Arcane Anew

//Orion PoV//

"Seraphine, are you home?"

"Yes, Dad! I'll be down in a minute!"

Bells jingled softly when they entered. Orion's bewildered gaze settled on the front just before they stepped inside.

It was a music shop in southern Piltover. Well, a 'hexcoustics' workshop- close enough. Hextech was growing fast thanks to Jayce, and many instruments now had Hextech crystals to amplify the sound.

'Explosive instruments...' Orion thought, chuckling aloud. 'Throw them around and watch them explode.'

His gaze was drawn to the different instruments lining the interior. Some were normal, and others emitted a soft blue hue where the crystal was installed. It had to be cushioned in some way; otherwise, it would be too dangerous!

"Isn't this dangerous?" Orion finally asked. "Embedding crystals into instruments kids can play?"

Kieran glanced back and chuckled with amusement. "You think we sell those to kids?"

Orion's mouth hung open, his gaze shifting between the instruments within his grasp and Kieran, as if it was self-explanatory.

"No," Kieran's expression shifted to a more serious tone. "Those are sold to experienced musicians. I try to make it as safe as possible, but the musician knows the risk too."

"Why risk it at all? Just play the music and tell the story. Also, why are you heading down to the undercity if you have this store?"

"To make ends meet," Kieran curtly answered his question before chuckling again. "You've never played an instrument, have you? Have you been to a concert before?"

Orion shook his head, "I listen to it casually. I've never gone out of my way to listen to it, though."

"You've been missing out!" Kieran exclaimed, a slight look of disbelief on his face. "Never? I don't know what keeps you sane then. There isn't much else beyond food and drink in the Undercity."

"You aren't from the undercity, though?"

"I used to be. We moved to topside before- ah! Seraphine!" Kieran's tone had started to shift down when a young girl practically pranced into the room.

Kieran's expression shifted near simultaneously, though one could catch him being startled by the sudden entrance, to a brighter, more upbeat one.

"Seraphine?" Orion's posture straightened, recognizing the name as his gaze shifted to her.

She was a young, bright girl with pale skin, bright blue sapphire eyes, and pink hair that hung loosely down to her hips. A bright pink headset rested on her head, oversized earmuffs framing her face.

'Seraphine?' Orion thought again, bewildered. 'She's from Piltover- that shirt makes sense now.' His mind drifted to the thug wearing the flashy pink microphone-logo shirt from earlier.

The two embraced each other in a tight hug. She looked up at Kieran with a worried expression. "You're hurt! How did that happen?"

"I had a rough encounter while running some errands." Kieran smiled faintly, sitting down on a stool behind the counter. His eyes drifted to Orion, giving him an appreciative nod. "This young man, Orion, helped me get home."

Her brilliant blue eyes slowly turned toward Orion, and he immediately felt a uncomfortable. His mind raced, recalling vague notions about her powers related to sound or music, but everything was else was drowned out in a buzz.

Seraphine's eyes locked onto his, her expression unreadable- no smile, no thankfulness. Just wide, observant eyes, as though she was sizing him up.

Holding the rag her father had been using on his scalp, she removed one of her earmuffs, her gaze still fixed on him.

Orion blinked, she blinked. He inhaled sharply. She mimicked him.

'Is she copying me?' Orion thought confused. 'Why am I in this weird staring match with her?'

"Hello?" Orion broke the awkward silence, his voice stiff. "Sorry, hi. I'm Orion..." He gave an awkward wave, trying to lighten the moment.

Still, she silently stared at him for a moment longer before slowly replacing her earmuff and her gaze returned to her father.

Orion exchanged a confused glance with Kieran, who responded with a knowing chuckle. Seraphine removed the rag and rummaged around, returning moments later with a med kit.

"Uh-" Orion exchanged another glance with Kieran. Kieran did mention he had kept certain details hidden from his daughter, so he decided to run with it. "Yeah... It wasn't a big deal. I just felt kind of bad watching it happen."

Smiling, Kieran's eyes met with Seraphine's, who casted a doubtful glance back at Orion before returning to clean her father's wound. 

"I invited him for dinner as thanks," Kieran said casually.

Seraphine, focused on her task, shrugged as if she was indifferent. "Okay."

'She obviously has opinions about me,' Orion thought, watching the typical teenage behavior.

"I'll be out after dinner." Orion said respectfully.

Kieran, however, waved dismissively. "No, no! It's getting late. You can stay for the night- we have a couch you can sleep on!"

Seraphine stiffened, glaring at her father, her expression demanding to know what he was doing. Her hand hovered over his scalp with a needle and thread.

"Or do you have somewhere to return to?" Kieran asked slyly, glancing over at him and ignoring his daughter's glare. His words gently prodded him, as if he already knew the answer.

Orion winced. Kieran did hit home. Orion didn't have a place to sleep anymore. He hadn't even checked what happened to his old home in Emberflit Alley yet either.

"No..." Orion muttered reluctantly.

This drew a brief, softened glance from Seraphine before it returned to her father.

"If it isn't too much trouble, then..."

"Great!" Kieran exclaimed, clapping his hands together with a wide smile. His gaze shifted to his daughter. "Thank you, Seph! Skillful as always."

Beaming, as if proud of himself, Kieran said, "I'll start preparing dinner!" before stepping out abruptly, leaving them in the hexcoustic workshop front together, alone.

Seraphine blankly stared after her father. Her head shifted, a deadpan look settling on Orion, who shifted awkwardly again.

'Shit... I don't know anything about music!' Orion racked his brain, trying to think of something to break the ice.

"So...music, huh?"

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

//Bridge of Progress//

Greyson patted Caitlyn's shoulders as they stood at the bridge, dusk reflecting rays of color off the polluted river.

A little further away, three other enforcers stood waiting at a distance, giving them space to finish their conversation.

"I'm proud of you, Caitlyn," Greyson smiled, her expression warm and similar to any proud instructor or parent. "You've done well to get this far."

"Thank you, ma'am!" Caitlyn promptly responded. While her response was appropriate, her beaming face betrayed her happiness and excitement.

Chuckling softly with amusement, Greyson briefly glanced toward the others before back to her.

"Don't get too ahead of yourself," Greyson said, her tone more serious. "This is your first shift. Listen to the others."

"Yes, ma'am!" Caitlyn replied eagerly.

"Relax," Greyson sighed, patting her shoulders more firmly this time. Caitlyn's body jerked, some tension visibly leaving her.

"The others will be a little rough, but it's something you'll have to get used to. Especially coming from a noble household."

Caitlyn nodded understandingly, her gaze flickering briefly before meeting Greyson's. "When will I receive permission to patrol the Undercity?"

"Not for a long while," Greyson replied firmly, shaking her head. "It's too dangerous for fresh recruits. Give it time..."

"But Piltover is already safe! I should be patrolling down there-" 

"If Piltover was safe, none of the events that transpired last year would've happened."

Greyson was quick to shut her down. Caitlyn sighed in frustration but eventually nodded. "Understood..."

"I'll check up in a few hours." Greyson said. After a brief pause while observing her, she turned to leave. "Try not to upset the sergeant. You'll be working with him tomorrow morning and in the future."

"Yes Ma'am," Caitlyn said with a wry smile, her voice carrying a touch of disappointment.

Greyson smirked lightly before striding away, leaving Caitlyn to join her crew for the evening shift.