Act 1 Chapter 26
- Location
- A Tropical Island in the Pacific
Scrapyard Angels Act 1 Chapter 26
So there I was sitting on a comfortable hospital bed while surrounded by people important to me as well as some very important people. It was quite the motley ensemble with my family and my benefactors all in one room. I wish we could do this later, yet they were already here and there's no time like the present to finish unfinished business.
VI and Jinx sat by my side with the former holding my remaining hand while the latter was playing with my hair. There was also my namestone, or so Kindred told me what it was called, in my person. Convincing Singed on getting it for me was a relatively easy task considering its value. Their presence helped me breathe easier knowing that they were there while I talked to the people in front of us.
In front of my family and I were the Vereza's, with the matriarch Corazon Veraza standing there while her niece Corina stood behind her like a shadow. The good doctor Singed was also there with them, standing beside while taking notes and checking on my vitals on the instruments strapped on to me.
Even after a full night's rest, I was still quite tired and exhausted. My eyelids felt heavy, leaden and lifeless while my mind felt like it was stuff full of cotton. I wonder if it was from how many things happened yesterday or if it was from the drugs still coursing through my veins so I wouldn't collapse on the bed while screaming in agony. Everything was still too bright and everything felt uncomfortable yet, I soldiered on and talked to my sponsor.
"So the man, or rather boy, of the hour. You've made quite a splash with your daring exploits against the enemy of my family" The Baroness greeted as we sat comfortably on the bed. "And you must be his family..."
"The name's Vi, ma'am" Vi introduced herself before Jinx made herself known "And my name's Jinx! Ark's ours so don't get any ideas there flower girl!".
I couldn't help but cover my face with my hands while Jinx glared at Corina. Corina, to her credit, merely raised a delicate eyebrow while Corazon chuckled, amused at the antics of my younger sister. Vi was quick to remind Jinx to behave as she pulled on Jinx's ear.
"Jinx! Manners! We're in front of Ark's boss!" Vi shouted as she abdonished our wayward sister as Jinx held on to her hands.
"Ow ow ow VI! I'm sorry!" Jinx shouted.
"I'm really sorry Ma'am, I-" I tried apologizing only for the baroness to raise her hand and shake her head.
"It's quite alright Mr. Ark. I do find her spunk quite refreshing. As for my granddaughter's preference, I'll leave decisions on her love life up to her" The woman replied, causing the normally unshakable and stoic Corina to blush. It was quite novel, seeing her all embarrassed like this.
"Grandmother!" Corina shouted while Jinx glared at her and stuck out her tongue. The girl groaned while Vi and I gently massaged the bridge of our noses. This was going to be a long day wasn't it? Singed clear his throat reminding us why we were here.
"So, you're probably wondering why you're here in a proper clinic rather than in a random sawbone's examination table, hmm?" The woman asked. That was the question of the hour indeed. While Sawbones are competent, you can question their morals when you're not one of the wealthy or well connected.
"You're far too valuable right now to leave you in the hands of mere amateurs. We take care of our own and you've more than proven yourself an asset rather than a mere investment, being the hero of the hour and whatnot." That got my eyebrow raising.
"Oh don't be so modest. It's not everyday that deeds worthy of stories come to pass. Freeing the children of Zaun from the hands of an evil and cruel baron, ha! Fairy tale material right there boy. Be proud of what you've done, own it." I sat a bit straighter, feeling a bit proud now only to be bopped on the head by an irate VI.
"Hero or not, he's still a rash idiot for going out that night." Vi reminded me, making me wince at the price I paid for my rash actions. Vi held my hands tightly as she buried her face against my neck. "Don't do that ever again you hear me? Please?" I felt my throat tighten as I nodded.
"At least you can get chainsaw hands now? Hey, maybe when you get accepted to the College, we could make it together!" Jinx added, trying to cheer me up. Hey, at least we're looking at the bright side here but then there's still the matter of my exam and I'm not sure how long I've been asleep or what day it is even.
"That's certainly one way to look at it." The older woman replied with an amused smile.
That answers why I was here yet there's still the question of how I got here. "How... did you find me? I remember almost drowning in the sewer system of Zaun..." I could still feel the river pulling me down and how everything felt like it was burning.
"You can thank your younger sister and your family's pet plague rat. Quite the specimen you have there. If it wasn't a mutt, I'd ask if he's available for stud service… Actually, is he available for stud service? Quite the nose that one has. Led your sister and my men inside the labyrinthian sewers of Zaun and straight to you." I nodded dumbly, awe struck at how Mr. Floofington helped save me. Maybe I judged them a bit too harshly
"Yup! After you fell, I thought I lost you until Mr Floofington and Whump pulled me straight to you. I thought I lost you..." I would have reached for Jinx but I don't have my right hand to do so. I leaned against her instead. I held them closely to myself, content at how things were
"I think it doesn't have to be said just how lucky you are to not only have survived what you just experienced but also have a family. Still, touching as this is, we still have some other matters to discuss, namely how you missed your exams. You missed it by a week in fact. You gave us quite the scare there." I dreaded what will come next.
"Ma'am, I apologize… I made some stupid decisions. I can't excuse myself for what I've done. I just ask you not to direct your ire at my family." I've already accepted that there will be consequences to what I've done. I just don't want my family getting dragged to the mess I made.
Silence reigned between us as the elderly Vereza staring me down. Her cold analytic eyes boring into my very soul yet I remain firm. Squaring up my jaw, I was prepared to take what she had in store for me.
"Good. Singed, when is the boy fit enough to do the exam?" Hope bubbled up my chest at her words
"With the potion regimen I'm subjecting him, a week at best." Singed replied as he reached for me and shone some light at me. I winced as I closed my eyes. Intellectually, I knew the light he used was soft to the eyes yet my eyes felt like they just stared at the sun itself. "Interesting." The revered scientist replied as he went back to his notes.
She nodded before she looked back at me. "Oh don't think you're off the hook yet mister. While your missed exam is inconsequential at best, your hospital bill is another talking matter. Corina, list down the expenses so far." I quickly paled as Corina started listing them down.
My eyes boggled just at how much potions was used to keep me stable as well as how much was needed to purge me of the toxins. Suffice to say, I was pumped with enough drugs to keep an entire lab employed for months on end and that was just the medicine alone. Even Jinx winced at the cost.
"However, I'm not a cruel mistress to ask you the amount now nor do I ever expect you to be able to pay it in full. Still, I'm curious how you'll exactly pay for this?"
"I…" My mind balked at just how much debt I was in. Still, I knew a lot of things from a past that was more advanced than the present I found myself in. I was surrounded by geniuses and it'll be only a matter of finding people to help me remake products.
"Ma'am, this promise might sound hollow to your ears but I have a lot of ideas for the future. They're ideas that I could bring to life and I offer them to you. I offer these ideas until my debts are paid." While inventors and scholars were tied to their patrons, their ideas were still theirs. I was basically forfeiting my rights to these products and having the Vereza's own everything. I… I could live with that given that I would more than likely live on a stipend.
"I've already heard a thousand inventors whisper sweet nothings into my ears. What makes your ideas any more special than theirs?" She challenged me, daring me to prove her wrong. I wracked my brain on any ideas that could easily be invented and implemented given what I had and then the idea hit me
"Well, you have a highly decorated researcher and scientist beside you right now to verify my ideas." I replied. Vi looked at me in worry as if to tell how this could easily backfire but I looked at her with a confident smile. No words were exchanged but she knew that all I asked of her was to trust me on this one.
Singed hair less brow rose up but he looked intrigued. Corina looked back at the much taller man who replied to my words. "Go on then boy, show us what you have in store."
I breathed in as I gave my pitch. It was my second time making such a pitch but I was confident. There in that room I made a quick pitch on the merits of freeze drying. The method was simple, freeze then dry it. All I needed was a freezing spell and a way to make a vacuum. Just above us was the City of Progress so it wouldn't be too hard to find. Once the food is frozen, all you need to do is slowly thaw the thing in a vacuum and let the water sublimate into water particles.
Singed remained quite a while before he slowly spoke. "His idea… has merit. Yes, it can be done right now in fact."
"So long as the food isn't structurally sensitive, it can be freeze dried. Forget about canning when you have powdered soup." I said confidently.
"Powdered soup? That doesn't sound appetizing" Jinx said as she mulled over the idea of powdered soup.
"Well, you just add water back to it, of course." I replied with confident ease.
I looked back at the baroness hoping that she approved of it. I knew I would never get to see a penny of this invention, aside from getting stipends of course, but I was so deep in debt that I'm forced into this position. She held all the cards while I was forced to play her game. With a small nod, I felt the weight on my shoulder lightened.
"While most of the technical details passed over my head, I caught enough of it to see the implications. The mere fact that tall, pale, and handsome over here thinks your invention is worth something speaks for itself." She replied.
"We'll have to get this on paper but it seems that you're not all talk after all" I nodded at that before I leaned against Vi, feeling a bit drained from it all.
"Now, enough business, why don't we talk about the Void born incident. Void research, bird brain wasn't only stupid but was also insane" She then said, changing the subject of the matter. The memories of the fight were still etched into my mind. I was still… afraid. "So let's start at the beginning shall we?"
The beginning, huh? "Would you want to know why I went after the baron or how he transformed into that thing… is it dead?" There was hope there, in my voice.
"Oh, he's plenty dead alright." She replied
Singed soon spoke up about it. "I had people harvest his corpse for research. See, while research about the void is frowned upon, his flesh still holds valuable data that could help cure afflictions and maladies caused by it."
I nodded, feeling relieved that it wasn't merely a dream. Looking at my girlfriend, I began telling my tale with a question "So Vi, should we talk about how all of this started?".
She was still injured, if only partially now. Her stomach was still bandaged but they were soaked with blood. Vi nodded, agreeing to tell our tale.
"It all started one foggy day when Vi went to her boss to quit. Being a messenger is an ok job but circumstances were changing and there we were getting the opportunity of a lifetime to move up in life..." And so our tale was told. I told them as much as I could like how I fought the beast named Warwick, on how I almost lost Vi, and how I went off looking for revenge only to find myself biting off more than I could chew. I kept my encounter close to my chest, hoping to tell it to Jinx and Vi later.
Vi and Jinx interjected their part of their story, about how Vi got beaten up and how Jinx worried about us. Vi told us how I rescued her and she got patched up only to find out that I got myself in trouble without her.
"This is the last time I'll ever leave you two alone. The moment I was out of commission, you just went crazy." Vi said while I was left scratching my head in embarrassment.
"Yes dear..." I said, suitably chastised.
Jinx's side of the story was a rather chaotic affair partly with how she went off on tangents as well as how she embellished her story but she had a knack for things as we sat there listening with rapt attention to her.
"...So there I was crawling through the vents before finding myself in their armory. Like Bilbo and the dwarves I found treasure as far as I could see! Row after row of guns!"
"Bilbo and the Dwarves?" Corina asked
"It's Jinx's favorite story." I said, trying to brush it off as Jinx powered through and went off on another tangent.
"Oh yeah! The Hobbit is so good, I could keep listening to it over and over again especially the sequel about the Lord of the Rings. It's right behind Star Wars really..." my sister rambled.
"Oh? Maybe your brother can tell his tale? Maybe write a book about it? Even a play, perhaps?" The crafty old woman suggested making my ears burn. They really weren't mine to begin with and how can I even try to recreate it…
"Yeah! Can you do it, Ark? Can you! Can you?" Oh bother.
Still, it was quite freeing? Refreshing? I'm not sure what the word is to express how things got a bit lighter after I let it all out. It took a while, long enough in fact that one of Singed's assistants came by to give us some drinks and snacks.
"And that's how it went down." I said as I drank my cup of tea, enjoying the aroma as well as its bitter taste. I would have eaten one of the biscuits if not for Jinx. She loved the stuff and was only half restrained from stuffing her with the sweet treats. Looking at the selection of sweets they have, I wonder if they had chocolate. That was something to think of for later.
"It's quite the tale you just told. I'm glad this Warwick individual was taken care of. To think they could just waltz in my streets and do as they please. If we find the arm you described, consider having parts of your debt further forgiven." She replied as she took a sip from her own drinks.
"It is, isn't it ma'am?" It almost felt like a fairy tale all things considered yet I lived through it
"Hopefully we never go through something like that again" Vi added. I nodded at that, agreeing to it wholeheartedly. I dare not think what would happen if I ever have to live through that again.
"Well, as entertaining as this was, I still have important business to attend to" She replied as she sat down her cup of tea. "Your story proved to be quite the insight on how things devolved into that. I'd like to thank you for your time"
She stood up, followed quickly by her niece, before walking away. Before she passed through the door, she turned around and said "I almost forgot to ask. Where do you live exactly?"
I hesitated for a bit, not knowing why she wanted to ask but I still answered her question. "Well we were planning to move to an apartment in your district..."
"Tell the landlord you found better accommodations. Corina, do we own any housing properties near the Boundary Market?" She asked Corina.
"Yes grandmother, several in fact." The young girl answered, almost sounding professional.
"Find the closest one to the college and give it to them. Make sure to remind the caretaker that they live there at our leisure." VI and I sucked in our breath at her words. This was something else.
"Isn't that on the Promenade level?" Jinx asked. The Promenade was the closest to Piltover. It was where the two cities touched and met. It was almost too much yet I knew that she wasn't joking around. Corazon smiled and nodded to which Jinx asked her. "Can I call you Grandma?"
The woman laughed as she replied "Yes you may, Jinx. Yes you may".
"Expect the keys to your new home to be handed to you once you're fit enough to work again" With that, she went away, leaving us dumb struck at both the misfortune and fortune we just had.
"She always does leave people breathless." Singed replied with a fond smile making us all blanch a bit. That mental image was best left undescribed and left forgotten. He laughed out loudly at the faces we made. Jerk.
"Now, I'd like to pick up where we left off last time. Most of this would concern what effects the river had on your body. I'd like to discuss it with you without the young ladies' presence?" He glanced at Jinx who pouted at that. He sighed as he added "No young lady, you don't need to worry. Your brother's mostly fine, what I'd like to discuss is a bit more sensitive..."
I titled my head as he gave me that look. He briefly glanced down at his feet which made me realize what it might be about.
"I think the assistant still had some treats with them..."
"Really?!" And off she went. Singed gave me a flat look to which I shrugged in reply.
He rolled his eyes as he went off to find a medical diagram of the body. Pointing at it, he started to explain. "By now you already know how the river mixed with all those chems have altered your body. Your sense has gone and become far more sensitive than baseline. That is what we know so far on the mutations that happened inward on the outward however…"
He hesitated a bit before continuing "Your… equipment was altered. It seems that a lot of horses were processed and experimented on in the factory above resulting in such a mutation."
Vi and I blinked at that before I blushed brightly while Vi was left gaping at the implication. "We can remove it surgically-"
"No/NO!" Vi and shouted together turning our already red blush scarlet. I coughed before asking, trying to change the subject of the question. "Can we still have children though?"
"You still can make children, don't worry about it. It's just-" I cut him off before we get into more uncomfortable territories.
"Too much information, thank you!" It was a surprise alright, but not necessarily an unwelcome one. Singed shrug as he continued on.
"Now, on the matter of prosthetics, there's a lot on the market..." Our talks with the doctor went on for a while. Still, I was grateful for how things turned out today. For once, things turned out ok and I hoped things stayed that way till we're ready for the next time things turn sideways.
A/N:
So Ark becomes even more entangled with the Veraza's. My attempts on Carrot and Stick diplomacy comes into play. The application of soft power is a delicate thing and Ark's experiencing it. Still, it is Carrot and Stick so he does get something here. Also, lol, finally added that one thing I've been looking to add. Hopefully, this satisfy your craving as we are now in the closing stage of Act 1. I'd like to thank my one and only patreon meddler88 for encouraging me enough to write this chapter as well Vyor for being the best BETA reader I could ask for. Well, see you guys next week.
So there I was sitting on a comfortable hospital bed while surrounded by people important to me as well as some very important people. It was quite the motley ensemble with my family and my benefactors all in one room. I wish we could do this later, yet they were already here and there's no time like the present to finish unfinished business.
VI and Jinx sat by my side with the former holding my remaining hand while the latter was playing with my hair. There was also my namestone, or so Kindred told me what it was called, in my person. Convincing Singed on getting it for me was a relatively easy task considering its value. Their presence helped me breathe easier knowing that they were there while I talked to the people in front of us.
In front of my family and I were the Vereza's, with the matriarch Corazon Veraza standing there while her niece Corina stood behind her like a shadow. The good doctor Singed was also there with them, standing beside while taking notes and checking on my vitals on the instruments strapped on to me.
Even after a full night's rest, I was still quite tired and exhausted. My eyelids felt heavy, leaden and lifeless while my mind felt like it was stuff full of cotton. I wonder if it was from how many things happened yesterday or if it was from the drugs still coursing through my veins so I wouldn't collapse on the bed while screaming in agony. Everything was still too bright and everything felt uncomfortable yet, I soldiered on and talked to my sponsor.
"So the man, or rather boy, of the hour. You've made quite a splash with your daring exploits against the enemy of my family" The Baroness greeted as we sat comfortably on the bed. "And you must be his family..."
"The name's Vi, ma'am" Vi introduced herself before Jinx made herself known "And my name's Jinx! Ark's ours so don't get any ideas there flower girl!".
I couldn't help but cover my face with my hands while Jinx glared at Corina. Corina, to her credit, merely raised a delicate eyebrow while Corazon chuckled, amused at the antics of my younger sister. Vi was quick to remind Jinx to behave as she pulled on Jinx's ear.
"Jinx! Manners! We're in front of Ark's boss!" Vi shouted as she abdonished our wayward sister as Jinx held on to her hands.
"Ow ow ow VI! I'm sorry!" Jinx shouted.
"I'm really sorry Ma'am, I-" I tried apologizing only for the baroness to raise her hand and shake her head.
"It's quite alright Mr. Ark. I do find her spunk quite refreshing. As for my granddaughter's preference, I'll leave decisions on her love life up to her" The woman replied, causing the normally unshakable and stoic Corina to blush. It was quite novel, seeing her all embarrassed like this.
"Grandmother!" Corina shouted while Jinx glared at her and stuck out her tongue. The girl groaned while Vi and I gently massaged the bridge of our noses. This was going to be a long day wasn't it? Singed clear his throat reminding us why we were here.
"So, you're probably wondering why you're here in a proper clinic rather than in a random sawbone's examination table, hmm?" The woman asked. That was the question of the hour indeed. While Sawbones are competent, you can question their morals when you're not one of the wealthy or well connected.
"You're far too valuable right now to leave you in the hands of mere amateurs. We take care of our own and you've more than proven yourself an asset rather than a mere investment, being the hero of the hour and whatnot." That got my eyebrow raising.
"Oh don't be so modest. It's not everyday that deeds worthy of stories come to pass. Freeing the children of Zaun from the hands of an evil and cruel baron, ha! Fairy tale material right there boy. Be proud of what you've done, own it." I sat a bit straighter, feeling a bit proud now only to be bopped on the head by an irate VI.
"Hero or not, he's still a rash idiot for going out that night." Vi reminded me, making me wince at the price I paid for my rash actions. Vi held my hands tightly as she buried her face against my neck. "Don't do that ever again you hear me? Please?" I felt my throat tighten as I nodded.
"At least you can get chainsaw hands now? Hey, maybe when you get accepted to the College, we could make it together!" Jinx added, trying to cheer me up. Hey, at least we're looking at the bright side here but then there's still the matter of my exam and I'm not sure how long I've been asleep or what day it is even.
"That's certainly one way to look at it." The older woman replied with an amused smile.
That answers why I was here yet there's still the question of how I got here. "How... did you find me? I remember almost drowning in the sewer system of Zaun..." I could still feel the river pulling me down and how everything felt like it was burning.
"You can thank your younger sister and your family's pet plague rat. Quite the specimen you have there. If it wasn't a mutt, I'd ask if he's available for stud service… Actually, is he available for stud service? Quite the nose that one has. Led your sister and my men inside the labyrinthian sewers of Zaun and straight to you." I nodded dumbly, awe struck at how Mr. Floofington helped save me. Maybe I judged them a bit too harshly
"Yup! After you fell, I thought I lost you until Mr Floofington and Whump pulled me straight to you. I thought I lost you..." I would have reached for Jinx but I don't have my right hand to do so. I leaned against her instead. I held them closely to myself, content at how things were
"I think it doesn't have to be said just how lucky you are to not only have survived what you just experienced but also have a family. Still, touching as this is, we still have some other matters to discuss, namely how you missed your exams. You missed it by a week in fact. You gave us quite the scare there." I dreaded what will come next.
"Ma'am, I apologize… I made some stupid decisions. I can't excuse myself for what I've done. I just ask you not to direct your ire at my family." I've already accepted that there will be consequences to what I've done. I just don't want my family getting dragged to the mess I made.
Silence reigned between us as the elderly Vereza staring me down. Her cold analytic eyes boring into my very soul yet I remain firm. Squaring up my jaw, I was prepared to take what she had in store for me.
"Good. Singed, when is the boy fit enough to do the exam?" Hope bubbled up my chest at her words
"With the potion regimen I'm subjecting him, a week at best." Singed replied as he reached for me and shone some light at me. I winced as I closed my eyes. Intellectually, I knew the light he used was soft to the eyes yet my eyes felt like they just stared at the sun itself. "Interesting." The revered scientist replied as he went back to his notes.
She nodded before she looked back at me. "Oh don't think you're off the hook yet mister. While your missed exam is inconsequential at best, your hospital bill is another talking matter. Corina, list down the expenses so far." I quickly paled as Corina started listing them down.
My eyes boggled just at how much potions was used to keep me stable as well as how much was needed to purge me of the toxins. Suffice to say, I was pumped with enough drugs to keep an entire lab employed for months on end and that was just the medicine alone. Even Jinx winced at the cost.
"However, I'm not a cruel mistress to ask you the amount now nor do I ever expect you to be able to pay it in full. Still, I'm curious how you'll exactly pay for this?"
"I…" My mind balked at just how much debt I was in. Still, I knew a lot of things from a past that was more advanced than the present I found myself in. I was surrounded by geniuses and it'll be only a matter of finding people to help me remake products.
"Ma'am, this promise might sound hollow to your ears but I have a lot of ideas for the future. They're ideas that I could bring to life and I offer them to you. I offer these ideas until my debts are paid." While inventors and scholars were tied to their patrons, their ideas were still theirs. I was basically forfeiting my rights to these products and having the Vereza's own everything. I… I could live with that given that I would more than likely live on a stipend.
"I've already heard a thousand inventors whisper sweet nothings into my ears. What makes your ideas any more special than theirs?" She challenged me, daring me to prove her wrong. I wracked my brain on any ideas that could easily be invented and implemented given what I had and then the idea hit me
"Well, you have a highly decorated researcher and scientist beside you right now to verify my ideas." I replied. Vi looked at me in worry as if to tell how this could easily backfire but I looked at her with a confident smile. No words were exchanged but she knew that all I asked of her was to trust me on this one.
Singed hair less brow rose up but he looked intrigued. Corina looked back at the much taller man who replied to my words. "Go on then boy, show us what you have in store."
I breathed in as I gave my pitch. It was my second time making such a pitch but I was confident. There in that room I made a quick pitch on the merits of freeze drying. The method was simple, freeze then dry it. All I needed was a freezing spell and a way to make a vacuum. Just above us was the City of Progress so it wouldn't be too hard to find. Once the food is frozen, all you need to do is slowly thaw the thing in a vacuum and let the water sublimate into water particles.
Singed remained quite a while before he slowly spoke. "His idea… has merit. Yes, it can be done right now in fact."
"So long as the food isn't structurally sensitive, it can be freeze dried. Forget about canning when you have powdered soup." I said confidently.
"Powdered soup? That doesn't sound appetizing" Jinx said as she mulled over the idea of powdered soup.
"Well, you just add water back to it, of course." I replied with confident ease.
I looked back at the baroness hoping that she approved of it. I knew I would never get to see a penny of this invention, aside from getting stipends of course, but I was so deep in debt that I'm forced into this position. She held all the cards while I was forced to play her game. With a small nod, I felt the weight on my shoulder lightened.
"While most of the technical details passed over my head, I caught enough of it to see the implications. The mere fact that tall, pale, and handsome over here thinks your invention is worth something speaks for itself." She replied.
"We'll have to get this on paper but it seems that you're not all talk after all" I nodded at that before I leaned against Vi, feeling a bit drained from it all.
"Now, enough business, why don't we talk about the Void born incident. Void research, bird brain wasn't only stupid but was also insane" She then said, changing the subject of the matter. The memories of the fight were still etched into my mind. I was still… afraid. "So let's start at the beginning shall we?"
The beginning, huh? "Would you want to know why I went after the baron or how he transformed into that thing… is it dead?" There was hope there, in my voice.
"Oh, he's plenty dead alright." She replied
Singed soon spoke up about it. "I had people harvest his corpse for research. See, while research about the void is frowned upon, his flesh still holds valuable data that could help cure afflictions and maladies caused by it."
I nodded, feeling relieved that it wasn't merely a dream. Looking at my girlfriend, I began telling my tale with a question "So Vi, should we talk about how all of this started?".
She was still injured, if only partially now. Her stomach was still bandaged but they were soaked with blood. Vi nodded, agreeing to tell our tale.
"It all started one foggy day when Vi went to her boss to quit. Being a messenger is an ok job but circumstances were changing and there we were getting the opportunity of a lifetime to move up in life..." And so our tale was told. I told them as much as I could like how I fought the beast named Warwick, on how I almost lost Vi, and how I went off looking for revenge only to find myself biting off more than I could chew. I kept my encounter close to my chest, hoping to tell it to Jinx and Vi later.
Vi and Jinx interjected their part of their story, about how Vi got beaten up and how Jinx worried about us. Vi told us how I rescued her and she got patched up only to find out that I got myself in trouble without her.
"This is the last time I'll ever leave you two alone. The moment I was out of commission, you just went crazy." Vi said while I was left scratching my head in embarrassment.
"Yes dear..." I said, suitably chastised.
Jinx's side of the story was a rather chaotic affair partly with how she went off on tangents as well as how she embellished her story but she had a knack for things as we sat there listening with rapt attention to her.
"...So there I was crawling through the vents before finding myself in their armory. Like Bilbo and the dwarves I found treasure as far as I could see! Row after row of guns!"
"Bilbo and the Dwarves?" Corina asked
"It's Jinx's favorite story." I said, trying to brush it off as Jinx powered through and went off on another tangent.
"Oh yeah! The Hobbit is so good, I could keep listening to it over and over again especially the sequel about the Lord of the Rings. It's right behind Star Wars really..." my sister rambled.
"Oh? Maybe your brother can tell his tale? Maybe write a book about it? Even a play, perhaps?" The crafty old woman suggested making my ears burn. They really weren't mine to begin with and how can I even try to recreate it…
"Yeah! Can you do it, Ark? Can you! Can you?" Oh bother.
Still, it was quite freeing? Refreshing? I'm not sure what the word is to express how things got a bit lighter after I let it all out. It took a while, long enough in fact that one of Singed's assistants came by to give us some drinks and snacks.
"And that's how it went down." I said as I drank my cup of tea, enjoying the aroma as well as its bitter taste. I would have eaten one of the biscuits if not for Jinx. She loved the stuff and was only half restrained from stuffing her with the sweet treats. Looking at the selection of sweets they have, I wonder if they had chocolate. That was something to think of for later.
"It's quite the tale you just told. I'm glad this Warwick individual was taken care of. To think they could just waltz in my streets and do as they please. If we find the arm you described, consider having parts of your debt further forgiven." She replied as she took a sip from her own drinks.
"It is, isn't it ma'am?" It almost felt like a fairy tale all things considered yet I lived through it
"Hopefully we never go through something like that again" Vi added. I nodded at that, agreeing to it wholeheartedly. I dare not think what would happen if I ever have to live through that again.
"Well, as entertaining as this was, I still have important business to attend to" She replied as she sat down her cup of tea. "Your story proved to be quite the insight on how things devolved into that. I'd like to thank you for your time"
She stood up, followed quickly by her niece, before walking away. Before she passed through the door, she turned around and said "I almost forgot to ask. Where do you live exactly?"
I hesitated for a bit, not knowing why she wanted to ask but I still answered her question. "Well we were planning to move to an apartment in your district..."
"Tell the landlord you found better accommodations. Corina, do we own any housing properties near the Boundary Market?" She asked Corina.
"Yes grandmother, several in fact." The young girl answered, almost sounding professional.
"Find the closest one to the college and give it to them. Make sure to remind the caretaker that they live there at our leisure." VI and I sucked in our breath at her words. This was something else.
"Isn't that on the Promenade level?" Jinx asked. The Promenade was the closest to Piltover. It was where the two cities touched and met. It was almost too much yet I knew that she wasn't joking around. Corazon smiled and nodded to which Jinx asked her. "Can I call you Grandma?"
The woman laughed as she replied "Yes you may, Jinx. Yes you may".
"Expect the keys to your new home to be handed to you once you're fit enough to work again" With that, she went away, leaving us dumb struck at both the misfortune and fortune we just had.
"She always does leave people breathless." Singed replied with a fond smile making us all blanch a bit. That mental image was best left undescribed and left forgotten. He laughed out loudly at the faces we made. Jerk.
"Now, I'd like to pick up where we left off last time. Most of this would concern what effects the river had on your body. I'd like to discuss it with you without the young ladies' presence?" He glanced at Jinx who pouted at that. He sighed as he added "No young lady, you don't need to worry. Your brother's mostly fine, what I'd like to discuss is a bit more sensitive..."
I titled my head as he gave me that look. He briefly glanced down at his feet which made me realize what it might be about.
"I think the assistant still had some treats with them..."
"Really?!" And off she went. Singed gave me a flat look to which I shrugged in reply.
He rolled his eyes as he went off to find a medical diagram of the body. Pointing at it, he started to explain. "By now you already know how the river mixed with all those chems have altered your body. Your sense has gone and become far more sensitive than baseline. That is what we know so far on the mutations that happened inward on the outward however…"
He hesitated a bit before continuing "Your… equipment was altered. It seems that a lot of horses were processed and experimented on in the factory above resulting in such a mutation."
Vi and I blinked at that before I blushed brightly while Vi was left gaping at the implication. "We can remove it surgically-"
"No/NO!" Vi and shouted together turning our already red blush scarlet. I coughed before asking, trying to change the subject of the question. "Can we still have children though?"
"You still can make children, don't worry about it. It's just-" I cut him off before we get into more uncomfortable territories.
"Too much information, thank you!" It was a surprise alright, but not necessarily an unwelcome one. Singed shrug as he continued on.
"Now, on the matter of prosthetics, there's a lot on the market..." Our talks with the doctor went on for a while. Still, I was grateful for how things turned out today. For once, things turned out ok and I hoped things stayed that way till we're ready for the next time things turn sideways.
A/N:
So Ark becomes even more entangled with the Veraza's. My attempts on Carrot and Stick diplomacy comes into play. The application of soft power is a delicate thing and Ark's experiencing it. Still, it is Carrot and Stick so he does get something here. Also, lol, finally added that one thing I've been looking to add. Hopefully, this satisfy your craving as we are now in the closing stage of Act 1. I'd like to thank my one and only patreon meddler88 for encouraging me enough to write this chapter as well Vyor for being the best BETA reader I could ask for. Well, see you guys next week.
. Sorry for the late post btw. Wasnt feeling all to well after posting the last chapter. Hopefully, this makes up for it