The tension in the air is thick, like an invisible storm about to break. Viktor's amber eyes narrow as he steps closer, his voice low and unwavering. "So, you're telling me that you just happen to randomly know about the arcane rune, and all of a sudden you've turned up as a new student beaming with knowledge and drawing complete identical?"

Jayce stands off to the side, looking between the two of you, unsure of whether to intervene or remain silent. You feel your pulse quicken, your throat tightening as the weight of Viktor's words settles over you. Your mind races, desperately trying to think of a way out, a way to explain yourself without giving away too much.

"I... I wasn't trying to—" you start, but Viktor cuts you off, his voice sharp.

"Don't lie to me," Viktor says coldly. "I've been working with Jayce on this rune for months. And now, suddenly, you show up knowing all about it. You're either incredibly lucky, or you've been hiding something."

You feel your stomach twist, your palms begin to sweat. This isn't good.

"I... I didn't mean to cause any trouble," you stammer, trying to keep your voice steady, but it's failing you. Your heart pounds in your chest, and the pressure building inside you feels unbearable.

Jayce seems to sense the change in the room. "Viktor, maybe—"

But Viktor silences him with a flick of his hand. "No, Jayce. She needs to explain herself, now."

Your breath is shallow, panic rising in your chest. You try to focus, but the weight of their gaze is too much. Your arms begin to tingle, the familiar sensation of the runes on your skin growing stronger with each pulse.

Calm down. You tell yourself. Calm down, (Y/N). But the more you try to suppress it, the stronger the pulse becomes. The tattoos on your arm begin to glow faintly, the soft violet light creeping from beneath the fabric of your sleeves.

Jayce notices first, his eyes widening in shock. "What the hell?"

You can't contain it anymore. The pressure in your chest builds to an excruciating point, and suddenly, your entire arm begins to radiate with glowing purple energy. The pain is sharp, searing through your veins like fire. You gasp, your vision blurring as the magic surges, threatening to overwhelm you.

The energy being drawn from the Arcane rune is too much for you to handle. You collapse forward, your head spinning, the edges of your consciousness fading as the pain becomes too much to bear.

The next thing you know, you're jolted awake, a cold sweat clinging to your skin. The soft scent of lavender and wood fills your nose, and the unfamiliar warmth beneath you suggests you're no longer in the lab.

You blink rapidly, trying to clear the fog in your mind. Your eyes snap open, and you find yourself lying in a bed, but not your bed; the covers are pulled up around you. The faint glow of moonlight filters through the curtains. You groggily sit up, your head still pounding and your arm still tingling from the aftermath of whatever happened.

"You're awake."

The voice is low and calm, but it sends a chill through your spine. It's Viktor. He's sitting beside your bed, watching you with an intensity that makes you feel exposed, vulnerable. His amber eyes are softer now, but there's a worry in his gaze that wasn't there before.

Your voice hoarse. "What... What happened?"

Viktor sighs, his expression conflicted. "You... you passed out. We know about the runes tattooed all over your arms. Now speak, all truths and no lies."

You feel a sense of dread coil in your stomach. The last thing you want is to get caught up in more of this. But the truth is, you have no choice.

"I... I'm sorry," you begin, your voice shaking slightly. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen."

Viktor leans forward slightly, his gaze focused intently on you. "What are you hiding, (Y/N)?"

Your heart pounds in your chest, and you take a deep breath. This is it. There's no turning back now. "You are right, I am not just some gifted student with an insane amount of luck or coincidence", you begin, your voice trembling. "I'm an archmage."

Viktor's expression doesn't change, but there's a flicker of understanding in his eyes. "An Archmage, as in a magic rune user?"

You nod, trying to steady your breath. "My father is Ryze. He's a... guardian of runes. I've been studying them for years, learning how to use the magic responsibly. But my tattoos... they allow me to control and cast spells." You glance down at your arm, your sleeve still slightly pushed up from earlier. The runes glow faintly beneath your skin, almost as if they're listening.

You look back at Viktor, your eyes pleading. "Please, Viktor... You can't tell anyone. They'll... they'll exile or even kill me...You know the dangers of magic, it's illegal all over Runeterra. But I have no ill intentions, my soul goal is only to be like my father and guard runes... but what happened back there, I can't explain. That has never happened to me... that arcane rune is different, it's very powerful I can feel it in my veins."

Viktor is quiet for a moment, and the weight of the silence presses down on you. You wait, holding your breath.

Finally, Viktor speaks, his voice low and steady. "You're not the only one with secrets, (Y/N)."

You blink, surprised by the shift in his tone. He leans back slightly, his eyes distant for a moment.

You look at him, a sense of relief washing over you, but there's still an uncertainty. "You won't tell anyone?"

Viktor looks at you seriously, his gaze steady. "I won't. Your secret is safe with me. But you need to be careful. The power you're carrying... it's volatile."

You nod, a sense of gratitude flooding through you. "Thank you. I didn't know what to do. I'm sorry for snooping, but I had to know. I had to be close to the rune. I couldn't let it fall into the wrong hands."

Viktor gives a small, almost imperceptible nod. "I understand. But from now on, you need to be careful, (Y/N). The path you're walking is dangerous...How about after your classes you come to the lab with me, since you have a vast knowledge of runes perhaps you can help in aiding the study of the arcane rune, it would prove to be extremely beneficial."

You nod smiling, grateful for his understanding as well as his offering. "Thank you Viktor, and my goodness, yes of course I'd love to come and help aid you in your studies, I-I I don't know how to thank you."