Orion was fed and allowed to stay the night again due to his injuries. Once again, in the dead of night, he dedicated himself to strengthening his control. His training alternated between stabilizing larger pools of mana and manipulating smaller amounts with speed and precision. He healed more of the larger cuts beneath his bandages, but kept much of the open bruising and small cuts to avoid suspicion.
To avoid waking the boys, he refrained from releasing the mana in bursts and kept it to a small, steady trickle that dimly lit the room at best.
What Orion failed to notice, however, was a small, stiff optic peeking out from beneath the door. Once he finished training and fell unconscious, the optic wiggled and retracted with a soft click, disappearing back behind the door.
The following day was fairly uneventful. Everyone was relaxing after yesterday's ordeal, helping around the Last Drop or causing more shenanigans. Orion excused himself to "settle some business" for a few hours, restocking on ammo in the weapons alley of the Black Lanes.
Of his remaining two silvers, he spent one to buy two more rounds, putting him back up at three rounds. Now that the kids were more aware of him with a gun, he kept one round loaded and the other securely on his person.
After returning, the gang hung out at the arcade. Powder and Mylo competed at both the shooting range and the arcade, with Orion occasionally joining in. He was no match for Powder in either but had Mylo beat, who scowled and continued to practice diligently.
"I guess habits stick," Orion casually thought, his gaze shifting back to Claggor tinkering on mechanical parts and Vi practicing diligently in the ring.
She had spoken little since yesterday, avoiding his gaze at every turn. It was a slow process of opening her back up. Of course, Orion's go-to method was just to hop back in the ring and ask her to show him how she fought. It seemed to work, gradually getting her open up with more friendly conversation.
Now and then, Orion noticed Powder staring at him from the side, her eyes wide, burning curiosity and questions. It unsettled him at times, but he shrugged it off.
"Overall, it was a pleasant day," Orion thought with a small smile. "Weird to say if you look outside though," he added, chuckling as his gaze dismissively observed the toxic smog.
The day continued and ended uneventfully. Orion practiced again at night, unaware of the little optical device spying on him for the second time. Morning would come quickly, and he would have to depart for topside.
-------------------
Dawn came, and Orion set out back to his house to check up on it before heading topside. There were no signs of breaking and entering, but on the table, he noticed a small note. Alarmed, he drew his gun, checking the bathroom and upstairs with shaky tension, but found no intruders.
Sucking in air between his teeth, he refused to holster his gun as he picked up the note.
"Well done, little flower. Your roots are strong, nurturing your growth. After your time in the sun, come to the Factorywood. You know what awaits. Signed, 'C'"
"Fuck, how does she know where I live?" Orion cursed internally, placing the gun down briefly to rip the note to shreds. "Must've been through the window..." he tried to reason, but after double checking, he found all of the clips securing the tarp in place were still there and undamaged.
Tapping his gun against his leg, Orion's thoughts spiraled around his predicament, "What am I gonna do? Set boundaries? Hah! Put Vander's kids at risk? She probably already knows." He could feel his nerves fraying, the tapping growing faster and more erratic before he let out a frustrated sigh.
"Fuck." Orion cursed aloud, running a hand through his hair as he turned toward the door. "Shit just got more complicated."
-------------------
"You made it!" Caitlyn gleams from behind the gate as Orion approached. She was donning a fitted leather training outfit, her hair tied back in a ponytail, exposing her eager expression.
Orion smiled warmly, replying with casual humor, "Couldn't miss the reunion, could I?" before his eyes darted to the mansion.
Cassandra, Greyson, and a younger lad in his early twenties stood just under the grand mansion doors. With the exception of Greyson, a tinge of disgust and suspicion radiated from the other two. The man, in particular, gazed sharply and suspiciously toward Orion as the three conversed just outside of earshot.
"No, no you couldn't." Caitlyn giggled and leaned in slightly to whisper after noticing his shifting gaze. "That's Jayce Talis, a minor house. He's worried you're dangerous or have ulterior motives." She added with a mischievous grin.
"Well..." Orion reluctantly acknowledged it internally but kept it hidden behind an amused face as his gaze flicked back to Caitlyn. "He's not exactly wrong."
"I guess I'll be the baddie for a while," Orion joked again, softly chuckling as a household servant came to unlock the gate.
"Oh, I'm sure you are the most evil person I know," Caitlyn retorted with layered sarcasm, rolling her eyes as they began walking inside.
Their conversation slowly came into earshot, and Orion heard Greyson's raspy voice speak in concerned tones, "Perhaps revenge?"
"Perhaps," Cassandra replied with the typical noble authority. "What do you think- Orion?" Her gaze focused more intently on Orion, unnerving him.
"I think it's a nice day?" Orion quipped sarcastically, briefly waving up to the clear sky. This comment earned him a hard glare from Jayce and Cassandra's disapproving look but he continued, "What are you talking about?"
Sheriff Greyson stepped in, her tone direct as she began to brief him, "After the incident at Count Mei's Menagerie, we've noticed dangerous new chemical compounds and alchemical works circulating Piltover." She gave a sad sigh, her gaze lowering with obvious regret.
"I hoped the Ionians would leave peacefully." Greyson continued, flicking a glance at Cassandra. "But it seems like the flowers they took have found their way to the Undercity. I don't know for certain, but perhaps it's revenge for House Mei's actions? It's the only logical assumption right now."
Orion felt like a accidental master criminal, praying that a bead of sweat wouldn't appear and betray him. He couldn't claim the title of criminal mastermind though- that belonged to 'C,' with her invisible rope now tightly woven around him.
Grimacing, Orion looked down for a moment when Jayce raised his voice, laced with suggestive intent, "Perhaps you know something about this, Orion?"
Orion rolled his eyes, delivering a mocking verbal jab, "As a genius of the streets, I might indeed have some insight."
"Enough." Cassandra interrupted, her tone commanding as she waved a hand to silence them. "What do you know?"
Jayce didn't say anything when Orion flicked a disdainful look at him, but noted his jaw tightening. He adopted a casual, nonchalant attitude, though his words were calculated.
"From what I've been hearing on the streets, some criminals acquired it from a group of innocent-looking travelers." Orion said, focusing malicious suggestive intent on 'acquired' and 'innocent-looking' as he forged the story on the fly.
It wasn't the truth, but a safe middle-ground. He didn't want the lady from the menagerie tracking him down to kick his ass again, nor did he dare put the blame on "C" who could gut him in his sleep.
Cassandra and Greyson exchanged glances, Cassandra's tone laced with skepticism as she inquired, "Stolen...?"
"Perhaps," Greyson replied promptly, her voice steady. "We can't confirm either scenario yet. It will take time."
Greyson smiled warmly, her gaze returning to an impatient and eager Caitlyn, who crossed her arms and began tapping her foot impatiently.
Caitlyn spoke, disregarding the situation at hand, "May I take Orion to the training grounds now?"
Cassandra's gaze lingered on Orion for a moment before sighing, rolling her eyes upward with a tone of resignation, "Of course, Caitlyn."
Caitlyn perked up visibly, excitement evident, while Greyson chuckled softly. Jayce stepped forward, gesturing upward with his hand as he asked politely, "If you don't mind, Sheriff Greyson, may I watch?"
"I see no problem with that," Greyson replied with a small nod, giving him a thoughtful glance.
"Yeah, I know what this is about..." Orion thought, sighing at Jayce's actions before shifting his attention back to Caitlyn. She grabbed him by the arm and pulled him roughly past the group, "Come on, the servants will help you change into something more fitting!"
"More fitting?" Orion asked, looking down at his worn, dirty clothes.
"You're not fighting in that," Caitlyn stated matter-of-factly, completely ignoring Cassandra's disapproving look and Jayce's amused glance. Without looking back, he could hear Greyson's raspy chuckle, prompting him to shake his head with a chuckle of his own as he let Caitlyn lead the way.