Viktor had been away from the Academy for a while. The last few days had been intense, dedicated almost exclusively to the development of the Hex Core. The obsession with his work had deprived him of any rest, but that day, he felt the need to breathe a little outside the confines of his inventions. So he decided to walk through the streets of Piltover, seeking to clear his mind.

As he walked through the busy neighborhoods, absorbed in his thoughts, something caught his attention. A child ran past a few meters from him, with quick and restless movements, disappearing into a narrow alley. It was strange. She seemed to be alone, without adult supervision, and her behavior aroused Viktor's immediate curiosity.

For a moment, he hesitated. There were many children in Piltover, some of them orphans, others wandering for fun. But something about that scene bothered him – the hurried way the child moved, almost as if he were running away from something or someone. Unable to ignore the feeling, Viktor decided to follow it.

He walked to the entrance of the alley, his footsteps carefully silent. The sounds of the city gradually faded as he entered the cramped, dark space, replaced by the echo of small footsteps that could still be heard in the distance.

The alley had an air of abandonment, with worn walls and shadows dancing in the dim light of lamps. Viktor wondered what could possibly cause a child to wander there. Maybe she was lost. Maybe she needed help.

"Is anyone there?" Viktor asked in a low tone, stepping further into the alley.