Arcane: Mage from Noxus

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"Ms. Camille, good afternoon. This should be our second meeting."

Ryan greeted Camille, who was seated not far away.

The other party sat on the sofa in the reception room, one leg crossed over the other.

She lacked the polished demeanor of a Piltover lady and instead bore a sharper, more ruthless air—something distinctly reminiscent of Zaun.

"You should know why I'm here," Camille's voice was cold, her gaze slicing across Ryan's face like a blade.

"Ma'am, I'm afraid I don't quite understand. This is the Noxian embassy. If you're seeking assistance, I'd be more than happy to help."

"Ah, you're more cunning than Swain. At least he's straightforward." Camille's tone carried a hint of disdain.

"Tell me, what do you want? If Piltover has it, I don't mind negotiating, but I won't play games."

Ryan smiled faintly as he pulled out the chair across from Camille and sat down with deliberate ease.

"I'm still planning things for Piltover, am I?"

His words were calm, laced with subtle amusement.

"This is what confuses me," Camille replied, her gaze unyielding.

"You don't seek power, you don't seek profit, and you've shown no particular grievance to air. Noxus is already consumed by its internal struggles. Is it necessary to go out of your way to meddle here?"

She lifted her teacup and took a measured sip. But even as she did so, the hook from one of her mechanized legs shot forward with precision, aimed directly at Ryan.

SPLASH!

Ryan raised his hand lightly, conjuring a sphere of water in the hook's path. The line plunged into the water, its momentum instantly dissipated.

He sighed, shoulders shrugging slightly, a trace of exasperation on his face.

"Why are you so determined to see me as a threat? I haven't done anything wrong."

"Enough games, Meredith. I don't appreciate evasiveness."

The blue light in Camille's mechanical eyes flared brighter. Her right foot lifted slightly, its bladed edge gleaming as she slashed through the water sphere, splitting it cleanly in two.

"You've met Viktor twice. The first time was at Medarda's banquet, and the second was at the embassy. After that, you went with him to Zaun."

"That is correct," Ryan admitted with a light chuckle.

He clapped his hands, dispersing the water into a fine mist that hung in the air. The room grew noticeably more humid.

"I'm aware of certain things," he continued, "but I don't believe I'm obligated to share them."

"Only the weak waste time explaining themselves to justify the truth," Camille shot back, her tone like steel.

"I'm here to solve problems, not trade riddles."

Without another word, she lashed out with a whip-like kick, her leg slicing toward Ryan with the deadly precision of her Hextech augmentations.

SPLASH!

Her leg passed through him effortlessly, but it struck nothing solid—only water. A deluge splattered around the room where Ryan had been sitting moments ago.

"Solving problems with brute strength? Surely, Ms. Camille, someone of your caliber understands that strength alone doesn't always provide solutions," Ryan remarked, his form reconstituting from the water. He reached calmly for his tea and took a sip, entirely unbothered.

"Another veiled threat," Camille said sharply.

"You're violating the agreement. Piltover isn't Noxus' plaything to meddle with."

Her strikes came in rapid succession now, each more ferocious than the last. But a shield of swirling water rose around Ryan, deflecting every attack.

Water—soft yet unyielding—resisted even the sharpest edges of Camille's bladed limbs.

"Noxus hasn't overstepped its bounds," Ryan replied, his tone hardening.

"Besides, that agreement you speak of is outdated. It should have been renegotiated long ago. Piltover cannot remain a neutral bystander forever."

Camille froze for a moment, her expression unreadable. Her piercing eyes locked onto Ryan's, which now gleamed with an unnatural, magical dark blue light.

"Interesting," she murmured.

"Is Piltover being drawn into your internal disputes? Are you aiding Swain against Darkwill?"

Although Camille was phrasing it as a question, there was certainty in her tone.

Over the years, she had observed the shifting structure of the Noxian Empire. The disastrous defeat at the Battle of Presidian had accelerated its decline, leaving it vulnerable. But within the empire, there were always those determined to turn the tide.

"So... your target is me? Or Heimerdinger? No, Heimerdinger lacks the influence. It must be the darling of the new era, Jayce Talis," Camille deduced.

Ryan smiled but didn't confirm her assertion. Instead, with a gentle motion, he raised his hand, and a wave of water materialized, spreading outward.

Camille instinctively stepped back, her movements sharp and calculated. When she finally stopped in front of the sofa where she had previously been seated, the water dissipated just before it reached her.

The persistent presence of water in the room made the air thick and humid, each breath carrying the weight of moisture.

Seizing the opportunity, Camille sat down, crossed her legs, and allowed a faint smile to play on her lips.

"Ms. Camille," Ryan began, his tone even, "have you considered joining the Trifarix Council?"

"Trifarix?" Camille's mechanical eyes glinted with intrigue, though she feigned ignorance.

"I've never heard of it."

"A council co-founded by key figures within Noxus," Ryan explained, his smile unwavering.

"It's the cornerstone of a new initiative to reshape the greatness of our empire."

"It sounds intriguing," Camille admitted, though her tone was firm.

"But I belong to Piltover."

"It's not a contradiction," Ryan countered smoothly.

"Piltover thrives because of Noxus. As Noxus grows stronger, Piltover's prosperity will inevitably follow."

"Nonsense. If I join your Trifarix, will you help me deal with Zaun?" Camille's voice carried an edge of sarcasm, though her gaze was probing.

Ryan's magical aura dimmed slightly, and his eyes softened into a more familiar expression that carried a knowing glint of humor.

"I can't promise that," he admitted.

"But I will act when Piltover or the Ferros family faces a true crisis."

"So joining your Trifarix does nothing to address Piltover's most immediate concerns," Camille concluded, her voice touched with surprise.

"And yet you seem so certain we'll lose."

"Piltover has been complacent for far too long," Ryan replied bluntly.

"Frankly, without you, I see no chance of victory."

Standing up, he withdrew a roll of yellowed parchment marked with intricate rune patterns from within his coat. The markings shimmered faintly as he held it out to her.

"This isn't a demand," he said, his smile faint but deliberate.

"It's an invitation. The terms are simple: the more you contribute to Trifarix, the more we'll assist. Noxus will not intervene militarily in Piltover's conflict with Zaun."

Camille took the parchment, her face unreadable. She studied the runes before speaking with her characteristic bluntness.

"A contract scroll. A defaulter's soul is condemned to endless torment. Typical Noxian theatrics," she remarked.

"You and Swain truly know how to get things done. If I refuse to keep this secret, I assume I won't even leave this room alive?"

Ryan chuckled softly. "No, Ms. Camille. You'll keep this secret because you're not like others. I'll be staying in Piltover for a while."

His smile widened, exuding calm confidence.

Though Ryan's tone lacked any overt threat, Camille knew better. The man before her was the gravest threat Piltover had encountered.

If the existence of Trifarix were revealed, Piltover would crumble overnight. The Ferros family, Piltover's infrastructure, even Zaun—all would drown in chaos. Ryan, a water mage, had the power to submerge both cities in water if he so desired.

"Trifarix... I'll need time to think it over," Camille replied, standing. Her tone carried an air of finality.

"But I believe in a few days, you'll change your mind. Piltover isn't as defenseless as you think. In three days, Viktor will meet his end."

Without waiting for a reply, Camille leapt through the window, her departure swift and calculated. Ryan watched her go, now alone in the reception room.

"She left so abruptly?" a familiar voice questioned.

Katarina, who had remained hidden in the shadows, stepped forward. Her tone carried a mix of curiosity and skepticism.

"Camille doesn't like being controlled," Ryan said with a chuckle.

The glowing runes on the ring he wore began to dim, and the oppressive humidity in the air gradually dissipated.

Katarina glanced around, noting the fine droplets of mist clinging to the walls. Her sharp eyes betrayed her surprise.

Ryan, noticing her expression, smirked. "Tell Silco that Camille plans to raid Zaun tonight. Let him use every resource he has at his disposal. And remind him—Piltover's defenses will be stretched thin tonight. Ferros family is the key to breaking the stalemate."

Katarina gave a sharp nod. "Understood. I'll deliver the message, Your Excellency."

With that, she vanished from the room in a blur, sprinting toward Zaun.