Sometimes life was strange, changing without warning and shaking everything up. At the same time, the stars could turn in your favor.

That evening, the world seemed to revolve around you. Adrenaline rushed through your veins. Air filled your lungs as you inhaled deeply.

It smelled of wine, baked bread and sugar pastries. Voices filled your ears even before you arrived at the gates of Mel Medarda's estate.

Laughter made the night vibrate as colored lights cut through the darkness. Music gave you goosebumps.

"A beautiful night...", Viktor's familiar accent scratched the back of your head, gave you a smile.

"How are you my friend?", you tilted your head to look at him.

He would probably never get rid of his scrawny physique, but Viktor looked healthy that evening. His cheeks were fuller, his eyes no longer so deep and dark. He smiled, a sight that was not often seen.

"I'm alive.", Viktor shrugged playfully. "Not as long as I would have liked. But longer than I expected, thanks to your help."

He was still leaning on his crutch. Now that his leg had improved, he thought the crutch was just for show. However, he seemed to have more trouble pretending instead of being really unwell.

"I thought you were nobody for parties.", you pointed to the gigantic mansion of polished white stone and golden fittings.

Even if there were many things you could accuse Medarda of, it wasn't that she didn't know how to throw a party. Everyone from all over Piltover and further afield had traveled to experience this one evening.

The best wine flowed, even better than the one Salo smuggled. Months earlier, House Medarda had held a competition in which the ten best chefs were allowed to cook at this party.

There were many rumors about the dessert of this evening. All the more about what the main course would be.

Or who.

The lady of the house hadn't shown her face yet and she didn't either when you entered the hall with Viktor through the huge door, watched by hundreds of eyes.

Despite the attention, Viktor did not allow himself to be put off. A mild smile was on his lips while a twinkle grew in the brown of his eyes.

As a child of the Undercity, he had probably never seen an occasion like this before. The decorations were resplendent with splendor, gleaming. Everything looked clean, polished even, and more expensive than normal people could imagine.

Although you were inside a house, palm trees in pools of sand rose up to the ceiling. The chandeliers were adorned with crystals cut into the shape of animals.

Even though she was the richest woman in Piltover, Mel Medarda could not deny that she came from Nox. She was of Noxian blood through and through. Royal even.

Of course, everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of her that evening. Preferably to get her attention. Jayce had done it without meaning to.

And yet. He had chosen you.

Viktor hooked one arm with yours.

"I've never had good wine.", he said with a smirk. "Recommend something to me."

Your gaze wandered through the wide hall. People as far as the eye could see. And other species too. Even though you were well educated, you couldn't name them all.

There was a woman with long black hair from which the ears of a fox grew. Long tails of white fur bobbed behind her in a steady beat.

A little further away, a small figure tiptoed across the marble floor. Every step sounded mechanical, iron. Cogwheels ran through the white body.

Medarda seemed to have many friends, or at least to be well known near and far. Admittedly, her parties were notorious.

"Here.", you poured Viktor half a glass of wine at the banquet that was so red it looked like blood. "Don't drink it too quickly. It's very dry."

He took a sip.

"I think I'd like it better sweet.", he said with a shrug. "Not bad."

"This is even better."

Without paying attention to what others might think, you grabbed a whole, still sealed bottle of white wine from Nox and retreated with him to the exit that led into the garden.

It was so dark that the ground was almost indistinguishable from the sky. For having such a large estate, Medarda didn't seem to care much for greenery.

The courtyard was much smaller than you would have expected, with high walls and only a few beds displaying exotic flowers. Instead of gravel or paving stones, she had sand laid out.

In keeping with her ancestry and a homage to her homeland, you thought.

There was a fountain in the middle of this little place. The water in it had been replaced with red wine for the evening. A small group had gathered around it and watched as a man with fiery red hair and fox ears let the stream of wine flow directly into his mouth.

"Charming...", Viktor muttered, one eyebrow raised skeptically.

Now that you knew him a little better, it was a little easier to read him. He expressed himself especially with the movements on his face.

Sarcasm, doubt, joy. If you looked closely, you could read everything in his face.

Only now did you realize that he was also amused by banal things in life. Especially the idiocy of others.

"Every party needs someone to admire for their simplicity.", you said with a chuckle and took a sip of wine. "Unless you want to steal the evening for yourself."

His eyebrows rose. He seemed to think about it for a moment before shaking his head with a shrug.

"I couldn't.", he said.

A slight blush burned his pale cheeks.

"Of course you could.", a euphoric voice suddenly sounded behind you.

You rolled your eyes with a grin.

"And I was wondering if you wouldn't be there today.", you gave Salo a smile, which he returned with just as much charm.

"Me and a party?"

"The only dream couple Piltover needs.", you laughed.

He raised his goblet.

"You flatter me.", pale blue eyes wandered to Viktor. "But you'd better introduce me to your friend."

"This is my genius.", you placed a hand on his scrawny shoulder.

Viktor rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed.

"Well...", he smiled uncertainly.

"That's what I thought.", Salo tilted his head. "A really nice presentation today."