Lost in thought, you wandered through the empty corridors of the opera house. The rest of the council and the audience had stayed for an encore.

Even Jayce had feigned a keen interest in the music after your offer. Although you could tell he just wanted to avoid more conversation.

Perhaps you had been too direct, too unaffected by the fact that he had something more than admiration for Medarda. At the same time, you wondered why he hadn't seized the opportunity immediately. It had long been in both your interests to make him one of her closest confidants.

He might one day make her his wife and in return you would have a hand in her business. It was a win-win situation for both of you.

Of course, she would be the one to suffer in this plan, but what did you care?

Some won and some lost in this game. And you wanted to be anything but the loser.

Torn from your thoughts, you suddenly stopped at the entrance of the opera house. Two huge wings, decorated with gold and sheet music, towered above you up to the ceiling.

It was already dark outside. The dim light of electricity illuminated the streets as much as was necessary. Shadows and figures passed by. Enforcers, the law enforcers of Piltover.

You briefly wondered if the young Kiramman was with them. Then you remembered that she hadn't had a job since the incident on Progress Day. Her parents had been so upset that they had spoken to Sheriff Marcus himself.

Too bad, really. You could have used a reliable source within the Enforcer ranks. Her sense of justice and desire to make the world a better place would have been easy to influence.

But then again, you could also rely on the corruption that ran through the sheriff's bones. He was already easy to blackmail and as soon as your informants brought confirmation from the Undercity he would be entirely yours to use.

A smile grew on your lips.

Not being afraid of the law, being the law and having law enforcement in your pocket was a kind of power that even Medarda had yet to achieve.

All at once you heard the sound of footsteps. Torn from your thoughts, you looked up and listened. They were slow, sluggish. And there was the sound of metal on marble.

"Hm...", you smiled. "I had hoped we would be able to see each other. How did the meeting go?"

The dark circles under Viktor's eyes were still deep, clearly visible and made him look ill. Unlike the day before, however, he was able to walk upright. He only leant weakly on his crutch. Both feet were firmly on the ground.

One of your eyebrows rose as he came to a halt in front of you in the dark.

"Why so quiet?", you turned slightly towards him. "The visit was successful, I see."

You pointed at his bad leg. He frowned.

"You could have told me before that this doctor is a creature of the Arcane.", the words hissed from between his teeth.

With a hum, you lifted your chin. Silver moonlight mingled with golden light from lanterns.

You felt like an angel in this light. He looked like a knight of death.

"No bad words, please.", you said, slipping a hand into your jacket pocket. "Kindered is a gentle creature. If you don't spook the lamb."

"There was a wolf."

"He's harmless. As long as you're harmless yourself."

Viktor inhaled sharply. His brown eyes sparkled golden now, full of life and no longer clouded by physical suffering. It seemed as if he was now much closer to the man he could be if he hadn't been ill.

"Heimerdinger knows nothing of the creature.", it was not a question. "A user of the Arcane in his city. A threat."

You shook your head.

"And it would be better if it stayed that way. Old Yordle is afraid of the Arcane even though he himself is a being of magic. Kindered can't heal you, but it can help, it seems. Use this help as long as you can."

His lips curled.

"I don't intend to throw my only chance into the sea.", Viktor returned snappishly.

"Good.", you smiled. "Then I assume we've sorted that out. Now to your research."

His gaze wandered thoughtfully up the long corridor. It was dark. Not a soul could be seen or heard.

"What about Jayce?", he finally asked.

A sigh left your lips.

"I didn't tell him anything about you or the Hexcore. He needs time to settle into his new role. Let him breathe for a second before they try to strangle him."

You pulled a small box from the inside pocket of your jacket to offer it to him. He shook his head. Shrugging your shoulders, you opened the lid in one swift movement and slipped one of the sugar and herbal sweets under your tongue.

The taste of Salo was still lingering in your mouth and it was driving you crazy. You hadn't gone back to him after your conversation with Jayce. It was better to let this little affair rest. Especially because you weren't even interested in him. It was boredom and maybe a little desire of the flesh that pushed you towards him.

Everything else you loathed.

"Jayce will share my vision.", Viktor finally said into the silence.

Every word out of his mouth brimmed with conviction.

"Then why not tell him what you're planning yourself?", you asked.

With a deep breath, he closed his eyes. The rich brown colour of his hair looked almost black without the light.

"He has to trust you first.", Viktor sighed, turning towards the light of the moon. "Otherwise he will question why I chose you as patron and not someone else."

Again, you had to think silently about your answer. That seemed to happen often enough lately.

The words usually came easily and quickly. You were convinced of your eloquence. Viktor, on the other hand, didn't allow himself to be lulled by fine words alone. And Jayce reacted sensitively to everything you said.

For whatever reason.

"Maybe he doesn't like me.", you thought aloud.

Viktor frowned in irritation.

"Did he say that?", he asked.

"No. It's just a feeling."

He snorted.

"Jayce can be... special."

You smiled.

"You seem to have that in common. No offence meant."

"None taken."