“This is Piltover. The city of progress, equality, and achievement. We used to be united. Used to be one. But we’ve lost ourselves. Some mysteries are better left unsolved. We need to hold our rogue elements accountable to the ethos, and make sure–”


    “But who holds you accountable?” Jayce interrupts. His mentor’s prepared speech falls away with a dumbstruck “Pardon?”


    “Shimmer is rampant in the undercity! Enforcers fear to set foot in the lanes! Meanwhile, how have you spent your time, Professor? Getting in the way of hextech, of helping the good people of Piltover thrive!” Jayce shuffles through his papers: endless lists of forged cargo manifests, countless enforcer resignations, and numberless investment offers for hextech he wasn’t permitted to take. All of this because of Heimerdinger’s negligence. Jayce knows now of all times is for action.


    “You can’t speak on helping the people of Piltover while you house the Solver in your own lab!” Heimerdinger yells, his face turned red under the mass of orange fur. This is the first time he’s ever seen his mentor this upset. Not even with the initial break-in on his lab was the professor this enraged.


    “The Solver?” Jayce questioned, the name unfamiliar, “You mean the Hexcore?”


    “No! Oh, my boy… you still don’t understand. But how could you? That’s a burden only I here carry…”


    “Then explain, Professor! Why would we throw out one of our biggest breakthroughs when you won’t tell us anything!”


    “I already did! Do my words mean nothing to you, boy?”


    “You told me it was dangerous, yes, but you’ve said that verbatim before every step Hextech has taken. Yet, here we are, still climbing higher and higher! You’re the father of Piltover, professor, and your years of service can never be repaid,” Jayce gestures to the rest of the council, who, through the whole argument, were content to watch the two scientists’ back and forth. Ultimately, every member of the highest body in Piltover knew what was about to happen, and they were ready. Heimerdinger had been a thorn in Hextech’s side, which made him a thorn in every trade deal and every investment the rest of the council tried to make in recent memory. This motion was a long time coming.


    Jayce hesitates, but a quick look down at his papers, evidence of his mentor’s negligence toward the city, and steels himself, “I think it’s time we gave the father of Piltover a well-deserved retirement…”


    “Jayce… don’t do this… you don’t know what you’re doing…” Heimerdinger pleads, but his voice falls on deaf ears.


    The vote is unanimous, and Heimerdinger leaves without another word. No one motions to have his chair brought away. Perhaps out of respect, perhaps out of guilt, or perhaps something else entirely, his seat remains at the head of the massive table. Empty.


    <hr>


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Viktor reaches the Bridge of Progress by evening. Inside his tightly clutched cane hid a vial of Singed’s modified shimmer. Viktor didn’t fully trust Singed, but he did trust his work.


    The bridge, a beacon of Piltover’s status, was swarming with enforcers armed to the teeth. As he made his way to the barricades and floodlights, a female enforcer raised her hand.


    “Halt. You are subject to inspection, wait your turn,” She raised her rifle, the implication clear to Viktor. His feet shuffled, but as he moved his cane, he froze. He couldn’t let them see the shimmer. Since he was from the Undercity, Viktor never got the opportunity, nor ever really wanted to pull this card. Unfortunately, emergencies sometimes call for unsavory methods.


    “Excuse me, ma’am. I’m Jayce Talus’ Hextech partner, I have clearance to pass as I please,” Viktor gestures to his nice clothes and well-made cane as proof of his status. His face wasn’t plastered all over merchandise like the Man of Progress, so he hopes this is enough to convince them to at least hear him out or let Jayce verify his identity.


    The enforcer hesitated for a moment, glancing at the long line of undercity residents before nodding her head, “We might be able to make an exception for you, sir. Sorry for the misunderstanding,” she moves aside and gestures to a nearby bench, allowing Viktor to sit down and let out the breath he was holding. The crippled scientist clutches his cane close as people in the line begin yelling and pushing. He hopes Jayce won’t hold it against him.


    Apparently, Viktor wouldn’t have to wait long to find out. Jayce, flanked by two enforcers who departed off with a wave of the counsellor''s hand, looked down the bridge at the enraged crowd before glaring down at Viktor.


    “Do you have any idea how this looks? I order a blockade and my own partner violates it! What were you even doing down there?” Jayce whispers with barely contained anger.


    “You ordered this?” Viktor repeats back with shock, trying to understand this sudden, drastic action his friend has taken, “Why?”


    “There are people down there who seem hell-bent on destroying us! The terrorist attack on Progress Day, the forged manifests, these people are dangerous, Viktor!” Jayce exclaims, confused at his partner’s seeming obliviousness.


    “Jayce, I’m from the undercity. My friend is too, that’s why I was down there,” Jayce lets out a large sigh and attempts to help Viktor up, only to have his arm slapped away.


    “I’m sorry… I’ve had a lot on my plate,” Viktor notices the bags under Jayce’s eyes, a sight all too familiar to the workaholic scientist. “Was your friend able to help?” He inquires, the anger having completely left his partner''s tone. Regardless, Jayce didn’t seem in much of a mood to take Viktor’s smuggling of illegal drugs across the bridge well.


    “No,” Viktor responded curtly, clutching his cane even tighter. “He said nature was resistant to this sort of… tampering.”


    Jayce responds with a bit of optimism, but is cut off by the sound of shattering glass and roaring flames. The counsellor glares back at the puddle of fire. The yelling had broken out into a full riot, one the enforcers are well equipped to handle. When Jayce looked back toward Piltover’s skyline, he thought he saw a bright spark of gold through his lab’s window at the academy…