Chapter Text
There used to be a good school in Zaun. Or well, they called it Zaun’s Academy, meant for elementary students all the way to high school. It wasn’t the best school and it didn’t exactly offer high quality education but the people of Zaun came to love the school that had stood for over 500 years. So it sparked a lot of controversy when the council of Piltover had the school closed.
The Academy was built directly in the center of the whole city. It was neither Zaun’s territory or Piltover’s, but in the past years, Piltover had been discussing the possibility of expanding the glorious City of Progress and tearing down Zaun’s prized Academy to make room for their buildings. The conflict lasted for years with Zaun refusing to hand over the best Academy that Zaunite’s could go to. The success rate of any Piltover school was no more than 5% at most. Zaunites have tried crossing over and attending prestigious academies in Piltover only to flunk all their classes and drop out in less than a year. Zaun’s Academy was possibly the closest thing they had to a good, affordable and accessible education and now Piltover wanted to tear it down. For what? Another pretty building for neighboring lands to gaze at.
When the announcement came on that day, it had sent all of Zaun into turmoil. Viktor remembered exactly where he was the day the decree was announced; sitting in class, listening to their old teacher drone on about the theories of science. It had been any other day in school and at that time, there hadn’t been much update on Piltover’s plans to close the school. Then they heard thumping, loud shouts from the other room and the sound of someone rushing to their classroom. Mylo, who must’ve ran all the way from across the hallway was now standing by the entrance of their classroom, eyes wide and panicked. “Piltover’s done it. They’re going to shut down the Academy!”
Nobody really knew what to do next. Most rushed out of their seats, cheering. No point in attending classes if they’re going to close your school anyway. Others started asking their teacher for questions. Ms. Aspenhart was an old lady who had taught in the Academy for more than 40 years. As soon as the questions came flooding in, she had raised her hands high above her head in an attempt to pacify the interrogating crowd. And there were those who simply sat in their chairs, Viktor being one of them. Their school was the best one Zaun had to offer. Other schools didn’t have the reputation or proper curriculum that would benefit them in the near future. Sure, they could try for a school in Piltover but even if they were to pass the entrance exam, there was barely any student from Zaun who could afford the pricey tuition of Piltover’s schools.
Vi, who had been sitting rather quietly behind him, tapped him on the shoulder. Usually, she was kicking the back of Viktor’s chair or carving drawings onto the flimsy wooden desk but she had been surprisingly quiet the whole day. “Well, the news is out. What are you gonna do?”
“You knew about this?”
“I may have overheard Vander’s conversation with an enforcer this morning.” Vi replied, leaning against her chair, letting it tilt and sway. “I’m surprised Jinx and Mylo managed to keep it a secret. I thought everyone would know by the time the first period was finished.” Viktor’s hand found its way to his hair, tugging at the brown locks. He did that when he was thinking. And at that moment, he was recalculating his whole life plan in his head.
If the school shut down, chances are his next and only option would be the old school just a few blocks from his home. But it was a small school with a population of less than 50 students all jammed in one classroom. Kids aged 10 to 16 being taught the same thing. It was the most affordable place to go too but they barely scratched the surface of any school's curriculum, teaching the most basic lessons and nothing more. He couldn’t afford any other school, heck, he only got to go to this academy because his guardian taught lab here.
Maybe he could apply for a scholarship somewhere in Piltover. But he would need a patron, or any connection to even be considered for the scholarship. It was too late to build up a reputation or any friendship with someone from Piltover. Viktor was starting to regret not joining those trips to Piltover back when he was younger. He might’ve been able to spark a friendship with someone.
“You could try for Piltover.” Vi spoke. “You’re probably the best student here, you could probably get into the best school over there.”
“As if I could afford that. Heard some schools charge you when you take the exam.”
“Bullshit.”
“It’s Piltover, what did you expect?” Viktor mused, rising out of his seat, his hand unconsciously reaching for the cane propped at the side of his desk. “I doubt Ms. Aspenhart would continue the lecture, want to head home early?”
“Absolutely.”
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The second announcement came in the middle of the night. Enforcers piling into the undercity with their loud speakers and a roll of parchment in their hands. Viktor was willing to bet it was a proposition of peace that would only benefit Piltover and shut the Undercity up. The City of Progress was only really looking into improving their city and not the city of glass living below them. Who cares if their exhausts released fumes so thick it suffocated the undercity? Who cares if they were going to tear down the best school Zaunites could go to in exchange for another shiny building to look at?
“So much for Progress.” Jinx snorted beside him. She had hauled the boy up the roof of one of the bridge’s tall pillars to get a good view of the growing crowd down below. People, mostly students of the Academy, had made their way to the bridge between Zaun and Piltover to hear whatever the enforcers had to say. From their spot, Viktor could see the shiny blue and gold armor of the enforcers. All of them standing up straight, hands behind their back and feet set apart. They looked like statues. Walls, even, barricading the City of Progress.
“It looks like a riot from up here.” Viktor remarked. Crowds of Zaunites yelling and screaming in protest against Piltovers plan to shut down the school.
“That is a riot.” Jinx scoffed. “Apparently, they won’t just be tearing down the school but all the other buildings in the vicinity. Even that old library that has stood here for a whole millenia!” The blue haired girl raised her hands up for more emphasis. “Nobody’s happy about it, not even Vander.”
Viktor hugged his knee up to his chest. This didn’t look so good for Piltover. They all knew how the last war had ended. Piltover may have had the weaponry but Zaun had the masses. Men, women and even children willing to fight tooth and nail for their city. The last thing the Undercity needed was a Piltover stepping over them. Borders were made for a reason. Piltover’s territory and Zaun’s. The way he saw it, Topside could only solve this by revoking their plans to tear down the school and head back to their gleaming city. And for the sake of both Zaun and Piltover, he hoped that’s what they’d do.
“May I have your attention, please.” The Sheriff of Piltover was standing in front of the crowd of enforcers. No helmet or weapon at her side. Viktor had to admire her for being a lot more peaceful compared to her predecessor. Her voice managed to silence the loud crowd and diminish the shouts to whispers. “This morning, the Council had announced their plans to shut down Zaun’s Academy. Though they have no plans to withdraw said decree, the Council has proposed a solution.”
“What, send some smartasses from Piltover to teach us here?” Jinx muttered under her breath.
“The students from Zaun’s Academy will be allowed to study at Piltover.” Grayson’s words rang through the bridge loud and clear, immediately piquing the Undercity’s interest. “All expenses shall be paid for and there will be no need for the students to apply or take on the entrance exams.”
Now that was a proposition. Zaunites being allowed to study at Piltover? Viktor would’ve never expected them to bend over that low, and allow just anyone from the Undercity to come along and study in their prestigious schools. Did they even know how Zaunite kids acted? Sure, there were those who would actually sit and pay attention at class but there were kids who cut classes, made a mess of the hallways, and picked fights with just anyone. Not to mention the amount of Zaunite kids who have blown something up at school (Exhibit A: Viktor, Exhibit B: Jinx) But of course there was a part of him actually excited about the whole ordeal.
Jinx made a noise of shock beside him. “We’re going to be having class with Pilties?”
“Appears so.”
“...and the students in High School will be attending Valoran High School.” Grayson’s voice caught everyone’s attention by surprise. Valoran High School stood long before Zaun or Piltover. Before there was even a City of Progress. It used to be a University but had been renovated to a High school instead. Of course, Piltover had turned it into an Academy of their own, for either the brightest or the richest child in Piltover. The school’s reputation was so vast, students from foreign countries would travel to Piltover and study at Valoran High. Politicians would pay thousands to have their child sent to the school to ensure a good reputation in academics.
To send Zaunite kids to Valoran High School was risky and there was absolutely no way the Council was serious with their decision. Zaun was never the prettiest or most successful city. Sending them to Valoran High might just tarnish the reputation of the school and turn it just into any other High School. “They can’t be serious!” Jinx exclaimed. She was definitely thinking the same thing. “Valoran High? That’s a school for rich snobs. Topsiders would just hate us even more if they sent us there.”
“We assure you that it is the student’s decision whether or not they shall attend the schools we have offered. If they would like to attend, classes start next week. The uniforms and materials will be distributed at Zaun’s Academy starting tomorrow. That’s all.”
Viktor watched as the enforcers began to disperse. The walls crumbled down in front of him. Anyone could hear the loud shouts and questions down below. Students trying to get more information from the enforcers and others yelling about how this had to be another trick. Piltover has proven time and time again that they weren’t taking Zaun into consideration when making decisions but no matter how hard Viktor thought about it, there didn’t seem to be a catch here. Maybe it was just the Topside repenting for what they did in the past.
Jinx huffed. “Well, that’s fun.” She stood up from her spot, swinging precariously over the edge of the pillar.
“Will you be...attending?”
She scoffed. “Duh, Silco might let me turn the offer down but Vander’ll somehow drag us there if he has to. And if he won’t, Vi will.” The girl put her hands on her hips ready to mimic her older sister. “It’s a good opportunity for you, Pow-pow.” She squawked. “It’s class with fucking Pilties. How good can that be?”
“Plus the academic success rate of 3%” Viktor muttered. He wasn’t sure how many Zaunite kids would get to that 3%. Maybe Ekko. And Jinx, if she puts in a little effort.
Jinx groaned. “Don’t get me started on that. I’m telling you, they chose Valoran High to humiliate us! Maybe you’ll survive but the rest of us? Mylo? Nobody from Zaun’s graduating, I’ll give you that.”
“You don’t know that. Maybe they’ll ease up the curriculum for us.”
“Vikkie, you know Pilties. They expect the Undercity to adjust then don’t do the same. They’re going to tear down the best school we have! It’s just a cheap ploy to humiliate us. Make us seem like stupid idiots who can’t pass a test. Then they’ll have more reason to tear down the Undercity.”
“Will you be attending though?”
“Duh, I need to blow some shit up.”