Clockwork Demon Spirit

"An interesting hypothesis. Your question surprised me. Would you mind letting me examine your body?"

Orianna's expression froze slightly, a blush spreading across her face.

However, despite her shyness, she knew in her heart that he had already guessed what she had done in the past.

Given his extraordinary insight, perhaps he really could help her.

"Please."

She no longer hesitated, lowering her head and speaking softly.

Seeing her about to undress, Ryan shook his head, amused.

"That's not what a gentleman does. Just relax and sit still."

Ryan extended his right hand, his index finger tracing in the air. Water formed into Runes, surging towards Orianna.

The Runes entered her body through her brow, causing her petite frame to tremble slightly.

She suppressed the strange sensation within her, allowing the water-formed Runes to enter her body.

She could feel a warm current flowing through her body, lingering especially long in her lungs and heart.

What kind of power is this?

Is it the legendary Magic?

Could she learn such Magic?

As the warm current moved, her face showed a few more human-like emotional fluctuations—doubt, novelty, excitement.

It had been so long…

It seemed that ever since her father performed the surgery on her, her yearning for the outside world, for the unknown, had slowly faded.

Even making dolls, which she used to love most, no longer held the same appeal.

Perhaps it was because she no longer breathed like a normal human.

Perhaps her heart, which once loved the outside world, was, like the special clockwork spring made for her lungs, locked away in a box she couldn't open.

After an unknown period, the warm current within her disappeared, leaving Orianna with a sense of loss.

But she kept her goal firmly in mind, her gaze fixed on Ryan, awaiting his final verdict.

"You completed it yourself?"

"Only me," Orianna said, a gentle smile appearing on her lips.

She had always been alone. It was only during the brief moments her father was out that she had time to do what she wanted to accomplish.

"Would you be willing to become my subordinate? I can restore your father to normal, without even needing that human heart," Ryan offered.

Katarina, who had been silent, looked at Ryan in surprise. It was the first time she had seen such a serious expression on Ryan's face.

She understood very well that Ryan was a typical Noxus native.

The cost of helping this girl was merely an invitation to be a subordinate… This was an immense privilege.

Katarina scrutinized Orianna in astonishment. Among all the people she had known, only Camille had received such treatment.

Unexpectedly, Orianna shook her head slightly, a look of stubbornness on her face.

"Mr. Ryan, I am willing to become your subordinate, but I don't want that human heart to go to waste. If you are willing to help me, I will follow you forever."

Orianna lowered her head, pressing her hands firmly against her knees.

She didn't know if refusing his kindness would make her regret it for the rest of her life, but some things had already begun, and she didn't want to live with regret.

Seeing Ryan fall into contemplation, Orianna felt all thoughts drained from her mind, hope swallowed by black despair. She felt as if her entire body was enveloped by an invisible sense of suffocation.

Did he refuse…?

She gave a self-deprecating smile, lowering her head, her face filled with dejection.

There was no soft plea, no hysteria.

"May I ask, how far along are you in your plans?"

Ryan's sudden question filled Orianna's face with surprise. Without hesitation, she blurted out her plan:

"Mr. Ryan, I've made all the preparations, but my father's body is too weak. The moment his heart is removed, he will die. The only thing I can think of is to use a stable Hex Gemstone to keep him alive for a moment, then immediately perform the heart transplant."

"That's a good idea, but you're overestimating the Hex Gemstone's capabilities. A Hex Gemstone can't do what you imagine it can. Just because it gave you life doesn't mean it can extend someone else's."

After his critique, Ryan offered his own advice:

"If I were to perform Magic, though it wouldn't grant as long a lifespan as a heart transplant, living another 10 years would be no problem."

"Still not possible?" Orianna lowered her head in dejection.

Her father was less than 40 years old. If it weren't for her, he wouldn't be in this state today.

Orianna's face was etched with sorrow, but she still forced herself to calm down. What Ryan suggested might already be the better option.

Always missing the right moment, opportunities always slipping away…

When we feel broken, we gradually understand…

"To move forward, one must release what they tightly grasp."

Suddenly, a melodious female voice echoed from outside the workshop window. She sang a sad yet deeply moving song, stirring empathy in all who heard it.

Listening to the soaring melody outside, Ryan's brow lifted. His eyes instinctively flickered with Magic, dispelling the slight flicker of uncertainty that had appeared within them.

He gazed out the window, his sight seemingly piercing through layers of houses to see the pink-haired girl singing with her knees hugged to her chest:

A natural-born soul singer. Truly astonishing talent.

Even without meeting her, Ryan had already given the girl exceptionally high praise.

"Sir, are you referring to Little Sa? She's the strange girl on Workshop Street. She always stays cooped up in her room and doesn't like interacting with others."

Orianna, her mood significantly soothed by the song, managed a smile as she explained to Ryan:

"Mr. Ryan, I implore you to act on my behalf just this once. After this, I will follow you for life, severing my ties with my father and this workshop."

"Perhaps I have a better idea, if you can get that singer to help you with a small favor," Ryan said with a slight smile.

The girl who had just been singing possessed the ability to transmit her voice directly to the soul.

Another individual destined for an extraordinary future. That he encountered her now could only mean she had a connection with Noxus.

"Little Sa?" Orianna's face lit up with surprise. "Mr. Ryan, please wait a moment. I'll go talk to her first."

After securing Ryan's permission, Orianna quickly stood up, bowed deeply to Ryan, and hurried toward the door.

Just as she was about to reach the entrance, Ryan's calm words suddenly came from behind her:

"There's no turning back from body modification. You either become a machine or turn into a pile of scrap metal. Are you prepared to face that reality?"

Orianna paused slightly, then resolutely voiced her thoughts. "Mr. Ryan, thank you. There's no difference between machine and flesh to me. Robot doll, clockwork doll, Clockwork Demon Spirit—I think I can accept such titles." Without looking back, she walked towards the direction of the singing.