Into the Depths
The streets of Piltover seemed darker now, more oppressive, as you walked beside Jayce. You had only just begun to wrap your mind around everything that had happened at the warehouse, but you could feel the weight of the decisions being thrust upon you. Mel’s final words, Welcome to the game, kept replaying in your mind. What game? And what had you really stepped into?
Jayce was quiet as he led you through the narrow streets, but you could tell he was thinking about something—perhaps the same thing you were. You had known each other for a while, but this was different. His usual calm, collected persona seemed to have cracked just a bit tonight. Maybe it was because of Mel, or maybe because of the way the situation was escalating.
After what felt like an eternity, Jayce finally broke the silence as you approached a sleek, black car parked at the edge of the street.
“We’re meeting someone,” he said, voice neutral but with an undertone of urgency that made your stomach tighten. “You need to understand who’s really pulling the strings in Piltover. Not everyone you meet is going to be your friend, [Your Name]. Some people… they don’t care about you. They just care about what you can do for them.”
You didn’t need him to explain further. You had already learned that lesson the hard way, first with Mel and now with the people she had implied were part of her world. But there was one thing that kept nagging at you. Viktor. You had known him for months, even before all of this started, and you couldn’t shake the feeling that his role in this new world was going to be more important than you had originally thought.
Jayce drove in silence for a while, the hum of the engine the only sound in the car. You stared out the window, trying to collect your thoughts. You had met Viktor in science class nearly a year ago. He was always quietly brilliant, the type to lose himself in equations and experiments, but never really fitting in with the rest of the class. Over time, you’d ended up partnering up on a few projects, and through those late-night study sessions and lab experiments, you had become friends.
But now? You had a feeling your relationship with Viktor was about to change in ways you couldn’t fully predict.
After a long drive, Jayce finally pulled into an unfamiliar part of the city, somewhere between the towering spires of Piltover’s elite and the grimy underbelly of Zaun. The building that loomed ahead was unimpressive—old brick, flickering streetlights, and an air of decay that seemed to hang around it. Jayce parked in front, and without waiting for you, he stepped out of the car.
You followed, heart hammering in your chest. What were you walking into? Was Viktor involved in whatever game Mel had referred to? You hoped not—he was your friend, after all. But you didn’t know him like you thought you did. Not really.
Jayce led you into the building, through a door that creaked as it opened. Inside, the smell of metal and dust clung to the air. The dim lighting made everything feel older, more industrial—like a place where secrets were buried. You had a sinking feeling in your gut. This isn’t a science lab anymore.
Jayce didn’t say anything as he led you down a narrow hallway, passing rooms filled with strange devices and unfamiliar machinery. It wasn’t until you reached a heavy, rusted door that Jayce turned to you.
“Viktor’s inside,” he said quietly, giving you one last look. “He’s not just your science partner anymore. Things are… different.”
Your heart raced. Things are different. That was an understatement. This wasn’t just about equations or chemical reactions anymore. Viktor was part of something much bigger. You could feel it.
Jayce knocked twice, and a low, metallic click sounded from the other side. The door opened to reveal Viktor, standing in the shadows, his face partially obscured by a glow from a nearby desk lamp. He was exactly the same, and yet, different—darker, more intense.
“ y/n,” Viktor greeted you with a soft smile, though his eyes flicked over to Jayce before returning to you. “You made it. I was beginning to wonder if you’d come after all.”
You swallowed hard, stepping into the room, but you couldn’t shake the feeling that this was no longer the same Viktor who helped you with lab reports and shared your frustrations over exams. The room itself was an odd mix of academic clutter and something more ominous—papers stacked high on tables, strange glowing objects emitting a soft, eerie hum, and diagrams of devices you couldn’t even begin to comprehend.
“I thought you were just a student,” you said, forcing your voice to stay steady. “A scientist. Why all this?”
Viktor gave a slow, knowing smile. It was the same smile you’d seen before—when he’d been proud of a discovery or pleased with the outcome of an experiment. But now, there was something different about it, a sharp edge that you hadn’t noticed before.
“You’ve always known I was more than just a student, y/n,” he said, his voice smooth, almost hypnotic. “Science isn’t just about knowledge. It’s about power. About changing things, shifting the world in ways people can’t even imagine. And Piltover? Piltover is a place that can’t be saved with just theory and formulas. It needs… something else.”
You frowned, trying to understand. “What does that mean? What are you involved in, Viktor?”
Jayce stood off to the side, watching both of you closely. His silence felt like a weight, like the calm before a storm.
Viktor stepped forward, his gaze intense. “I’ve been part of something bigger for a long time now. Something that started with dreams of bettering Piltover, of advancing technology to change the way we live. But the system here… it’s broken. It doesn’t work the way it’s supposed to.”
You shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t get it. What does any of this have to do with me?”
Viktor’s smile faded, and for the first time, you saw the man behind the scientist. There was something cold in his eyes, something that reminded you of the shadows in Piltover’s backstreets—the parts of the city people didn’t talk about.
“You’re part of it now, y/n, whether you like it or not,” Viktor said, his voice low. “Mel was right. You’ve already made an impact. You’ve drawn attention. People want to see what you’re capable of.”
You took a step back, suddenly overwhelmed by the gravity of his words. Impact? You hadn’t signed up for this. You hadn’t wanted to be part of any game.
“I didn’t ask for this,” you said, your voice barely above a whisper.
Viktor’s gaze softened, but only for a moment. “No one ever does. But it’s too late now. You’re in it. The only question is how you play it.”
Jayce’s eyes met yours, but he didn’t offer any comfort. Instead, his expression was one of resolve—as if he had made his choice long ago, and now it was your turn to do the same.
The room felt smaller now, the walls closing in. This wasn’t the world of textbooks and lab notes. This was real. This was dangerous. And you had to decide whether you were going to face it head-on, or walk away and risk losing everything.
“You have two choices,” Viktor said quietly, as if reading your thoughts. “Stay with the system, with Piltover’s laws, and be part of something that doesn’t care about you. Or come with us, and make the rules yourself.”
The silence stretched between you, and in that moment, everything changed. You were no longer just a student in science class. You were part of something much bigger—and the only question now was whether you were going to survive it.
Stay in the game, Viktor’s words echoed in your mind. Make the rules.