@meljayvikweek Day 1: Hextech
if they find out, will it all go wrong? (heaven knows, no one wants it to), meljayvik, 2.6k words
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The day after the Hextech breakthrough, Viktor and Jayce stand where Jayce once stood alone: in front of an angry council that did not want to hear rhyme nor reason. The discussion has dragged for so long, Viktor feels it in his joints. He is leaning heavily on his cane, the handle digging painfully in his hand, wondering how long until the council stops making a fuss out of things. They will approve the development of Hextech, he’s sure of it, they just need to get it out of their system. He just wishes, they were done with their posturing already.
In the end, the vote is once again split: Councilors Medarda, Kiramman, Hoskel, and Salo —out of all people— vote in favor of pursuing Hextech. They’re given a one-year deadline to present their discoveries in a way that benefits the city or both will be exiled. Viktor wants to argue that a year is not enough time, but Jayce confidently assures the council their findings will be ready by then. The council then proceeds to set guidelines for the new committee overseeing Hextech for about an extra hour and they’re tasked with gathering a team of scientists to work in the project but Viktor is too busy trying to stay upright to pay attention. They’re dismissed shortly after that.
The minute he’s out of the council room, Viktor leans against the wall and sighs, eyes closing heavily. This is not what he imagined when he approached Jayce about his research. He’s not sure how much of this he can handle. A hand on his shoulder startles him.
Viktor opens his eyes to find Councilor Medarda eyeing him curiously, her brows furrowed in interest.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” he forces out, his voice raspy with disuse. While he wasn’t exiled, a more dangerous path laid ahead of him, working side by side with Jayce to deliver on the promises made in front of the Council.
She scans his face and nods decisively. “I’ll see you around then, Viktor.”
She’s gone before Viktor can reply, her firm strides followed by a hurried assistant. Viktor watches her go, his heart beating in sync with the sound of her steps as she walks away.
Jayce finds him still staring in the direction she left.
“What are you thinking about?” He’s a ball of pent-up energy, almost vibrating out of his skin. Viktor feels pulled into his gravity, drawn into his world of magic where the unknown is the only known variable. Jayce seems immune to Viktor’s apprehension, still riding the high of the discovery, the high of vindication.
It’s contagious, this optimistic enthusiasm of his, and Viktor feels the knots in his stomach unfurl. Jayce has a dream, a vision, where Hextech is the answer to the world’s most pressing issues and he’s spent the last few years of his life dedicating every free moment of his life to bring it to fruition.
Our Hextech dream, he said.
And when Viktor looks at him, unable to contain his excitement for the possibilities ahead, he believes him. This isn’t empty ambition to fill his pockets to the brim with the money brought on by new inventions, Jayce truly has faith in the life-changing future of Hextech development. He wants to improve the world, improve lives. He’s already improved Viktor’s, if he’s being honest.
Viktor spares a last thought to Councilor Medarda’s inquisitive eyes —what was that about? — and turns to Jayce.
