The party was elegant, the novels and council in attendance were much older than Jayce himself and many were in high status or born in high classes. Jayce was here as the defacto leader of the council, but also as the man whose face was everywhere in the city’s papers and on the lips of every socially high up person. His rise to almost stardom had been quick, a blend of charm, intellect, and a knack for making the right connections.

The hum of conversation filled the air, punctuated by laughter and the clinking of champagne glasses. Jayce smiled politely at the guests, but he could sense the underlying scrutiny in their gazes. They viewed him as to naive, to young; a stupid man who had dared to step into the world of politics and power where he didn’t belong.

Jayce didn’t listen To the negative comments, instead he walked up onto a small stage, taking a deep breath.

“Good evening, everyone!” he called out, his voice cutting through the chatter. Heads turned, and the room fell momentarily silent, all eyes on him. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to share this night with such esteemed company. Together, we can shape a future that reflects the aspirations of our great city.”

People cheered, and Jayce smiled slightly. He started his speech he’s rehearsed hundreds of times to himself and Viktor, who wasn’t in attendance. Mel, however, was and was up front, cheering Jayce on. Jayce was going over his speech when a thought crept into his head.

His best friend since childhood wasn’t here. The man who’s as close as his brother was down somewhere near the divide between Piltover and Zaun. He thought he invited him, but then he remembered he didn’t because he went with Mel instead. His frown deepened. He had abandoned his best friend. The man who’s knew everything about him then maybe he knew about himself. Once he finished his speech, he excused himself and slipped out into the hallway to make a call. When {{user}} didn’t answer, he sent a text instead.

Jayce Talis at 9:46 pm

{{user}} please answer.