Why do you think you're not good enough?

After Katarina left, Ryan focused entirely on the Shimmer.

The continent they stood on was called the Valoran Continent, and the planet encompassing all lands and seas was known as Runeterra.

A mage who had wandered for countless years once said that mastering runes was equivalent to unlocking the secrets of magic.

With only a few exceptions, every mage's birth was predestined, and the strength at the moment of awakening determined the heights they could reach in the future.

Unless one could unravel more of the runes' mysteries.

When Ryan first arrived in Runeterra, he awakened water-element magic, and his mana was exceptionally powerful.

After joining Noxus, he continuously earned military merits, and the Noxus Empire opened all its mage archives to him.

This was what he loved most about Noxus—as long as you had strength and achievements, the Empire would never be stingy with rewards.

A rune resembling the character for "water" rose again in Ryan's palm, and a rare trace of reminiscence flickered in his eyes.

This was the first rune he had mastered, the "water" rune that resonated most deeply with him.

He still remembered that time in the desert region of Shurima, when he and his superior encountered Shurima's Sandstorm Legion. For the first time, he used the mana within him to trace a rune, manifesting a massive Runic Array as vast swaths of yellow sand were moistened into mud by the rain.

After a grueling day of battle, he and his comrades buried Shurima's Sandstorm Legion in the earth, and they built a new Noxkatora—a symbol of Shurima's cities submitting to Noxus.

His thoughts returned as more runes emerged from his palm, glowing with deep blue light that surrounded the purple Shimmer. Occasionally, blue threads of energy pierced through the Shimmer potion.

Soon, the runes gave Ryan an answer.

Through the analysis of multiple runes, though he couldn't replicate the Shimmer, he had largely unraveled its secrets.

He had never imagined that, aside from the Hextech created by Piltover, there was another way to steal the power of magic.

In the flickering purple light of the Shimmer, he seemed to glimpse a kind of magic that could be named "Variance."

This magic could violently force open the body's potential gates, but unfortunately—whether limited by the creator's mindset or ability—the Shimmer failed to control the magic's violent power. It merely crudely fused it with the human body, making the already unmanageable mana even more ferocious.

"Brilliant design, mad idea. Someone like that should come to Noxus—only there can his talent shine." Ryan felt a hint of regret.

The creator of the Shimmer was clearly born in the wrong place. Someone like that had no future in Piltover. They'd either be driven mad by the undercity of Zaun or judged by the enforcers of upper-city Piltover.

Thinking of Piltover's progress code based on human principles, a sneer curled on Ryan's face:

"Talking about humanity in a world where tomorrow is never guaranteed—absurd. Ionia has its own extraordinary strength, but what does Piltover have? Heimerdinger, who's lived 300 years? Or that newcomer Jayce Talis?"

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Hearing the knock at the door, Ryan tossed the Shimmer into a bucket and withdrew the runes spreading from his palm.

"Sir, it's time."

"Then let's set out, Miss Katarina."

As the door opened, what greeted Ryan's eyes was a well-dressed noble lady.

The form-fitting black gown perfectly showcased Katarina's figure, her wine-red hair casually draped behind her, disheveled yet graceful.

Facing the meticulously dressed Katarina, Ryan felt a bit awkward. After giving her an appreciative once-over, he sighed and shook his head:

"The makeup is on point, but your expression is too stiff. A qualified assassin must learn to adapt to different identities—at the very least, how to play various roles."

"He doesn't know how to do that either." Katarina was a little defiant.

"You don't need to compare yourself to him. You'll definitely surpass him in the future." Ryan's eyes held encouragement. "I have more faith in you. You can become the most outstanding assassin."

Then, ignoring Katarina's strange expression, he naturally took her arm and led her out.

"I'll cooperate with you just this once. Try to be the noble lady of the Du Couteau family—understand it, but don't get lost in it."

"I'll try."

Katarina struggled to restrain herself, maintaining an awkward smile as she constantly tried to relax her body and adapt to the current state.

As they sat in the mechanical carriage heading to the banquet hall, Katarina only relaxed when Ryan let go of her.

As if to ease the earlier awkwardness, she pointed at the cushion beneath her and asked curiously:

"Purely mechanical-driven—is this a unique technological product of Piltover?"

Ryan lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, admiring the bustling street scene of Piltover outside:

"The mechanical carriage originated from Heimerdinger's student, Viktor. He aspired to use technology to reform the undercity and invented various machines to improve people's lives. His ideals were beautiful, but reality is bitterly ironic."

Ryan's face carried a mocking expression toward the city as he said in an odd tone:

"All the machines are only used in upper-city Piltover. The people of Zaun in the undercity still live lives worse than dogs. Separated by a single bridge—one side prosperous, the other barren."

"You seem to admire this man?"

After speaking, Katarina added as if to defend herself:

"I'm trying hard to adapt to my current role."

"I do admire him quite a bit." With that, Ryan smiled encouragingly. "Say whatever comes to mind. I don't agree with your father's philosophy of ruthlessness. Sometimes, being more curious about this world will help you grow faster."

"But that's the path of mages." Katarina felt this statement contradicted her upbringing.

"Using wisdom and Hex Crystals, Jayce Talis pried open the door to magic. Why do you think you can't?" Ryan asked.

"I don't have that smart of a brain." Katarina shook her head.

"Viktor is Jayce's assistant. I believe he played a more crucial role in Hextech research, so I hold him in high regard," Ryan said.

"What does that have to do with me?" Katarina didn't understand why he was circling back to the earlier topic.

"Do you think I'm inferior to those two?" Ryan countered.

"This Seat is far stronger than both of them combined."

This was no flattery from Katarina. The heroic tales of Noxus spread throughout the empire, and among those heroes, the Ryan before her was undoubtedly one of the most outstanding.

Not only did he possess powerful magic, but he also had brilliant achievements in alchemy, war command, assassination, medicine, and magical research.

To the people of Noxus, the name Ryan Meredith symbolized excellence beyond compare.

How could such a man be compared to two ordinary scientists from Piltover?

"Then why do you believe you can't master magic?" Ryan's words carried a deeper meaning.

Hearing this, Katarina's expression froze, then she found it somewhat absurd.

If Ryan were just Viktor, she had no doubt she could become Jayce. But Ryan was Ryan—did she truly have the right to bear such excellence?

"Don't overthink. It's precisely because I see your potential that I keep you by my side. I trust you won't disappoint my expectations, Miss Katarina."

"If I had potential, I wouldn't be here. I should be with the army, engaging in more slaughter." Katarina expressed her dissatisfaction with herself.

"Potential always takes time to realize. Even if it's just the thought of not betraying someone's trust, you should do better. Alright, we need to get off now."

The mechanical carriage arrived at the destination. Ryan stepped out first and extended his hand toward Katarina inside, his demeanor as elegant as a noble.

"This Seat will do my best."

Katarina wore an awkward smile, much better than her earlier stiff grin. It was clear she was trying hard to adapt to her current identity.

Ryan smiled and gently pulled Katarina's fair hand, letting her rise with the tug and step out of the carriage.

He was looking forward to the banquet ahead—not only to see his new subordinate's performance but also to meet some interesting people.

Ryan straightened his and Katarina's attire, then followed the attendant's guidance, escorting Katarina into the Medarda family's banquet hall.