it," she said, her voice cutting through the heavy silence.

The others looked up at her, startled.

"We're sneaking out," Vi declared.

Mylo frowned. "What's the point? Vander already knows. And didn't you tell Tarren you weren't going to do it?"

"Tarren isn't Vander," Vi shot back. "And Vander? He's just a man. He's not invincible. We don't have to listen to him."

Claggor shifted uneasily. "How are we even supposed to sneak out? He's watching us like a hawk."

"The back," Vi said, already moving to gather supplies. "Tonight."

Claggor hesitated. "Are we seriously doing this?"

Vi turned to him, her expression steely. "Once we come back with a haul, Vander won't have anything to say. He can't argue with the results." She looked at Powder. "Come on. Pack up."

Powder hesitated, her small frame sinking further into the couch. Mylo frowned, stepping forward.

"You're bringing her?" he asked, his tone sharp. "What if she… you know? Jinxes it?"

Vi's eyes flashed. "She won't."

Mylo opened his mouth to argue, but Vi cut him off with a glare. Powder stood slowly, her head down, her movements hesitant.

"Come on," Vi said, softening her voice. "Let's go."

Powder nodded reluctantly, her hands fumbling to gather her things. Mylo muttered something under his breath but followed suit. Claggor, still uneasy, exchanged a glance with Mylo before the two of them moved to prepare.

The plan was clear. They'd sneak topside, grab what they needed, and prove to everyone— Vander, anyone—that they didn't need to be coddled anymore.

—

The morning air in Piltover carried a chill that nipped at the skin, though the four young kids barely noticed as they huddled together between the rooftops. The city sprawled out beneath them in patterns of gilded structures and cobblestone streets. Piltover's charm was lost on them however; they weren't here to admire it.

Mylo crouched, telescope pressed to his eye, scanning the building across the way. "He's getting ready," he muttered. "Looks tired."

The others peeked over the edge of the roof, watching Jayce move through his apartment with sluggish movements. Even from their vantage point, the signs of exhaustion were clear—deep bags under his eyes and a sluggish pace as he prepared to leave.

Jayce eventually left, disappearing down the street with a distracted air about him. The four exchanged a silent nod before making their move. One by one, they leapt across rooftops with ease, except one person.

Powder hesitated, lingering at the edge. "I-I don't think I can make it," she stammered, glancing nervously at the gap.

Vi crouched, holding out her hand. "Come on, you can do it. I got you."

Powder took a deep breath, gathering her courage, and leapt. Her foot slipped as she landed, and she wobbled precariously, but Vi caught her wrist and pulled her up with a reassuring smile. "See? Told you."

Once they slid to the balcony of the apartment, the group wasted no time. Mylo knelt at the balcony door, a set of crude lockpicks in hand. "Piece of cake," he muttered, his grin widening as the lock clicked open.

"Move," Vi ordered. "Grab anything that looks valuable. Be quick."

They scattered through the apartment, their hands rifling through drawers, shelves, and cabinets. Claggor flipped through stacks of papers and books, his expression uneasy. "There's not much here," he whispered.

"Everything's valuable, Claggor," Vi snapped. "This is topside. Just grab whatever you can."

Powder lingered in a corner, her wide eyes catching the faint blue glow of something unusual. She stepped closer and found a strange machine, its design elegant and alien to her. At its center sat a blue crystal, radiating soft pulses of light. Powder reached out, gingerly removing the crystal from its mount.

"Wow," she whispered, holding it up to inspect its facets. The light danced across her face, mesmerizing her.

Meanwhile, Mylo froze. The faint sound of approaching footsteps echoed in the hallway.

"Someone's coming," he hissed, panic setting in. He rushed to the front door, dragging a chair to block it while gesturing frantically to the others. "We need to go!"

The voice of Jayce, muffled but agitated, reached them. "Damn it, I knew I forgot something… the crystal…" His voice trailed off, but his footsteps grew louder.

When Jayce reached his door, he immediately noticed something was off. His hand froze on the knob. "Hey!" he shouted. "Who's in there?!"

The kids froze for a heartbeat before Vi barked, "Time to go!"

They moved as one, their stolen goods clutched tightly. Powder lagged behind, still enthralled by the crystal in her hand. Vi grabbed her arm, yanking her toward the balcony.

Jayce burst through the door, his face a mix of shock and anger. "Stop!" he bellowed. "Put that down!"

The commotion reached the street, where enforcers quickly turned their attention to the scene. The sound of their boots pounding on the pavement echoed ominously.

On the balcony, Vi and Powder scrambled to escape. Claggor and Mylo were already pulling themselves onto the rooftop above. Vi glanced back, ensuring Powder was close behind her.

But then it happened.

Powder's foot caught on the railing, and she stumbled. The crystal slipped from her grasp, bouncing against the floor of the balcony with a harsh crack. Sparks of raw energy flickered from it, spreading like tiny arcs of lightning.

Jayce's eyes widened in alarm. "No! Watch out!"

Vi turned sharply at the sound of his shout, her instincts flaring to life. She saw the crystal sparking wildly, its energy building to an unstable state. Without thinking, she acted.

"Powder, get down!" Vi shouted, throwing herself toward her sister.

She shoved Powder out of the way just as the crystal erupted in a violent burst of light and sound.

The explosion was deafening. Energy rippled outward, tearing through the apartment with chaotic force. The balcony shuddered under the impact, glass and debris flying in all directions.

Claggor and Mylo, safe on the rooftop, shielded their faces from the blast, their expressions filled with horror.

When the dust settled, the balcony was in ruins. Powder lay sprawled against the wall, her small frame trembling.

"Vi!" she screamed, her voice cracking.

Smoke and debris filled the air, obscuring Vi's form. Jayce, coughing and shielding his face, staggered forward, his face a mix of fury and concern. "Are you insane?!" he shouted at no one in particular.

The sound of enforcer whistles pierced the air, their shouts growing louder.

Powder's trembling fingers reached out, her voice breaking again. "Vi…"

But Vi didn't answer.