Arcane Anew (Rewrite)

Orion's eyes wandered the surroundings of the botanical garden. Some of the interior against the glass had tall bushes, others short, and there was no place where he could just lie down or crouch to hide for hours on end. Not in broad daylight, at least.

The botanical garden's design was simple. Three pathways in semi-circles diverged and reconnected at both pairs of textured glass doors, exiting out into the zoo. In the center, where the Red Blossom flowers were, a rectangular pathway surrounded the cluster of plants.

He was too big to hide like a kid, yet too small to fight security if he wanted to brute-force this.

'The best option is to wait until nighttime, hide out nearby, and break in that way.'

Circling the garden, eyeing the different plants, plaques, and glass behind it in hopes of finding something, Orion's mind was in a bit of turmoil.

'C wants this done and is holding a threat over Vander's kids if I don't. The easiest way in here is magic, but Janna requested I don't use it for now.'

Orion eyed the open glass panel several meters above him and sighed.

'As far as I can tell, however, there are no side entrances here. All of the employee entrances must be in the front section.'

Scratching his chin, he stared idly back at the Red Blossom flowers.

'That might work... But it's still risky. I'd need to scout the location for a few days, but who isn't going to notice the stray Sump rat reappearing in the area for days or weeks? Hell, people noticed me today as it is!'

"Young lad," a gruff voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

A security guard, hand tightly gripping the baton at his waist, glared at him as he walked up.

"It's time for you to leave."

"What? Why?!"

"You're disrupting business, and we've had numerous complaints because of you."

Orion scoffed. "But I haven't done anything! I've just been checking out the menagerie!"

"Aye. But you're filthy and you stink," the guard eyed him with disdain, slowly pulling the baton from his belt. "Look, kid, I don't want to keep arguing. It's time to go."

"What the fuck...? Alright, alright!" Orion stared in disbelief before jumping back as the guard raised his baton threateningly.

The guard did have a set of keys hanging from his waist, but Orion had no idea which one would let him in, if any. And if he did nick them, the guard would probably notice during the shift change. If he was competent, they'd change the locks. This place wasn't that big and the money they earned from patrons, combined with the cost of losing a creature, was worth the extra security.

'Who would steal from a zoo or botanical garden? Alchemists or black market merchants, most likely. That spirit fox alone has probably caught someone's eye. I'm surprised C didn't ask for that instead.'

As he walked toward the exit, Caitlyn observed from a distance as people parted, holding their noses or jumping away in fear of getting the "filth" rubbed on them. It was clear she didn't like what she saw, but she didn't say anything.

"Don't come back."

Orion flipped them off as he walked down the stairs, scowling back at the glaring employees and disgusted patrons.

'I'll be back. Don't you fucking worry about that!'

------------------

"It wasn't right," Caitlyn complained as she sat in the lavish living room across from her mother.

The walls and furniture displayed the family colors of royal blue, white, and gold. Opposite Caitlyn, her father sat on the couch, gray hairs starting to speckle his beard. The fireplace crackled softly, acting as the only source of light, its glow dancing off the golden trim.

"Every prestigious business has a reputation to uphold," Tobias, her father, explained gently. "They didn't hate the boy, it was business."

"Yeah, but they didn't have to be so rude about it! You should've seen it! And everyone glared at him like he was an animal!"

"They're not far off," Cassandra remarked. "Unfortunately, no matter how gilded the walls are, a rat always seems to find a way inside."

"That's... I thought you cared about the Undercity people?"

"I do," Cassandra frowned, turning with a straight posture. "But that doesn't mean I'd let them in my home if they approached. Count Mei has the same rights to her business."

"And before you criticize my words, the clean air they breathe today is a result of my efforts to better their lives."

Caitlyn looked deeply conflicted in that moment. She didn't like what she heard and felt bad for the boy she saw, but she also couldn't dismiss the long-standing work her mother had done to improve lives in the Undercity. That boy was very rude too, but still... the injustice lingered in her thoughts.

"That boy... I didn't catch his name, but he said that the fox on display there was a Spirit Fox. It was on the placard too."

"A Spirit Fox?" Cassandra's brow arched, a brief flicker of surprise flashing across her face. "Nonsense. Count Mei knows better than that. I'm sure you just misread the placard while listening to the dribble of a Sump boy."

"I did not!" Caitlyn raised her voice indignantly, straightening her posture in defiance. "And from your reaction, the boy was right! If word spreads that Piltover put a Spirit Fox on display, it will become a political issue!"

"If," Cassandra emphasized. "If there is a Spirit Fox on display. I'll have Sheriff Grayson check it out in the morning."

"Even if the boy was right, which I'd be thankful if he is," Cassandra rattled on, "you should not have talked to him. You are a Kiramman. Much like Count Mei's Menagerie, we have a reputation to uphold."

"Who you talk to, and how you talk to them, affects our reputation," Tobias added with a small nod.

"I'm not giving up on becoming an Enforcer," Caitlyn replied flatly, already knowing where this was headed.

Cassandra paused before sighing. "This hobby of yours... Hopefully you will understand soon, but you can help lives without lifting a weapon."

"I think I can help the people better by catching criminals and keeping the them safe!" Caitlyn shot back defiantly.

Sighing disappointedly, Cassandra waved her off. "Go... I'll follow up on the situation."

Caitlyn looked like she wanted to respond, wanted to argue and fight back. Her fists clenched and her angry glare remained. They both looked at her, expecting an outburst, but instead she stormed out with an angry huff.

"She has a good heart," Tobias said with a smile. "She wants to help people."

"Yes," Cassandra shook her head worriedly. "But risking her life is not a requirement to help people."

"Our lives are always on the line."