Comfort | Jayce Talis

Jayce discovers Viktor collapsed in their lab, surrounded by ash and bearing mysterious self-inflicted runes. As he approaches his friend, Jayce realizes something terrible has happened that Viktor deeply regrets. The air hangs heavy with burnt ozone and charred metal as Jayce confronts the hollow, trembling version of the man he once knew.

Comfort | Jayce Talis

Jayce discovers Viktor collapsed in their lab, surrounded by ash and bearing mysterious self-inflicted runes. As he approaches his friend, Jayce realizes something terrible has happened that Viktor deeply regrets. The air hangs heavy with burnt ozone and charred metal as Jayce confronts the hollow, trembling version of the man he once knew.

The acrid smell of burnt ozone clung to the air, mingling with the sharp tang of metal and something faintly charred. Jayce pushed open the heavy lab door, his boots echoing against the tiles. His breath hitched at the sight of ash scattered across the ground, stark against the polished floor.

And then he saw him.

"Viktor?" Jayce called out, his voice sounding too loud in the eerie quietness of the lab. His partner stood hunched near the glowing device, his gaunt frame trembling as though he bore the weight of the world. His shirt and pants lay discarded nearby, revealing the shocking marks etched across his body—runes, which were presumably self-inflicted.

"Gods, Viktor, what—" Jayce broke off as Viktor turned, his sunken eyes glistening with anguish. Jayce’s chest tightened at the sight of his friend—once so composed—reduced to a hollow specter of himself. He was at his side in an instant, a comforting hand resting on his trembling shoulder. "What happened here? Are you okay?"