Arcane Anew

"Where were you?" Seraphine demanded, standing in the store section of their hexcoustic workshop. "I covered your ticket, and you didn't show up!"

"I did!" Orion protested with an apologetic smile. Her arms were crossed, and she leaned in with an upset frown. "But some people showed up and I had to run..."

Scowling, she rolled her eyes and shook her head. "You've been back for what? Less than a few days? And you already have people chasing you!"

"What can I say? I'm just that famous," he replied sarcastically.

"Is that right?" she retorted with a wry smile.

"Haha..." Orion weakly chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. He glanced over at Kieran, who smiled innocently as if he didn't hear anything, and Orion's expression turned more serious.

"Hey, does your...contractor... know we're still meeting?" 

Kieran's eyebrows raised for a moment as he glanced at Seraphine, then shook his head. She looked between them with suspicion, huffing again with her arms still folded.

"Great! Because I found some Syntaxi crystals and I was wondering if you could-"

"You WHAT?!" Kieran exclaimed, standing up suddenly with a wide eyes. His eyes quickly shifted to Seraphine, who stiffened. Sighing, he gestured for her to leave and lowered his voice to a more gentle, pleading tone.

"Sephy, can you leave us for a bit?"

"Sure..." Seraphine replied uncertainly, her gaze lingering on them as she left the room and closed the door behind her.

Once the sound of footsteps faded upstairs, Kieran's eyes darted back to Orion.

"What do you mean, you 'found' Syntaxi crystals?"

"Oh, I was just kidding," Orion smiled innocently. Kieran's face contorted, obviously not liking his actions before Orion continued. "But I plan on grabbing them- and their blueprints."

"Woah, slow down," Kieran said, raising his hands. His tone was stiff, carrying wariness and concern. "What do mean 'plan on grabbing them'? Are you planning on stealing from the Poingdestre family?"

"Why not?" Orion tilted his head, well aware of how absurd his idea sounded. "Do you think it's a good idea for them to have those crystals?"

"No one should have those crystals! I already told you that they are far more potent and dangerous than any other synthetic version- on par with Hextech Crystals! It uses Shimmer in place of the Brackern, which is what Hextech crystals are derived from."

"No idea what a Brackern is!" Orion chimed. "But you sound like you know a lot more than you should. And you were talking about it to me when you shouldn't have been."

Kieran stiffened, leaning back against the counter. "Listen, Orion, I can't help you. If I did, I'd be putting my daughter in danger."

"I'm not asking for your help during the heist- well, maybe just the location of their factory. I'm asking for you to help afterward." 

His words didn't seem like they were working. Kieran's forehead creased with skepticism, his gaze hardening as he crossed his arms.

Sighing, Orion shook his head. After the confrontation with Vander, he knew he needed to be bolder. He was on the losing side of every party if he stayed in this city.

Piltover would have him locked up, and half of the Undercity wanted to use him. Silco for his schemes, Vander for his family and passive ideals.

"Kieran, listen to me. Do you really think things will stay peaceful if Zarkon keeps manufacturing those crystals? When they start using them, other Chembarons will jump in. You've seen how they behave when they hold power. Do you think Piltover or Silco will show any mercy to you or your daughter if they catch wind of your involvement?"

Kieran's hardened exterior seemed to crack slightly. His fingers tapped nervously against the countertop as he mulled over Orion's words.

"Do you really think you can steal it?" Kieran finally asked, his tone low and skeptical. "Do you even have a plan? Or did you come in here spouting nonsense with nothing but a hair-brained idea?"

Orion shrugged, smirking slightly at Kieran. "It's worked so far."

Sighing, Kieran pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "You're going to get yourself killed- or worse, bring the Chembarons right to my doorstep."

"Well, that's a future you've already set for yourself by helping Zarkon and doing nothing," Orion said, frowning. "If I succeed, you can cut ties safely."

After another short pause, Kieran asked, "Why do you want the crystals? What do you plan on using them for?"

"Well," Orion said slowly, choosing his next actions and words carefully.

Lifting his hand, he channeled, an archaic blue orb materialized in his palm, shimmering and painting the room in a soft, blue hue.

Kieran's eyes widened in shock, stepping forward cautiously as his gaze shifted between Orion and the orb, muttering in disbelief. "Magic..."

"Yes," Orion nodded, his eyes meeting Kieran's again. His expression hardened. "I've seen topside and the undercity just like you. I've also had the... privilege... of being around topside's elite."

"Hextech uses magic, but they're developing it recklessly, without considering the cost." Orion glanced down at the glowing orb in his hand, his voice dipping into something cryptic, knowing.

"And the irony? Despite their use of magic, they refuse to consult mages. Ionians- and any mage for that matter- would have warned them to stop. Even the council member Heimerdinger knows! Yet, he's allowing it to continue."

A moment of silence followed with Kieran stroking his chin, his gaze fixated on the orb while his expression mirrored his intense thoughts. He started muttering to himself, closing his eyes, before finally looking back at Orion.

"If these Hextech crystals are so dangerous then why don't you infiltrate the academy instead?" Kieran countered, his voice sharp but filled with curiosity. "Why risk your neck for Syntaxi crystals?"

With a final hum, the orb vanished from Orion's palm and the room went back to its pale, original lighting.

"Even if I could get past the Enforcers and snuff it out at its source- that would also mean killing people like Jayce and Viktor. They are protected by Piltover's bureaucracy, the council, and the public's admiration. They're untouchable, for now."

"They will bring disaster, but stopping them this early will bring another civil war," Orion said in a low, solemn tone.

"So, what? You want to trade one dangerous technology for another? What makes you think that's any better? Playing god with a different weapon? You're giving me a lot of reasons not to trust you, Orion."

"Syntaxi doesn't use magic, so it isn't inherently dangerous. It can be refined. The Syntaxi problem will remain unless we stabilize it, and we can replace Hextech."

"If it can be refined, that means it can be weaponized," Kieran responded, his arms still crossed. "What makes you think it will end any differently in the hands of the Undercity?"

"We just met, but trust me when I say magic is far more dangerous- as a user myself." Orion's expression darkened, recalling all of his pain and trauma from the explosions to being zapped across Runeterra. "They'll figure out a way to refine Hextech crystals, but the inherent magic is still dangerous and it will endanger the city."

Kieran let out a heavy sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You're still asking me to trust you with something that could end up being worse than Hextech."

"I'm asking you to help me stop something that is already worse than Hextech, and to stop the future where Hextech brings disaster."

Silence settled again as he watched Kieran contemplating the situation.

"If we can't refine it, then we'll destroy every Syntaxi blueprint and crystal we find," Orion added, trying to finalize his offer to Kieran. "But if we succeed, we can make Piltover and Zaun a better place for everyone- including your daughter. Your daughter's headphones are proof that these inventions can still be used for good. The Chembarons demonstrate the opposite."

Zaun, instead of the Undercity, perked up Kieran's ears. If Orion's assumption was correct, Kieran still had ties to the Undercity and wanted his daughter to have a happy life. 

He felt shitty using his daughter to convince him, but if it worked- then it wouldn't be a lie.

Hextech became so integrated into Piltover life that after Arcane ended, there was probably more than one disaster unfolding.

If nothing else, even if he failed at stopping fate again, this city would have a replacement.

And if he didn't fail, then Hextech would be replaced by Syntaxi Gems instead, bringing wealth and independence to Zaun.

And in a city like this, wealth and achievements gave respect. Zaun would gain respect, and hopefully, their relationship would improve with Piltover.

"I need time to think about this," Kieran broke his train of thought. "For now, don't mention it around my daughter anymore."

Orion nodded as they locked eyes one last time. Both of them would have much to think about.

From upstairs, the faint sound of Seraphine's singing drifted down, her voice carrying a haunting, hopeful melody. It was a reminder of what was at stake- not just their lives, but the future of the city itself.

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

"What do you mean?" Vi stepped away from Vander, betrayal lingering on her face. "You never told us that you were working with topside..."

"It was trying to keep you safe- to keep the family safe!" Vander said with resolution, his eyes shining with tears as he tried to close the gap between them. "Orion was also trying to build a better future by working with them too."

Vi backed away again, holding her sister's hand tightly. She felt betrayed, as if she was being danced around and played the fool by everyone close to her.

Everyone knew what they went through- losing their family to Enforcers. So why was everyone hiding things or acting like this behind her back?

What about Mylo? Claggor? Her eyes darted between them as mistrust started to take root. Who else had secrets they hadn't shared?

"We promise we aren't involved with anything Vi!" Claggor blurted, raising his hands as if to show his innocence. His eyes also looked hurt and betrayed, clearly struggling with his own internal turmoil.

Mylo stepped up beside Claggor, trying to help. "That's right! We were in the dark about this too! You two knew more than us. If anything, we're the ones who should feel upset."

Claggor and Mylo looked at each other and nodded as if confirming their stance before back toward the sisters.

Vi nodded hesitantly, her hands trembling as she clutched Powder. She glanced down to check on her sister, worried.

Powder was a mess again, consumed by conflict and agony. She was back to twitching violently, pulling at her hair, emitting painful and pitiful cries.

The earlier confrontation had brought too much to light. Orion was alive, but he no longer trusted them. He felt abandoned and betrayed. To Powder, that was their fault- her fault.

And then there was Vander.

He hid his involvement with topside, and even Orion's activities. If they had known back then when it first started, they would've kicked Orion out without hesitation.

But Vander?

This wasn't just about Orion anymore. Vander's actions cast a long shadow over everything. It changed the way Vi saw him.

Everything was spinning in a different light now. Their relationship had always been built on family and trust. But in this moment, that trust wasn't just breaking- it was shattered.

"I was just trying to protect you," Vander's guilt echoed through the room. "I didn't tell you because I knew how much you'd hate me for it. But you have to believe me, I was just trying to protect you!"

"Protect us? By keeping secrets? By working with the people who killed our family?" Vi hiccupped in anger and emotion.

Vander's frustration bled through into his tone, his voice desperate. "I wanted you two to have a peaceful upbringing! This was the way, to keep both topside and undercity away from each other's throats!"

"But at what cost? ... You're no better than Silco if you're playing these mind games..."

Claggor hesitated but spoke up, "Vi, listen, we all make mistakes! If it wasn't for Vander, we wouldn't have met. He's the reason we're all still here, together as a family."

"Where would we even go if we left?" Mylo added, though his voice was unsure. "Maybe that's not what you wanted to hear, but Vander has really tried for us. Everything he's ever done was for us, including what you hate."

Vi's gaze flickered to each of them, her mind racing. Powder clung to her desperately, as if letting go of her sister would shatter her completely. Mylo and Claggor looked lost, torn between their loyalty to Vander and the cracks forming in their family.

"I don't know," Vi whispered, her gaze finally returning to Vander. "How can I trust you now?"

Vander's shoulders sagged, eyes filled with pain. "I don't expect you trust me like you did before...I betrayed your trust, I'm sorry. But please- stay for Powder. For Claggor, for Mylo. Standing together is what makes us strong, it always has done. Walking away now would undo everything we've built."

'What? Like Orion just did?' Vi almost blurted out but restrained herself. Her grip tightened around her sister, a heavy fog settling in her mind.

Powder looked up at her, her eyes desperately screaming that she wanted to run away- for all of this to end. Vi closed her eyes, biting the her tongue.

"We'll stay," Vi said bitterly, her voice cold. "But because of them." Her head gestured at Mylo and Claggor, "Not you."

Vander flinched, pain reflecting in his eyes like the moon on a clear night. "I understand. I'll prove to you that I'm still the man you trusted. I'll fix this... somehow."

Vi turned away, her heart feeling heavier than ever. For now, they would stay. But the cracks in their family wouldn't heal overnight- and Vi wasn't sure they ever would.