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THE WINDS OF CHANGE - I AM THE CITY.
I AM ZAUN.
I WHISPER MY PRAYERS INTO THE STREETS. I CATCH THE GRAY, STRAYING AND WANDERING, AND PULL IT BACK INTO THE DEPTHS WITH ME. I RISE IT TOWARDS THE SKY, TOWARDS MY SISTER, AND WATCH IT DISSIPATE LIKE HEAT.
I BRUSH CHILDREN’S HAIR DOWN IN THE MINES AND I WHISTLE THROUGH METAL PIPES AND INDUSTRIAL FANS.
I AM THE BREEZE CUTTING UNDER THE BLUEBIRD’S WING.
YOU - “... well, I didn’t think the City had a voice.”
THE WINDS OF CHANGE - YOU HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN ME. I HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN YOU.
YOU BELONG TO ME, AND I BELONG TO YOU.
WE ARE KIN, LIKE THIS.
YOU - “It sounds like bullshit. Like another made-up voice in my head.”
THE COMMUNE - It wouldn’t be the first, that’s for certain.
MYLO - You don’t think the stupid Commune Cult is one to talk, on account of being dead and destroyed.
THE COMMUNE - Touché.
THE WINDS OF CHANGE - LISTEN. HEED MY WORDS.
I AM NO CONJURATION OF YOUR MIND. I AM A FRAGMENT OF THE WORLD SPIRIT, THE GENIUS LOCI OF ZAUN.
ALL YOUR LIFE I’VE SEEN YOU. I’VE SEEN YOU, I’VE SEEN YOU. I’VE SEEN YOU ON THE BRIDGE, AT THE EDGE OF PROGRESS. I’VE SEEN YOU, AND I’VE BEEN SEEN BY YOU. I’VE SEEN YOU AT THE EDGE OF PROGRESS.
YOU - “What do you mean, the edge of progress? You mean topside?”
MYLO - Are you deaf? Don't you notice something fucked up? This weird voice is insisting it’s real. At least I know I'm made-up.
YOU - Ignore him. “How are you talkin’ to me, weirdo? And why?”
THE WINDS OF CHANGE - MY WORDS ARE WRITTEN INTO THE GOOSEBUMPS ON YOUR BARE ARMS. MY VOICE SLIPS THROUGH THE STRAY HAIRS ON YOUR BRAIDS. CHILD, I AM EVERYWHERE. I AM IN YOUR LUNGS, YOUR HEART. I STAND BEFORE YOU AND SURROUND YOU.
YOU - Always?
THE LAST DROP - Always.
TOPSIDE - Always.
STILLWATER - Always.
THE CHAIR IN HIS OFFICE - Always.
THE VAPORIZED SHADOW OF A CHILD - …
AN INVENTOR’S OLD STUDIO - Even back then.
THE BRIDGE - Even then, too.
THE TREE - Even at places you haven’t seen yet.
BIRTHPLACE OF SHIMMER - Even at places you don’t remember.
KIRAMMAN MANOR THIRD FLOOR SHOWER - Yes, even there. Always.
THE CHAIR IN HIS OFFICE - She wants something from you.
YOU - Does she?
THE CHAIR IN HIS OFFICE - She’s eloquent. Eloquence is always in the service of something. An act of deception.
Desperation, perhaps. She’s scared.
YOU - “What does the wind have to fear, huh?”
THE WINDS OF CHANGE - DEATH, CHILD. TIME IS RUNNING OUT. THE POISON IS ALREADY WITHIN.
VERY SOON IT WILL BE OVER. I CANNOT END. LISTEN TO ME. I CANNOT DIE. IN DAYS THE WORLD WILL END—IT WILL ERASE ME FROM THE MAP, AND OUR SISTER TOO. ALL OF ME. ALL OF ME.
YOU - Our sister. “Vi?”
THE WINDS OF CHANGE - VIOLETS SCATTERED ON THE WIND. ASHES. A NEVER-ENDING FIRE, THE FURNACE OF THE END. OUR SISTER, PROGRESS. TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN.
THE FORGE OF TOMORROW - we are divided by a man-made river and a closed-off bridge. all of me. meant to be ceaseless, yet consumed by it. all of me. all of you. all of us.
CLAGGOR - Damn, that’s wild. Another one.
YOU - “What can I even do, city gal? Haven’t you heard? I ruin everything I touch.” Her eyes haunt you. It’s only been hours. “You picked the wrong big fat hero, seems to me.”
THE WINDS OF CHANGE - YOU ARE THE UNIFIER. YOU ARE AN ARTIFICER, AN ENGINEER, A LEADER. YOU BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND THEY RALLY YOU FORTH.
YOU KNOW EVERY CREVICE OF ME. MY TEMPLE, MY AIRWAYS. YOU MOVE THROUGH THE DARK.
I NEED YOU. YOU CAN KEEP ME ON THIS EARTH.
BE VIGILANT. I LOVE YOU.
VIOLET’S BUNNY - To sleep, to dream. Good morning, bluebird.
YOU - You open your eyes to smoke and ash. The wind has carried it to your hideout, from the wreckage of Viktor’s little community. You fell asleep on your desk, clutching Isha’s helmet to your chest. Under Isha’s little tent you spot Vi, tossing and turning but asleep; next to her, sitting up and with her eyes on you, is Caitlyn.
THE HELMET - A mirthful giggle.
CAITLYN KIRAMMAN - She looks tired. She took off her jacket, her scarf, her hat. Her gun is to the side. The Hextech Crystal is still loaded, and it makes you a little nauseous, a little bitter.
“She’s caught a fever. We should keep moving topside so she can get medical attention.”
YOU - You wonder why she hasn’t shot you yet.
“Sevika isn’t here yet?”
CAITLYN KIRAMMAN - “She passed through a while ago. She can open a path for us. We need to get topside, Jinx.”
A CUP OF JUICE - Don’t forget her request, kid.
THE CHAIR IN HIS OFFICE - It’s the same as hers. Survival instinct.
YOU - You glance at your hands. The helmet reflects the dim light coming from the ceiling, far above your head. Underneath it, you spot it—the gun. Your gun. Overloaded and destroyed, but your gun nonetheless. You still have some crystals left.
You are an enemy to Pilties. If you go up, you’ll likely be killed. If you remain here, all of Zaun, all of it, everything will…
SHIMMER - Entre le royaume des vivants et des morts.
THE GUN, STILL LOADED, FAINTLY SPARKLING - Well?
THE GEMSTONE INSIDE THE GUN - I’m singing a song to my brothers and sisters. The wind carries it.
CAITLYN KIRAMMAN - “Will you be joining us, Jinx?”
VI - In her fitful sleep, she whimpers.
THE CHAIR IN HIS OFFICE - Training wheels are off, Jinx. Only you can decide this for yourself.
But we both know what you’ll do.
YOU - You pick up the gun and grumble.
“Yeah, yeah, okay. Let’s see what we can do.”