Clockwork Demon Spirit

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

Orianna froze for a moment, a blush appearing on her face.

But more than her shyness, she understood that he had already guessed what she had done.

With such extraordinary knowledge, perhaps he really could help her.

"Please."

She no longer hesitated and lowered her head as she spoke softly.

Seeing her prepare to remove her clothes, Ryan shook his head with a helpless smile.

"That would hardly be gentlemanly. Relax your mind. Just sit where you are."

Ryan extended his right hand, his index finger tracing patterns through the air. Runes formed from water rushed toward Orianna.

The runes entered her body through her brow, making her petite frame tremble slightly.

She forced down the strange sensation within her and allowed the water-made runes to enter her body.

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

What was this power?

Was it the magic of legend?

Could she learn such magic?

As the warm current moved through her, more human emotions appeared on her face—confusion, curiosity, and exhilaration.

She did not know how long it had been.

It seemed that ever since her father had completed her surgery, her longing for the outside world and the unknown had gradually faded.

Even making dolls, which she had once loved most, no longer held the same appeal for her.

Perhaps it was because she no longer breathed as an ordinary human did.

Perhaps her heart, the heart that loved the outside world, had been locked away in a box she could not open, just like the specially made spring for her lungs.

After an unknown length of time, the warm current inside her vanished, leaving Orianna with an inexplicable sense of loss.

Yet she kept her goal firmly in mind. Her gaze remained fixed on Ryan as she waited for his final judgment.

"You completed it alone?"

"By myself." A gentle smile appeared on Orianna's lips.

She had always been alone. Only when her father went out did she have time to work on things she wanted to accomplish.

"Are you willing to become my subordinate? I can restore your father to his original condition, without even needing that human heart," Ryan said.

Katarina, who had remained silent until then, gave Ryan a surprised glance. It was the first time she had seen such a serious expression on his face.

She understood very well that Ryan was a typical Noxian.

The price of helping this girl was merely an invitation to become his subordinate. What immense favor that was.

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

Unexpectedly, Orianna shook her head slightly, determination written across her face.

"Mr. Ryan, I am willing to become your subordinate, but I do not want that human heart to go to waste. If you are willing to help me, I am willing to follow you for eternity."

Orianna lowered her head, pressing both hands hard against her knees.

She did not know whether refusing his kindness would leave her regretting it for the rest of her life, but some things had already begun, and she did not want to live with regret.

Seeing Ryan fall silent in thought, Orianna felt as though every thought had been drained from her mind. Her hope was swallowed by pitch-black despair, and an invisible suffocating sensation seemed to envelop her entire body.

"So I was refused."

She gave a self-mocking smile, lowered her head, and dejection spread across her face.

She did not beg in a low voice, nor did she break down hysterically.

"May I ask how far you have prepared?"

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

"Mr. Ryan, I have made every preparation, but my father's body is too weak. The moment his heart leaves his body, he will die. The only thing I could think of was using a stable Hex Gemstone to keep him alive, then immediately completing the heart transplant."

"Not a bad idea, but you overestimate the Hex Gemstone. It cannot do what you imagine. Just because it gave you life does not mean it can prolong someone else's."

After giving his assessment, Ryan offered his suggestion.

"If I use magic, it will not grant him as long a lifespan as a heart transplant, but living another ten years will not be a problem."

"So it still won't work..." Orianna lowered her head in disappointment.

Her father was not even forty yet. If not for her, he would not have ended up like this.

Sorrow hung on Orianna's face, but she still forced herself to calm down. What Ryan had described might already be the better choice.

"We never catch the right moment, and chances always slip away before our eyes."

"When we feel ourselves breaking down, we gradually come to understand."

"To keep moving forward, we must let go of what we clutch so tightly."

Suddenly, a melodious female voice rang out from beyond the workshop window. She sang a sorrowful yet deeply moving song that stirred sympathy in anyone who heard it.

Hearing the flowing song outside, Ryan raised a brow. Magical light flashed instinctively in his eyes, driving away the faint wavering that had arisen within him.

He looked out the window, his gaze seeming to pierce through layer after layer of buildings until he saw the pink-haired girl sitting with her knees hugged to her chest as she sang.

"A natural Soul Singer. An astonishing talent."

Though they had not met yet, Ryan had already given the girl an extremely high appraisal.

"Are you referring to Little Sa, sir? She is the strange girl on Workshop Street. She always stays shut in her room and does not like interacting with others."

Listening to the singing, Orianna felt much calmer. She forced a smile as she explained to Ryan.

"Mr. Ryan, I beg you to help me just once. After this, I will follow you for eternity and sever my ties to my father and this workshop."

"Perhaps I have a better method, if you can find a way to get that singer to do you a small favor," Ryan said with a smile.

The girl who had just sung possessed the ability to send her voice directly into the soul.

Another seed destined for greatness in the future. That he had encountered her now could only mean she was fated to Noxus.

"Little Sa?" Delight appeared on Orianna's face. "Mr. Ryan, please wait here. I'll go speak with her first."

After obtaining Ryan's consent, Orianna hurriedly stood, gave him a deep bow, and quickly ran toward the door.

Just as she was about to reach it, Ryan's calm voice suddenly came from behind her.

"There is no turning back once you alter your body. Either you become a machine, or you turn into a pile of scrap metal. Have you prepared yourself for that?"

"Mr. Ryan, thank you. To me, machinery and flesh are no different. Robot doll, clockwork doll, Clockwork Demon Spirit—I think I can accept any of those names."

Orianna paused briefly, then voiced her true feelings with resolve and walked toward the singing without looking back.