Later on, Kieran came around, agreeing to work with him.

  "If you get caught, or things start getting dicey, I'm out," Kieran warned.

  Did he actually care about topside and the betterment of Piltover?

  No.

  He did want to get his hands on the crystal designs, though. If the Syntaxi were on par with Hextech without using this 'Bra', which was from Shurima acc to Kieran, it erhaps a safer alternative catalyst without risking wild magic.

  Perhaps Hextech gems, the refined version of Hex crystals, were safe too. Orion was unsure of the long-term side effects though sidering the corruptioes caused over time.

  Iy, si used magic as its foundatioech was likely far stronger for Orion than Syntaxi crystals. But again, the unknown dangers loomed.

  If he was to stay in Piltover, however, he o deal with Jayd Viktor before the catastrophe of season two.

  At the same time, he didn't want to be a bitch-boy to the powers at hand anymore.

  The solution he came up with?

  Outside of being more unstoppable with his magic- which would take time- he would have to gain influen other words, bee what he had hated.

  Sure, he could likely stop bullets a half a dozen enforcers. But that wouldn't be enough if the flict escated. By the end of such a fight, he figured he'd be drained.

  Orion, in short, leveled up from defeating thugs, but now his oppos would be Enforcers- or worse.

  The same goes for Zaun. He did want a better future for Powder, Vi, and the gang. But he was also just tired of being tossed around or hit.

  Kiera him stay the night, and the m, after Seraphine had left, Kieran id out where the factory was and how heavily guarded it was.

  It was definitely something Orion couldn't aplish alone. Several days were spent afterward trying to figure out a pn and scope out the area. When it wasn't that, he would help Seraphine backstage for a few coppers here and there.

  Orion thought Seraphine's opinion of him would improve if he helped, but she was very dismissive. She was more focused on the crowd and the 'soul of the people', only paying attention when he mentioned wandering the uy.

  "Stay out of trouble!" Seraphine warned him with a gre. "You're a walking catastrophe! I don't want you ruining my work like you did st year!"

  When she said that, he realized that she only let him stay near her because she wao keep him off the streets. Her opinion of him retty low.

  Yet, like a blessing, he spotted Caitlyn on the bridge cheg IDs and perf random iions.

  She was growing up quite well, looking more like her Are character after the year he'd been away.

  Sixteen, the same as Vi, aally in that very votile stage of youth.

  'The overzealous criminal hunter of Piltover...' he mused, recalling some fond days spent training with her.

  If it wasn't for the disaster in the Cultivar, Orion may have perhaps stayed and trained with her until adolesce. Good food, training, and solid es.

  Thinking about it, if Orion maintained es, he could've stopped Jayd the whole Hextevention.

  Could've, would've, should've.

  They were here now, and Orion nning to use Caitlyn in a way that would've made a proud. Yet another bad taste in his mouth. But to stay in Piltover, this was what he believed he o do.

  'Power es from those who are willing to do anything to achieve it'

  Silco's line, deplorable to many, yet still ringing true. Orion couldn't align himself to the chaos Silco would bring, but he still respected him.

  The Syntaxi produ facility resembled a t structure rising from the heart of the Uy. With no walkways leading to it, all entrances were either at ground level or accessible through underground passages.

  Curiously, the tower was lined with windows, an odd feature for a facility in such a hostile enviro. Orion sidered using his magic to leap up, vanishing into the smog after sg just a few levels. Still, he knew he needed a distra to pull the guards away from the main areas of operation.

  Kieran, who maintaihe factory's airflow aion system, had overheard various versations during his work. His knowledge of Hex Crystals, however, came from honing Seraphine's headphoo filter out the city's noise.

  Using Kieran's rough knowledge, Orioermined produ and the custodian office were located between floors ten to fifteen. The lower floors, visible from the street, served as a front- a mix of shady business dealings and the typical uy crimierprises.

  Onside, and the guards drawn away, Orion anticipated retively smooth sailing. There was orouble part of this pn that he'd yet to nail down though.

  The distra.

  Rumors of her survival had reached him, and the realization struck a strange chord. He felt a pang of relief that he had saved more than just the gang that fateful day. Guilt g him for what he was about to do.

  With his arms folded, Orion watched Caitlyn from an alleyway. She was very observant and noticed him within a minute of leaning against the wall. He was lost in thought, fetting to move when she spotted him.

  Caitlyn quickly became bothered, shiftiance as her weight shifted between her feet. Her eyes flickered from the other enforcers ba repeatedly.

  A creepy masked man lurking in the shadow of an alley, watg them, was undoubtedly cause for arm.

  When Caitlyn started to mention it, Orion had already vanished bato the alley.

  'If I 't manipute the Enforcers to take a, then I'll have to break in the hard way.'