Arcane Anew

"Thank you, Sheriff Greyson!" 

A man wept openly on the cold stone floor, trembling, his dignity long forgotten.

Sheriff Greyson stood over him, her gaze cold and unmoving, while Caitlyn held a lantern behind her. Its glow cast long shadows down the damp, metal corridor, illuminating the scene- the near-naked Enforcer, sobbing in Orion's old cell.

Caitlyn's voice cut through the moment. "Do you mind explaining? You have ties to the Undercity- I've figured that much out. But why all this? Why Orion?"

Greyson let out a heavy sigh, her expression dark. "It was never my intention to lock the poor boy away. He got caught in the crossfire too many times. Even before I made the decision, I considered letting him escape."

"You knew?" Caitlyn's eyes widened as revelations hit her. "You knew he was innocent from the very start? That means the Council also..."

As Caitlyn's expression shifted between the spectrum of emotions caused by the feelings of betrayal, her eyes immediately darted back to Greyson when she began to speak again.

"He was the masked man who led you to the Syntixi Factory. He saved us from countless problems." Greyson's confession only deepened Caitlyn's unease. "And it was after that- when that beam of light erupted- that I had no choice but to imprison him."

"Why?"

"He can use magic, Caitlyn."

Stunned silence came with Caitlyn's bewildered expression as Greyson continued.

"That beam of light? That was caused by him. Imagine if the Council caught wind of it, we would've had another year of terrible riots and unrest. Relations would've never become what they are now with the Undercity."

Caitlyn stared at her, stunned.

"He saved so many lives while free," Greyson said, her voice lowering, "and even more by being locked away."

"But... he didn't choose that fate," Caitlyn countered, disbelief and anger tinging her voice. "That's worse than death! Why not just-" she hesitated before finishing, "kill him instead of making him suffer?"

"I was going to release him, but the guards reported his fits of rage and promised Piltover's destruction. I realized then, I messed up. It was too late."

Groaning, Caitlyn covered her eyes as frustration was displayed in every movement. "Well, we may certainly have that now." Then, as if realization dawned, her gaze sharpened. "Your life is in danger. He is probably making plans for revenge as we speak."

"I am well aware. It is inevitable at this point."

Caitlyn opened her mouth to protest, but Greyson cut her off.

"You saw the unnatural fights in the factory. You saw that beam of light. That isn't something guns can stop easily. Heimerdinger's fear of mages- I never understood it until that night."

"Then we should-"

"No." Greyson's tone was final. "The Council would destroy the progress and peace we've built to find him."

"The irony…"

Greyson let out a dry chuckle. "Yes."

Then, turning toward the weeping Enforcer, she reached for the cell door handle.

"Wait- no! Please!" The man scrambled forward in panic, clawing toward her on all fours.

Caitlyn's arm shot out, grabbing Greyson's wrist. "What are you doing?" Her voice was sharp, tinged with anger.

Greyson met her glare, expression cold. "Securing Piltover. Preventing any accidental leaks. He won't stay in there forever. Only until this is resolved."

"No!"

"I won't say anything, I swear!" the man sobbed, lunging past them and collapsing onto the floor.

He had only been in there for two days, but the psychological torment it caused was unbelievable.

Was he trapped forever? How many hours had it been? Someone please, help!

Echoes of torment without a single act of violence.

As he trembled violently on the ground, Caitlyn and Greyson locked eyes in a tense standoff.

Greyson exhaled sharply, her jaw tight. But when she spoke, her tone remained measured. "You may go. Do not speak a word of this, or you will find yourself back in this cell."

"T-Thank you!" The man nodded frantically but hesitated- he needed their lantern to guide him out.

"You've changed," Caitlyn murmured, her voice laced with quiet disapproval. "This isn't the Greyson I once knew."

"What you saw in me was the truth," Greyson replied, her tone even. "But sometimes, circumstances demand unpleasant decisions. The harsher truths were simply hidden from you."

Caitlyn blinked, her mind flashing to her mother. "Mother...?"

Greyson nodded.

For once, Caitlyn had no words.

A moment passed, tension thick between them, before Greyson finally turned toward the corridor.

"It's getting late."

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

Meanwhile, Orion diligently practiced Zaun sign language, his fingers tracing the shapes carefully. But every time he thought he had it, Isha let out a sharp noise of disapproval and smacked his hands down.

Orion stared at her in disbelief, his hands gesturing upward in protest. "What? What did I do wrong?"

Glaring, Isha repeated the hand signs, this time exaggerated and crisp, making it clear just how badly he was butchering them.

Orion sighed and leaned back on the bed, arching a brow as boredom settled into his expression.

Isha scowled.

Then, suddenly, she jumped on him, small fists pounding against his chest in frustration.

"Alright, alright! I'm sorry! I'll focus!" Orion wheezed, throwing his hands up in surrender as she continued her assault.

"Nn!"

Isha's look of frustration quickly melted into surprise as she found herself suddenly floating, gentle traces of indigo swirling around her.

Orion grinned mischievously, swaying her from side to side in midair as she let out a series of angry protests.

Yawning, he finally set her down, his expression slipping into an exaggeratedly bored look.

Wham!

"AGH!"

Orion flinched as the language book smacked into the side of his head, sending him toppling sideways. He groaned, rubbing the sore spot. "I'm sorry..."

"Hmph."

Isha turned away sharply, arms crossed, clearly still upset.

Sighing, Orion leaned back against the bed and gazed out the window. The streets below were dimming, the hues of dusk mixing with the unsettling, common eerie green and purple of the Undercity.

When his eyes drifted back to Isha, he caught her peeking at him from the corner of her eye. The moment she realized she thought she would be caught, she quickly looked away- but not fast enough.

Orion gave her an unimpressed stare before rolling his eyes.

"Wanna go get food?"