Arcane Anew

(I did drink, so I'm breaking this up into smaller bits.)

Stumbling through the streets, Orion instinctively tries to find his way back to the apartment. Lights dance before his eyes, speeding past him like he's traveling through space and time.

When his vision returns, he's gasping and vomiting over the river, his bile mixed with fresh blood.

Above, a blue bird hovers in the sky before landing on one of the powerlines, chirping with curiosity.

The searing pain still courses through Orion, his limbs and body feeling weak from the experience but the Void is finally coming back under control.

He had no recollection of events after the blackout and visions, and his confusion and fear mounted when he looked up to see the foreign environment. This quickly settled, however, recognizing the Piltoverian river.

'Shit, what was that...' he thought, staring down at his reflection in the water from the wooden pier.

Brief arcs of the void's energy rippled through him again, forcing cramp-like contractions through his hands and feet, seizing up in pain momentarily before spitting out another spout of blood.

'Violence...really? That was the cause?'

The dots were slowly connecting. 'Come the fuck on...How am I supposed to get payback or even protect myself if this-'

Another belch as his body violently reacts again.

"Fuck..." Orion groaned aloud.

Yet despite his suffering, the night air was still. Calm. Serene. A low mist hung over the river, shrouding the city's lights in a soft, ethereal haze.

Then, a sound.

A deep, melodic hum, weaving through the silence like a siren's call.

It called upon him, lifting his gaze to meet the outline of an enormous creature hovering on the river's edge, waiting patiently with a yellow gleam in its eyes.

This monstrous creature, releasing the alluring siren, opened its enormous maw which stretched impossibly wide.

"Excuse my song," the siren purred. "The tune's purpose is your attention. For I knew you had troubles... and I can offer absolutions."

And in the distance with frantic shouting and desperate cries, Powder, Ekko, and Isha sprinted out of the city's smog.

They skidded to a halt at the edge of the pier, breathless.

Orion lay collapsed on the wooden planks, his body still, his fingers just barely dipping into the water.

Ripples fanned outward, spreading in perfect, concentric circles, yet… nothing else stirred.

No creature. No monstrous siren.

Above them, the blue bird hovered, its feathers shimmering violently, pulsing with unnatural energy. The air surrounding it was thick with residual energy as gusts of wind died down.

Exhaling, the bird's beady eyes softened. It stared down at Orion, watching him in a way that almost felt… sympathetic.

Back at The Last Drop, Caitlyn was tending to Vi who was struggling to move. Vi wasn't in any life-threatening situation, just bruised.

Questions and sharp remarks flew back and forth between them before Caitlyn stands abruptly.

"Caitlyn, don't... This is Undercity business!"

"You still say that after what I just witnessed?" Caitlyn said with a darkened expression. "I'm sorry, but he belongs back in Stillwater- for all our sakes."