Chapter 19: Fortunate Terms

Collecting the flower was an arduous task. During the collection process, Orion suffered a small nick from a thorn, and his entire hand seized up. He cursed the task and encounter repeatedly, but pressed on regardless, determined to fill the sack. 'C' never specified a weight-to-payment ratio and so once again, he fell on the losing end.

Under the moonlight, the innermost part of the flower opened up, revealing the seed that could be plucked safely. According to the note, if done during the day or if he forced the flower open, it would deliberately destroy its own seed- for whatever reason.

Orion didn't linger out of curiosity for what happened in the menagerie previously. He was bitter and sore. The moment the sack was full, he left without looking back.

The moon was high in the sky by the time he made it to a reasonable location to hide the sack. In an alley near the bridge, Orion buried it beneath heaps of other trash. Even if someone dug through, he thought, it would only look like a strange sack of flowers.

An hour later, he finally made it back to the manor, scaled the wall, and showered. He could only hope the servants wouldn't wake to his strange behavior. "If they did," he reasoned with himself, "they'd probably dismiss it as a street rat taking advantage of their amenities."

Orion's body ached uncomfortably as he went to lay in bed. He had planned to stay up longer, to reflect on the night's events now that there was no urgency, but the moment his head hit the pillow, sleep claimed him.

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Caitlyn snuck downstairs after her parents and the house servants went to sleep. She wanted to formally thank Orion, guilt weighing on her after the disgust shown by her family despite his willingness to help.

"He's a bit of an ass," she thought mildly, tiptoeing down the hallway toward his room. Still, she couldn't help but smile, recalling their conversations from the menagerie. It was refreshing to talk to someone her age.

Most of her conversations were with Jayce, but even those were difficult. Casual conversations often derailed due to his arrogance or frequent scientific analogies. Caitlyn's upbringing, combined with her unusual desire to become an enforcer, had made her a bit of an outcast even among elites. She truly hoped to find another friend, someone more like her, to connect with.

Tension built in her shoulders as she reached his door. Caitlyn paused, fidgeting with her hands as she rehearsed how she would thank him in her head. Nodding with resolution, she lightly tapped on the door.

Nothing. She tapped again, even calling out softly with hesitation. "Orion?" Still nothing. Disappointment swept over her, a tight feeling clutching at her chest as her gaze dropped. She couldn't hear any signs of life or movement beyond the door.

"He's ignoring me because of earlier," she thought bitterly. Caitlyn's shoulders sagged and she turned to make her way back upstairs, her heart tightening with the sting of rejection.

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Greyson, the sheriff of Piltover, issued orders while signing paperwork. Experience had taught her many lessons over the years, dulling her expectation for surprise. This, however, had caught her off guard- not because the methods of entry, but because the guards were found unconscious and claimed they couldn't remember the night's events.

Their genuine tone puzzled her at first, but after she listened to the Kirammans and the boy, her expression gradually shifted into a frown.

"I think it is safe to say, based on what you told me, that this is likely the work of Ionians. That is the only explanation I have for the guards' lost memories and why no alarms sounded." Greyson said slowly, her tone calculated. "Magic," she added, fixing her gaze on Orion.

Orion's look of surprise and excitement camouflaged his true reaction, but for different reasons. Lady Cassandra spoke up, her tone sharp and demanding, "Did they take anything else?"

Sheriff Greyson shook her head, gesturing dismissively toward the garden. "Just some flowers."

Relief washed over Orion with her take on the situation. His gaze shifted over to Caitlyn who looked distinctly displeased with her mother. She sensed his gaze and glanced over, her eyes glinting with hurt before quickly flicking back to Greyson.

"What did I do?" he complained inwardly.

The sheriff was silently observing the two as Cassandra was distracted laying out her displeasure. Her eyes scanned the debris of the enclosure.

"They will be looking for a way out of Piltover." Orion spoke up, his sudden comment earning the discerning gaze of everyone. "I know magic is forbidden here, but stealing a sacred creature of Ionia is equally problematic."

Greyson's eyes widened for the second time that day. She nodded slowly in agreement and newfound approval of the boy. "You're right. This was a rescue operation." She concluded, turning to Cassandra, "I suggest we refrain from pursuing them. Let them return with their sacred creature."

Cassandra's frustration was plain on her face as her fingers traced her brows. She spoke with irritation, "Most of Ionia's ships are passthroughs due to the nature of their passengers. The trade they bring however is valuable and often sold for gold."

She paused, her tone firm before continuing. "No one was injured, and the damage is mostly out of sight. Close down Count Mei's Menagerie for now and give the public an unrelated reason. Continue your investigation- we will hold a trial in several days."

Sheriff Greyson bowed her head. "Yes, Lady Kiramman."

Cassandra approached, halting beside Greyson. They exchanged glances before turning their gazes to Orion. He couldn't help but stiffen, his eyes darting nervously between them. Cassandra broke the silence, her tone laced with approval.

"This boy's mind is valuable."

Raising her eyebrow, she spared a glance at Caitlyn, whose posture tensed under her scrutinizing gaze. "We are already sponsoring House Talis."

Caitlyn opened her mouth to protest, but Cassandra cut her off, her voice gentle yet firm, "But perhaps we can afford another- partial sponsorship- to assist with your..." She paused deliberately before finishing with a hint of disapproval. "Hobby." 

Orion immediately understood her reference to Caitlyn's aspirations to become an enforcer. This was confirmed when Greyson gave Cassandra a knowing side-glance before turning her gaze back to him.

"It could prove helpful to young Caitlyn Kiramman," Greyson said, her tone measured. "A training partner from the Undercity would give her a glimpse of what to expect."

Caitlyn's expression lit up, her excitement impossible to contain. Orion hadn't thought it possible for her posture to straighten any more, but it did. A radiant and unfiltered smile bloomed across Caitlyn's face, earning another disapproving glance from her mother.

After a brief pause, Cassandra asked hesitantly, "What do you think, Orion?"

"For someone like me, it would be an honor," His self-deprecating tone and careful choice of words earned faint smiles from the two of them.

Cassandra noted loudly, "He knows his place." Gesturing toward the door, she added, "Come, let us leave."

Orion and Caitlyn quickly followed after Cassandra. "This is a pretty good deal," he thought, well aware of the piercing gaze into the back of his head.