Chapter Text
“Remind me why we had to come to this again?” Andromeda whispered to Viktor, careful not to disturb the trial happening before them.
“Because Heimerdinger felt that as his assistant and co-assistant, it would be an educational experience for us.”
Andromeda huffed and sunk lower in her chair, glancing at her watch.
“Besides,” Viktor continued, “I got ahold of Mr. Talis’s notes and they have me curious. It would appear as though he were trying to-”
A loud “Sh!” came from behind the pair, thoroughly scolding them and bringing their full attention back to trial at hand.
Jayce Talis stood highlighted before the council, pleading his case, “What I did endangered people. It was reckless and for that, I’m sorry. I ask the Council’s forgiveness and I hope that I can continue my studies.”
“Doubtful,” Andromeda muttered under her breath. It’s not every day a student blows up a building and gets to “continue his studies.”
“As Jayce’s patron of many years, I can speak for his character,” Mrs. Kiramman piped up. “I believe that one day he will be a great contributor to society.”
“He blew up a building! Is this the sort of contribution we can expect?”
“If you were a scientist, you’d know you can’t make a prototype without breaking a few wrenches,” Heimerdinger joked. Viktor chuckled quietly, very familiar with the process of breaking many, many wrenches.
“Do you have anything to show for your work besides an explosion?” Mel Medarda asked as the effective head of the council.
“Uh, no,” Jayce looked down shamefully, shuffling his feet. “It came to nothing.”
“So you’re saying your study was meaningless?”
“It was revolutionary!”
“Revolutionary how?”
The Council quickly devolved into a series of insults towards the boy and the academy. Andromeda brought a hand to her head to soothe the oncoming migraine triggered by the cacophony of the arguments while Viktor sat with rapt attention.
“Perhaps we should just finish this-”
“I was trying to create magic!”
Needless to say, that caught the attention of everyone in the room. Heimerdinger looked as though all hope had been lost for the poor boy. Mel, however, seemed intrigued.
“Arcane talents are something you’re born with, they can’t be fabricated.”
“Actually,” Jayce countered, “I believe they can.”
“Has anyone even tried it before?” Mel inquired.
Councilor Bolbok cleared his throat, “The Arcane is the curse of our world. My race was nearly wiped out because of it.”
“Surely we, the pioneers of science, can use it for good,” Jayce continued his defense. “We’re the champions of discovery. Why fear it when we can master it?”
“Jayce, enough,” Heimerdinger chimed in.
“This is the City of Progress, think of the wonders we could create! Let me prove-”
“Enough!” Heimerdinger shouted.
Andromeda whispered to Viktor, her eyebrows as high as her hairline, “I didn’t know he could do that.” He shook his head, just as shocked.
Heimerdinger took a breath before he began again, likely regretting the expression that beheld his scolded student. “You don’t understand what’s at stake. But how can you? That’s a burden only I here carry… Time. I’ve seen this power in the wrong hands. It corrupts, consumes, lays waste to civilizations.” He looked to Jayce with a most solemn expression, “That cannot happen here, my boy. It must not.”
“Heimerdinger is right,” Councilor Shoola agreed. “Piltover was founded to escape the warmongering of mages, not cultivate it.”
“The Ethos is clear,” Bolbok interjected. “He must be banished from Piltover.”
Gasps came from the crowd. They were only further exacerbated by Jayce’s mother joining in the debate of her son’s future.
“Please let me speak!” She said as she approached the Council. “As a lower house, my voice doesn’t carry much weight here, but as a mother, I have a voice that matters deeply. My son isn’t in his right mind. His entire life, he’s chased an impossible dream. What he did was foolish and unwise, but he has a good heart. Please, let him come home.” She held her hands close to her chest as she finished, almost as if she were praying to the Council for the fate of her son.
“A violation like this can’t be overlooked, the boy must be punished,” said Councilor Salo.
Heimerdinger rejoined the conversation, “A violation of the Ethos calls for banishment, but I can sympathize with a young man’s dream to change the world. Perhaps in this matter, a lesser sentence may suffice. I move that Jayce be summarily expelled from the Academy and remanded to the care of his parents.” He looked around, “All those in favor?”
Slowly, but surely, four of the seven hands at the table rose.
“You may take your son home, Mrs. Talis.”
~~~
“Well, that was significantly more eventful than I expected it to be.”
Andromeda and Viktor made their way through the winding halls of the Academy.
“I know,” Viktor said. “I was not aware Heimerdinger was capable of raising his voice in such a manner.”
“It was… Intense, to say the least,” she sighed. They were quiet for a moment as they walked, each silently pondering the same thing. “Do you think it’s possible?”
“What, creating magic?”
She nodded. Viktor came to a stop as he contemplated his answer, propping on his cane.
“I’m not entirely sure,” he began. “I need to study his notes more thoroughly. However, whatever created that explosion was powerful. I believe I may attempt to reach out to Mr. Talis and speak with him about his discoveries.”
“Is that allowed?” she asked in a hushed tone. “Ya know, since he’s been expelled and all? You don’t need to get yourself into trouble by association.”
“It will be fine, ’Meda,” Viktor smiled. “It is a simple discussion between scientists.”
She rolled her eyes, “Your ‘simple discussions’ are never simple, Vik.”
“Yes, well, I am going to go meet with Heimerdinger to retrieve Jayce’s notebook for further study. Shall you join me?”
Andromeda looked at her watch, “No, it’s getting late,” she sighed. “I need to start the walk back.”
“I will never understand why you choose to continue to live in the Lanes,” he shook his head. “Why don’t you consider getting an apartment in the square? Or even living in the Academy dorms?
She leaned against the wall and looked out at the glimmering city. “You know Piltover living isn’t for me, Vik. Too posh,” she said as she scrunched up her nose. “Besides, as dingy as the Lanes may be, Zaun feels like home,” her gaze shifted back to Viktor. “I know you can understand the sentiment.”
“Yes, I suppose I can,” he nodded. “Have a safe walk back, ’Meda.”
“I will,” she replied as they walked in their separate directions.