"Thank you, Sheriff Greyson!"

  A ma openly on the cold stone floor, trembling, his dignity long fotten.

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

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

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

  "You knew?" Caitlyn's eyes widened as revetions hit her. "You knew he was i from the very start? That means the cil 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 tless problems." Greyson's fession 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 use magic, Caitlyn."

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

  "That beam of light? That was caused by him. Imagine if the cil caught wind of it, we would've had another year of terrible riots and u. Retions would've never bee what they are now with the Uy."

  Caitlyn stared at her, stunned.

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

  "But... he didn't choose that fate," Caitlyn tered, disbelief and ainging her voice. "That's worse thah! 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 e and promised Piltover's destru. I realized then, I messed up. It was too te."

  Groaning, Caitlyn covered her eyes as frustration was dispyed 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 pns for revenge as we speak."

  "I am well aware. It is iable 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 stop easily. Heimerdinger's fear of mages- I never uood it until that night."

  "Then we should-"

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

  "The irony…"

  Greyso 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, g 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.

  Greyso her gre, expression cold. "Seg Piltover. Preventing any actal 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 colpsing 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 si of violence.

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

  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 ba this cell."

  "T-Thank you!" The man nodded frantically but hesitated- he heir o guide him out.

  "You've ged," Caitlyn murmured, her voice ced with quiet disapproval. "This isn't the Greyson I onew."

  "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 fshing to her mother. "Mother...?"

  Greyson nodded.

  For once, Caitlyn had no words.

  A moment passed, tension thick between them, befreyson finally turoward the corridor.

  "It's getting te."

  ------------------

  Meanwhile, Orion diligently practiced Zaun sign nguage, his firag 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 d?"

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

  Orion sighed and leaned ba the bed, arg 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 tinued her assault.

  "Nn!"

  Isha's look of frustration quickly melted into surprise as she found herself suddenly floating, geraces 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 nguage 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 uling, on eerie green and purple of the Uy.

  When his eyes drifted back to Isha, he caught her peeking at him from the er 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?"