Scrapyard Angels Act 1 Chapter 6

Magic in Runeterra is a fickle thing. Much like the Hextech and Chemtech that drives the city Piltover and Zaun forward, it is as much as an Art as it is a branch of Science if said branch of science was a convicted sexual offender who likes to toy with physics. Magic is almost like the expression of one's soul and everyone expresses it differently yet there are still enough commonalities between each type that a school or style of magic can be taught.

"You have now reached a level of competence that I deemed acceptable. Now, it's time to move forward. It's now time for you to shape your magic" She said as raw mana streamed between my hands in a constant flow.

"Now tell me why we need to shape our mana before we force our intent into our magic"

"It is so that we can have more mana available for our spells. In shaping our mana outside our bodies, we not only allow more mana for our spells but strength in our shots" One could compare the mana as the air in one's lungs. You can only blow so hard unless you can somehow store the air outside your body and release it in one go which is where one's will come in. One can visualize your will almost akin to a bubblegum which you blow on making it bigger until you pop it which is one big release.

"Good, it's always refreshing to see someone eagerly studying magic in earnest" Magic is basically reality warping, why would people not like studying it? "Now follow my hands and let your mana extend, let it flow out and guide it to a stable shape"

She clasped her hands before pulling them apart, the red mana which I had come to associate with her flowing out between her hands before she weaved it around in the air. It was like spider silk spreading across the air as she shaped it into a circle. "We will start with two dimensional shapes. Now I trust that you've studied enough on your own to do it without my guidance?"

I wasn't that prepared but I was confident enough to do it. Centering myself, I started weaving my spell. The stream parted yet the mana flowed continuously, sparkles streaming out from behind the wake of my hands as I tried to form the most basic of shapes. Slowly the stream lengthened, joining together once more as the two became once more and there in front of me was… the world's most crooked circle. Damn it

She sighed as she rubbed her temples "At Least you actually managed to do it in one try". Yes, it was something but it seems that I still have a long way to go.

I took the scenic route back home. The Entresol and the Sumps are still connected via roads but it was a long walk if you're not using those stage carriages or the lifts. I didn't felt like hanging on to my dear life in one of the carriages right now especially today especially when work today was rough. There was another thing as well

I wanted to go to the Black Lanes today. It was the go to market place for anything and everything down in the Sumps. From Rat Barbecue to Guns, the Black Lanes have everything. You only need to know where to find the seller though as some people don't take kindly to those kinds of ware and vigilante action is a huge thing down below.

There has been a recent uptick in every facet of Zaun's economy. Noxus was buying more and more raw materials and finished products causing a huge stream of wealth to go to the Economy. Everyone was earning more and If not for the regular meeting of the chem barons, the wages would have been higher.

While all this was going down, somewhere out there someones going to get fucked over by the Noxian warmachine. It wasn't quite happening yet as there are still no refugees coming through our city but you have to be deaf not to hear the rumors swirling about. Eh, you win some you lose some

Buying meals was easier now thanks to getting a raise and not even the rise in prices could make it even. Janna preserve me however for the Black Lanes stench was horrible.

With a pocket full of bronze washers and some silver cogs, I headed to the market ready to buy some stuff. Things however did not go to plan as I was soon confronted by Damon once more. His ugly nug only grew uglier with that angry black tattoo on his cheeks, still fresh from being applied to his face.

I got readg to bolt but this time he brought more friends along with him. He cut me off effectively on all routes. All of them had the same mark, the same tattoo. It looks like his father had pulled him in the business

I couldn't bolt now, There was no way out. I glanced towards the Vigilnaught standing guard over thr entrance of the market. I bit back a curse as he shrugged leaving me all on my own.

"We finally caught up to you Ark. Turning tail as if we're going to hurt ya? It breaks my heart my heart you know, didn't we used to be good friends?" He grinned wide while his posse's chuckled.

Glaring at the other taller boy, I replied "We're jot friends Damon. Not now, not ever. Who in their right mind tries to corner someone out on a walk?" I keep glancing around, trying in vain and hoping that somebody would help me but this was dog eat dog world after all

"Aw shucks, we're just trying to talk? Ya know, catch up and what not? You know, just like old times when I visit you in the orphanage my father guards" The omnious sound of pipes striking against the brick walls as if reminding me that they weren't just there for intimidation

"Just... Get on with it Damon. What do you want?"

"I've heard you got a job in the Cultivairs. You're now one of the bigs shots, the big earners among us big kids. Why don't we celebrate? Treat us to a meal and mybe we can get you in our little club right boys?" Their mocking laughter only got louder.

I've ran from then again and again back then. I was a hungry kid, a small fragile kid but I had had it with these kids. They want to play? Fine! Weeks of eating properly gave me enough strength to fight back. What's fourteen against one?

Fist came flying as I rushed Damon just as he was about to open his big fat mouth. With fist clenched tight I punched him straight below his sternum. Talking is not a free action and you can't fight back if you can't breath.

I could bob and weave out of Damons sloppy punches and kicks as I bounced on the balls of my feet but I was surrounded and I had no friends. I had to fight smart and I quickly pulled out my shiv. They however had their own and I was surrounded. While Damon tried to recover I lashed out once more.

Knife fights were an ugly thing. It was something one really wanted to avoid especially if you opponents had better armament. A kid cried out their as their arm was cut up real good before I had to dodge their strikes. It was like fighting a pack of rabid hyenas. I got some of them but they nipped and striked relentlessly until one of them got lucky. I felt the heavy weight of a pipe land against my arm making drop my knife

Without my weapon I started punching and kicking back. I rushed towards them, jumping at them and breaking noses. They tried to pull me off but all it dod was give me more targets. I was lucky that they only resorted to kicks instead of bashing my head in but that was a lovely thing.

It was my fist and my magic, my fist sparking as I dropped another kid with a well placed hook. I was winning until I wasnt as they pilled on top of me, holding me down as I ran out of mana. I could have fought them off if I wasnt running on fumes

They pulled me up by my hair making me howl and lifted me up. They held me tight as they started raining fist down at my stomach. It was only the fact that I had nothing in my stomach that time around that stopped me from puking my guts out. Oh boy did Damon look angry but the ugly bruise in his eyes and his broken teeth was worth a baby tooth and the throbbing pain in my feet.

"You think you're funny Ark? We were going to let you go but look at what you've done!" Yeah, a piece of art if I ever see one. Spitting on him completed the look

He aimed his punch straight at my face but all his fist met was my forehead as I leaned forward. I felt him rock me yet I laughed at the feeling of his stupid kid bones against the second hardest part of the human body. I was in cloud nine as he howled and jumped like a loon. Fucking idiot

"You know what! Fuck this, I would have been happy to just get your money but you've asked for thus" what's that sharp pointy object in his other hands?

Things were getting blurry but I still remembered one thing clearly afterward. It was the murderous look in Vi's face as she walked up behind Damon before shouting "Bitch says what?"

"Wha-?" Gottem. One punch and he simply dropped down like a sack of potatoes. It was a blur and by the time I sort came back, it was all over. I felt myself get up as a fresh gust of wind blew over the area.

Vi was there panting, covered with a bit of blood and a lot of forming bruises but the kids were running away and some bystanders were cheering.

"Let me help you" she said as she helped me back on my feet. Legs shaking and knees weak but I was doing ok. "Are you ok? How many fingers am I holding?" She asked as she held a finger up in front of me

"One and mostly ok. I feel like shit though. Damn it, I hate those kids"

"Good thing I punched a tooth out" she replied smugly as she knelt down as if trying to find something

"Must have hurt" The face isn't something one usually punch bare fisted

"What? Nah, also here's the tooth" there in his hand was a molar

"Are your bones made of steel? Also, eww, throw that away. You don't know where that thing has gone through. Who knows what they eat"

"..." She looked at the thing in disgust before throwing the thing away. She wiped her hands on my shirt. Damn it

"Thanks for saving me there Vi"

"Hey, what family is for right?"

"Yeah" I felt warm and fuzzy right now. Maybe I'm a bit concussed but it was still a nice feeling

"Sisters have to stick together" as she wrapped an arm around my shoulder before kissing me in the forehead. Heat rose up to my cheeks causing her to grin

"Brothers and sisters actually" I replied, making her look down at me. Now it was her turn to blush as heat rose up to her own cheeks before the pain came back

"No punching Vi! No punching!" The bruises I had could only grow bigger. Blocking will only gave me more bruises

"My first kiss with a boy and you stole it! Give it back!" She shouted as she turned a brilliant shade of red

"It's not how that works!" I shouted as I tried to evade her punches

"You're lying!"

"No I'm not! It's supposed to be lips to lips but having your first kiss would have been amazing! You know what? Here!" I shouted as I leaned forward and kissed her in the lips before I fled from the scene. It was a chaste kiss and I barely felt my lips graze hers but it was still a kiss and that kiss tastes like bubblegum

"Come back here Ark!" I could only laugh as I outran her. This is my life now and I have to say that I don't regret it. I might get broken bones but the memories I have of this will remain