Surprised were nice. If they didn't happen in the worst moments possible. And there was no moment worse than being trapped in an arena, expecting to fight for life and death.

It just wasn't fun to be surprised and thrown off guard.

You had expected beasts, some sentient beings or even godlike creatures to step out of the gates of the other cage. Your thoughts had run wild, had expected everything and yet nothing.

But not this. What came to sight were people. Normal looking men, to be exact.

Confused, your shoulders relaxed. Your eyes wandered along these men, not even dressed in armour or anything that could have protected them.

They looked average at best. The only thing that seemed a bit odd were the weapons they were holding, made of brass and metal with a bright blue shimmer.

"Vi.", you gave her a gentle push with your elbow.

"Hm?", curious, she now also turned to look at them.

Neither of the two guys seemed aggressive. More hesitant, unsure even. It did not seem like they knew what they were doing. Or why they were doing it.

A low sound of thinking made Vi's throat tremble as she eyed them, her eyebrows knitted together.

"They look like they come from the Undercity.", she noted with a nod in their direction.

Agreeing, you hummed but couldn't shake the feeling that there was also something else. Something familiar. You knew them, one way or another.

Their faces were ones you had once or twice seen in passing. You hadn't spoken to them, at least not longer than a few seconds. But you did recognise them as prisoners. Ones that had been in the lower levels of Stillwater Hold Prison for quite a while.

Only seeing them made all the alarm bells go off inside your head. Without thinking about it you took a step forward and pushed yourself halfway in front of Vi to shield her with your body.

Your hand reached back to caress the tips of her fingers.

"Something isn't right.", you said and looked up to the jaw once more. "Stay back."

Eyebrows knitted together and a grim look on her face, she nodded. But her hands remained clenched into fists. She was ready whenever you needed her to be.

And somehow that was a soothing thing.

You would have never dared to think that someone in prison could become a person to put your trust in. Then again, beggars can't be choosers and if seen from an outside perspective, you were a prisoner as well.

The two men kept approaching with steady steps. And yet there was so much confusion in their eyes, so much trouble.

They must have gotten something in return, a promise, payment. Something that had convinced them to step foot into this arena.

Perhaps you would be able to persuade them into accepting a deal. One that would prevent you from ending smashed to pieces.

"You seem upset.", you remarked as you approached them, both hands raised. "Care to have a chat?"

Vi followed close by, still visibly on edge, while her eyes jumped through the arena. Good, she would keep everything in her sight and alert you if needed.

So you could focus on the task at hand. The men and their strange weapons.

Their eyes examined you before they exchanged a glance with one another. One nodded while he looked up to the jaw.

Something seemed to pressure him.

"We don't want any more trouble than it's worth.", you explained and stopped a few steps away from them with just enough difference to keep it safe. "And you don't seem like you want to die today."

The larger of the two men crunched his nose. A small scar stretched across the lower part of his chin, twisting it with the movement.

"This is nothing personal.", he finally said and took an abrupt step forward.

Your shoulders tensed. Warning, you raised a hand to show off your nails.

"See these?", you asked. "Not very nice to have them scratched across the face. So do me a favour and settle down. We don't want trouble."

Vi took a step forward, out of your shadow to stand by your side. Baring her teeth, she gifted the men a warning glare.

"One wrong step.", she threatened.

With a roll of your eyes you pushed her back gently.

"Easy, kid.", your attention returned to the strangers. "She's more bark than bite."

"Oh yeah?", she raised her chin in a challenging manner. "Try me."

"Don't. Really.", again, you raised your hands to show you weren't hostile as long as it wasn't necessary. "We just want to talk."

"Since when do you talk?", she whispered.

You ignored her.

One of the men frowned.

"Why?", his grip tightened around the handle of his weapon.

It looked strangely spotless, not at all like something that came from the streets of Zaun but more like something shiny from Piltover.

Something that had been crafted with care in a lab. With a very particular purpose in mind.

One eyebrow raised, you eyed the thing with your head tilted.

"What is that?", you asked with a gesture towards the unknown objects.

They shrugged.

"Dunno.", the larger of the two pointed his weapon at you. "But we were paid to do this. Nothing personal."

You let out a low sound. Warning and yet a little amused.

"So you don't know how to use it.", the shimmer of blue energy reflected in the (E/C) of your eyes. "This reminds me of something... that I've seen before."

Hesitantly, they took a step back.

"What?", they frowned.

A smirk tugged at the edge of your lips. It was a bitter sweet memory yet so full of power. Something you would never forget.

This was the shimmer of the rawest of energies that this planet had to offer. Something that went far beyond the borders of Piltover's influence.

A soft sound filled the silence. Almost like water flowing, like a river that was meant to find its way through mountains and landscapes.

"This is the arcane.", you said. "Magic."