Chapter Text
It was raining. One of the advantages of living in Zaun, not that much sunny weather. It was often raining or cloudy and the acrid scents of raw minerals and the ocean always hung heavy in the air.
Today was no different as Viktor made his way through the crowded streets from his lab near the docks to the castle. The walk wasn’t long but it took him longer then usual. He winced and stopped walking, as pain shot from his leg up through his spine like lightning, he took a couple of deep breathes and continued walking, his cane tapping against the uneven cobblestone road.
People didn’t pay him much mind, some shot him pitiful glances when he stopped, and sometimes children loudly asked their parents about his cane, probably because he looked too young to need it in their eyes. A few people he knew along the way gave him a respectful nod and stepped out of his way. Not many knew who he was despite his title as court mage, he liked it that way he had never been one for the spotlight. He kept to his study and did not often attend social gatherings off the court, so it wasn’t surprising that he got to walk about freely without being bothered or having guards with him. Not that he needed them, despite how he looked he was quite capable of taking care of himself if the need should arise.
As the rain slowly subsided he looked up at the castle he was approaching, to call it a castle had never really felt right, it looked more like a stronghold. The dark stone and square towers stood imposingly at the top of Zaun like a watchful protector keeping everybody safe. But then again it was built to look intimidating during the war.
The war, it had raged on for generations, he doubted the people who was there at the end even truly knew why it had started. But that might have been what prompted the peace treaty and maybe even what made it possible. That was 349 years ago, only a month away from being 350, that was why he was summoned to castle today.
He made it to the gate and walked through familiar hallways and then he stood in the throne room. He was early, the first one to arrive, but that was not uncommon. As he waited he looked up at the two chairs at the end of the room. They were on an elevated platform three steps up from the floor of the room, and they had been carved from two solid pieces of stone, if you looked closely you could see the magenta mineral ores running through the stone, sometimes the torchlight would land just right and the mineral would shimmer. Behind them hung the banner of Zaun.
He heard footsteps from the hallway outside the room and turned around. Seconds later Silco walked into the room followed by Jinx, the young girl was talking o him, but he put up a hand to silence her when he saw Viktor “Your grace” Viktor said with a bow of his head, “Viktor” Silco nodded to him but didn’t stop, instead he made his way across the room and through the door to the right of the thrones. He was never one for small talk, but even less so when he was deep in thought.
Jinx on the other hand stopped right next to him, with a big smile plastered on her face “You haven't been around in a while! I’ve missed you” Viktor smiled “My work takes up a lot of my time Jinx, you know this” She rolled her eyes “If you wanted to see me more you could always harness all that energy that you have into learning the ways of the arcane” Viktor said and her smile dropped “More school? No thank you” She stuck out her tongue and crossed her arms defiantly.
More footsteps approached them, and soon Sevika and Vi came through the door, gave a short greeting and continued the same way Silco had gone. Vander soon followed. He gave them both a smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. Viktor gave him a formal greeting and started to follow. But he stopped when he noticed Jinx hadn’t. she still had her arms crossed when he looked back at her with a questioning eyebrow, but she had dropped her facade and she looked a little worried, biting the inside of her cheek. “Why am I here?” She asked and Viktor frowned “Because you are the princess” he answered in a simple tone. She looked at the floor and sighed “I know that, but me and Vi are never at the council meetings, why today?” She asked and Viktor tapped his cane against the floor a few times in thought “Maybe your dads want you two to learn the ropes” he said thoughtfully “You do need to learn how to rule someday. Now come on we can’t keep them waiting” With that he started to walk again and gave a little nod when he heard Jinx’s footsteps following him.
The room they entered was tense. Vander sat in his chair with Vi to his left, the chair on his right was empty, due to the fact that Silco was standing near the window. Jinx sat down in the chair next to Silco’s and pulled her legs up to her chest. On the other side of the table sat Sevika, captain of the royal guard, next to two empty chairs Viktor sat in the one to her right, and rested his cane against the table.
The silence stretched on for a few uncomfortable minutes, until Vander spoke up “I’m sure you’re all aware that it’ll be 350 years in a month. And in accordance with the treaty a new union shall take place on the first day of the new year” There were slow nods all around the table but nobody verbally responded.
“The last union did not go well, letting the people volunteer was a bad decision on the previous rulers part” Silco said in a harsh tone, still looking out the window. That was true the last union had been a mess and the two people married were from vastly different social ranks, and the age difference had been scary to say the least. It had caused some trouble, mostly from Piltover, they had sent a young woman from a good family, and she arrived to marry a much older man who had worked as a fisherman his whole life. The whole thing was a mess.
But Silco continued “We have reached an agreement with Piltover” There was a long pause and when it became evident that he wasn't going to continue Vander took over “The person we send will have to be from the high court, and of a reasonable marriage age” This seemed to suck the air out of the room a bit more. There was only 3 people here who fit that description. The princesses and Viktor. Vander and Silco obviously couldn’t do it as they were already married and bonded to each other, and Sevika had been bonded when she was younger. Sadly her partner was dead, but because she was a vampire the bond didn't break, so she wasn’t an option.
Vi spoke in a strained voice and without looking up from where she was starring daggers into the table “I’ll do it” “NO” Vander and Silco said in unison. Vander sighed and Silco finally looked away from the window. He walked over to stand with a hand on Vi’s shoulder as he spoke “An honorable suggestion Violet but no, we will not send one of our daughters”
“Then we have a problem, cause there really ain’t that many other people that can do it and fit those parameters” Sevika said in a disbelieving tone. Silco looked at her as if he wanted to reprimand her but he was holding back because he knew she was right.
“Piltover has the advantage of a ridiculously big high court, they hand out titles over there like it’s candy” Everyone looked at Jinx when she spoke, she had wrapped her arms around her knees. She obviously did not want to be here.
Silco finally sat down and folded his hands on the table in front of him “We could give someone a high enough title and send them on their way” He said but Vander shook his head “That would be to much of a risk if Piltover found out”
The silence continued.
“I could do it” Viktor said in a monotone voice, purposefully devoid of any emotion. All eyes where on him now “I know I’m not a royal, and that is probably what Piltover is expecting, but my rank is high enough to not offend them” When he finished speaking he looked at the kings. Vander looked sad and Silco looked like he was deep in thought. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the shocked expression on Jinx’s face, but he refrained from looking directly at her.
“That could work, yes, I would be sad to see you go, but it would be sufficient” Silco looked at him as he spoke, scanning his face for signs of regret, but Viktor kept his expression indifferent.
”WHAT? No he can’t go” Jinx sounded a bit hysterical, her hands slamming down on the table. She looked from her fathers to Viktor with disbelief, Vi also looked shocked. Sevika patted his shoulder.
“Are you sure about this?” Vander asked “If it means keeping the peace and our people safe then yes” Viktor said with determination. “Then it’s settled” Silco said with a final nod before he leaned back in his chair. This was followed by Jinx abruptly standing and storming out of the room.
“I wanna go with him” Vi said “As his personal guard” She crossed her arms “That is not necessary-” Viktor began, but he was cut of by Savika “You are not a knight yet” Her tone cut through like ice and Vi sat up a little straighter and looked at her “Then let me take my vows. I’m ready and you know it” Her voice was filled with determination “Vi you would be giving up your claim to the throne if you do this” Silco spoke firmly “I don’t care-” Vi looked at him sharply “-I never wanted the throne anyway”
Vander looked at his oldest daughter, then at Sevika “Can this be arranged before the end of the month?” He asked and Sevika nodded her head “Yes, if she has your permission” She said.
Vander looked at Silco and they had a silent conversation through their eyes, Silco gave a short sharp nod and closed his eyes, and Vander turned his gaze back to Sevika “She does” He said. Savika stood from her chair “It will be done” she gave a court nod and left the room.
“You don’t have to do this Violet” Viktor assured her “Like I’m gonna let you go alone” She said and smiled at him, he gave her a small smile in return.
“You should prepare Viktor, you need to pack your belongings, you wont be coming back here for quite a while” Vander said.
With that he stood and the rest of them followed.
On his way back to his the lab, the finality of his actions dawned on him as he looked out over the harbor. He was going to be leaving the only home he had ever known, to be married to someone he had never met. On the plus side he wasn’t leaving any family behind, his parents had both died when he was young.
As he stood there feeling the cold ocean breeze hit his face, he felt a single tear slip down his face. His life was about to be turned upside down.