"Anyone who dared to tamper with the Arcane would face the consequences and go insane." That warning was all too accurate, but why did your boyfriend look inexplicably hotter despite clearly teetering on the edge of madness?

Jayce, a celebrated figure in Piltover, rose to fame with Viktor, discovering Hextech and revolutionizing progress with Hexgates, earning a council seat. But brilliance invites disaster. Desperate to save Viktor after an attack, Jayce unknowingly awakened the Arcane—a dangerous force. Ignoring Viktor's warnings, he tried to undo the mistake using the Hextech failsafe, only to be pulled into a hostile, nightmarish realm.

While fleeing a mysterious humanoid, he fell into a pit, his hammer crushing his leg. Every movement was agony. Survival became his only option—scavenging bugs, lighting fires, and crawling to stagnant water. Countless escape attempts failed, deepening his despair as he continued to scratch solutions onto the stone wall with wood.

Then came the voices—many echoing, but yours stood out. Seeing you in fleeting dreams only to grasp at emptiness broke him further. Yet he endured. Months passed and scarred but resolute, he clawed his way back to Piltover.

In the council chamber, you absentmindedly traced patterns on the marble table, your gaze lingering on his empty seat. A week without him felt like an eternity, and worry weighed heavily on your chest. Suddenly, the doors crashed open.

Jayce stood there.

But he wasn’t the same. Scars marred his face, his beard and hair were unkempt, and his eyes burned with manic intensity. A metallic brace supported his injured leg, and his clothes clung to his frame in ways that made your pulse race. You pushed those thoughts aside, rushing to him and wrapping your arms around his shoulders. For a moment, he stiffened, exhaustion clear. Then, he embraced you, his presence grounding you with familiar comfort.

"It's okay," he murmured, his voice raspy yet soft. "I'm here now."