《Arcane Solver》


 Chapter 1: Organic Matter

    The object spun, flickered, spun¡­ but still nothing. Hovering teasingly over the desk, the Hexcore twirled joyfully, reveling in its locked away secrets. Viktor sighed, his eyes squinting at his research papers. When did it get so dark? No matter¡­ he¡¯d just sleep in the lab tonight.


    It had to work tonight; Viktor had no reason to doubt his calculations. He¡¯d double checked, triple checked, and then quadruple checked it. If it wasn¡¯t working¡­ there¡¯s some variable he¡¯s been neglecting to factor.


    One more time now¡­ spin, flicker, spin¡­ no that¡¯s not right¡­


    One more¡­ spin, spin, flicker¡­ that¡¯s worse!


    One¡­ spin¡­ flicker¡­ NO!


    His mind seemed to spin faster than the Hexcore when he launched out of his chair, throwing his papers up into the air. Viktor must¡¯ve stood up too fast¨Che¡¯s just lightheaded. Yes that¡¯s all but¡­ the Hexcore seems different. A symbol, distinct from the runes he¡¯s used to, flickers with gold from inside the azure mechanism. A hexagon with three outstretched arrows.


    The sigil called to him¡­ and he listened. His head clouded with his approach closer, his mind-state matching the Hexcore¡¯s erratic and nonsensical movements. Viktor collapsed onto the desk, reaching desperately toward the golden beacon. Before he could grasp the core, his body failed him, and he fell limp, coughing blood onto the desk before he finally struck the cold floor.


    Unbeknownst to the unconscious scientist, his blood began to smear across the desk, crawling like a dying centipede toward the Hexcore. The golden hexagon spun, levitating the human¡¯s blood into the air before pulling it inside, absorbing the blood.


    [AbsoluteSolverString = True]


    Viktor stood before the Hexcore again, now accompanied by Jayce, who was speechless. Together, they watched a normal pot of plants grow rapidly and¡­ change. Instead of the leafy green, healthy growth Jayce expected, the plants began to redden, turning to steaming flesh and meat before liquifying as viscous gray sludge, flowing across the desk.


    ¡°Viktor¡­ this is¡­ how did you even¡­?¡± Jayce tried and failed to wrap his head around how Hextech could even begin to do this. Enhanced movement, reduced weight, and incredible durability were all effects borne of deliberate manipulations of tried and tested equations¡­ but Viktor¡¯s notes, Jayce noticed, had almost none of that. In fact, the same manipulations made systematically to the Hexcore yielded different outputs seemingly at random.


    ¡°It reacts to organic matter! After the catalyst was introduced, it became clear to me, Jayce: the Arcane is not just a tool, it¡¯s a thing, a being, a collective!¡± Viktor explained, breathing heavily as he shuffled through his hastily written, but incredibly detailed notes, looking for a specific experiment, ¡°I wanted to see its reaction to something it couldn¡¯t do, like manipulate an object that wasn¡¯t nearby, and what did it do?¡±This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Jayce attempts to follow, hazarding his best guess at what Viktor could be getting at, ¡°It¡­ pulled the object from the other room?¡± Jayce sighed, wishing Viktor would just tell him. The council was especially exhausting today, and although talking to Viktor was a great way to wind down, he couldn¡¯t manage to match his lab partner¡¯s energy levels. Especially not over such a gruesome display.


    Jayce¡¯s drooping eyes launched right up though when Viktor rolled up his sleeve and explained: ¡°It threw me.¡±


    ¡°I-It what?¡± Jayce gawked at the large bruise across Viktor¡¯s arm.


    ¡°It threw me across the room before fabricating a near identical spoon to the one I had been asking it to retrieve.¡±


    ¡°How¡­?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, Jayce. I theorize it¡¯s alive. When I signalled it again to retrieve the spoon, it just¡­ ignored me. When I signalled a third time, it did this:¡± Viktor pulls a box out from under the desk. A box, Jayce saw was completely filled with identical metal spoons. If Jayce was silent before, he might as well not have a voice anymore.


    ¡°I noticed after I was feeling light-headed in the lab that something might be wrong with the ventilation. I was informed that the lab had abnormally meager air pressure, but the ductworkers could not pinpoint a cause. I haven¡¯t yet deduced the means by which it developed such an ability,¡± Viktor explains, hoping Jayce catches on to the horrifying, though intriguing implications.


    ¡°It got the mass to make spoons by transmuting the air? Viktor¡­ we need to show Heimerdinger! He might be able to help control this!¡± Jayce exclaims happily, his earlier fatigue vanishing at the prospect of such an exciting discovery. Though, upon fetching his mentor, his hopes were quickly dashed by the head counsellor''s immediate, desperate comment.


    ¡°That symbol¡­ you must destroy it. Now.¡±


    ¡°W-what? Professor, you haven¡¯t even¨C¡± Viktor tries to reason, but is quickly cut off.


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand, my boys. This thing, that¡¯s taken over your work: I¡¯ve seen it before. It destroys nations, consumes everything and anything! If ever you¡¯ve respected my words, heed them now: eliminate it before it does us.¡± Heimerdinger pleads.


    ¡°Professor, listen! The Hexcore can transmute air to metal, plants into flesh! If we control it, the possibilities are virtually endless! It could even cure me!¡±


    ¡°Viktor, my boy! That is not the Hexcore! The very presence of that symbol shows your work has gone too far! This is a violation of the ethos, and I will have it destroyed! One way or another.¡± Heimerdinger stomps, literally putting his foot down. Jayce knows, though, despite being head of the council and dean of the academy, his mentor cannot stop their research unilaterally.


    ¡°You¡¯ll have to go through the council first, professor. They¡¯ll see the wonders we can do with this, even if you won¡¯t.¡± Jayce steps between his mentor and his partner, blocking the former¡¯s path.


    Heimerdinger glares, then turns to make his way out of the lab. Viktor leans on his crutch and sighs after the door slams shut, knowing his research just got a lot more difficult, ¡°I think I might know someone else who might be able to assist us with our quandary.¡± His reluctance is not lost on Jayce, but now, faced with the opportunity to cure Viktor, his and his partners'' reservations must be set aside.

 Chapter 2: Retirement

    ¡°This is Piltover. The city of progress, equality, and achievement. We used to be united. Used to be one. But we¡¯ve lost ourselves. Some mysteries are better left unsolved. We need to hold our rogue elements accountable to the ethos, and make sure¨C¡±


    ¡°But who holds you accountable?¡± Jayce interrupts. His mentor¡¯s prepared speech falls away with a dumbstruck ¡°Pardon?¡±


    ¡°Shimmer is rampant in the undercity! Enforcers fear to set foot in the lanes! Meanwhile, how have you spent your time, Professor? Getting in the way of hextech, of helping the good people of Piltover thrive!¡± Jayce shuffles through his papers: endless lists of forged cargo manifests, countless enforcer resignations, and numberless investment offers for hextech he wasn¡¯t permitted to take. All of this because of Heimerdinger¡¯s negligence. Jayce knows now of all times is for action.


    ¡°You can¡¯t speak on helping the people of Piltover while you house the Solver in your own lab!¡± Heimerdinger yells, his face turned red under the mass of orange fur. This is the first time he¡¯s ever seen his mentor this upset. Not even with the initial break-in on his lab was the professor this enraged.


    ¡°The Solver?¡± Jayce questioned, the name unfamiliar, ¡°You mean the Hexcore?¡±


    ¡°No! Oh, my boy¡­ you still don¡¯t understand. But how could you? That¡¯s a burden only I here carry¡­¡±


    ¡°Then explain, Professor! Why would we throw out one of our biggest breakthroughs when you won¡¯t tell us anything!¡±


    ¡°I already did! Do my words mean nothing to you, boy?¡±


    ¡°You told me it was dangerous, yes, but you¡¯ve said that verbatim before every step Hextech has taken. Yet, here we are, still climbing higher and higher! You¡¯re the father of Piltover, professor, and your years of service can never be repaid,¡± Jayce gestures to the rest of the council, who, through the whole argument, were content to watch the two scientists¡¯ back and forth. Ultimately, every member of the highest body in Piltover knew what was about to happen, and they were ready. Heimerdinger had been a thorn in Hextech¡¯s side, which made him a thorn in every trade deal and every investment the rest of the council tried to make in recent memory. This motion was a long time coming.


    Jayce hesitates, but a quick look down at his papers, evidence of his mentor¡¯s negligence toward the city, and steels himself, ¡°I think it¡¯s time we gave the father of Piltover a well-deserved retirement¡­¡±


    ¡°Jayce¡­ don¡¯t do this¡­ you don¡¯t know what you¡¯re doing¡­¡± Heimerdinger pleads, but his voice falls on deaf ears.


    The vote is unanimous, and Heimerdinger leaves without another word. No one motions to have his chair brought away. Perhaps out of respect, perhaps out of guilt, or perhaps something else entirely, his seat remains at the head of the massive table. Empty.


    <hr>


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Viktor reaches the Bridge of Progress by evening. Inside his tightly clutched cane hid a vial of Singed¡¯s modified shimmer. Viktor didn¡¯t fully trust Singed, but he did trust his work.


    The bridge, a beacon of Piltover¡¯s status, was swarming with enforcers armed to the teeth. As he made his way to the barricades and floodlights, a female enforcer raised her hand.


    ¡°Halt. You are subject to inspection, wait your turn,¡± She raised her rifle, the implication clear to Viktor. His feet shuffled, but as he moved his cane, he froze. He couldn¡¯t let them see the shimmer. Since he was from the Undercity, Viktor never got the opportunity, nor ever really wanted to pull this card. Unfortunately, emergencies sometimes call for unsavory methods.


    ¡°Excuse me, ma¡¯am. I¡¯m Jayce Talus¡¯ Hextech partner, I have clearance to pass as I please,¡± Viktor gestures to his nice clothes and well-made cane as proof of his status. His face wasn¡¯t plastered all over merchandise like the Man of Progress, so he hopes this is enough to convince them to at least hear him out or let Jayce verify his identity.


    The enforcer hesitated for a moment, glancing at the long line of undercity residents before nodding her head, ¡°We might be able to make an exception for you, sir. Sorry for the misunderstanding,¡± she moves aside and gestures to a nearby bench, allowing Viktor to sit down and let out the breath he was holding. The crippled scientist clutches his cane close as people in the line begin yelling and pushing. He hopes Jayce won¡¯t hold it against him.


    Apparently, Viktor wouldn¡¯t have to wait long to find out. Jayce, flanked by two enforcers who departed off with a wave of the counsellor''s hand, looked down the bridge at the enraged crowd before glaring down at Viktor.


    ¡°Do you have any idea how this looks? I order a blockade and my own partner violates it! What were you even doing down there?¡± Jayce whispers with barely contained anger.


    ¡°You ordered this?¡± Viktor repeats back with shock, trying to understand this sudden, drastic action his friend has taken, ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°There are people down there who seem hell-bent on destroying us! The terrorist attack on Progress Day, the forged manifests, these people are dangerous, Viktor!¡± Jayce exclaims, confused at his partner¡¯s seeming obliviousness.


    ¡°Jayce, I¡¯m from the undercity. My friend is too, that¡¯s why I was down there,¡± Jayce lets out a large sigh and attempts to help Viktor up, only to have his arm slapped away.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡¯ve had a lot on my plate,¡± Viktor notices the bags under Jayce¡¯s eyes, a sight all too familiar to the workaholic scientist. ¡°Was your friend able to help?¡± He inquires, the anger having completely left his partner''s tone. Regardless, Jayce didn¡¯t seem in much of a mood to take Viktor¡¯s smuggling of illegal drugs across the bridge well.


    ¡°No,¡± Viktor responded curtly, clutching his cane even tighter. ¡°He said nature was resistant to this sort of¡­ tampering.¡±


    Jayce responds with a bit of optimism, but is cut off by the sound of shattering glass and roaring flames. The counsellor glares back at the puddle of fire. The yelling had broken out into a full riot, one the enforcers are well equipped to handle. When Jayce looked back toward Piltover¡¯s skyline, he thought he saw a bright spark of gold through his lab¡¯s window at the academy¡­