Colleg the flower was an arduous task. During the colle process, Orion suffered a small nick from a thorn, and his entire hand seized up. He cursed the task and enter repeatedly, but pressed ardless, determio fill the sack. 'ever specified a weight-to-payment ratio and so once again, he fell on the losing end.

  Uhe moonlight, the innermost part of the flower opened up, revealing the seed that could be plucked safely. Acc 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 he bridge, Orion buried it beh heaps of other trash. Even if someone dug through, he thought, it would only look like a strange sack of flowers.

  An hour ter, 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 unfortably as he went to y in bed. He had po stay up loo refle the night's events now that there was nency, but the moment his head hit the pillow, sleep cimed him.

  ------------------------------

  Caitlyn snuck downstairs after her parents and the house servants went to sleep. She wao formally thank Orion, guilt weighing on her after the disgust shown by her family despite his willio 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 versations from the menagerie. It was refreshing to talk to someone her age.

  Most of her versations were with Jayce, but even those were difficult. Casual versations often derailed due to his arrogance or frequent stifialogies. Caitlyn's upbringing, bined with her unusual desire to bee an enforcer, had made her a bit of an outcast even amoes. She truly hoped to find another friend, someone more like her, to ect 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. Disappoi swept over her, a tight feeling clutg at her chest as her gaze dropped. She couldn't hear any signs of life or movement beyond the door.

  "He's ign me because of earlier," she thought bitterly. Caitlyn's shoulders sagged and she turo make her way back upstairs, her heart tightening with the sting of reje.

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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 unscious and cimed they couldn't remember the night's events.

  Their geone puzzled her at first, but after she listeo 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 expnation I have for the guards' lost memories and why no arms sounded." Greyson said slowly, her tone calcuted. "Magic," she added, fixing her gaze on Orion.

  Orion's look of surprise aement camoufged his true rea, 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 ouation. His gaze shifted over to Caitlyn who looked distinctly displeased with her mother. She sensed his gaze and gnced over, her eyes glinting with hurt before quickly flig back to Greyson.

  "What did I do?" he pined inwardly.

  The sheriff was silently the two as Cassandra was distracted ying out her displeasure. Her eyes sed the debris of the enclosure.

  "They will be looking for a way out of Piltover." Orion spoke up, his sudden ent earning the dising 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 sed time that day. She nodded slowly in agreement and newfound approval of the boy. "You're right. This was a rescue operation." She cluded, turning to Cassandra, "I suggest we refrain from pursuing them. Let them return with their sacred creature."

  Cassandra's frustration in on her face as her firaced 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 fold."

  She paused, her tone firm before tinuing. "No one was injured, and the damage is mostly out of sight. Close down t Mei's Menagerie for now and give the publi ued reason. tinue your iigation- we will hold a trial in several days."

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

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

  "This boy's mind is valuable."

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

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

  Orion immediately uood her refereo Caitlyn's aspirations to bee an enforcer. This was firmed when Greyson gave Cassandra a knowing side-gnce before turning her gaze ba.

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

  Caitlyn's expression lit up, her excitement impossible to tain. Orion hadn't thought it possible for her posture thten any more, but it did. A radiant and unfiltered smile bloomed across Caitlyn's face, earning another disapproving gnce 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-depreg tone and careful choice of words earned faint smiles from the two of them.

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

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