Bael stepped inside the home, his mind still buzzing from the experiment. The air was heavy with the weight of what he had done—and what he was about to do. He glanced around the room, taking in the soft glow of the lamps, the comfort of the familiar surroundings. The sight of Powder sleeping peacefully in their shared bed made his chest tighten.
On the couch, Isha lay curled up, her small form a silent reminder of the night's chaos and their choice to take her in.
Bael's gaze lingered on Powder for a moment, her face serene in slumber. She looked so content, so happy. Perfect. A soft sigh escaped him as he walked quietly into the kitchen, where his food sat on the counter, cold and untouched. A note was tucked under the plate, her neat handwriting scrawled across it:
"I cooked this with love. Come home safe, Bael."
–Powder
The words hit him like a hammer to the chest. It was so simple, yet it felt like everything he wanted in life. Her. This world. This life with her.
His heart ached, the desire to stay gnawing at him. It was the perfect life. He had it all.
But then there was the darker part of him—the part that whispered, that reminded him of another life, another Powder. The one he had left behind. The one who was desperate, confused, and lost without him.
The thought of Jinx, screaming out for him in that other reality, clawing at the edges of his mind, was a constant shadow. That girl, the one who had followed him through madness and chaos, was still waiting.
Bael settled into bed, his body instinctively wrapping around Powder's, feeling the warmth of her skin against his. He closed his eyes, trying to quiet the storm of thoughts swirling in his mind. His heart beat erratically, conflicted between the pull of his past and the love he had here, with her.
Powder stirred slightly, her hand finding its way to his chest, seeking his presence in the quiet darkness. She pressed closer, as if trying to make sure he wouldn't slip away. Her voice, soft and fragile, broke the silence.
"Don't... ever leave me..." she whispered, her words heavy with a mix of fear and longing.
Bael froze, the weight of her plea sinking deep into his chest. He could feel her breath against his skin, warm and steady, but her words? They hit him like a punch to the gut. The way she needed him—how much she depended on him, how real this world felt in her arms.
His mind screamed to stay, to make a life with her here. Yet, there was still that gnawing feeling in the back of his mind—the call of a different world, a different girl. Jinx.
But in this moment, wrapped in Powder's warmth, with her so close, he couldn't bring himself to say anything. The vulnerability in her voice left him speechless, a knot tightening in his throat.
"I won't," he whispered back, his voice a low, fragile promise. "I'm not going anywhere."
...
The next morning, Jayce and Viktor sat in the lab, the usual hum of Hextech machinery filling the air. Bael wasn't there yet, which was unusual—he was always the first to show up, throwing himself into his work with an intensity that neither of them had seen before.
Jayce leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his expression thoughtful. "You've noticed it too, right?"
Viktor, adjusting a delicate component on the workbench, didn't look up. "That he works like a man possessed? Or that his ideas are… unsettlingly advanced?"
Jayce exhaled sharply, rubbing his chin. "Both. The things he comes up with—those rune tattoos, the energy conversion methods—this isn't just innovation, Viktor. This is something else entirely."
Viktor finally set down his tools, glancing at Jayce with a knowing look. "It is as if he already knows what will work before he even tries. As if he has seen these concepts in action before."
Jayce nodded. "And that's what worries me. Where the hell did he learn this? How does he think like this?" He drummed his fingers against the table. "He's brilliant, no doubt. But something about him feels… off."
Viktor tilted his head slightly, thoughtful. "Perhaps he is simply gifted."
Jayce let out a short laugh. "Gifted doesn't explain how he's pulling knowledge out of thin air. I don't know, Viktor… I get the feeling that Bael isn't just inventing things." His voice lowered. "He's remembering them."
The room fell into silence, both men lost in their own concerns. Bael was a prodigy, no doubt—but was he really one of theirs?
The door swung open, and Bael stepped in, looking only slightly worse for wear despite what must have been an all-nighter. His sleeves were rolled up, faint traces of ink from rune inscriptions still lingering on his skin. His expression was calm, composed—if not for the sharp glint in his eyes, no one would suspect he had just pulled off something extraordinary.
"Sorry for the delay," he said casually, stretching his arms as he made his way to his workstation. "I was working all night on the main project."
Jayce and Viktor exchanged glances.
Bael smirked. "In fact…" He placed a sealed case onto the table with a soft thud, tapping the top lightly with his fingers. "It's done."
Jayce blinked. "Wait, what?"
Viktor immediately leaned forward, intrigued. "You mean—? The Hextech energy converter?"
Bael nodded. "Yeah." He flipped open the case, revealing the finalized device—sleek, compact, and humming faintly with raw Arcane power. "It's fully operational. No overheating, no energy leaks. Stable and efficient."
For a moment, neither Jayce nor Viktor spoke.
Then, Jayce let out a breathless chuckle. "You're telling me that while we were still theorizing possible configurations, you—"
"Built the damn thing," Bael finished, smirking. "Yeah. Ran tests too. It works."
Viktor's golden eye gleamed with fascination as he studied the device. "This level of progress should have taken weeks."
Jayce ran a hand through his hair, still processing. "Bael… how the hell do you do it?"
With no time to waste, they dove straight into testing. The Hextech energy converter stood before them, a masterpiece of engineering—a fusion of Viktor's precision, Jayce's power, and Bael's unpredictability.
Jayce powered it up, the core humming as arcane energy began circulating through the machine's intricate framework. Blue light pulsed through its conduits, steady at first, then fluctuating as it reacted to the energy flow.
"Alright, first test—let's see if it can sustain a controlled transfer," Viktor announced, adjusting a dial.
Bael placed his hand on the machine, his rune tattoos flaring. He focused, syncing his energy with the device, guiding the flow. The machine responded instantly, stabilizing.
"Fascinating…" Viktor muttered.
Jayce nodded. "It's holding, but can it handle a surge?" He cranked the power up.
The machine whirred louder, the energy within it growing unstable. Sparks began to dance around the core. Bael felt the shift, his tattoos burning as he instinctively carved a stabilizing rune into the air.
A pulse shot through the converter—then silence. The energy settled, perfectly balanced.
Viktor let out a breath. "This… This changes everything."
Bael smirked. "Told you. With runes, everything is possible."
Jayce grinned. "Let's push it further."
And so, the real work began.
After hours of fine-tuning, adjusting, and testing, the lab was filled with the scent of burning metal and the hum of arcane energy. Their hands were sore, minds exhausted, but the progress was undeniable.
Jayce stretched, cracking his shoulders. "Alright, I need a break before my brain melts."
Viktor, still analyzing data, barely looked up. "A short one, then."
Bael leaned back against the table, rolling his wrist. His arm still tingled from the rune work. "Fine by me. Could use some air."
Jayce smirked. "Or maybe you just wanna get back to your fiancée."
Bael shrugged, hiding a small grin. "Maybe."
Viktor finally looked up, curiosity in his gaze. "How is Powder handling your new position?"
Bael chuckled. "Loving it. Already planning our wedding, our future—hell, even how many kids we'll have."
Jayce laughed. "She sounds... enthusiastic."
"That's one way to put it," Bael muttered, shaking his head. "She wants a whole army."
Viktor tilted his head. "And you?"
Bael hesitated. The idea of settling down, living that perfect life with Powder… It was tempting. But then, there was Jinx, waiting in another world.
He forced a smirk. "One thing at a time."
Jayce clapped his back. "That's the spirit. Now, let's grab something to eat before Viktor chains us back to work."
As they were about to step out for their break, the lab doors creaked open, and a small yet imposing figure entered. The unmistakable golden fur and keen, knowing eyes of Professor Heimerdinger greeted them.
"Ah, gentlemen! And Bael," Heimerdinger said, his whiskers twitching with curiosity. "I heard quite the rumors about your latest work. Hextech energy conversion... Fascinating! I simply had to see it for myself."
Jayce straightened up. "Professor, it's an honor. We were just about to take a break, but—"
"Oh, nonsense!" Heimerdinger waved a paw dismissively. "Progress does not wait for hunger! Show me what you've accomplished."
Bael exchanged a glance with Viktor, then nodded. He stepped forward, rolling up his sleeve to reveal the rune tattoos still glowing faintly on his arm. "We've managed to harness Hextech energy through direct rune application. Theoretically, with the right runes, anything is possible."
Heimerdinger's ears perked up as he adjusted his goggles. "Direct rune application, you say? My, my... That is an incredibly bold and dangerous approach. Have you considered the long-term arcane toll on your body?"
Bael smirked. "A little pain never hurt anyone."
Viktor sighed. "That is quite literally the definition of pain, Bael."
Jayce chuckled. "He does have a point."
Heimerdinger stroked his mustache, then turned toward the machinery. "Very well. Show me how it works."