Nighttime Escapade
The heels of Mel’s shoes clicked sharply against the polished floor, each step sharp, as she strode down the hall, her steps quick, purposeful, furious. She wasn’t running, but she moved with a momentum that made her intent unmistakable. Her spine was rigid, shoulders squared, and for once, she wasn’t bothering to hide her anger.
Not after everything she had heard.
Not after reviewing every piece of information Lest had given her, everything Elora had uncovered. Not after learning her mother had met with Jayce again.
Mel had tried, she really had tried, to remain calm, to approach the situation with her usual poise, to calculate her next move with her usual patience. But she was sick of this.
Since her mother’s arrival, the problems that had long plagued Piltover had not only worsened, they had escalated at an alarming speed, shifting in a direction she didn’t like at all. And now, as she carefully considered the full picture—not just Piltover’s interests, but the broader reality of their actions—she was starting to realize just how deeply mistaken they had been.
She had always been careful. She had always told herself she was not her mother, and she wasn’t, but somewhere along the way she had lost sight of some things. And one of them was the people of the Undercity.
She had thought herself measured, pragmatic, always keeping her ambitions in check. But her focus, her intense need to safeguard Piltover from external threats had blinded her. She had been so wary of her mother’s influence, so preoccupied with the threat of Noxus and other nations sinking their claws into Piltover, that she had failed to see what was happening right in front of her.
Now, her mother had her hooks in the council. The rising violence, the panic gripping the ruling families, Ambessa had found a way to twist it all to her advantage. Of course, she had.
Mel still didn’t know exactly what her mother’s end goal was. Ambessa never acted without a reason, and war for the sake of war had never been her style. But what Mel did know, what she had finally, belatedly come to understand was that her mother was growing increasingly interested in Hextech. And that alone was enough to terrify her.
She reached the door and pushed it open without knocking.
The first thing she saw was Rictus rising to attention at the sudden entrance, his sharp eyes landing on her before recognizing who she was. He immediately relaxed and leaned back against the wall.
The second thing she saw was her mother.
Ambessa was reclining against a divan, her massive frame sprawled in a way that exuded both ease and absolute dominance over the space. A deep red glass of wine rested in her hand, half-full.
And beside her, seated close, a younger man—beautiful, slim, familiar in ways that made Mel’s stomach turn—was lounging at her side, her fingers idly resting under his chin.
Mel’s hands clenched into fists.
“Mel,” Ambessa greeted her, a pleased smile forming as if they had run into each other by chance. “We have some Noxian wine. Would you like to join me– ”
The glass was knocked from her hand before she could finish.
The sound of it shattering against the floor echoed through the room, its contents spilling across the younger man’s crisp white blouse, deep red soaking through pristine white. He flinched back, cursing under his breath, before tilting his head toward Ambessa in irritation expecting her to intervene.
Ambessa didn’t even look at him. Instead, with a flick of her hand, she dismissed him entirely.
Mel barely spared him a glance as he rose, placed his empty glass neatly onto the side table beside the divan before walking toward the door with a frustrated huff. He left without another word.
“What’s going on now, Mel?” Ambessa asked, her tone lazy, as if Mel had inconvenienced her by barging in.
Mel’s jaw tightened. “Don’t act like you don’t know.”
Ambessa exhaled through her nose, unimpressed. She waved a hand toward Rictus without even looking at him. He hesitated only a fraction before nodding and exiting the room, closing the door behind him with a solid thud.
“So,” Ambessa mused, pouring herself another glass of wine as if nothing had happened. “Why are you acting like this exactly?”
Mel’s nails bit into her palms. She wasn’t even looking at her directly.
“Stop bothering Jayce” she demanded, her voice sharp, cutting through the air.
Ambessa finally met her gaze. Then, laughed.
“You really are fond of him,” she remarked, clearly amused.
Mel’s frustration only grew, twisting inside her into something sharper, something that burned. She was treating this like a joke. Like Mel was a child, overreacting. Like she wasn’t even worth taking seriously.
“Of course I care about him,” Mel said. “And about my city. I would love it if you could leave it alone.” She met her mother’s gaze, unwavering. “Even better, take your ships and leave at once.”
Ambessa exhaled a quiet chuckle and swirled the wine in her glass.
Mel clenched her jaw. “You are manipulating the council. You’re using the panic to stir them into taking action that will only escalate the situation.”
Ambessa remained seated, setting her glass down with a quiet clink. “These problems,” she said, her voice smooth but laced with something sharp, “are the creation of your beloved council. You may not have started this mess, but you certainly helped perpetuate it. All I’ve done is speed up the inevitable.”
Mel exhaled through her nose, forcing herself not to react. That was exactly what she had feared.
Ambessa tilted her head slightly, studying her. “Tell me, how is it that you thought Piltover would remain untouched forever?”
“This isn’t about Piltover, is it?” she asked, voice lower now. “This is about you.”
Ambessa smiled, amused at the suggestion. “Everything I do is for our family.”
Mel’s stomach twisted.
“You think forcing Jayce’s hand into making hextech weapons is for our family?” she asked, her voice cold.
Ambessa arched a brow, watching her with sharp, calculating eyes. “You were the one who first suggested that he do it,” she pointed out. “Or have you conveniently forgotten?”
Mel’s body went still.
She had been the one to bring up the idea to him, that was true. She had agreed with the council, convinced it was necessary. For Piltover’s security.
“I did it to keep the city safe,” Mel said, her voice defensive, a rush of anger and shame tightening in her throat.
Ambessa looked at her, eyes deadly serious. “Weapons cannot be unmade, Mel. And they are always used.”
Mel had no response to that. Ambessa let the silence linger for a moment before turning, her gaze sharp.
“You should come home with me.”
Mel blinked. “What?”
“Leave Piltover.” Ambessa gestured toward the window, where the city skyline stretched in the distance. “Let them fight their little war. Then, when the dust settles, we go home.”
Mel’s stomach twisted. “You want me to abandon it?”
“I want you to stop wasting your time here. You should return to your rightful place. With your family.”
Mel shook her head. “No. I won’t let you turn this city into your battleground.”
Mel knew this wasn’t just about her. It was about the Medarda name. It was about power. Her mother didn’t need to say it outright.
And yet, what unsettled Mel the most was that in some twisted way, she believed Ambessa truly thought this was true. That this was all done in the name of family, of legacy, of what was necessary.
Mel swallowed hard, her throat dry. She had spent years trying to carve her own path, to prove herself.
And now, she was looking at the wreckage of her choices, seeing just how much damage had been done, how many blind spots she had refused to acknowledge.
She turned away, intent on leaving. Her mother didn’t seem to care, making no move to stop her—the conversation, it seemed, was over.
Mel felt the tension in her jaw as she walked toward the door, her mother’s words still ringing in her ears. Weapons cannot be unmade. And they’re always used.
Ambessa had said it with such certainty, such finality.
She had wanted to argue, to push back harder, but she knew how this worked. Ambessa had already decided how this would play out, and if Mel wanted to stop her, she had to move faster than her mother expected.
She reached for the door, ready to leave, ready to put as much distance as possible between herself and the suffocating weight of this room when the door opened before she could touch it.
Rictus opened the door and stepped inside, the man from before following just as Mel reached for the handle to leave.
She barely spared them a glance, too caught up in her thoughts. Without hesitation, she stepped past them and exited, her pace brisk.
She knew what needed to be done. She was done playing into her mother’s hands. Done watching as Ambessa pulled the strings.
But first she needed to find Jayce.
Jayce moved quickly, gathering all the things he could from the lab—notes, blueprints, the remaining gems—anything he didn’t want left behind where it could be used for something he wouldn’t approve of. He hadn’t thought much about what to take and what to leave. His hands worked on instinct, shuffling papers into a bag with increasing urgency.
This is probably why Viktor took the Hexcore before he left.
The thought struck him suddenly, and he stilled for a moment. Viktor had known from the beginning, even before his disappearance. He had tried to talk to him more than once, but of course, Jayce hadn’t listened —always too busy, always so sure he wasn’t wrong.
And that last time…
Whatever had gone through Viktor’s mind that night, whatever final straw had broken between them, it had been enough for Viktor to decide Piltover wasn’t safe. That their work wasn’t safe there.
Jayce exhaled sharply and shook his head, forcing himself back to the task at hand. He had to move quickly before anyone noticed—
“Jayce?”
The sound of her voice startled him.
He turned to find Mel standing at the entrance, her gaze sweeping over the table cluttered with papers and materials. She looked exhausted, her usually flawless composure stretched thin. Her complexion wasn’t as radiant as usual, and there was a weight to her expression that hadn’t been there before.
Jayce wasn’t exactly angry with her, but the paranoia and stress had left him feeling distant, distrustful. He hadn’t reached out to her in days.
“Uhm,” he started, scrambling for an excuse, “just taking some things home. Wanted to double-check some calculations.”
It was a weak lie, and Mel saw right through it.
Her expression didn’t shift, but she didn’t call him out immediately. Instead, she studied him for a long moment before asking, “Are you leaving?”
Jayce blinked, thrown off by how quickly she had figured it out.
His hesitation was all the confirmation she needed. She exhaled, a tired smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “Don’t worry,” she said. “Believe it or not, I was coming here to propose something similar.”
Jayce frowned, setting down the notebook in his hands and fully turning to face her. “What do you mean? Did something happen?”
Mel let out a short, humorless laugh. “You should know better than anyone,” she said, tilting her head slightly. “Didn’t you just meet with my mother?”
Jayce’s stomach twisted.
Mel wasn’t here just to check on him. She had come with a decision already made.
“I know you know I can’t help with what she’s asking,” he said, voice firm. “I’ve made plenty of mistakes lately, but making weapons for her is not going to be added to the list. I already feel bad enough for having even considered it. Hell, my own hammer could—” He gestured toward. “I was blind to even that until recently.”
“I know what you mean,” Mel murmured, voice distant, as if she were lost in her own thoughts. Then, more decisively: “Don’t worry. The talk of hextech weapons is completely off the table.”
Jayce hadn’t realized how much he needed to hear that until now. A weight lifted from his chest, and for a moment, he felt something close to relief.
“But my mother won’t stop,” Mel continued. “I’m sure she won’t take no for an answer.”
Jayce nodded. He had already learned that lesson firsthand.
“That’s why I wanted to ask you to stay hidden in some kind of safe house,” she admitted. “But if you’re already planning to leave, that would work even better.”
Jayce hesitated before speaking. “If I’m being honest… this idea only occurred to me less than a day ago, I haven’t really thought through the details. I just— ”
His fingers brushed over the stone in his bracelet, a nervous habit, his eyes flickering away from hers.
Mel’s expression softened just slightly.
“You want to find Viktor, don’t you?”
Jayce’s grip on his wrist tightened. “Yes,” he admitted. “I–”
“Jayce.”
She reached for his hand, still clenched at his side. “I understand.”
The simple reassurance hit harder than he expected, like something heavy in his chest had finally loosened.
“If the idea was so spontaneous, what are your plans?” she asked, gesturing for him to sit beside her.
Jayce exhaled and sat down, grateful to finally talk this through. Sky had already helped him with the map, but he hadn’t wanted to ask for more and hadn't wanted to put her in danger. Mel, though, was different. She knew how to navigate these kinds of situations.
As he explained his concerns—about leaving their research behind, about his hesitation to trust Piltover with anything—Mel nodded in agreement.
“You’re right not to leave it here,” she said. “But I don’t think your mother’s place is a good option to hide it either. I doubt they’ll conduct a search now, but just in case, I wouldn’t recommend tying her to this.”
She tapped her fingers thoughtfully against her knee. “I have a few safe places where you can store these documents. That way, you only have to carry the essentials, and it’ll be easier for you to go unnoticed.”
Jayce nodded, relieved. “That would help a lot.”
He glanced toward the hammer and the pieces of another invention still on the table.
“There’s one more problem,” he admitted. “I wanted to take my hammer with me, but…” He let out an awkward chuckle. “Not exactly easy to carry something that size without drawing attention.”
Mel hummed, considering. “I might have a solution,” she said slowly, “but…”
Jayce’s eyes narrowed slightly. “But?”
Mel hesitated for the first time. “I have a contact,” she admitted. “She could not only help you get out unnoticed, but also find a way to transport the hammer.”
Jayce straightened. “That’s great. Then what’s the issue? Is it something I can help with? I can pay—”
“No, it’s not that,” Mel said quickly. Then, after a pause: “We… argued. And we haven’t spoken since.”
Jayce said nothing at first.
Instead, he thought for a moment, then asked, “Are you close?”
Mel blinked, caught off guard by the question. “I… I suppose,” she said carefully. “We’ve been working together for as long as I’ve lived here.”
“And do you trust her?”
Mel frowned slightly. “Of course. She’s helped me a lot over the years.”
“Then there’s your answer,” Jayce said simply.
Mel studied him for a moment, then scoffed softly. “You really are ready for your own talk, aren’t you?”
Jayce felt his face heat up. “Well… I needed my mom to give me a push, but yeah. I really need—I want to talk to him.”
Mel smiled. Neither of them spoke for a moment.
“Besides,” Jayce added suddenly, “if you’ve known each other this long, and you trust her that much, then she’ll at least hear you out before ending your friendship.”
Something flickered in Mel’s expression.
“Thank you, Jayce,” she said sincerely.
Mel wasn’t one to believe in fate, but something about this felt like it had all aligned at the right time.
She wasn’t going to let her mother mess everything up.
“I’ll get in contact with her,” Mel said, standing. “So be ready to leave as soon as possible.”
The house was eerily quiet, the furniture draped in heavy white sheets, giving the space an abandoned, ghostly feel. The only sign that it had been recently used was the lack of dust, as if someone had been keeping it clean even if it was unoccupied.
Jayce adjusted the strap of his bag and shifted the weight of the hammer now bundled in cloth. The research he wasn’t taking with him had already been stored safely beneath the floorboards in the basement, hidden from prying eyes.
He exhaled and glanced toward Mel, who stood near the window, arms crossed, eyes scanning the empty street beyond. She looked deep in thought, her usual air of composure stretched thin.
Before Jayce could ask how long they would have to wait or if he should keep an eye on the back entrance something flickered in the dark.
A sharp glint, subtle but distinct. A pair of gleaming eyes reflecting the moonlight.
“Lest,” Mel said, voice steady.
Jayce barely had time to register the name before a tall figure materialized as if from the shadows themselves. He hadn’t heard a door open or footsteps approach, yet here she was.
Lest stepped forward, the dim light finally illuminating her features. Her ears flicked as she moved, and her sharp, feline gaze cut through the darkness. Jayce had seen Vastaya before, but something about her presence was striking—so much so that he found it difficult to meet her eyes.
“I see you’ve come accompanied this time,” Lest said, her tail curling behind her. There was a distinct flick of irritation in her movements, though her voice remained cool.
Then, her eyes landed on him. “Nice to finally meet you in person, Councilor Talis.”
Jayce hesitated only for a second before extending his hand. It felt awkward given the tension between her and Mel, but it was the polite thing to do.
“Likewise,” he said, offering a small, awkward smile. “Nice to meet you, I’ve heard a lot about you. I appreciate you coming tonight.”
For the briefest moment something flickered across Lest’s face, surprise perhaps, but it was gone as quickly as it had come.
Mel, finally stepping forward, spoke with a tone more subdued than Jayce was used to hearing from her. “Thank you for meeting us here, Lest. I mean it.”
Lest tilted her head slightly, her eyes still unreadable. “Well, your message was so emphatic that I had to at least come see what was so urgent.”
Mel cleared her throat, “I need your help getting Jayce out of the city… and making sure some bothersome cargo doesn’t draw attention.”
Lest’s gaze flicked toward the large, wrapped bundle Jayce carried.
Her tail twitched. “I assume this needs to be discreet if you’re calling me.”
“Yes,” Mel confirmed. “He needs to reach the Undercity unnoticed. Once he’s there, it’ll be easier for him to keep himself out of view.”
“Okay.” Lest didn’t hesitate. Just like that. No argument, no negotiation.
Mel blinked, caught off guard. She hadn’t expected Lest to agree so quickly, she had prepared arguments, alternatives, ways to convince her or one of her contacts to help.
“Are– are you sure?” Her voice was quieter now, tinged with concern. “It’s dangerous. If they catch you helping him escape while he’s carrying…” She stopped herself before saying it outright too much was at stake.
“If it was something more complicated, I might stop to consider it,” Lest said evenly. “But if it’s just getting him and his stupidly big thing out of the city, I can handle it.”
There was no arrogance in her tone, just unwavering confidence. And yet, Mel still worried.
“I know you’re capable,” Mel said, stepping closer, her voice lower. “But this time my mother is involved. She wants Jayce under her thumb, and she won’t take no for an answer. You know by now how she is.”
Lest’s posture shifted, the rigidity in her stance softening just slightly. Her eyes met Mel’s.
“I know,” Lest said, tone steady. “But don’t worry, I can get us both to the Undercity. No problem.”
Mel studied her, searching for any hesitation but there was none. Finally, she let out a slow breath, some of the tension easing from her shoulders.
Before she could say anything else, Lest tilted her head and spoke again. “I’m just curious, why something so bold?”
Mel furrowed her brows. “What do you mean?”
Lest gestured between them. “Sneaking a councilor out of the city under cover of darkness? It’s not a bad idea, it’s just… I didn’t expect this kind of move from you.”
Mel felt something twist in her chest at the way Lest said you. She chose to ignore it.
“I couldn’t let my mother keep doing whatever she pleases,” Mel answered, though her voice was quieter now. “And besides…” She glanced at Jayce.
Jayce took the cue to speak.
“I was already planning to leave before she even knew,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “I need to find my partner–Viktor.”
Lest’s expression barely shifted, but something about her demeanor changed, like that name was all the explanation she needed.
“Ah” she said simply.
Jayce exhaled, then added, “By the way, thank you.”
Lest raised a brow. “For what?”
“Mel told me you helped in the search for Viktor when he disappeared,” Jayce said. “So… thank you.”
Lest’s ears twitched, and for the first time, she actually looked caught off guard. “Oh. Well, you’re welcome,” she said, sounding almost uncertain. Then, with a slight smirk, she added, “Though to be fair, she was the one who asked me to help.”
“I know,” Jayce said, offering a small smile. “Thank you anyway.”
For a brief moment, the tension in the room wasn’t as heavy.
Then, without a word, after exchanging a look Jayce didn’t understand with Mel, Lest turned and disappeared as swiftly as she had arrived.
Jayce blinked. “Where did she— ?”
“Don’t worry, she’ll be back soon,” Mel said as she sat on the windowsill.
Jayce pulled what looked like a folded piece of paper from his bag. “Before we leave… could you do me a favor?”
Mel glanced at it, then at him. “What is it?”
“A letter for my mother.” Jayce handed her the folded envelope.
Mel took it carefully.
“I explained everything,” Jayce said. “After our last talk, I know she’ll understand. At least this way, she won’t have to worry. And if they come asking, she can pretend she doesn’t know where I am.”
Mel nodded. “I’ll make sure she gets it.”
Minutes passed. Then, exactly as promised, Lest returned, a simple small carriage waiting outside.
Jayce placed his bag inside and carefully secured his hammer.
While he worked, Mel and Lest exchanged a few quiet words. Jayce didn’t want to eavesdrop, so he kept himself busy making sure everything he needed was in his bag. When a few moments passed and he turned back to see if they were done he caught something—Mel, smiling just slightly, and Lest watching her with a softness in her eyes he hadn’t expected.
He wasn’t sure what had passed between them, but whatever tension had been there before was gone.
Jayce climbed into the carriage, leaning out to meet Mel’s gaze one last time.
He mouthed thank you.
She nodded.
And then, with nothing left to say, Lest pulled on a cloak, concealing her face and clothing beneath its folds. Just like that, they set off toward the Undercity, escorted only by the late hour and the stars.
The carriage rattled softly as it continued toward the Undercity. The streets of Piltover disappeared behind them, the clean cut form of its buildings and the quiet tranquility of the city at night fading into the distance.
Jayce leaned against the window, watching as the world around him shifted.
Even at this late hour, the Undercity was alive. Neon signs flickered in a chaotic dance, their glow reflecting off the damp, uneven streets. People moved through the alleys and walkways, some in a hurry, some simply existing within the city’s rhythm.
Some shadowy figures lingered in the dimly lit corners, but there were also families—some huddled together in small homes, their voices and laughter spilling out from behind worn doorways. Mechanics worked late into the night, sparks flying from welding tools as they repaired broken contraptions. A child darted through the crowd, chasing after a makeshift toy, her laughter ringing through the air.
For so long, he had only seen this place through reports and secondhand accounts. He had always known it was suffering, but he had never really seen it for what it was.
There was hardship here. There was struggle. But there was life, too. And he had once dismissed it so easily.
He wasn’t as blind as the council, but he had been naive, perhaps even prejudiced. He had let fear and frustration cloud his judgment, let himself believe too quickly in simple solutions. Now, after everything, he understood how little he truly knew.
Lest’s voice pulled him from his thoughts. “We’re here.”
The carriage slowed, pulling into a quieter, dimly lit street. She stepped out first, scanning their surroundings before turning back to him.
Jayce climbed down, adjusting the weight of the hammer slung across his back.
Lest reached into her coat and pulled out a small card, flipping it over before handing it to him. “There are instructions on the back,” she said. “If you ever need help, you can find me here. Just say you’re a friend of mine, and someone will send for me.”
Jayce took it, glancing at the scrawled address before meeting her eyes.
“Thank you,” he said, his voice steady.
Lest gave him one last assessing look. Then, with a flick of her tail, she nodded and climbed back into the carriage.
Jayce watched as she disappeared into the night, the vehicle fading into the neon-lit streets.
With a steadying breath, he tucked the card safely into one of his pockets, tightened the strap of his bag, and adjusted the hammer on his back.
His path was clear. He had no more doubts. No more hesitation.
He turned, eyes locked on the road ahead, and started walking in the direction of one of the places Sky had marked on his map.
There was only one thing on his mind now: finding Viktor.