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“What would you want to be when you grow up?”
There was a kid who gleamed eyes of healing. They said, “I want to be a doctor when I grow up!”
There was a kid who looked at their teacher and smiled. They spoke, “I want to teach like you, teacher!”
There was a kid whose pride overflowed. You can tell by the way they chimed, “I want to protect people like my dad! I want to be an enforcer when I grow up!”
And there was a kid so confident that they stood up and declared, “I want to be a Councilor of Piltover!” as if you did not need to be in a recognized House in the city.
“What would you want to be when you grow up?” — It was a question asked a thousand times to children, their answers bright and unblemished by reality. Most kids would have already thought about it. Agreed on what they see themselves as in the future. Some may even wait for someone to ask them and they’ll go off a ramble. But some… some stayed quiet. By their seat, staring, holding their hands together. Unsure of what their future holds or if it held anything at all.
Isha was one of them. On the third row of their classroom and a seat before the window, she listened to her classmates speak of careers with great cheer, some she had not heard of and some she knew by heart.
Isha had never given much thought to what she wanted to be. She was still young to think about it! She dreamt of running around and playing! Sleeping and playing with bugs! She was but an eight-year-old after all. The future was way ahead of her!
But this soon became a thought that she would ruminate on. A thought that ran in her mind every now and then. What does she want to be when she grows up? She would look at her parents and think the mines were a scary place. However, her mother assured her they don’t dwell as much anymore, especially with the complete unification of the sister cities. Whatever that meant, she did not understand completely. She then would look at her teachers and think that she would rather play than grab a book and teach children like her. Then she would look at the people who make food and sell it on the streets and think she might eat everything instead!
Oh, there were a lot of choices… So many jobs… What could she possibly be when none of them piqued her interest…
Isha let out a soft sigh, her thoughts drifting once again to what she could possibly become. It was recess, and the playground buzzed with laughter and chatter. Normally, she’d already be in her usual favorite, swinging across the monkey bars.
But today was different. She stayed seated on the bench, her shoulders slumped and her gaze distant. Her friend, Ren, noticed the change. With quiet concern, the girl walked over and sat beside her. She then gently asked, “Hey, is something bothering you, Isha?”
Isha slowly lifted her chin from her hands, which had been cupping her cheeks. She looked at the ginger-haired girl for a moment then brought up her hands. She signed, “Nothing much.”
However, Ren wasn’t convinced. She tilted her head to her left, eyebrows knitting. “Something’s definitely bothering you,” she said. “Is it because Scuttle Butt lost the fight earlier?”
Isha shook her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips despite the blues. “No, that’s not it,” she signed back. “I just don’t know what I want to be when I grow up.” She paused, glancing at Ren. “You probably want to be an enforcer, like your dad.”
Ren blinked at Isha and shrugged with an easy smile. “Well, it’s fine! You don’t need to know what you want to be right now. I mean, I still don’t know what I want to be.”
“Huh? Really?”
“Yeah! Really!”
For a moment, the two fell into silence. The cheerful buzz of the playground surrounded them and they shared their silence together. Kids shouted at a distance, the metallic creaking sounds of the swing set were in the air, and laughter could be heard.
Though Isha leaned back slightly, her hands moving thoughtfully, “I thought you already knew what you’d want to be.”
Her friend shook her head and softly laughed. “Not really. I don’t think I want to be an enforcer like my dad.”
“Then what do you want to be?” the brunette girl tilted her head curiously.
“I’m not sure,” the orange-haired girl said with a grin, “but I think I want to be something cool.”
Isha let out a small laugh, her earlier gloom lifting as the two of them shared a chuckle.
“Do you want to come with me tomorrow?” Ren added, a spark of excitement lighting up her voice. “My dad’s on duty at the Innovator’s Competition, and he said I could tag along.”
“Innovator’s Competition?” Isha’s amber eyes seemed to ask.
Ren’s grin widened. “It’s this big event where students show off their inventions! Machines, gizmos… All the cool stuff!” Her voice grew more animated with each word, her hands gesturing wildly as enthusiasm spilled off everywhere. “Last year, someone brought a hybrid to the competition and they said it converted air or something and it was so amazing!”
Isha’s mouth fell open in awe as her friend continued to speak. She cupped her cheeks as her eyes sparkled with excitement and even if she couldn’t speak, her expression said it all.
Ren laughed, delighted by her friend’s reaction. “So, do you want to come with me?” she asked again. And with no hesitation, Isha nodded vigorously, her head bobbing up and down so many times it made Ren laugh harder.
And so, it was decided: they would go to the Innovator’s Competition tomorrow.
——
Today was the day of the Innovator’s Competition. Held in the heart of Piltover—within the prestigious University of Piltover—it was an event that every aspiring inventor eagerly anticipated. A place where brilliance met recognition and where ideas transformed into tangible wonders. For some, it was more than a competition, it was the first step toward their blossoming legacy.
The halls were grand. With towering arches and intricate carvings etched into marble walls, golden light peered through as a warm glow over the bustling crowd. With the mixture of nervousness and excitement, hurried whispers, and occasional clank of machinery, the air was alive with energy.
This was Isha’s first time stepping into a place like this. She couldn’t help but marvel at everything. Her gaze swept upward, taking all the gilded chandeliers the university had. They were like stars that sparkled in the nighttime. Everything about it was cool. Everything was far cooler than she had imagined.
Of course, it was also chaotic. Students bustled and hustled to set up their booths, adjust and fine-tune, and troubleshoot last-minute issues.
Each table seemed to be a universe of its own. One had a miniature airship whose propellers spun in a controlled hover, and another table showcased a strange glowing orb that pulsed with light whenever someone approached. And as they passed through the tables, Isha’s eyes darted from one invention to the next. She was unable to take it all fast enough anymore!
Ren, on the other hand, stayed close, her hand tightly around Isha’s to keep them from being separated in the crowd. “Stay in the main hall, okay?” They recalled the words of Ren’s dad, Marcus, who had told them sternly before rushing off to his duty. This was such a big space for them to get lost in after all. They both nodded at that.
So the pair continued to venture through aisles with heads swiveling in every direction. Both could not contain the intrigue they shared and Isha’s enthusiasm was so contagious that their eyes shone brighter by each booth, wide-eyed at the wonders before them. Then, after a while, it didn’t take them long to hear an announcement signaling the start of the competition. The chatter of the crowd quieted and a booming voice replaced the grand hall.
“Welcome, students, professors, and distinguished guests, to this year’s Innovator’s Competition!”
Ren turned to Isha with a grin and squeezed her hand. “Let’s find a good spot to watch?” she asked, and Isha, with much delight, nodded in agreement. The two then weaved through to find the perfect place for them where they could spot the stage.
The formalities began with someone delivering a speech about the spirit of innovation and the importance of pushing boundaries. Something about progress as the city is known for, Isha, however, didn’t catch all of it as her attention occasionally drifted to the inventions spread out across the room. But when the applause erupted and the program officially commenced, her focus snapped back. Ren then took her hand and they followed through with the crowd as the judges began their rounds, moving from table to table to examine each table.
With an excitement so palpable, Isha’s eyes widened at each invention. She just couldn’t help but tug at her friend’s sleeves as they moved along. And ever so often, she would point at the inventions, big or small, intricate or simple, dazzling or understated— her face seemed to paint a “Can you believe this?!” every time.
It was all just so so so cool! Is this the ‘coolness’ that Ren talked about? Did she want to be an inventor as well?
“And next, we have…”
Isha looked up to see one of the judges who spoke in a heavy accent. A man dressed in a brown suit paired with a crisp white vest, tousled dark brown hair that framed his face, and with a cane on his right, he glanced at the next participant and a smile curved his lips.
“Ah, Miss Powder!” the man exclaimed.
A young woman with blue space buns emerged from the scene, her confident demeanor matching the boy with white locks beside her. They stood together with smiles as they warmly greeted the man in the best and the other judges and the audience.
“That’s me,” the blue-haired girl said with a grin.
“And Ekko,” the man with an accent added, turning to the boy beside the girl.
“That’s also me,” the white-haired boy quipped, his tone a bit playful.
The judge chuckled. “So, what do we have here?” he asked.
Powder glanced at Ekko, and the two exchanged a knowing look before moving behind the table. Draped over it was a sheet of fabric, concealing whatever they had brought to the competition. And with a flourish, the lady pulled the sheet away, revealing their contraption. It was small, with a sturdy frame, and something that looked like wheels (except they weren’t wheels). Isha leaned forward, squinting, trying to make sense of it. She shot a questioning glance at Ren, but her friend merely shrugged and turned her focus back.
Powder spoke once again.
“It’s a storage device— an energy-storing device, to be precise,” she began, gesturing toward the sleek prototype on the table before them. “But it’s not like anything you’ve seen before. This is a zero-loss chemical energy cell.”
Ekko chimed in smoothly, continuing on.“What makes it special is exactly that: zero loss. Energy isn’t wasted. Not as heat, not as leaks, not even when it’s sitting idle. Every bit of power you put in? You get it all back when you need it.”
Powder nodded, carrying on, “It works by using an advanced chemical reaction that traps every bit of energy and recycles any waste heat or byproducts into usable power. But that’s not the best part.” She leaned forward slightly, her blue eyes glimmering.
Ekko then took over with a grin. “The real kicker? It cleans gases while it works. We’re turning it into fuel. The chemical process inside the cell pulls in those pollutants, breaks them down, and uses them to drive the reaction forward.”
“And while it’s running,” Powder added, “it doesn’t just neutralize the gases— it purifies the air. What comes out is cleaner than what went in. So, it’s not just an energy solution. It’s a pollution solution.”
Ekko gestured to the judges. “Imagine: powering the city without losing a single joule of energy and, at the same time, clearing the skies of the gases that have plagued us for years. It’s sustainable, scalable, and it works!”
Powder leaned back, her smile never fading. “We’re not just inventing a better battery. We’re reinventing how we think about energy and the environment. The world needs solutions, and this is one of them.”
For a moment, silence hung in the air as the judges exchanged glances and muttered softly among themselves. The man with the dark brown hair narrowed his golden eyes with focus as he studied the invention. “Remarkable,” he said soon enough with his tone laced with intrigue.
The other judges nodded and their whispers sounded approval.
Meanwhile, Isha and Ren exchanged a confused glance. The scientific jargon had flown completely over their little heads, but they couldn’t help being mesmerized by the duo’s passion. Isha's amber gaze lingered on the strange contraption, her curiosity growing with every second.
“Let’s demonstrate,” Ekko said as he reached for a switch on the side of the device. His partner gave him a nod and her excitement was evident as she adjusted a small dial on the machine.
With a faint hum, the device came to life. The wheel-like components began to spin and a faint, glowing blue light pulsed from the core.
Isha leaned forward, her eyes widening with wonder. What was it doing? She couldn’t tell but whatever it was, it looked cool.
She and Ren watched in awe.
As the machine whirred softly, a thin stream of smoke was drawn into a vent on its side. Moments later, the smoke was expelled from another vent, only now it was completely clear.
Powder then gestured dramatically. “And there you have it! Pollution in…” She pointed to the vent. “…clean air out.”
The crowd murmured, some audibly impressed.
Isha’s mind raced. She didn’t fully understand what was happening, but the idea of a machine that could clean the air and store energy seemed magical. Her excitement bubbled over as she tugged at Ren’s sleeve, signing quickly, “Did you see that?! It’s so amazing!”
Ren nodded, her face mirroring Isha’s awe. “Yeah, it’s like… It’s like they made air magic!”
Then everyone began to shuffle toward the next table. But Isha, rooted in place, was a girl who couldn’t be moved. Her wide amber irises were locked on the machine that still faintly glowed blue. Aww swelled within her chest as she looked around the grand hall of Piltover’s most esteemed institution— bright minds surrounded her, contraptions and machines filled the space, all the humming and buzzing—all built in the name of science and progress.
She felt small amidst the grandeur of it all, but not in a way that made her feel insignificant. No , this smallness felt different. It was a smallness that made her feel part of something far larger, something extraordinary. For the first time, Isha wondered if she could belong to a world like this one, a world where ideas and inventions came to life.
Ren had already moved on with the crowd but she glanced back briefly to call for Isha. But upon noticing, she chose to let the young brunette girl soak in the moment.
As Isha lingered, lost in her thoughts, a voice broke through the haze.
“You feel it?”
Isha blinked, turning to see the girl with blue hair— Powder—standing behind her, crouched down. A curious smile came upon her lips.
“That… buzzing behind your eyes?” Powder’s voice was quiet but electric as if sharing a secret. “Because you know, in a moment, it could all…” She threw her hands up with a grin, mimicking an explosion. “ Poow! ”
Isha tilted her head, intrigued but confused. Powder chuckled softly, seeing the look on her face.
“Best feeling in the world, kid,” she said. “It’s the feeling you get when you’re building something. All the pieces in your head are moving— click, click, click!— and then, suddenly, it all comes together. That buzzing? That’s the spark.”
Isha’s hands hovered near her chest, signing hesitantly, “It’s… amazing….”
Powder caught on and nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah, it is. That’s why we do it, you know? To chase that feeling and see where it takes us.” She leaned a little closer, “You’ve got it too. I can tell.”
Isha blinked in surprise. Her gaze dropped to the floor.
Did she? Could she?
Powder pulled back, grinning. She straightened her posture. “Well, when you figure out what to do with it… My card.”
And with that, she gave Isha a playful wink and point before walking off to catch up with Ekko.
Isha stood there, her thoughts racing. That buzzing behind her eyes… she hadn’t realized it was there until Powder pointed it out. But now that she realized it, she couldn’t ignore it. It was difficult anyway as if a tiny ember had been lit within her; an answer to a week’s worth of questions.
From a short distance away, Ren waved at her, motioning for her to join her by the next table. Isha, finally snapping out of her daze, hurried to catch up.
So what would you want to be when you grow up?
Isha now knew what she wanted to be. She wants to be Powder when she grows up.