[Viktor turned very quiet in a way he did not even when hesitating to talk about how he caused the apocalypse. This weighed differently, heavy on his shoulders in a more close and personal manner. He swallowed hard against how his voice threatened to crack before he'd even spoken--if he had not been in his human form, it might have been that familiar catch of metal on metal.]
Experimenting directly with the Hexcore was a dangerous and painful process. I did it when I was sure I would be alone in the laboratory, when not even Jayce would know what I was doing. We...we had an assistant, a young woman from the Undercity--Sky Young.
[...he'd never asked about her last name. If she'd adopted one on coming to Piltover or if her family was so new to Zaun that they still had one. Gods, he hadn't known anything about her.]
She came in unexpectedly--saw my hand on the Hexcore, saw it was causing unspeakable pain, and tried to pull me away from it. But it...wouldn't let go. It would never let go of me, not in any sense. The next thing I knew, there was a burst of arcane energy, I heard her screaming, and-
[Screaming her murderer's name with her last breath.]
...It was an accident. I swear on everything that has ever mattered, I had no idea it would-...I didn't...
no subject
[Viktor turned very quiet in a way he did not even when hesitating to talk about how he caused the apocalypse. This weighed differently, heavy on his shoulders in a more close and personal manner. He swallowed hard against how his voice threatened to crack before he'd even spoken--if he had not been in his human form, it might have been that familiar catch of metal on metal.]
Experimenting directly with the Hexcore was a dangerous and painful process. I did it when I was sure I would be alone in the laboratory, when not even Jayce would know what I was doing. We...we had an assistant, a young woman from the Undercity--Sky Young.
[...he'd never asked about her last name. If she'd adopted one on coming to Piltover or if her family was so new to Zaun that they still had one. Gods, he hadn't known anything about her.]
She came in unexpectedly--saw my hand on the Hexcore, saw it was causing unspeakable pain, and tried to pull me away from it. But it...wouldn't let go. It would never let go of me, not in any sense. The next thing I knew, there was a burst of arcane energy, I heard her screaming, and-
[Screaming her murderer's name with her last breath.]
...It was an accident. I swear on everything that has ever mattered, I had no idea it would-...I didn't...