Years ago, Jayce had nearly taken his own life when he realized his life's work had beeroyed and he was brought before the cil. There were no casualties, but he had lost everything he had dedicated himself to, and he was forbidden to set foot ihe Academy ever again.

  It was Viktor who had saved him, pulling him back from the edge of his ruined workshop. Together, they tiheir pursuit of Hextech, raiding Heimerdinger's b and bypassing ws and judgments through innovation and progress.

  In the end, it was only the success of their modifications to the Hextech Crystals that eheir crimes were quietly dismissed.

  Now, seven years ter, Viktor leaned on the rails of a viewing ptform ihe ventition shaft for the Hexgates. A low hum resohrough the chamber with pulsing waves of are energy running from above, down toward the hazy abyss below.

  "Look, I'm sorry I didn't announce our other projects in the speech." Jayce sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Heimerdinger is our mentor. His opinion es first."

  "And what about our pledge to improve lives for those in need? For the Uy?" Viktor replied with traces of disappoi.

  "I'm still all for it! But look, we messed up during the demonstration," Jayce said, refereng the are beam that nearly roasted Heimerdinger's pet poro. A fluffy, i-looking fuzz ball about the size of a small dog. "What if that erson? A kid?"

  "Hypotheticals." Viktor waved a hand dismissively. "A minor miscalibration, nothing more. We refine, we correct- this is the process of innovation."

  Viktestured toward the massive ventition shaft radiating with are power, frustration building in his voice. "Do you see what we have already built? How many lives we have improved, both here, in the Uy, and across the world?"

  "Ten years of fiuning such small devices, in parison?" Viktor scoffed.

  Jayce frowned, still shaking his head doubtfully. "We still barely uand the limits of this power. And anyway, we're talking about injuring someone by act right now."

  "The Hexgates could send a ship to the wrong location, stranding or killing hundreds by act." Viktor tered. "Does this mean we should abandon it? Or do we refihe process, minimize risk, and move forward?"

  Jayce's gaze lowered, troubled. He couldn't deny Viktor's logic.

  Guilt flickered in his eyes. He felt as if he had doubted not just his friend, but the very foundation of their work. His gaze swept across the massive struct they had built together.

  "You're right... I faltered in the moment."

  "It doesn't matter now. It's too te. The perfeent to unveil our wonders has passed. But like progress, we do not look back. We move forward."

  Leaning deeper into his staff after stepping away from the rails, Viktor coughed into his hand. His eyes fshed with , blood speg his palm, and his eyes darted toward his partner.

  Jayce didn't see it.

  He was transfixed on the magnifice of their work, busy refleg internally on his as, analyzing potential routes to make up for lost time.

  There was always a way forward. Always another breakthrough, waiting.

  "I must return to the b," Viktor said, shoving his blood-speckled hand into his pocket as he turned away, his voice steady despite the strain in his body.

  Jayce finally broke out of his trance, blinking as he refocused. "Right. I'll be there shortly. Hexcore, Runitai Shell yer, right?"

  "That is correct."

  ------------------

  ((By request, a brief 1 segment revisit to check out what's going on))

  //Meanwhile, in Ionia//

  ons spark violently as Shen's bde and Akali's kama, or sickle, cshed briefly before separating.

  Akali moved like a dancer, fluid and uable, switg between her kama for cutting and hooking and her kunai for stabbing or throwing. She weaved through her attack patterns, pressing forward with relentless aggression.

  Shen, calm and unmoving, lifted his hand in focus. His eyes fluttered close as he deflected several attacks without moving, his spirit bde returning upon and. As Akali tried to break his guard, he foresaw her move and tered. With a swift, precise ssh, he forced her to vault over him, her kama arg toward his neck.

  Without looking, Shen ducked and delivered a powerful kick to her stomach. Akali grunted in pain, her body twisting from the impact before she instinctively reached into her sash- smoke bomb.

  Puffs of white smoke, vision obstructed. But for Shen, it did not matter. He remained calm, focused.

  Wzzt!

  An arrow whistles through the air, boung harmlessly off his Ki barrier. Twisting sharply with precise footwork, Shen's bde finds its way to Akali's neck who tried to use the moment.

  Panting heavily, Akali stood frozen, frustration fshing in her eyes as she stared at the gleaming edge. Slowly, Shen pulled away.

  She took a deep breath, bowing respectfully while making aerure with her hands. "Thank you for the training, Master Shen!"

  "You have grown well, Akali," Sheurns the bow. While his expression is unreadable, he asks, "Tomorroill meet to discuss the Fist of Shadow. It is a heavy mantle, with heavier responsibilities. Are you prepared to bear them if you are chosen?"

  A low chuckle echoed from the clearing smoke. "You better be ready," a voice teased.

  Faey stepped out, a kyudo-style bow in hand, a knowing smirk on her face. "Mayyam will be watg."

  Akali snorted, pg her hands on her hips. "We both know she would've rather had you take the position."

  "Not true. She already expined herself. She's already expined herself. She wanted you to live a more peaceful life- besides, I 't take the maer what happened years ago."

  'Yeah, and that's the only reason you're not in my shoes.' Akali thought, her expression tightening.

  Meanwhile, Shen observed silently, as always.

  ------------------------

  "WHAT?!" Akali shot to her feet, her voice sharp and urained as it echoed through the chamber.

  Before her, the Kinkou masters remained posed. Mayyam sat with her legs crossed between Kennen and Shen, her expression as unreadable as ever. Gray streaks ran through her once-dark hair, and the deepening wrinkles on her face made her presence even more imposing.

  "Orion, who disrupted the bance- and tio do so- must be killed." Mayyam's voice was cold and unyielding. "If Faey aplishes this, atoning for her past mistake, she will take up the mantle of the Fist of Shadow."

  Akali's fists ched. Her anger in on her face, and she didn't care to hide it.

  Across from her, Faey sat in seiza form, staring downward. She hadn't expected this. Turmoil flickered in her eyes, but she remained silent.

  "I have followed the Kinkou Order's teags diligently," Akali said, her voice ced with fury. "Your teags. Despite our differences on how the Noxians should be handled, I have respected the bance!"

  She took a sharp breath before stepping forward, her gaze burning with frustration. "A, you return to Faey? And order her to kill the one who ensured she even had a future?!"

  For hours, the flict between Akali and Mayyam raged, their voices raised with emotions.

  But Faey remained silent throughout it all.