Chapter 4: Orion Layout
Awakening in Runeterra, living in the Undercity of Piltover - what terrible luck. Apparently, the Undercity (in the future known as Zaun), followed the TV show Arcane's version, with some deviations from the original lore. The north side, over Pilt River, houses the elites, wealthy, and government and is known as Piltover or "topside". The south side is called the Undercity that is separated into three levels by two large fissures, like giant stairs around 20 to 30 meters high, after a failed project sank half the city.
While now most commonly referred to as the Lanes, the three levels still retain their old names with north side called Promenade, the area between the two large fissures is called Entresol, and the southern side is called Sump. Just like Piltover, the Promenade was filled with the wealthiest Undercity merchants, residents, and activities. The Entresol level is where Vander's Last Drop bar is located, as well as a majority of your classic Undercity residents and businesses. Finally, the Sump where you could find the majority of Undercity's Chemtech factories, miners, sewage workers, and infamous Black Lanes market where anything is for sale, including your freedom.
Orion's head exploded with pain as memories rushed in from his life in this world the moment he started reading. His parents were miners that alternated between the two fissures along Chemtech Seams, crevasses where materials for Chemtech were mined, but a week ago, didn't return. For better or worse, he was living in Emberflit Alley, an isolated spot in Entresol near the southern fissure. For better or worse, this is also why he sometimes woke up to screams, fights, or shady meetups occurring outside of what used to be his corner window.
This building was originally abandoned and forgotten, probably due to it being in one of the darkest corners of the Entresol, away from the bustling life and in such poor condition that it couldn't be rented out. His parents had been planning to have another child and insisted that anything would be better than raising another child in the Sump. They couldn't afford rent in Entresol so this was their make-shift approach.
He knew he was twelve when they moved to Entresol and he turned fifteen right before they went missing. He didn't have much from the slums except for what he stole as trinkets and the little diary he received from his parents as a birthday gift after they made their move. The gun however...
According to Orion's memories, he had been doing small jobs and nabbed it in the Black Lanes a year ago. Ignoring the warning of parents is what kids do best, and his dice rolled well when he snatched it during a moment of distraction at a merchant's stall. Most people went topside or to the Promenade for gigs, since the other side while potentially equally lucrative, was far more dangerous. In short, Orion was just stupid and wanted to feel tougher.
Because of the move, Sumps kids didn't recognize him as one of their own because he now lived in Entresol, and Entresol kids dismissed him as a Sump rat. Ironic considering the rivalry with topside, that there was still disparagement between the poor classes and as a result he was a loner. Acquaintances, sure, nothing more.
"Agh!" He opened his eyes, his head was screaming in pain still from the onslaught of information. He crawled to his knees using the bed as support, as he had fallen forward to the floor.
His eyes drifted to the curtains as he rested his elbow on the bed, "So I holed up in my room out of fear and luck, not on my side this time, caves the roof in too." Apparently it happened two days ago but he refused to inhabit elsewhere in the house. Orion could somewhat understand, but this was a bit excessive for security. Still, he couldn't argue with it as it was the room being barred that gave him some mental security.
Despite the headache, his nerves settled as he began to get an idea of what was going on. In a small way, he was excited. Vander? Arcane? This is awesome! All of his favorite characters and more to meet! He sat down waiting for the headache to dissipate, trying to organize his thoughts when it came to him again.
"Transmigation? Isekai? The favorite question: Do I have special powers?! Next time on- nah." Chuckling briefly to himself, he went all out in the first direction.
"Character Screen? Status. Status window? Inventory. Ah...mmm...Display window?" He went on for a while before giving up with subtle disappointment. Round two then, "Magic Missile, Fireball, Levit- wait, Runeterra magic doesn't operate on verbal cues or chants, does it?" Frowning, he tried to recall what he could beyond those insane charts and diagrams from the Hextech research from Jayce and Viktor, or the five runes...Five, right?
"There was...Celestial, Spiritual, and...Elemental magic?" He had no clue how to harness any of them effectively, but he remembered small bits of magic: if you are a mage, it works like breathing? You have to figure out how to reach it, channel it, and shape it? Was that all to it...
Nothing lost from trying. Orion closed his eyes and reached out mentally. Described as drawing water from a river? In his mind, he visualized and felt it—a far-off river, but instead of one, countless, all moving in the same direction.
Closing his eyes, Orion visualized the process. Magic was described as rivers of energy flowing endlessly. He pictured countless rivers in his mind, each moving in harmony in one direction, bundled together like rope. Carefully he reached out to one, mentally "plucking" at the stream. It was like pulling a thread from fabric yet alive, dynamic, and unyielding. He guided it toward himself, letting the energy flow through him.
At first, it was exhilarating with a rush of vitality. But without an outlet, the power grew unstable. Needles of pain pricked his skin and insides, the energy beginning to leak uncontrollably. From an outside perspective he would look concentrated twitcher. Desperate, he opened his eyes and tried to force the magic out through his palm. A faint blue light flared, sputtering weakly with a force barely enough to knock a book off a desk, and it only traveled a few feet.
"YES!" he shouted, jumping in joy and excitement while forgetting about possible dangers. Terrible idea though as fatigue struck instantly and his vision blurred. Before he could react, Orion collapsed to the floor again, unconscious.