A pleasantly light conversation had started while your two guests sat at the table enjoying their warm drinks.

Jayce had been pleasantly surprised by the honey and peach tea and was already on his fourth cup. He really seemed to have a sweet tooth.

You made a mental note. Just in case it might come in handy at some point.

Viktor was just talking about how it felt to discover that one could control the arcane while butter sizzled in a pan in front of you.

You had found some fish in one of the frozen chambers and added sliced lemons and rosemary with garlic and peppercorns.

Potatoes were simmering in a pot next to it and chopped vegetables with honey and chilli in another pan. The aroma filled the space between the three of you while the oven preheated behind you.

With the remaining peaches from Jayce's tea, you wanted to bake a small cake. It was simple but wouldn't waste anything. With melted chocolate, it was almost like the kind of biscuits your mum used to make when you were a child.

"This Hextech.", you interrupted the heated conversation between the two men. "It's not very old. Then what about its potential?"

Viktor blinked before shaking his head. The brown hair on his head seemed as soft as clouds.

"The possibilities are endless.", he asserted.

You gifted him a sceptical smile.

"Nothing is limitless, my dear.", you said. "Except greed."

Jayce took a sip of his tea. He had avoided looking you directly in the eye for the last few minutes, but you could feel his gaze resting on you whenever you turned to the food.

"The Hexgates will broaden the horizon.", Jayce said, his eyes thoughtfully fixed on the golden tea in his cup. "Soon nothing will be too far and nothing too high. We will conquer the sky."

His thumb ran over the porcelain rim. You tilted your head with slight interest.

"If Hextech really will know no bounds, then it can be used for everything. Anything.", you extinguished the flames under the pan of vegetables. "Even for things you didn't intend it for."

Taking a deep breath, Viktor clenched his hands into fists.

"Heimerdinger said the same thing.", dissatisfaction burning in his eyes. "We want to improve life. Give the people of the Undercity a chance."

That was the look of a man who knew he didn't have much time left. He wanted to push for progress. Maybe even save himself.

You nodded in agreement.

"Nobel. But what you want for your children and what they become are usually two different things."

"The Council has now put me in charge of security over the Hexgates.", Jayce set his cup down, a piece of warm peach still floating at the bottom. "And I'll make sure they're not used for ill intent."

Your eyes narrowed at these words.

Was it possible that the builder of the Hexgates didn't know what was happening to his own creations?

"The Council is no friend.", you said.

Now they were both looking at you.

"And you?", Viktor frowned.

Smiling, you prepared three plates to keep the fish warm on. You added some flour and milk to the remaining butter and spices and stirred until the consistency was good.

Then you served the potatoes and vegetables and drizzled some gravy over everything. The smell of pepper tickled your nose.

"I can't promise we'll be friends.", you set them each a plate and cutlery. "But I have no intention of going against your wishes. If your visions are as great as you say, limitless, then I am willing to wait. And to adapt, of course."

Viktor looked thoughtfully at the fish in front of him. You couldn't help but wonder if he had ever eaten fish as a child of the Undercity. There was such contaminated water flowing in the canals that nothing lived there anymore.

"These are all just words.", Jayce bit into a carrot. "Nothing the other council members hadn't already offered."

You chuckled softly.

"Not surprising. We all know when it's better to cast the line. One does not let an opportunity that promises to be golden slip through their pretty fingers.", you looked at him with curiously raised eyebrows. "Sometimes one is also prepared to... make promises. To offer a taste."

A twitch ran through Jayce's shoulders. Then his body tensed. He seemed to have realised exactly what you were alluding to. Instead of defending himself, he took another bite of the fish.

At least there were no complaints about your cooking. That would have hurt your ego even more than the fact that Mel Medarda had already sunk her claws into the fresh meat.

That woman really didn't miss a chance.

Your attention returned to Viktor.

"There will be adversaries. Those who are afraid and those who are so greedy that they demand everything and more.", you warned.

Viktor looked at you for a moment. There were no thoughts in the brown of his eyes. It was as if he was completely removed from human influence in his own world.

"Are you honest, councillor?", he finally asked and drank some more coffee.

You shrugged your shoulders.

"If it gives me an advantage.", you admitted openly. "Sometimes lying is more profitable."

"That's sneaky.", Jayce cut into his fish.

"Of course. You won't find a soul at this high table who's honest through and through. Pure. Good. Call it what you will.", the tartness of lemon spread across your tongue.

"Not all people have to be bad.", the new councillor argued with conviction.

But his voice had become hesitant.

"What about Heimerdinger?", Viktor asked.

You took two more bites. The sauce could have done with more pepper. Warmth crept up your trouser legs. Soon the oven was warm enough to bake in.

"Heimerdinger possesses the natural ability of arcane and yet refuses to acknowledge that it could be of help. He's more afraid of Hextexh than he sees the progress in it. And even though he is quite honest about his worries he pushed back with excuse after excuse after excuse.", you answered Viktor before turning to Jayce. "And ones does not get rich by being honest. One does not swim in money while nobody is harmed by their business. It would be better if it were. But Piltover is not that kind of place."