Chapter Text
“Professor please, reconsider.” I begged, following closely behind the yordle. Our footsteps echoed throughout the long hallway on the way to his office. Despite his small stature and old age it was somehow hard to keep up.
“This isn’t right, (y/n).” Professor Heimerdinger sighed, “What he wants to do is unacceptable. He’s already been expelled from the academy. The council decided.”
“You could change that!” I urged, holding out the leather bound journal Viktor had taken from Jayce. “Everything he’s worked for since he was a child is written on these pages.” His office was in front of us now. The heavy oak door would quickly end the conversation. “If you would just take the time to read it-”
“(y/n)” Heimerdinger began, cutting me off and slowly turning towards me. “What he’s proposed is preposterous. Everything Mr. Talis has been doing is dangerous, not to mention highly unethical and illegal. I cannot let him continue with his work.”
Slowly I brought the journal to my chest, wrapping my arms around it in defeat. “Yes Professor.” Pressing it any further after multiple failed attempts since the trial would do us no good.
As the silence set in, Heimerdinger pulled out his keys, quickly unlocking the large oak door and slipping behind it. The thick door shut with a loud thud, its finality echoing down the halls.
It’s over. Just like that.
I don’t know why this bothered me so much. I didn’t even know the inventor, some random guy from Piltover who accidentally indirectly exploded his own laboratory. Sure, there had been mumblings about some kids being the real cause. But in the academy’s eyes, there was only one person to blame: Jayce Talis
The whole experience had been disappointing. Viktor and I had hope finally, for the future of Piltover and our families in the underground. That hope was almost gone.
I’d let him down.
The walk back to Viktor’s room was sorrowful. I didn’t know what to tell him, we had so much riding on this. We thought that maybe, just maybe we could get through to the professor. Change his mind or even make him more amenable.
It wasn’t far from the office to Viktor’s room and before I knew it I was in front of his door. Hesitantly I raised my hand to knock. A split second before my fist hit the wood it swung open, Viktor’s face was smiling back at me. “How’d it go?”
My eyes fell to the floor as I moved past him into the room. Slowly shaking my head in disappointment.
“I suspect it didn’t go as planned.” He surmised, the smile fading from his face as he shut the door behind me. “That’s okay, (y/n). We both knew it was another futile attempt anyway.”
“He’s not willing to listen to either of us.” I groaned. Viktor had already tried earlier in the day. If Heimer’s favorite apprentice and assistant couldn’t get through then no one could.
“The professor is just a scared old man. The past has blinded him to the future. We just need to open his eyes.” Vikor assured, leaning on his cane. I shook my head at him, sitting down on the edge of his bed. Notes were scattered everywhere, the pages crinkling under my weight.
“How are we supposed to do that?”
“Leave it to me.” He said, hobbling over to his desk and grabbing some notes. “I’ll need the journal as well.”
I nodded, quickly handing it over to my colleague and friend as he got ready to walk out the door. “So how are you going to change the professor’s mind?”
Viktor looked back at me with a small smile, his eyes gazing softly at me. “I’m not going to change Hemierdingers mind, (y/n). I’m going to change Jayce’s.”
I nodded at him slowly, not fully understanding his words. Viktor’s cane tapped lightly against the bedroom floor as he walked out the door, shutting it quietly behind him. With a sigh, I dropped down onto the bed, alone with my thoughts and years of intricate notes.
Viktor was dedicated to his work, he never took any time to focus on himself or the people around him. This was the first time he seemed invested in something else - someone else. Someone else’s ideas and inventions.
One day hopefully he would take the time to see me for more than just my creations or occasional input.
Seeing him so excited for something got me excited for it as well. I wonder what information he’d return with.
Pulling myself up I found an empty sheet of paper, free of any notes or Viktor’s tired ramblings. With a small smile, I carefully folded the edges, imagining his reaction when he returned to his room and found the small gift. I hope he’ll like it, something unique amongst the mess.
Simple and delicate yet beautiful, like him.
A paper crane. It was the first time I’d ever left him one.
A day had gone by since I’d seen him, walking down the hallway with Jayce and councilor Medarda but I hadn’t gotten a chance to catch his eye. I’d heard mumblings around the academy. Another hearing for Jayce Talis was going to be held, this time with the help of Mel Medarda.
They seemed to become a sensation overnight and Viktor was nowhere to be found after that. The whole academy was bubbling with rumors of the ‘magic’ Jayce and Viktor had discovered. I suppose the recent innovation had rightfully gained some recognition for the pair.
In an attempt to track down Viktor again, I walked towards his room, my thoughts racing at the potential of the new discovery. Turning a corner I heard a crowd talking. As I got closer I realized the swarm was outside Viktor’s room. Academy students tripping over themselves trying to get a chance to speak with Jayce and Viktor.
The sight stopped me dead in my tracks, my smile faltering. “Things are going to start changing around here, (y/n).” Professor Heimerdinger said, stepping out of the shadows. His poro followed closely behind. “Viktor’s life has officially changed and he’s going to be very busy from now on. Maybe even too busy for you.” The yordle said matter of factly.
“I have faith in him professor, just like I had faith in you. Viktor is my friend,” Liar, the word branded into my brain. What if Heimerdinger was right. “He won’t abandon me for sixty seconds of fame.”
“I hope you’re right my dear, I’d hate to see you suffer during this time of revelation.” With that, the professor walked away from the crowd and away from me, his poro giving me one last dejected glance as it followed.
Those words lingered in the air around me. A seed of doubt planted in my mind. The crowd didn’t seem to be dissipating around the academics any time soon. So, I turned to leave, my attempts at speaking to Viktor ultimately squashed by his newfound admirers.
I’m sure he’ll make time for me eventually.
I hope.