Arcane: Incubus

Chapter 53: I’m not deaf



HOLDING CELL – NIGHT

Jayce sat on the edge of the cot, staring down at his arm. He sighed.

Footsteps echoed from down the corridor.

He looked up—just as the cell door creaked open and an enforcer shoved Jonathan inside. The door clanged shut behind him.

"Jonathan," Jayce muttered. "They found out about the experiment."

Jonathan gave him a flat look. "No shit. Why else would we be in a cell?"

He dropped against the wall, arms crossed.

"I didn't even put my name in your notes," he added. "My name's only on the blueprints. Prosthetics. Normal stuff."

Jayce winced.

"Uh… yeah, about that." He raised his hands defensively. "I kind of… did put your name in the notes."

Jonathan's head snapped toward him. "You what?"

"I thought it might help," Jayce said quickly. "If the experiment worked, it'd boost your standing in Piltover."

Jonathan stared at him for a beat, unreadable.

Then, softly: "It's fine."

Jayce blinked.

"You were trying to help," Jonathan said, settling back against the wall. "It just… didn't work out."

He exhaled. Then added flatly:

"But I swear to any god out there—if I get punished more than you…"

.

.

.

Jayce glanced at him. "What?"

Jonathan held up a hand, suddenly still. "You hear that?"

Jayce frowned. "Hear what?"

"Footsteps," Jonathan said quietly.

And sure enough—they were getting louder. Closer.

Jayce stood as the cell door creaked open.

An enforcer stepped aside.

And in walked Heimerdinger.

Jayce stiffened. Jonathan just tilted his head.

"Imprisonment," Heimerdinger mused, peering around the cell. "What a curious principle. We confine the physical form—yet the mind remains entirely free."

He paced forward.

"I do love a good conundrum," he said, eyes finally settling on the two of them.

"I remember the first time I saw you two together—two bright minds, working in tandem."

He sighed.

"You reminded me of myself. It's a shame you ventured too far."

His tone sharpened. "No great science should ever endanger lives."

Jayce looked down. Jonathan licked his lips, clearly bored.

"Be honest now," Heimerdinger said, glancing between them. "What manner of inquiry was this?"

"Don't look at me," Jonathan said, tilting his head toward Jayce. "Look at him."

Heimerdinger turned, fully facing Jayce now.

"Professor Heimerdinger, I…" Jayce began, stepping forward. "I believe I've discovered something incredible."

He paused.

"A way to harness magic—through science."

Heimerdinger blinked once. "Magic?"

"Yes," Jayce said, nodding.

"No," Heimerdinger replied immediately, shaking his head.

"…No?" Jayce asked, confused.

"The arcane is dangerous, Jayce," Heimerdinger said, pacing slowly. "A force of nature. Science cannot control it."

"Well," Jonathan cut in, "our science says otherwise."

"We're close to a breakthrough—I know it," Jayce added, conviction in his voice.

Heimerdinger turned to Jayce. "How old are you, my boy?"

Jayce hesitated. "I'm… I'm twenty-four."

Heimerdinger nodded slowly, then turned his gaze to Jonathan.

"And you?"

Both Jayce and Heimerdinger looked at him.

Jonathan blinked. "You're looking at me like I remember my age."

He shrugged. "I can't even remember what I had for breakfast."

Heimerdinger gave a small nod. "Well, I am now three hundred and seven years old."

He clasped his hands behind his back and began pacing again.

"All my life, I've pursued the mysteries of science—only to learn that some are better left unsolved."

He stopped at the door and turned to face them.

"This, I'm afraid, is one of them."

Jayce looked down, guilt flickering in his eyes.

Jonathan didn't flinch.

"If we don't do it, someone else will," Jonathan said. "The start of consciousness… is to end discovery."

Heimerdinger gave a slow nod. "Perhaps you're right. Eventually, someone may find a way to control magic."

Jayce looked up, hopeful.

Heimerdinger continued, gently but firmly, "Gentle, kind people. Ones who understand the consequences. But Piltover… is not there yet. Not now."

He clapped his hands once, as if concluding a lecture.

"Own your mistakes before the Council. Admit your work was dangerous. But speak nothing of magic."

He pointed a small finger at Jayce.

"Do that, and I theorize you'll get away with… how do you say—a slap on the wrist."

With that, Heimerdinger turned and knocked on the cell door.

An enforcer opened it for him without a word.

Heimerdinger looked back at them.

"I don't doubt that you both mean well," he said softly. "It's the ones who don't… that I fear."

And with that, Heimerdinger stepped out.

The door closed behind him with a quiet click.

——————————

– The Next Day –

"We need something revolutionary, Elora," Mel said, pacing slowly. "Something to put Piltover on the map."

She turned to Elora, who held a clipboard in her arms.

"What of today's trial?"

"A trial of two," Elora replied. "The first is Jayce, of House Talis."

"A house?" Mel raised an eyebrow. "Remind me."

"They're toolmakers," Elora said, glancing down at her notes. "Came to renown for their design of the collapsible pocket watch."

"And the other one?" Mel asked.

Elora flipped through a few pages on her clipboard.

"Jonathan Krueger."

Mel tilted her head. "Krueger? What house is that?"

"No house," Elora replied. "He's from the undercity."

She scanned further down the page. "Recently sponsored by Jayce. Designed a line of prosthetics."

Mel turned toward the window, arms crossed.

"An undercity inventor… sitting trial before the Council," she murmured.

Then, glancing back:

"Does Heimerdinger favor them?"

"As far as I can tell, he favors both," Elora said.

——————————

—Kiramman Estate—

"The boy's got ambition. That's why we supported him in the first place," Cassandra Kiramman said.

"Ambition?" her husband scoffed. "Darling, he nearly blew up our daughter."

"Jayce had nothing to do with that," Caitlyn said firmly. "He was robbed. We should help him."

"Caitlyn's right," Cassandra agreed. "We've known Jayce for years. And we're his patrons. If anyone should speak on his behalf, it's us."

Her husband sighed, reluctant. "We can't say the same for his friend though… what was his name again?"

"Jonathan," Caitlyn said quietly.

"Ah. Yes. That was it." He leaned back in his chair.

"Unlucky for him. He'll be all alone."

Caitlyn looked down, silent—worry flickering across her face.

—————————-

—The Last Drop—

"Do I look afraid?" Vander asked, stepping up to Sevika.

She scoffed. "No. You look weak."

Then she turned and walked off without another word.

From the corner, Claggor watched with a frown.

"Why isn't he doing anything?" he muttered.

"We kicked the enforcers' butts with just the four of us," Powder said, arms crossed. "Imagine what the whole Lanes could do."

Mylo let out a low whistle. "Jeez—even Powder wants to fight."

He headed downstairs. Claggor followed with a shrug.

Vi stayed still for a beat, fists clenched. "So why aren't we?"

Frustrated, she stormed after them—Powder on her heels.

Halfway down, Vi paused.

She glanced back at Ekko… then stopped completely, turning to face him.

Powder did the same, eyes narrowed.

Ekko shifted uncomfortably.

"Spill it, Ekko," Vi said.

Ekko fidgeted. "Um…"

He glanced between them—then sighed, wincing.

"Okay. Well… Vander's got a deal. With the enforcers."

Vi blinked. "What deal?"

Powder's eyes went wide. "You mean like… an actual deal?"

Vi's brows furrowed, trying to process it.

"That's not all," Ekko added quietly.

Powder leaned in. "There's more?"

Ekko looked at the floor, voice tight.

"…The enforcers took Jonathan."

The silence hit like a slap.

Vi stared. "What?"

Ekko shook his head. "Not for the topside explosion. They got him for… experimenting with magic."

Powder blinked. "Magic?" She looked at him like she'd misheard.

He nodded. "That's what I heard."

————————————

—Topside—

Inside the rising elevator, Jayce and Jonathan stood side by side—both in cuffs.

Jonathan let out a long sigh.

"…Do you think they'll give me an award?" he asked, deadpan, just to break the silence.

Jayce shook his head with a faint smirk. "If anyone's getting an award, it's me."

"Quiet down," Grayson snapped. "Neither of you is getting an award. Now quiet down—we're almost there."

Jonathan muttered under his breath, "You said 'quiet down' twice. Last I checked, I wasn't deaf."

———————-

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