The grand hall of the Kirraman mansion buzzed with idle chatter, the kind of hollow pleasantries typical of Piltover's high society. Jayce Talis stood near the edge of the room, a glass of untouched champagne in his hand. Beside him, Caitlyn Kirraman leaned against the wall, her posture exuding boredom despite her elegant gown.
"You know," Caitlyn muttered, her voice low enough not to carry, "This is kind of boring." She gave a dramatic sigh. "No one here is my age." She paused, then rolled her eyes. "Well, except him." She nodded subtly toward the center of the room, where Tarren stood surrounded by her mother's circle of friends and associates.
Jayce followed her gaze, his eyes narrowing slightly as they locked onto the necklace hanging around Tarren's neck.
Caitlyn groaned. "Not that it matters. Mother's been parading him around so much I haven't even had the chance to talk to him."
Jayce barely heard her. "He's from the Undercity, right?" he asked absently, his voice more rhetorical than curious.
Caitlyn raised an eyebrow. "Yes, or so he says. We had dinner a couple of nights ago. First time I've ever met someone from there, actually."
Jayce's suspicion crystallized. He's sure of it. He's the one Benzo gave the stone to.
—
The evening dragged on, and the attention around Tarren gradually dissipated. Left alone at last, Tarren found himself standing in front of a tall window, watching the rain trickle down the glass. The sound of raindrops tapping against the pane was oddly soothing, a stark contrast to the hum of voices behind him.
It was strange, this feeling of calm. Back in the Undercity, rain had never felt this way. There, it was a cold, damp nuisance, dripping through leaks in roofs or pooling in muddy streets. But here, in this quiet, luxurious mansion, it felt almost... peaceful.
"Good evening, my boy."
The voice snapped Tarren out of his thoughts. He turned to see Professor Heimerdinger standing beside him.
"Good evening, Professor," Tarren greeted with a polite nod.
Heimerdinger smiled warmly, his large ears twitching slightly. "It's been a long evening for you, hasn't it?"
Tarren chuckled softly. "You could say that. These sorts of events aren't exactly my cup of tea."
The professor nodded. "They aren't mine either, if I'm honest. But duty calls, and as head of the council, I must attend."
Tarren smiled faintly as Heimerdinger reached up to pat his knee. "You're doing wonderfully, Tarren. You've come so far in a short time, and you're still so young compared to my other students. Viktor was wise to bring you to my attention."
Tarren's smile softened. "Thank you, Professor. You're always light in terms of compliments for me.."
With that, Heimerdinger excused himself, waddling off to engage with another group. Tarren returned his gaze to the rain, his thoughts momentarily peaceful again.
"Nice necklace," a voice interrupted.
Tarren turned to find Jayce Talis standing nearby. His eyes were fixed on the stone hanging around Tarren's neck, his expression intense.
"Can I help you with something?" Tarren asked politely.
"That necklace," Jayce said bluntly, stepping closer. "Do you even know what it is?"
Tarren tilted his head slightly, feigning ignorance. "Pardon?"
Jayce pointed at the necklace. "Can I see it up close?"
Tarren raised an eyebrow. "You're rather direct, aren't you?" Still, he unclasped the necklace and held it in his palm, inspecting the stone himself.
"It's carved with the Rune of Inspiration," Tarren said. "A fascinating piece, though it's depleted. I've looked for something like it for years. I thought I could create something extraordinary with it, but I've never found another. Then again, I've only searched in the Undercity and parts of Piltover. The world is far bigger than that."
Jayce's eyes widened. "You... know about the runes?"
Tarren shrugged casually. "By reading. The runesmiths of Noxus left a few notes behind. Not exactly classified knowledge if you know where to look."
Jayce chuckled bitterly, shaking his head. "And here I thought I was clever. Of course, the runesmiths... Why didn't I think of that? Where did you find the notes?"
Tarren smirked slightly. "You haven't even introduced yourself, yet you're already making demands."
Jayce blinked, realizing his rudeness. "Right, apologies. My name is Jayce Talis. Like you, I'm patroned by the Kirramans and a pupil of Heimerdinger." He paused. "I've been researching that stone—or stones like it—for a long time. May I borrow it? Just for my research."
Tarren's expression shifted. "Magic is forbidden at the academy. You're risking a lot by saying this to me."
Jayce smirked faintly. "You're bold too. Wearing that necklace openly in a gathering like this? Sharing your knowledge of the runes so freely? You're taking risks yourself."
Tarren chuckled. "You're the one who asked first. My knowledge is simply theoretical, I am not actively researching it now."
Jayce sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fair enough. So, will you let me borrow it?"
Tarren considered him for a long moment before replying. "Only if you let me see and involve myself in whatever it is you're researching."
Jayce hesitated, clearly uneasy with the idea, but after a moment, he relented. "Fine. But it stays between us. If anyone finds out, we'll both be expelled."
"Agreed," Tarren said, throwing the necklace towards Jayce, which he caught it.