Jayce paced anxiously around his lab, his thoughts tangled and his mind clouded. The weight of his responsibilities and other concerns pressed heavily on him: Viktor’s worsening illness, the demands of his new role as a councilor, and the escalating tensions between Piltover and the undercity. He yearned for a reprieve, a chance to breathe—or, even better, a return to simpler times. Back then, when he and Viktor had dedicated their days to developing Hextech to improve lives. Now, it seemed everyone wanted it forged into weapons, a perversion of the vision they had once shared.