Arcane: Mage from Noxus

After Katarina left, Ryan found himself lost in thought, preoccupied with the twilight sky.

The continent they were on was Valoran, a land rich with conflict and history, while the planet itself—home to its vast oceans and continents—was called Runeterra.

A wandering mage, who had roamed these lands for countless years, once said:

"To master the runes is to grasp the very essence of the Arcane."

In most cases, a mage's birth is destined, their magical awakening shaped by the strength they manifest at that critical moment.

That initial power often determines the heights they can reach in life—unless they uncover the deeper secrets hidden within the ancient runes.

When Ryan first arrived in Runeterra, he awakened to water-based magic, an affinity so potent it marked him as a prodigy.

After joining the Noxian Empire, he quickly rose through the ranks with his relentless military exploits. In Noxus, power and achievement were everything, and those who proved themselves were rewarded without reservation—a quality Ryan admired most about the Empire. Merit transcended all.

Now, as twilight deepened, Ryan raised his hand, watching as a shimmering rune resembling the word "water" began to glow on his palm. His eyes softened, a rare flicker of nostalgia crossing his expression.

This was the first rune he had ever mastered, the one most attuned to his soul.

He still vividly remembered that fateful moment in the desert sands of Shurima. He and his commanding officer had faced the infamous quicksand armies of Shurima.

For the first time, Ryan had drawn upon his innate magic, tracing the complex outlines of runes into existence. A massive magic circle materialized before him, calling forth torrents of rain that soaked the golden dunes and transformed them into dense, heavy soil.

The battle raged for an entire day, but by its end, the quicksand army had been buried beneath the earth, crushed by the combined strength of Ryan and his comrades.

In the aftermath, the Noxian forces built a towering Noxtoraa in the conquered territory—a looming symbol of Shurima's subjugation to Noxus.

As Ryan's memories faded back into the present, more runes began to surface on his palm. They shimmered with a deep blue glow, tinged with purple streaks of light, threads of energy weaving through the intricate patterns.

The runes whispered answers to him, guiding his thoughts.

After a careful analysis of the shimmering substance before him, Ryan had nearly unraveled its secrets. Although he couldn't replicate its creation just yet, he understood the essence of its design.

It fascinated him. This mysterious concoction—known as Shimmer—was unlike anything he had seen, a marvel that could forcefully unlock the latent potential of the human body. But there was a flaw.

Whether due to its creator's lack of skill or their reckless ambition, the Shimmer failed to control the chaotic energy it unleashed. Instead, it brutally fused that energy with its host, leaving the magic volatile, destructive, and unstable.

"A brilliant design, yet utterly insane," Ryan mused, his voice tinged with regret.

"Such ingenuity belongs in Noxus. Only there could its creator truly thrive."

Ryan couldn't help but pity the mind behind Shimmer's creation. In Piltover, a place shackled by its rigid laws and narrow ideals, such a visionary had no future.

They would either lose their mind in Zaun's shadowy depths or face the harsh judgment of Piltover's enforcers.

The thought of Piltover and its so-called "progressive ideals" made Ryan scoff. Its moralistic code, based on human nature, seemed laughable in a world defined by power and survival.

"Ionia has its spiritual strength. Noxus has its ambition. But what does Piltover have?" he sneered to himself.

"Heimerdinger? A yordle who has lived for centuries but can't see past his own inventions? Or Jayce Talis, the young upstart clinging to a hammer?"

A sharp knock on the door broke his train of thought.

Knock!

"Your Excellency, it's time," came a voice from outside.

Ryan cast one last glance at the Shimmer vial before tossing it into a bucket. The glowing runes on his palm dimmed as he reined in his magic.

"Let's go, then," he said calmly, standing to open the door.

"Miss Katarina."

The door swung open to reveal Katarina Du Couteau, impeccably dressed for the occasion. She wore a sleek black dress that hugged her form, her long, crimson hair cascading gracefully down her back.

Her movements carried an elegance befitting her noble lineage, yet her piercing emerald eyes betrayed her impatience.

Ryan's gaze lingered on her for a moment before he sighed, shaking his head.

"The outfit is perfect," he remarked, "but your expression is far too stiff. A true assassin must be able to embody any role convincingly, even that of a noblewoman."

Katarina's lips twitched into a scowl.

"He wouldn't know how to do that either," she muttered.

"You don't need to compare yourself to him," Ryan said firmly, his voice laced with encouragement.

"You'll surpass him one day. I'm certain of it. You have the potential to become Noxus' greatest assassin."

His confidence seemed to momentarily unsettle her, but before she could respond, Ryan offered her his arm. Without hesitation, she took it, and the two stepped into the corridor together.

"This is a one-time partnership," she said flatly.

"I'll do my best to play the part of a noblewoman, but don't expect perfection."

"Do your best," Ryan replied, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

"Understand the role, but don't lose yourself in it."

And with that, the pair strode into the night, ready to play their parts in the grand theater of Noxian ambition.

Katarina did her best to restrain herself, maintaining an awkward smile while forcing her body to relax. She tried to adapt to the role she was now playing. Sitting stiffly in the mechanical car on their way to the banquet hall, she finally exhaled in relief when Ryan released her arm.

Hoping to break the lingering awkwardness, she gestured toward the cushioned seats beneath them and asked, feigning curiosity:

"Driven by pure machinery... Is this one of Piltover's unique technological creations?"

Ryan pulled back the car's curtain slightly, gazing out at the bustling streets of Piltover, bathed in the golden glow of twilight.

"The mechanical car was originally designed by Viktor, one of Heimerdinger's students," Ryan explained, his tone calm but edged with irony.

"Viktor dreamed of transforming the city through technology, inventing machines to improve people's lives. His ideals were noble—beautiful, even—but the reality is far more cynical."

A faint smirk crossed his lips as he continued, his voice dripping with mockery:

"These marvels of engineering? They only exist here, in the Upper City of Piltover. Meanwhile, down in Zaun, just across the bridge, people live in conditions worse than dogs. A single bridge divides them, but it might as well be an unbridgeable chasm."

"You seem to admire him," Katarina remarked, her tone carefully measured.

Then, as if to justify her statement, she added, "I'm... trying to adapt to my role."

Ryan chuckled lightly, an amused glint in his eye.

"I do admire him," he admitted, then offered her an encouraging smile.

"Speak your mind, Katarina. Don't cling too tightly to your father's methods. Curiosity about the world will help you grow. I expect more from you than mindlessly following orders."

"But that's not the Noxian way," Katarina replied, frowning slightly.

"That's not how I was taught. Strength, discipline, loyalty—those are what matter."

Ryan tilted his head, his eyes sharp yet amused.

"Strength comes in many forms, Katarina. Look at Jayce Talis. With little more than wisdom and a hex crystal, he pried open the gates of magic. Why do you believe you can't do the same?"

Katarina shook her head, a self-deprecating smile on her lips. "I don't have the kind of brain for that."

"Perhaps not," Ryan said, shrugging slightly.

"But Viktor—the man who worked alongside Jayce—was far more crucial in their success than anyone gives him credit for. I admire him for that."

Katarina blinked, caught off guard by the shift in conversation. "And what does this have to do with me?"

Ryan turned to her with a raised brow. "Are you asking because you believe you're inferior to them? Or because you don't understand their significance?"

Katarina frowned, but Ryan's pointed gaze compelled her to answer honestly.

"You're far stronger than the two of them combined, Your Excellency. That much is obvious."

Her words were genuine, not mere flattery. Ryan Meredith's achievements were legendary within the Noxian Empire.

His name was spoken with reverence, not just for his mastery of magic but also for his brilliance in alchemy, warfare, assassination, and even healing.

To compare Ryan to mere scientists like Viktor or Jayce seemed laughable.

Ryan chuckled softly, his expression unreadable.

"Then why do you think you can't master magic?"

The question struck Katarina like a bolt of lightning. She froze, the absurdity of his words settling over her. If Ryan—this unparalleled figure—believed in her, was she truly incapable of such feats?

For a brief moment, she allowed herself to imagine it. If Ryan was Viktor in this metaphor, could she one day stand beside him, as Jayce once stood beside Viktor?

Ryan seemed to sense her doubt. "Don't overthink it," he said, his voice gentler now.

"I brought you here because I see your potential, Katarina. Prove me right. Don't let your doubts hold you back."

"If I had such potential," she muttered, her voice tinged with frustration,

"I wouldn't be sitting here playing dress-up. I'd be out with the army, doing what I do best."

Ryan's gaze softened. "Potential takes time to blossom," he said.

"Don't waste time lamenting where you are now. Instead, focus on becoming the person you were meant to be."

The car came to a smooth stop outside their destination. Without another word, Ryan stepped out first, turning back to offer his hand to Katarina.

His movements were refined, almost noble, a stark contrast to the grim efficiency she had seen on the battlefield.

"Your Excellency, I will do my best," Katarina said, her voice firmer now. Her smile, while still a touch awkward, carried more confidence than before.

She took his hand, stepping gracefully out of the car.

Ryan's lips curved into a faint smile as he helped her straighten her dress. Together, they turned to follow the waiting servant, who guided them toward the grand entrance of the Medarda family's banquet hall.

As they walked, Ryan's thoughts drifted. The evening ahead promised intrigue, alliances, and power plays.

But he also looked forward to observing Katarina's growth. Tonight would not just test her ability to blend in but would also reveal the strength of her resolve.

He glanced at her, her crimson hair gleaming under the soft light of the banquet hall's chandeliers. She was trying—truly trying. And Ryan could only wonder how far she could go with the right push.

Yes, the banquet promised to be very interesting indeed.