Scrapyard Angels Act 1 Chapter 4
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Learning is easy, you just have to sit down and listen. Some people tend to learn better if they're actually doing stuff but the process is still the same. You have nothing to worry about especially when someone more knowledgeable is guiding you. Teaching on the other hand was hard
I don't think I have the patience for it and I don't know how to start it. I often had wrong assumptions and expected Vi and Jinx to know their numbers when they're just as young as I am if not younger in the case of Jinx. I… realized that with the blank look they're giving me.
I had to start from the very beginning, the absolute beginning and work them from the ground up. I had twelve hours of work, not too bad considering the shifts of the older Zaunites, and my patience was frayed by the end of it. Frustration mounted but I had to persevere and understand that they were just kids
My only saving grace was that Jinx was brilliant, utterly brilliant. She absorbed information like a sponge, soaking it like how a puffcap eagerly drinks from the rivers of Zaun to grow and prosper. She was an excellent student.
"So that's the numbers from 1 to 100 Jinx. New Piltie wasn't just designed to be easier to print out in paper but also to make it easier to write down bigger and bigger numbers"
Vi on the other hand… was really good at punching people.
That was her first instinct when she got frustrated and by Janna it's as if she was hands of stone. She doesn't even use her whole body to punch, just her arms alone. The casual power of this girl made up for her lack of… patience to learn. She does have that grit, that sheer determination to catch up to her sister. We're making slow progress but was still progress
"God damn it Vi stop hitting me! I need my shoulder so I can lift up those watering cans!"
"Then make it easier for me to learn this you blonde bimbo!"
"Language and who are you calling a bimbo! Do you even know what that means?"
"Dumb cu-!" I had to wrestle her there and then to stop her from cursing even more much to Jinx amusement.
It was my pastime here down in our little home. We were burning through the proverbial midnight oil, nearly exhausting our wick at one point this week before we decided to study outside in the light of the city above us. My hands were usually stained black with coal dust from the hunk of coal I used to write for my students and my... sisters?
They grew on me quite easily, their presence providing comfort that I never knew I missed. Having Jinx braid my hair was annoying but endearing. Even Vi joined in at times when she "borrowed" a comb from one of the shops.
"Hey, do you guys want to go out tomorrow? It's my first paycheck tomorrow so why not celebrate!" Fun little fact, it seems like Zaun has a concept of a no work weekend. It looks like the early Zaunite chembarons knew you can only push a person so far until they become unproductive. It's just one day but it was something
"Sounds fun, anything in mind?" Vi asked as she combed my hair again.
"Are we going to the Promenade?!" Jinx asked excitedly.
"Even better~"
"Oh no no no. We can't afford to go up there. Do you know how expensive it is to use the Conveyors?" The Conveyors, massive gondolas designed to carry passengers up and down the city. It made travel between Zaun and Piltover so much easiser but it was a ludicrously expensive ride for anyone from the Sump. It was far more than a months work could get you
"Who said we're going to use the Rising Howl?" I reserve the right to be smug
"Noooo" Your disbelief is noted Vi and no your stare wont change what I say. I try not to lie
"Really!?" Jinx asked as if I had just given her a wonderful birthday gift.
"Yes"
Vi threw up her hands at the absurd situation she found herself in while Jinx jumped up and down in excitement.
"This is ridiculous, first you know how to read then you know a way up that doesn't require the conveyors? What's next, you're the long lost child of a chembaron?"
"What can I say, Education is a key to many abilities that some would say is unnatural"
"Who cares if it sounds ridiculous Vi! We're going to the Piltover!"
"Tomorrow Jinx, Tomorrow so settle down before you trip or something" I worry alot for her. She was our future and my sunshine. I hope nothing takes her away
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My knuckles were white as I held on to my lifeline. I never held something so tightly before. With sweat dripping down my brows, I held onto my pay with a death grip. I nervously fiddled with my shiv as I took a turn in an alley before finally finding a way down to the omnipresent service tunnels of Zaun
I could feel my stress melt away as I finally came home with Jinx waiting for me and soon enough Vi came home with his own pay. Now it was time to show them why the service tunnels of Zaun is amazing
"Ok, so quick question. How far do you think this tunnel goes?"
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"Pretty far I guess?" Vi answered as she walked behind me while I led the way. The dark dank tunnel was only illuminated by the bottle of spent chems that we bought just for the occasion. We simply can't rely on candle light especially when my family isn't that used to the tunnels yet
"Its goes really really far. The only place I think it doesn't go to is the College of Thaumaturgy. I got there once, wasnt a good place. Lots Vigilnaughts" doesn't that place bring back a lot of memory.
Leading them deeper inside in seemingly random twists and turns, we finally get to where we need to before we can go to another place. "And you know why I know my way through these service tunnels? Its because of this. The map of Zauns underground"
"It's… just arrows and symbols" replied Jinx as she stared at the thing with incomprehension and confusion.
There in front of us was an archaic map of the tunnels. It was a chart of symbols and arrows more akin to the New york railway station map rather than a proper map. Some lines were exaggerations while others were shrunk down. Distance means nothing and what only matters is the location at the end of each arrow
Of course this was in the Zaunite script. I can't read it but I know damn well what the letters are and you can easily recognize the letters after you explore it and know where you come out of. These were service tunnels so they made sure that the workers wouldn't get themselves lost here by making sure the end of each tunnel has the name of where it is right now. After comparing the symbols here to the map, you can start memorizing where it leads and soon I found out that almost all tunnels leads to Piltover… or is it all tunnels leads to the bottom of Zaun cause most of the plumbing just go down to the crack
"Ok, I need you to remember these symbols. We're here then you just continue heading forward where the abandoned service tunnel won't be so abandoned anymore and we'll have to go here here and here before we come out of one of the fake buildings of Piltover" I traced it along the map, remembering the route by heart and showing it to my family.
"Off course you can read this as well"
"Reading is a generous term, this is more of memorizing symbols along with a lot of trial and error"
Vi could only smirk, amused by that little fact. Before Vi could say something, we we're dragged along by an overly excited Jinx
"Enough yapping! We don't have all day and I want to see the sky!"
"Slow down!" I shouted as my short legs couldn't quite keep up. I was the big brother yet I was almost the shortest of my family. If not for the few inches I had over Jinx, I'd be the shortest
"Just try to keep up!" Vi shouted as she laughed at my misfortune. I couldn't help but grin myself, both from the contaigous excitement of Jinx and from the self deprecating humor of my situation. We ran across the tunnels, going up stairs and dashing across tunnels. We few short breaks and a meal break to let us catch our breath
The tunnels were long and winding but there was light at the end of the tunnel. As we ran towards the light, we could feel the breeze against our face. The fresh air filled our lungs as we finally stepped into the light. It was intoxicating
The roar of a passing airship greeted us as we arrived on the rooftop of one of the fake facades littering the futuristic city. Its majestic bulk floating in the sky in defiance of the law of aerodynamics along with a healthy helping of a lighter than air gas contained within its ballon
"Woah" Vi shouted as she watch the giant pass by
"It's… so beautiful" Jinx's eyes were glued to the city ahead, seeing its wonders for the very first time
Walking up ahead, I stretched my arms dramatically and presented one of the greatest sights in Runeterra. "Welcome to Piltover, The City of Progress"
There ahead of us, just across the balcony of the rooftop was the city of progress. Rows upon rows of neat little houses with falls of bleached white stone and red tiled roofs stretched as far as the eye could see. Gold and bronze metal glistened in the dying light of the sun as it slowly descended into the sea.
The cries of gulls and the hustle of bustle of the city below. People of all shapes and sizes roamed the clean and wide streets. The clothes of the people clothes immaculate and their smiles adding to the health glow of their faces.
Peering down, we saw kids running and laughing. They actually acted like kids, playing and living their lives. One of the kids saw us, a girl with bubble gum pink hair, and waved at us with a smile before she ran off to join her friends. Those kinds of smiles, those radiant smile and the lack of suspicion, fear and pain in their eyes made me envious at times
"Hey Vi, Jinx… one day, I'll give you the life we deserve. I promise we will have our happily ever after. One day" I held their hands as we watched the sun go down. Watching the evanescent beauty of the sunset bathing Piltover in red and gold
With the city of Piltover as my witness, I make my promise and I will fulfill it even if I die trying. I choose to live a life in pursuit of happiness and I will achieve that ever distant dream.