//Gang PoV//

  "I'm telling you, I think that was Orion!" Powder protested, walking side-by-side with Vi. Vi sighed tiredly, keeping an arm ed around Powder's shoulder. "Listen Pow-pow, he's dead. That was just some stranger. You o let it go."

  "I'll find us the gig then," irked, challenging Mylo in the background.

  Mylo looked pissed. His arms were folded and he grumbled, "It was one guy and an old dude. He couldn't even hit back!"

  Vi turned her head slightly, "He could've if he wao. He had your bean-shaped head in his hand, remember?"

  "Hah! She's got a point!" Cggor teased, spping Mylo on the back with a ugh.

  Vi allowed herself a faint smile. Still, she couldn't help but feel disappointed, and Powder's words lingered in her mind. After all, she hadn't seen Orion die- she'd only dealt with the aftermath of Powder's breakdown.

  Stroking Powder's head affeately, Vi gnced down at her. Powder's lips were pulled into a pout, visibly upset and frustrated.

  "You don't believe me when I tell you things..." Powder whined, breaking her embrace with Vi.

  Vi's eyes widened, her ha h where Powder's shoulders had been. A faint shimmer of hurt crossed her face, but she quickly masked it. She opened her mouth to respond but hesitated, the words catg ihroat.

  Pnced up at Vi but quickly turned away, expression tightening.

  A sad silence fell between them, heavy and unfortable. Mylo and Cggor exged worried gnces as the gang walked in uneasy quiet.

  "Powder..." Vi broke the silence. Her voice cracked, heavy with uainty and doubt. "If he is alive- if that was him... then... why didn't he e back to us?"

  Just saying it stung Vi's chest. The question stung like a fresh cut.

  Not just for her though, but everyone in the gang.

  The mood of the gang darkened and turned solemn. There weren't any funny quips or ebacks from the other two either. They all felt hurt or betrayed in some manner.

  If it was him, why didn't he e back? Why didn't he say anything? Why did he front them?

  Endless questions, and it felt like they were the problem. That it was their fault, with their st memories of him being rather traumatic. Leaving him behind bleeding with Enforcers, or blowing him up in the warehouse.

  Powder's footsteps faltered, her small frame shrinking inward.

  "I still think it's him," she said in a hushed whisper. Her eyes were drawn to a little bracelet ed around her wrist. Orion had given it to her when he was sging, looking for someone.

  She k hadn't meant mu. He gave it to her in a nont manner, waving dismissively and rolling his eyes when she hugged him in appreciation.

  He didn't get it.

  It was strange. He didn't reize how much these small, kiures mattered. How they meant the world for someone like her. But Orion... it always seemed like he didn't quite belong here. Like the Uy was ruly his home.

  "I'll prove it," she said, her voice trembling with newfound resolve as her fingers brushed the bracelet.

  Vi's head soward her, taken aback by the sudden strength ione.

  Powder's voice rose with growing defiance, gring at her sister and the others as if she'd beerayed.

  "With or without you guys."

  -----------------------

  //Orion PoV//

  "Those bastards! I will rip out their spines!"

  Zarkon enraged roar shook the walls from ihe building as Orion waited outside. Loud crashes followed as objects were hurled and shattered within.

  The building was Chembaron Zarkon's family home, located in the Promenade level just outside the Boundary markets. It stood a few buildings away from the famous and only church of Piltover. The First Assembge of the Glorious Evolved church.

  People came from Piltover and the Uy to worship the Gray Lady, or Janna. Revered as the goddess uardian responsible for saving the Uy, she was said to have saved its people tless times. Some sought miracles, others prayed for wealth, and many simply yearned for soce.

  'The fresh air goddess...or wind spirit. What a title,' Orion gave a wry chuckle, gng up at Zarkon's residence.

  The exterior appeared normal, its well maintained walls and a freshly installed shingles installed giving it a respectable front. But the brief glimpse he had inside before the doors smmed shut told a different story. Rotten wood, peeling pain, and two pale, sickly looking children gring ominously out at him.

  He felt bad for Kieran who had to deal with this. Kieran's voice itched up from the stress, barely audible from outside.

  Orion's mind was wandering though.

  'So we have fake, dangerous versions of Hextech crystals- Syntixi- floating around... and Shimmer.'

  Orion's expression darkened. Somehow, it felt like things were worse than just Shimmer. Zarkon is produg votile crystals, Eramis's fa is pissed, and Silained a looming threat.

  It was a slow realization that dawned on him, the realization that the show Are focused only on one danger here. Everything was much more plex than a few stray crystals and sad kids.

  'I don't recall any House Ferros in Are either...' Orion mulled over what Kieran said before the door smmed open.

  Bleeding from his scalp, Kieran emerged not looking so good. His shaky breaths and trembling figure betrayed his stress. His eyes locked on Orion briefly with a weak smile before he motioned weakly for him to follow.

  Once far enough from the doors, Kieran croaked, "Nothing this severe has happened before...its best to y low for a bit."

  "Thank you for stopping those kids. If they'd stole or damaged anything while I was there alone..." Kieran grimly tinued, lightly toug the blood dribbling from his scalp. "I would've been an unfortunate act."

  "No problem... Do you need help getting back?" Orion asked, his tone ced with . He observed Kieran's shaky posture, swaying side to side.

  Kieran shook his head initially but then stopped mid-step. His gaze was hesitant but thoughtful, shifting slowly toward Orion, weighing a decision he hadn't expected to make. Orion tilted his head back, sensing the shift in Kieran's mood, waiting with quiet foreboding.

  "I already owe you." Kieran said after a long pause, his tone quieter now. "Perhaps you would like to join me and my daughter for dinner as thanks?"