Volume II – Currents Beyond Borders
Chapter One – Steel and Sparks
The wind carried a tang of metal and smoke as Kaelen approached the outskirts of Piltover, the city of progress. Chimneys puffed clouds of soot into the pale morning sky, and the distant clatter of machinery echoed across the valley. Flow shimmered around his hands, Roots anchored him to the uneven cobblestones, and Breath stirred the industrial gusts, letting him move undetected through the bustle.
He had left Demacia behind, the Northern Outpost safe under Garen's watch, and the lessons of high-tier multi-element combat etched into his muscle memory. Now, Kaelen faced a city defined by invention, chaos, and ingenuity: Piltover. Here, skill alone would not suffice. He would need observation, adaptability, and precise control of Flow, Root, and Breath in a mechanized, unpredictable environment.
From a distance, a metallic contraption hissed and whirred—a street patrol of Piltover enforcers on steam-powered exosuits. Kaelen observed, noting their movement, the exhaust vents, and the tension in their mechanical limbs. Breath twisted subtly around the exhaust plumes, Flow arced invisibly around pipes of steam, and Roots anchored him to the edges of the cobblestones, preparing for sudden movement.
A voice called from an alley: "You're far from the forests, stranger." Kaelen's gaze flicked toward a woman leaning against a gear-strewn wall. Her goggles reflected the rising sun, and a mischievous smile tugged at her lips. Vi, the Piltover enforcer, stood before him, fists clenched and gauntlets ready.
Kaelen raised a hand in greeting. "I… I am Kaelen. I've come to learn, to travel, and to grow stronger."
Vi's grin widened. "Learning in Piltover isn't about lectures or books. It's about speed, ingenuity, and surviving the chaos of metal and steam. You ready for that?"
Before he could respond, a commotion erupted down the street. A gang of Zaunite scavengers, armed with crude firearms and chemical bombs, was attempting to hijack a shipment bound for Piltover's council. Kaelen's pulse surged. His first trial in Piltover awaited, a test not only of tri-element mastery, but of adaptation to technology-driven chaos.
He pressed his palms to the ground and air. Flow spiraled subtly to deflect projectiles, Roots twisted beneath the cobblestones to anchor crates and trip attackers, and Breath directed gusts to disperse smoke and chemical fumes.
Vi dashed forward, fists glowing with hextech energy. She intercepted two attackers, smashing them into a stack of crates. Kaelen coordinated silently, letting Flow guide crates into positions that blocked escape routes, Roots entangle fleeing enemies, and Breath carry smoke to shield civilians.
The Zaunite gang fired indiscriminately, chemical vials shattering in arcs toward Kaelen. He reacted instinctively: Flow twisted, vaporizing some, Breath guided others harmlessly into the streets, and Roots created barriers from nearby debris. Tri-element mastery met technological chaos, and Kaelen adapted, the currents bending in response to both intent and environment.
Vi's gaze flicked toward him mid-fight. "Not bad, Ionia boy. You can control chaos, but can you do it in a city that never stops moving?"
Kaelen's lips tightened in focus. Every gust, every coil of Root, every spiral of Flow moved with purpose, shaping not just defense but opportunity. He guided debris toward attackers, intercepted projectiles with water arcs, and pushed smoke to obscure both his and Vi's movements, creating perfect synergy.
By the time the gang realized they were trapped and outmaneuvered, Kaelen and Vi had neutralized their threat without serious harm to civilians or cargo. He sank to one knee, chest heaving, letting the tri-elements pulse gently around him.
Vi approached, removing her goggles and smirking. "You're stronger than I thought. Flow, Root, and Breath… you can really bend the city to your will if you pay attention. But Piltover isn't Ionia or Demacia—here, chaos is mechanical, and every move is amplified. Keep learning, or the city will chew you up."
Kaelen exhaled, watching the steam rise from the streets, feeling the pulse of a new kind of environment. His journey had carried him from Ionia to Bilgewater, to Demacia—and now to Piltover, a city of invention, chaos, and ingenuity. Flow, Root, and Breath had been tested, and they had adapted.
The sun climbed higher, casting long shadows across the cog-strewn streets. Kaelen rose, letting Flow spiral gently, Roots anchor lightly, and Breath stir the industrial air. Beyond these streets, across bridges, and into Zaun's chemical haze, new challenges awaited. Champions, allies, and enemies would test him further.
But Kaelen felt ready. The currents had risen, and he was learning to ride them—not merely survive, but shape the chaos of the world itself.
The city ahead pulsed with possibility, and Kaelen stepped forward, ready to face whatever Piltover—and beyond—would throw at him.