Arcane: Winds of Change

Sorry for the small break, got dragged for family holidays. As an apology, here's some bonus chapters!

For more chapters (10+) or if you want to support me, visit https://www.patreon.com/FFAddict. Thank you!

Phil lay in bed for three full days before he could barely move. He hobbled into the lab with the help of a cane. "How's it going, Jinx?" he asked. 

The lab was utterly transformed, with blue and red graffiti covering the walls, and the workbench lay in chaotic disarray as passionate music filled the air. 

"Do you like it? I brought life to your lab," Jinx exclaimed proudly upon seeing Phil. 

"Alright, how have you been these past few days?" Phil asked with a resigned smile. 

"Great, no Mylo to nag endlessly and no Vi with her fake consolations," Jinx nonchalantly replied as she tinkered with a small bomb. 

"Do you miss them?" Phil saw through the subtext in Jinx's words. 

"No way! I'm Jinx, not the useless person I used to be," she said defensively. 

"I'll keep an eye on Vi for you, and I'll help make you stronger. Trust me," Phil understood what Jinx was thinking, even if she wouldn't admit it. 

Jinx threw her arms around Phil. "Of course, I trust you, Phil. You've always encouraged me." She suddenly became a bit emotional. 

Phil patted Jinx on the back. "Alright, next I'll teach you how to make bombs and firearms. What kind of gun do you want?" 

"A machine gun!" 

"I thought you'd prefer a shotgun like mine."

"What are you doing? Useless, the lot of you! Incompetents!" Councilor Kiramman angrily demanded in the council meeting. The recent enforcement officer investigation in the Undercity not only lost a captain but also captured just one kid. 

"Sorry, Councilor, but the remaining criminals died in a blast in the Undercity. You know, the Undercity is full of accidents." 

"I heard there was another riot in the Undercity a few days ago?" 

"Are the Undercity people trying to revolt? It seems the war from a few years ago hasn't taught them a lesson," voiced a member from another corner. 

The council meetings had been frequent lately, first because of Jayce, and now because of Zaun. 

"Perhaps we should use force to remind them what they should be doing." 

"No, war cannot solve the problem!" Heimerdinger exclaimed, standing on his chair. 

"Then what do you propose? First, there was a bomb in the upper city, then our Enforcer Captain was killed. They might need another painful lesson." 

"War will only lead to greater sacrifice," a hint of compassion flashed in Heimerdinger's eyes. 

"I agree with Councilor Heimerdinger," Councilor Medarda spoke up. "But we must also maintain the dignity of the upper city. I propose we send another team of Enforcers to stabilize the Undercity until it calms down." 

"I second Councilor Medarda's proposal." 

Soon, in the council chamber, seven beams of light shone in from the window, passing the proposal.

After nearly two weeks of recovery, Phil's body was much better. Watching the upper city Enforcers roam freely outside his window, he remarked, "The people from the upper city are getting more outrageous, don't you think, Jinx?" 

Jinx was fiddling with the light machine gun she and Phil had built together. "Biu biu biu, let's see how they like this," she said, enamored with the weapon. 

"Don't rush, Jinx. The last explosion wiped out the Shimmer stock and also took out our only researcher. It's not yet time to start a war; we need to wait." 

Just as Phil was speaking to Jinx, the red light at the door suddenly lit up. 

"Looks like we won't be bored anymore." This communicator was designed by Phil himself for convenient contact with Silco. Often, Phil preferred to stay home and work on research.

He led Jinx towards Silco's office, sharing some interesting stories along the way.

"What's up, Silco? Having trouble?" Phil asked as he pushed the door open to Silco's office.

Silco was lighting a cigar. "Nothing much, just those Chem-Barons aren't pleased with the commotion we've caused lately. They seem to have forgotten I once saved them; now all they see is profit."

"To eliminate the external threat, first pacify the internal chaos, as I've told you," Phil shrugged helplessly.

"You're right. With Vander gone and Benzo lacking leadership, those damn barons are looking to stir things up again. This time, you should go in my name and put them in their place," Silco replied.

"Got it," Phil nodded.

"Tomorrow at 2 PM, in the upper council chamber of Zaun. They'll be meeting there, but try not to kill them all," Silco advised.

"Don't worry," Phil said as he left with Jinx.

"Jinx, this is the first mission I'm taking you on. You need to learn well," Phil remarked as he fiddled with his handgun.

"Ugh, you're so annoying!" Jinx made a face at Phil and dove back into the lab.

"Get up, get up!"

Phil slightly opened his eyes and glanced at Jinx hanging upside down from the beams. He turned over, "Stop it, let me sleep a bit longer, oh!" Just as Phil finished speaking, Jinx dropped down from the beams and landed on him. "I told you to get up."

Phil pushed Jinx away. "Alright, alright, I give up. What time is it?" Jinx tossed him a watch, showing it was already ten o'clock.

"Eat something and get ready for work," Phil said, putting away the watch.

"Yes, sir!" Jinx exclaimed with excitement.

Inside the council chamber, the atmosphere was tense. "The upper city's tightened control over the lower levels has severely impacted our business, and it's all Silco's fault," Finn was the first to speak, setting the tone for the meeting.

"Sigh, my business has been affected too. How about we help the upper city stabilize Zaun's situation to send them back sooner? I'm willing to take the lead," Enni tentatively suggested.

"Don't think I don't know what you're trying to do. You want to get involved in the black alleys, fine, but you can't do it alone. Now with Vander gone, that's a big piece of pie."

"Oh, am I interrupting your chat, dear barons?" Phil swung the door open, as the guards at the entrance slowly fell with bullet holes in their foreheads.

"Was it you who wanted a piece of the black alleys? Do you think you're qualified?" Phil walked up to Enni, calmly sitting on the table. A few drops of cold sweat trickled down Enni's face, but he forced himself to remain calm. "Were you sent by Silco?"