Warm honey-coloured almond eyes met hers, a smile gentle and soft, dark brown hair framing her elegant face. She lay on her bed, her gaze soft despite the dark bags under her eyes, a contrast between her pale skin.

"There she is, there's my sweet little Bao."

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

"Adri, honey, you okay?"

Adrianna perked up as she looked at her father, her hands halfway through cutting some spring onions. Her father stood beside her, nudging her elbow slightly as she shook her head quickly to snap out of her daze.

"Yeah, just... just fine," Adrianna let out a little exhale, cutting faster. "Was thinking, that's all, Pa."

Her father hummed, pulling some noodles from the boiling water of a shiny copper pot, "Must be some pretty serious thoughts, huh?"

"Just thoughts," She smiled, her mouth drawing into a line, as she put the spring onion aside, grabbing a bottle of gold oil and dark sauce, a bowl of minced meat in the other hand as she walked over to her father.

"Is this about medical school?" Hedrick asked softly, starting the flame beneath a large wok. "You know your grandmother can write you a recommendation there-"

"It's not like that, Pa," Adrianna huffed softly, tossing in some garlic and onion the moment the oil was hot enough.

The aromatics sizzled, the distinct smell filling the kitchen. Adrianna frowned as she messed around with the ingredients, pouring a dollop of dark sauce in, "I just... I want to prove myself, not have others vouch for me. I want to prove my worth, just like every other student there."

"Yeah... like every other student," Hedrick murmured under his breath, knowing full well most of the methods big family names used to get their children in. He was met with his daughter's red irises glaring at him slightly as she added the minced meat.

"Alright, alright," He sighed with a smile, brushing his daughter's hair back, "Adri, I know you. You worry and you pace around anxiously when you don't think you've done enough but maybe stop for a moment and just... look at your work, look at all the effort you've put in."

He gently tugged her away from the stove as he cupped her cheek, "You're my brave, strong girl. You're hardworking and you have your mother's stubborn streak - you don't even know when to let go. So don't give up now, not when you're so close to making it."

Her gaze remained lowered before she slowly smiled, wrapping her arms around her father's waist, "Thanks, Pa."

"Anytime, honey," He softly kissed the top of her platinum blonde hair, "You know I'll always be your number one supporter, right?"

"Yeah, always," she pulled away, grabbing a wok chuan. She mixed everything, and her father added the noodles as soon as the meat was cooked.

Golden sunlight entered through gold-rimmed windows, bouncing off against sturdy redwood floors as the two made breakfast, Adrianna grabbing two bowls as her father took over the cooking process. Hedrick carefully split the noodle portion into the two bowls, garnishing with the spring onions while she grabbed her favourite pair of chopsticks. The eighteen-year-old picked up their breakfast, placing the bowls on their small, circular dining table, a large plate of steaming-hot baos already waiting for the father and daughter.

Hedrick soon joined after, the two of them digging into their noodles as Adrianna glanced at the buns, "Pa?"

Hedrick hummed, his mouth still full as he turned to look at his daughter. She fiddled with her food, eyeing the baos, "Why did Ma call me her little Bao?"

Hedrick turned his gaze to the plate where the steamed buns, slurping up the noodles as he neatly patted his beard clean with a napkin, "That's a nickname I haven't heard in a long time."

Adrianna smiled slightly, glancing at her father briefly before looking back at her breakfast. Hedrick's gaze softened as he smiled, leaning back in his chair. Ever since she was little, Hedrick always did the same whenever he was about to tell a tale, he'd lean back in his chair and spin stories of worlds far beyond Piltover, like a bard from a land faraway singing his songs.

The only difference now was the glint of recollection in his eyes, and his grey hues looked almost misted over in nostalgia.

"You were just born," Hedrick smiled, recalling the way how happy he was the moment he saw his wife holding their small daughter in her arms. Tufts of platinum blonde and skin paler than either of theirs, all swaddled up in a fluffy pink bundle.

His wife's gaze was so soft as she placed the gentlest of kisses on her daughter's forehead.

"Your mother thought you were the sweetest thing ever, with your little gummy smile. You loved to smile," Hedrick reminisced, "But she called you her Bao since your skin was as soft and as a red bean bao."

Hedrick gently cupped his daughter's cheek, "Sure you look a little different from the rest of us, but you're still our girl, Adri - you're living and breathing and kicking, and that's all I could ever ask for."

Hedrick smiled down at his daughter, Adrianna smiling softly as she leaned into her father's touch. Hedrick brushed her hair back before picking up a bao, Adrianna finishing the last of her noodles before an alarm rang off.

"That's my cue," Hedrick perked up, standing with the scrape of his chair, "I'll be back late, hon. You best save something for dinner. Or pick up some groceries to make something for yourself on your way back from the academy."

"I'll follow you," Adrianna picked up both their bowls, placing them in the sink while her father finished up his bao in one big bite. "I'll see you off since I'm going out anyway."

Hedrick frowned slightly, still chewing the last of his bao before swallowing, "You sure, hon? I know how much you hate-"

"I'm following," Adrianna smiled, handing her father his satchel. "What kind of daughter would I be if I didn't see my father off?"

Her father huffed in amusement, smiling as he ruffled her hair, his daughter chuckling as she gently pried his hand off of her platinum locks, "Aren't you a smartass?"

"Learned from the best," She grinned, her father pulling his enforcer uniform over his collared shirt.

"Smartass."

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

"Vampire."

Adrianna glanced in the young girl's direction beneath her hood, the child's finger aimed at her face, her mother tugging her away frantically with hushed whispers of worry.

This was an everyday occurrence for her, pretty much every time she stepped out of the house. Adrianna sighed as she tugged on her own satchel, her cloak elegantly embroidered onto the gold lining with old rhinestones from her mother's dresses glimmering in the sunlight.

"Let it go, Pa," Adrianna pulled on her father's sleeve as he sighed, "She's a kid."

Hedrick frowned, turning back to follow ahead of his daughter, "Someone's gotta teach the kids manners, and she's clearly not learning it from her mother."

"There's nothing I haven't heard before, Pa. Besides, we both know they're not true," Adrianna walked alongside him to his post, just on the outskirts of the town hall. She waved, watching her father sign in as she felt something hit the back of her head.

Adrianna winced as she rubbed the back of her head, glancing down to see a tomato rolling down the stairs where she stood, a boy her age placing a hand on his hip, a book in the other. He was well-dressed, his clothes pristine and spotless, boots shiny and lined with gold, as most clothes in Piltover were.

"Baxter," Adrianna deadpanned, lowering her hand as she placed it over her bag.

"Behold, the vampire walks in daylight," He mocked, his brown hair wavy and stiff with gel. "Seeing your next meal off?"

He walked closer to her, his gold eyes narrowing at her red ones. Adrianna flinched, taking a step back as he tugged on her hood, "Aren't you a bit old for this... cloak nonsense, Adrianna? It's just a bit of sun."

"It's called Albinism, not Vampirism," Adrianna swatted his hand away, "A real medical student would know that one of the two exists."

"Bet you knew the difference when you drank your mother dry like a mosquito," Baxter sneered, eyeing her up and down, "You'd be quite the sight to see, wandering up and down the academy halls like some ghoul."

"And I'll still be lightyears ahead of you, Bax," Adrianna sighed, murmuring under her breath, fidgeting with her cuticles as she took a few steps down from the Enforcer's post. "Since we both know who's too busy to study due to their urge to bed every female in sight."

Baxter stepped in front of her, flicking her forehead. Adrianna rubbed her forehead with a frown as he spoke, his tone filled with pride as his cheeks were pink, "Watch yourself, Yhang. Just because you're my betrothed doesn't mean I have to be nice."

Adrianna huffed, storming off as she tugged on her satchel, walking further into town, "As if you had the capacity to be nice anyway."

She made her way through the town square, huffing through her nose as she mimicked the way he spoke, people giving stranger looks than usual as they avoided her. She grumbled even more, further irritated by the scared looks of children - and just this once out of spite, she bared her teeth, scoffing when she heard their shrill squeals as they ran.

"Damn children," She whispered under her breath as she bumped into someone, a small shimmering purple vial dropping from their pocket and onto the floor.

She quickly picked the item up with a frown, turning around to apologise.

"I'm so sorry-" Her eyes widened as she didn't see anyone, her head turning to look around, only to be met with the strange looks of fellow Piltoverians covering their children's eyes as the vampire's red eyes passed over their forms.

Adrianna rolled her eyes before looking down at the vial, a small frown of confusion painted on her porcelain face as she pocketed the small vile in her satchel, continuing her destination to the Academy.

Little did she know, a masked figure in the shadows watched her figure, its gold-tinged owl feather-like edges glinting in the light as they began walking after her, two other masked figures dispersing from their side with a wave of their hand.