"A dragon? What dragon?"
"No, I probably saw it wrong… It was like some vague, drifting dream. I can't remember it clearly anymore."
"But one thing is certain. You seem… different somehow?"
"Mm."
Van was fully aware of it now. A needle-like pain was radiating from the right side of his chest.
"Maybe we can discuss working together now. I'm afraid I'm… very interested in this thing."
"Of course! That's why I came here… But are you sure you're all right?"
Jayce was still shaken by what had just happened. He had already begun to suspect that Van was naturally sensitive to arcane energy, which was why the unstable Hex crystal had affected him so strongly.
That would also explain how Van had once been able to observe the arcane using such crude equipment. Maybe the mages of legend had bodies like his.
"What if something goes wrong during an experiment?"
"It shouldn't… As long as I don't touch it directly, I should be fine."
Van looked at his palm. The place where he had touched the Hex crystal still showed faint burn marks.
"I remember you wanted to research a more stable form of Hextech, right?"
If arcane energy could be made more stable, would that allow him to sense that power more safely?
Van could not help touching the right side of his chest. He had been fascinated by this strange thing since he was young. Otherwise, he would never have built so many devices for it.
"All right… But Hextech is important technology for Piltover. If you want to take part in the experiments, you'll probably need to apply first. I can help you handle that."
"Mm. I understand."
"And the experiments must be conducted at the University of Piltover."
"Must they?"
Van frowned. With the Lanes the way they were now, he was not sure he could afford to leave.
Compared to uncovering the secrets of his body and researching technology that might or might not be useful, the safety of the Lanes clearly mattered more to him. Van began to hesitate.
"Yes. Like I said, this is Piltover's core technology. The Hexgates were only recently established, and they've been very effective. The councilors take them seriously."
"I see…"
Van fell into thought and rubbed his dry eyes. The strange sensation had faded quite a bit, but it had not disappeared.
In his eyes, Jayce's whole body shone brightly, like a firelight in the night, almost dazzling.
Van unconsciously glanced at the potted plant on the table and found that it, too, glowed with a faint green light. Dim emerald specks even seemed to drift around it in the air.
"Are you all right?"
Jayce carefully interrupted Van, whose gaze had begun to wander. Van slowly looked back at him.
"It's nothing… Jayce, can you take out that Hex crystal again and let me look at it?"
"Of course. But this time, you really can only look."
Jayce took the Hex crystal from his pocket, held it in his palm, and showed it to Van.
"Just as I thought…"
Van could clearly sense the difference. Before, he had only been able to vaguely see the arcane patterns on the crystal. Now, he could see the ripples on it with perfect clarity. Even the trails of those drifting, star-like specks could not escape his eyes.
So his body and eyes had been affected by arcane energy, or rather… magic?
But the patterns in Van's vision were blurring at a visible speed. It was probably only a matter of time before everything returned to normal.
"Let me think about it."
Van looked away and sank back into the soft sofa, rubbing his dry eyes again.
"All right. I just think your talent shouldn't be buried like this. I firmly believe Hextech is the future…"
Jayce stood up and put the Hex crystal back into his pocket.
"Of course, if you make up your mind, you can come to the University of Piltover and find me anytime."
…
…
After seeing Jayce off, Van lay crookedly on the sofa, smoking one drag at a time.
"Hextech, huh…"
Ever since the Hexgates appeared, Piltover's trade volume had reportedly risen sharply. Even business between the Undercity and Piltover had been affected.
Of course, the Hexgates had not existed for long, so their impact on Zaun was still not obvious. Even so, Van could already faintly feel that this might not be a good thing.
As for Jayce's idea of applying Hextech to civilian use to improve the lives of ordinary people at the bottom, Van was genuinely tempted.
After all, were there any people lower than Zaunites?
But the Lanes needed someone to hold things down. Ekko still lacked experience, Zeri was too restless, and Scar was too rigid. Van did not even have anyone reliable enough to entrust the place to.
Powder? Van would rather hand the Lanes over to Blitzcrank.
"What a mess…"
Just then, a rapid series of knocks came from the door.
"What is it?"
Scar pushed the door open, walked quickly up to Van, and reported in a low voice.
"What?!"
Van looked stunned, as if he had just heard something completely absurd.
…
…
"Didn't I tell you to keep an eye on Powder? I turn my head for one moment, and she kidnaps someone?"
Van hurried toward Vi and the others' old hideout with Ekko while questioning him.
"Come on! She's a living person. I couldn't stop her. She originally wanted to go after that topsider."
Ekko quickly explained. It was not that he had not tried. Powder was just too hard to control.
He had sent Scar to report to Van at once. That was the only thing he could do.
"Jayce? Good thing she didn't. You don't know who he is."
Van let out a breath of relief. Kidnapping some random passerby was one thing. If she had kidnapped Jayce, it would have caused serious trouble. The man was one of the hottest names in Piltover right now.
"So what exactly happened?"
"It's a woman. She looks like she's from topside. Powder said she was acting suspicious."
"And then she kidnapped her? That willful little… And you just stood there watching?"
"Don't take it out on me. I did try to talk her down, but you know what Powder's temper is like."
As they spoke, the hideout appeared ahead of them, and Jinx was already waiting at the entrance.
"Powder! What are you doing this time? Didn't I tell you not to act recklessly? You—"
Van had just started to scold her, but Jinx had no intention of listening. Instead, she threw a small object at him.
"What's this?"
"Take a look. Still think I was acting recklessly?"
Jinx raised an eyebrow at Van and rolled her eyes hard.
Van reached out and caught it. In his hand was an ID embedded with Piltover's symbol, and his expression immediately turned serious.
"An Enforcer?"
[End of chapter]