The competition is an annual event--the most promising invention gets its creators attention, funding, everything an inventor could want in order to make real change in the world. On top of that, it was a matter of personal pride for both of us.

[They hadn't known, back then. It was impossible to guess just what their work could lead to, and even if it were possible--who would ever have assumed as much?]

This project was just a means to an end--a teleportation system, intended to be constructed as a point of instantaneous transit for shipping or travel. Something for the Council to see as profitable, so we could have the funding to develop things we actually wanted. Inventions to help the Undercity, and resolve the disparity between Zaun and Piltover.