Unraveling
Mel walked resolutely through the marble-lined halls of the council building, Elora trailing behind her like a shadow. She kept her chin high, her stride purposeful. The mask of her unbothered smile was one she had perfected over the years, but beneath it, frustration and stress churned in equal measure.
As she turned the corner toward her office, her thoughts swirled, the weight of her mother’s interference pressing down on her chest. Just thinking about Ambessa was enough to make her feel trapped, like she was still a child in her mother’s shadow.
Her mother’s sudden arrival in Piltover had been a calculated move, of course. Mel knew that much. Ambessa had always been skilled at making herself seem like an ally while pursuing her own agenda. Her latest goal, to no one’s surprise, was to twist Mel’s accomplishments into tools of war.
The door to her office clicked shut behind her, and Mel let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. She moved toward her desk, where stacks of council documents and reports spread across its surface. Her mother’s presence had thrown everything into disarray, forcing her to redouble her efforts to keep the council—and Piltover’s future—on course.
Elora, ever perceptive, set a warm cup of tea on the desk. “Here,” she said gently.
Mel glanced up, her expression softening for the first time that day. “Thank you, Elora,” she said, her voice quiet but sincere. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“You’d manage,” Elora replied with a small smile as she passed the cup into Mel’s hands.
Mel took a sip, the warmth easing some of the tension in her chest. There were few people she allowed into her inner circle, and even fewer whose presence brought her any sense of comfort. Elora was one of them.
But the calm was fleeting. Mel’s gaze drifted back to the papers on her desk. Her mother’s demands echoed in her mind, and the realization settled heavily on her shoulders: she had played right into her mother’s hands.
Ambessa had always been a figure of fear and admiration. A warrior. A ruler. A force of nature. But to Mel, she was something else entirely—a reminder of everything she wanted to escape.
Her mother’s arrival wasn’t a reunion; it was an invasion. Ambessa had spoken of family with the same regal authority she used when commanding armies.
Mel clenched her jaw. Her mother’s legacy was forged in blood and conquest. And yet, Ambessa could be so disarming, so convincing in the way she framed her goals as something noble, even necessary.
“It’s for the family,” she’d said, but Mel knew better. Family came second to legacy—Mel had learned that lesson early.
Still, a small part of her—a vulnerable, almost imperceptible part—couldn’t let go of the love she had for her mother. It was the kind of love that burned more than it comforted. The kind that made her chest ache when she thought about what might have been if things had been different.
Mel sighed, setting the teacup down as she rifled through the council memos and data reports. She had made mistakes. That much was undeniable. Suggesting the creation of weapons had been a calculated risk, one she thought she could control. Now, that gamble threatened to unravel everything she’d built.
She had been so careful. So calculating. And yet, she hadn’t accounted for how easily others—her mother, the council, even Piltover’s elite—could twist her plans to serve their own ends. It was almost laughable, really. She had used others to achieve her goals, so why had she thought her own schemes would be immune to the same? The realization left her feeling foolish, the weight of her miscalculation settling like a pit in her stomach.
Her thoughts drifted to Jayce as she signed another document and handed it to Elora. He had been a means to an end, a tool to shape Piltover’s future into something brighter. But somewhere along the way, he had started to become more than that.
At first, he was a project. Someone to mold and guide. His idealism and thirst for progress had made him easy to influence, and for a time, she justified her actions by telling herself he didn’t mind. He seemed to thrive under the attention and influence, enjoying his new power and status.
But Mel had grown to care for him in a way she hadn’t expected. His kindness, his passion, his naive but unwavering determination to do good—it was impossible not to admire those qualities.
She had spent so long buried beneath the weight of her family’s expectations that seeing Jayce’s hope rekindled something she hadn’t realized was still there. He had become a companion, someone she found herself comfortable with despite her better judgment.
Mel closed the last folder and stood, brushing invisible dust from her dress. “I’m going to check on Jayce,” she said to Elora.
Elora nodded knowingly. “Another distraction?”
Mel smiled faintly. “Something like that.”
She needed something to occupy her mind, if only for a little while, before her next appointment. Jayce’s lab had become a convenient place to turn to—a mix of curiosity and guilt compelling her to see how things were progressing.
As soon as she reached the door, Mel knew something was wrong.
The lab was eerily quiet, the kind of stillness that felt unnatural. The lights were dim, casting long shadows across the walls of the room. She closed the door behind her cautiously, still half-expecting to find Jayce bent over paperwork or tinkering at his workbench, as usual.
Instead, she found him slumped in a chair, his head buried in his hands. Papers and blueprints were scattered across the table, the usual order of the place nowhere to be seen.
“Jayce?” she said softly, her voice breaking the silence.
He flinched, startled, and looked up. His face was pale, dark circles etched beneath his eyes, which brimmed with exhaustion and anxiety.
“Mel,” he said, his voice hoarse, as though he hadn’t spoken in hours.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, stepping closer. Her eyes scanned the room instinctively, searching for signs of trouble—perhaps another attack or something stolen. But everything seemed intact.
“It’s Viktor,” Jayce said after a long pause, his voice heavy. “He’s missing.”
Mel blinked, taken aback. Her gaze shifted to the usual spot where Viktor often worked, only to find it empty. The realization felt strange, as though she hadn’t truly registered his absence until now.
“Missing? What do you mean?”
Jayce exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “No one’s seen him. He didn’t leave a note, didn’t tell anyone where he was going. I’ve checked the lab, his quarters, everywhere I can think of…” His voice trailed off.
Mel studied him carefully. Jayce looked terrible—more worn and stressed than she’d ever seen him. She had always known that Viktor was important to Jayce; anyone who saw them together could tell. They weren’t just coworkers—they cared for each other deeply.
But it wasn’t until now, watching Jayce so visibly shaken, that Mel realized how close they truly were.
She felt a pang of guilt as her thoughts turned inward. To be honest, she had never given much thought to Viktor. He didn’t fit into her image of someone she could easily prod to follow her plans. Being from the undercity hadn’t helped his case either. Mel had neatly filed him away in her mind as “Jayce’s lab partner”—a secondary figure in the grand narrative she’d been weaving around Hextech and the Man of Progress.
The weight of that realization settled uneasily in her chest. She hadn’t intended to ignore Viktor’s contributions—she knew he was an accomplished scientist and inventor—but she had. It had simply been more convenient for her plans if Jayce—the “golden boy” everyone had started to admire—stood at the forefront of the project.
So, she had never truly considered Viktor a major part of her calculations. He was brilliant, certainly, but Jayce had always been her focus. Viktor’s influence on Jayce had been… inconvenient at times. His opinions seemed to weigh heavily on Jayce’s mind, complicating decisions that needed to be made—decisions Mel had been certain were necessary.
She hadn’t deliberately tried to distance them, but her actions had done so all the same. It was easier to sway Jayce when Viktor’s careful reasoning and reservations weren’t holding him back. Mel told herself it had been for a good reason—for progress, for Piltover’s future. But now, as everything began to unravel, she couldn’t ignore the consequences of her choices—or how flawed her calculations might have been.
“Do you think he’s okay?” she asked, her tone softer than before as she approached him.
Jayce exhaled shakily. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “I can’t stop thinking about the last time… the hospital…”
Mel hesitated before placing a hand on Jayce’s shoulder. The gesture wasn’t calculated; it wasn’t part of some larger plan. It was simply the only thing she could think to do.
Jayce didn’t respond immediately. For a moment, he simply stared at the scattered papers on the desk, as if trying to piece together something that refused to make sense.
“I don’t even know what to do,” he said finally, his voice low and strained. “I don’t know if he’s hurt, or… ”
He let out a shaky breath, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I should’ve stayed. I mean, Viktor wouldn’t just leave like this. Even if he was angry… he would’ve said something. At least to Sky.”
Jayce’s voice was low as he continued, mostly to himself now, his worry spilling over into frustration. It wasn’t just concern for Viktor—it was a deeper, painful realization that something had been breaking for a while, and he hadn’t noticed until now.
Mel tightened her grip on his shoulder. A part of her wanted to redirect him, to keep him focused on the work that desperately needed his attention—especially now, knowing that her mother’s shadow loomed over Piltover’s future. But looking at him now, she saw something else.
Jayce wore his emotions so openly, letting his vulnerability spill out for others to see. It baffled her, and, if she was honest, it unsettled her too. She’d spent her whole life carefully hiding her insecurities. Vulnerability was a luxury she couldn’t afford—not with Ambessa’s voice echoing in her mind.
And yet, watching Jayce now, she felt the sting of something she couldn’t quite name. Envy? Sadness? The thought lingered, persistent. What would it feel like to let her guard down like that? To be so completely herself, unburdened by the need to calculate every move? She didn’t even know if it was something she would be able to do. At least for the moment, it seemed unimaginable.
She pushed those thoughts aside as she always did, her grip on Jayce’s shoulder tightening slightly. “You’ll figure it out,” she said softly, her voice steadier than she felt. “You always do.”
Jayce leaned forward, his elbows on the table and his forehead resting in his hands. “Everything is going wrong lately,” he murmured. “And I don’t even know how to start fixing it.”
Mel didn’t know how to respond. She had never seen Jayce like this. He was struggling to hold himself together, and something about that realization unsettled her deeply.
“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” she said finally, though her voice was quiet. “I’ll help you.” For now, that was all she could offer.
Mel didn’t know how to proceed. Jayce was still sitting in the lab, slumped over and lost in thought. She had gently suggested he go home, insisting that he needed to get some rest to clear his mind. “You won’t find answers by running in circles like this,” she had told him.
At first, he had resisted, but when she promised to look into Viktor’s disappearance herself—a promise she made with more sincerity than she expected—it seemed to ease his anxiety, if only slightly.
Finally, he relented. With a weary nod, Jayce stood and gathered a few things, his movements were sluggish, his exhaustion evident in every step.
As she watched his tired figure disappear down the hallway, a wave of guilt washed over her. She wasn’t used to regretting her decisions, but seeing him like this made her wonder if she’d pushed him too far, too soon. Maybe her first mistake had been encouraging him to take on the role of councilor. It had seemed like the right move at the time—a way to bring Hextech into the spotlight and keep Piltover’s progress firmly in their hands. But now? She wasn’t so sure.
She shook her head to dispel those thoughts. Dwelling on past mistakes wouldn’t help anyone now.
As Mel left the lab, her heels clicked sharply against the polished marble floors, each step purposeful. Whatever unease lingered from her conversation with Jayce, she buried it beneath her composed exterior. Her mind was already shifting to her next task. There was no time to dwell on what she couldn’t change—not now.
When she reached her personal office, Elora was already there, organizing a small stack of papers. Mel barely paused as she headed straight for an armoire by the door, opening it to retrieve an unassuming gray cloak that hung inside.
“Elora,” she said, starting to put the cloak on. “I’ll need you to keep monitoring my mother’s movements. Something else has come up, so I may be back later than expected.”
Elora looked up as she caught the faint tension in Mel’s voice. “Something else?” she asked carefully, her tone measured.
“I just met with Jayce,” Mel explained. “Viktor’s missing.”
Elora blinked, her usual composure faltering just slightly. “Missing?”
“Yes,” Mel replied, her voice sharp but matter-of-fact, leaving no room for further questions.
As she finished fastening her cloak, her gaze met Elora’s. For all her dependability and sharp awareness, even Elora seemed genuinely blindsided by the news. It struck Mel that perhaps Elora, too, had unconsciously overlooked Viktor—an afterthought amid the larger concerns that consumed their time.
She finished adjusting the hood of her cloak and turned toward the door. “Keep me updated on anything about my mother. Today’s meeting may take a while.”
“Of course,” Elora said, recovering her usual composure.
Mel paused, her hand on the doorframe, and glanced back at her. “Thank you,” she said,her tone softer now.
Mel headed to the arranged place, a discreet tailor shop nestled in a quieter part of Piltover, surrounded by modest establishments. The shop was unassuming, with a faded green sign that almost blended into the background. This was one of the places she and Lest had arranged for their secret exchanges.
Mel had known Lest for years now, and despite their differences, she trusted her with even delicate matters that were too risky to share with anyone else.Time and again, Lest had proven invaluable, so it was only natural that she was the first person Mel thought when thinking about how to assist Jayce in his search for Viktor.
Mel hadn’t intended to rely on Lest as much as she did now, but their partnership had proven invaluable. Through her, Mel had kept a close eye not only on key council members but also on some figures of the upper-class of Piltover.
Their initial meeting had been by complete coincidence. Not long after arriving in Piltover, following her banishment from Noxus, Mel had been working to figure out how the city’s power structure worked. She and Elorahad gone undercover to snoop around an exclusive establishment frequented by influential Piltover families. That’s where they’d first encountered Lest.
It hadn’t taken long for Lest to see through their charade. She’d approached them with a sly smile as she joked about how glaringly obvious it was that neither of them had any talent for disguises. Mel could still remember her exact words: “You might want to work on your act if you don’t want to be noticed.”
What started as a cautious exchange of favors grew into a relationship built on mutual trust—at least as much trust as two people with such different backgrounds could share. Mel was grateful to have Lest’s sharp instincts and network of contacts to depend on. Over the years, they’d become more than collaborators. They met regularly now, not just to exchange information but also to ensure Lest’s safety. Mel knew well enough how precarious the life of someone that worked as a spy could be, and she didn’t want to lose the Vastaya to an avoidable risk.
“No one is expendable,” Mel had told Lest during one of their meetings, her tone firm.
Lest had given her a long look, her sharp eyes betraying some unspoken thought. Though she hadn’t said it aloud, Mel could tell what the Vastaya was thinking: Only when we’re of use. The feeling had been evident in her expression. Mel now understood why Lest hadn’t fully believed her words that day.
Their current meeting place belonged to an old friend of Lest’s who had worked her way out of the undercity and she allowed Lest to use the small, inconspicuous room where they were meeting today for their secret meetings.
Mel recalled teasing Lest about her shopkeeper friend’s assumption. “She thinks you’re meeting a lover in secret,” Mel said, amused by the thought.
Lest, playing lazily with her pipe, had grinned. “And? It’s a good cover, isn’t it? Or does it bother you to be thought of as someone sneaking around with someone of ‘lower station,’ like me?”
“No,” Mel had replied honestly. “It just caught me by surprise how much she trusts you. If I were someone dangerous, I could cause her or her business serious problems.”
Lest had regarded her thoughtfully, before finally shrugging. “She knows I wouldn’t bring trouble to her door.”
Now, as Mel pushed open the shop’s door, the melodic chime of the bell brought her back to the present. The familiar scent of fabric greeted her, and she gave the shopkeeper a polite nod before heading to the back room.
It was a small room, a dimly lit space filled with the faint aroma of spiced tea. Lest was already there, sitting comfortably with a cup in hand. She was unmistakable, even before she turned her head toward Mel. Her ears twitched slightly, always attuned to her surroundings. A vibrant shawl draped casually over her shoulders. Her bright eyes looked toward the door and sparkled with amusement as she looked up at Mel.
“Hello, it’s been a while,” Lest said, setting her cup down with practiced elegance. A mischievous smile curved her lips. “And here I thought you’d forgotten about little old me.”
Mel pulled back her hood, stepping closer. “Lest,” she greeted, her expression composed, though her thoughts were anything but calm. “I never forget important allies,” she said, sitting in the chair across from her.
Lest raised an eyebrow, her large ears twitching slightly. “Important, huh? You flatter me,” she said, leaning back in her chair. The glint in her eyes betrayed both curiosity and amusement. “Though I can’t help but notice, you look more frazzled than usual. Something happened?”
Mel hesitated briefly, choosing her words carefully. “It’s Viktor. Jayce’s lab partner,” she began. “He’s gone missing. I need your help to find out what happened.”
Lest’s expression shifted, her teasing demeanor giving way to something more serious. “Missing, you say? That’s unexpected. I barely hear anything about him. Quiet type, isn’t he? From what I hear he doesn’t seem like the type to go off the grid”
“No,” Mel agreed, her gaze steady. “As far as I know, he’s never been well-accepted by his peers at the Academy. He doesn’t seem to have many friends, which makes this all the more worrying. No notes, no explanations. He simply vanished. And Jayce…” She trailed off, glancing at the floor. “He’s not handling it well.”
Lest remained silent for a moment, though her eyes remained sharp. “Didn’t think anything could shake the man of progress. Guess this Viktor guy’s more important than you’ve let on.”
Mel’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I didn’t realize... I suppose I underestimated Viktor in more ways than one.” She paused, her voice lowering. “I may have even contributed to the distance between them.”
Lest tilted her head, eyes narrowing slightly. “Now that’s interesting. You’re not usually one to admit mistakes. What’s changed?”
Mel looked away, guilt prickling at the edges of her thoughts. “Jayce... he’s been struggling for a while. I pushed him toward the council, towards choices I thought were for the greater good. I didn’t realize how much it would weigh on him. Now, seeing the state he’s in…” She trailed off, her chest tight.
Lest leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. “So, what? You’re feeling guilty? Mel Medarda, wrestling with a conscience? Never thought I’d see the day.”
Mel shot her a sharp look but didn’t rise to the bait. “I just need to fix this. Can you help me or not?”
Lest leaned back again. “Of course I’ll help. But let me ask you this: why do you care so much? Is this about this Viktor, or is it about Jayce?”
Mel’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, she didn’t respond. She had to think about it. “Both,” she said finally. “I want to make sure nothing has happened to Viktor, he is important for the development of Hextech and Jayce needs him, whether he realizes it or not. And I need Jayce to keep his head straight.”
Lest chuckled softly. “Still thinking of everything as a mutually beneficial exchange, huh?” A faint grin tugging at her lips. “You’re full of surprises today, Mel. You’re cunning, but maybe not as cold as I thought.”
“Don’t read too much into it,” Mel said, standing up and adjusting her cloak. “You’ve always been too quick to make assumptions.”
Lest gave her a knowing look. “Fair enough. I’ll see what I can find. Any details you can give me?”
Mel nodded, providing a description of Viktor and any clue that might help Lest in her search. As she spoke, she couldn’t help but notice the glimmer in Lest’s eyes.
When they finished the conversation, Lest balanced her pipe between her fingers, her eyes studying Mel carefully. “You really are different from the other rich assholes I’ve met,” she remarked. “I mean, I didn’t expect you to care so much about your golden boy.”
Mel didn’t respond immediately, instead pulling her hood back into place and reaching for the door. “No one is expendable,” she said, echoing the words she’d spoken years ago.
Lest watched her for a long moment, something unreadable in her expression. Then she smiled. “You say that, but maybe you actually mean it this time.”
Mel didn’t respond, her hand already on the handle. “Keep me updated,” she said softly, before stepping out of the room.