Orion learned that after his disappearance, Silco had tracked down every former member of the Syntixi factory. The Poingdestres, who had fled into hiding, were easily located—Silco had planted informants among them from the start.
He gave them a chance to hand over the Syntixi blueprints in exchange for safe passage, and they complied. Unfortunately, their "safe passage" led to the afterlife, as their entire family was massacred.
From there, Silco worked carefully, freeing the imprisoned factory workers one by one. Instead of rebuilding a single large facility, he established multiple smaller, more mobile factories scattered throughout the city, ensuring that Syntixi production would never be centralized again.
Even Kieran, Seraphine's father, found himself a comfortable role as an operations manager.
Orion, of course, had been at the very bottom of the "freedom list"- a matter Silco had no urgency to address until Caitlyn's raids began. Now, Orion frequently found himself dealing with the Enforcer's forces firsthand, knocking them unconscious and tossing them back onto the bridges like discarded cargo.
With that, days came and passed as the new Syntixi gems and products finally entered the market. On par with Hextech, they split the market cleanly, with many believing they upheld Piltover's original values regarding magic. Some in Topside even openly voiced their discontent, criticizing how their Council had lost its way, allowing the Undercity "rats" to gain the upper hand.
Vermin. Disgusting tinkerers who turned half-baked goods into competitive markets and were somehow beating out their products.
Talk was also brewing among council members, some questioning whether Hextech was even worth it anymore if it meant sacrificing their reputation and what Piltover was built on. Heimerdinger, torn between his old beliefs and his protégé, ultimately chose to continue supporting Jayce as any mentor should.
The tides were changing, however.
Ambessa Medarda, matriarch of war within her clan and mother to Mel Medarda, had just arrived.
---------
"Your Jayce Talis has turned his eyes toward Hextech weaponry," Ambessa stated after revealing Mel's brother's death somberly before immediately switching topics.
"I knew it," Mel scoffed, stepping away from her mother.
"War is coming. You've let the problems of the Undercity fester for too long, and now they have Syntixi!" Ambessa shook her head. "And they are far more willing to use their technology for war. You must act before it is too late."
"We can still negotiate. Piltover isn't like Noxus! War isn't our first and only recourse!" Mel snapped, turning to glare at her mother. "I sponsored Hextech to protect the city, not to burn it to the ground."
"Yet if you do nothing, the 'Zaunites' will rise and do it for you," Ambessa countered. "Instead of them, you will become the slaves. I cannot have my daughter, a proud Medarda, reduced to mere servitude."
"They are not our slaves."
"My dear, what else do you call those who must beg for scraps from their betters?" Ambessa's tone was laced with mockery, her piercing gaze unwavering. "You think your mercy has elevated them?"
Rolling her eyes, Mel interrupted, speaking with disgust. "First you banish me, insult me, and now you return after a decade just to insult me more."
"You did not fail," Ambessa retorted sharply, her large figure looming over Mel, who met her fierce gaze. "That is why I am here. To guide you toward the right decisions."
Her hand reached toward Mel's face, her expression softening, her voice gentle. "I cannot lose you too..."
Mel, however, slapped her mother's hand away, scowling. Her voice was firm, tight with disdain.
A voice interrupted from behind. "Miss Medarda?"
"Yes?" They both responded at the same time, exchanging glances.
"He's for me, dear," Ambessa said smugly, walking up to the young man, who looked eager to serve her. Glancing back, she teased, "I'm off to sample the local cuisine," before disappearing into the cabin as the ship departed.
Glaring and exhaling with frustration, Mel watched the ship vanish into the open, clear sky.
---------
Rolling two Syntixi gemstones between his fingers, Orion gently pushed them into two newly crafted guns that mimicked his old pistols.
"Fancy, right?" Powder smirked, cracking her knuckles. "Made them myself. Go ahead, try them out."
Eyeing her excited visage for a moment, he shifted and aimed down an empty alley at a barrel.
—zzZZzz—
A faint buzzing sound before a sharp bang and the entire top half of the barrel was blasted off with an orange and yellow mist instead of Arcane blue.
"Damn!" Orion exclaimed, staring at both the damage and tilting the gun in shock before firing the other. The remaining half of the metal barrel shattered into a spray of shrapnel against the walls. "Does Vander or the others know about this?"
"No," Powder replied, shaking her head. Her gaze lowered, and her voice became hushed. "And Ekko- he doesn't want to talk to me right now."
"He'll get over it. He has to." Orion shrugged but wasn't dismissive. "The Undercity is changing again. Zaun is becoming a realization once more with our newfound market domination."
"But even I have to ask, why Silco?" Powder asked, still conflicted. "Vander is a much better guy. Silco, nor his new public Chembaron Council alliance, aren't very good people."
"It wasn't my choice. Silco used the chaos I caused to seize more power and control." Pausing for a moment, he shrugged again. "Even if I was responsible, why would I give it to two people who would more than likely turn over for their Topside partners anyway?"
"Oh, I don't know, maybe to keep things peaceful?" Powder rolled her eyes. "To stop the psychopath from starting another war?"
Waving the guns, he looked at Powder with a deadpan expression. "Who created these?"
"...They're gimmicks," Powder replied innocently, her gaze turning up.
"Gimmicks?" His eyes flicked back to the completely shattered metal barrel. "Alright. Well, either way… thank you."
While her eyes wavered slightly, his remained fixed on the guns.
These were the first Syntixi weapons he had actually seen. Up until now, Syntixi had only been used in ways similar to Hextech's original purpose- power sources for lifts, gauntlets, cybernetic implants, and other utilities.
Undoubtedly, just like the Shimmer warriors before them, Syntixi was likely already being infused into weapons and combat enhancements. He just hadn't seen it firsthand yet.
"Why are you helping me?" Orion suddenly asked, his tone quieter, more introspective.
Powder visibly jolted, snapping out of her own thoughts.
"Ah-I-you," she stammered, blinking rapidly and glancing around as if searching for an excuse. "Call it… payback. For all the times you took care of me- us. And you still end up getting hurt around us."
Orion chuckled, sliding the two guns into his jacket. "You're not wrong there. Most of my scars came from trying to help you guys out or fix what we had."
"Is that why you haven't come around?" she asked, softer this time, inching a little closer to him, almost shyly.
He nodded. "You can all visit whenever you want. But I've got enough scars from trying to be around the gang."
Powder hesitated, shifting slightly on her feet before playfully bumping her shoulder against his arm- something small, something subtle, but more personal than her usual antics.
"Well, maybe we can make up for it. Y'know, without all the getting-blown-up parts this time?" she said with a grin, masking the nervous energy behind her words. "Get some food in Promenade, walk along the river, check out some artificer stores?"
Orion smirked, shaking his head slightly but not pushing her away. "We'll see."
"Nn!"
A familiar voice rang out, and Orion felt the faint traces of Arcane energy approaching. Turning his head, he saw Isha bounding toward them, a wide grin plastered on her face as she skipped meters at a time, each footstep infused with magic.
"Wha- No fair!" Powder's expression shifted in an instant. She grabbed Orion's collar, yanking him toward her with an indignant glare, their faces inches apart. "You've been teaching your fancy Nightlight tricks to a kid you just met?! What about me?!"
"Well, she's a kid and- "
"Whatever, humph." Scowling, she released him and crossed her arms, turning away with a dramatic huff. "Stupid Nightlight tricks. I bet these guns could beat them anyway."
Orion chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah… sure they could."
Powder shot him a glare over her shoulder but couldn't quite hide the way her lips twitched, as if fighting back a smile.
Meanwhile, Isha skidded to a stop in front of them, her eyes sparkling with excitement. 'Did you see?!' she signed rapidly, practically bouncing in place. 'I'm getting better!'
"Yeah, yeah, show-off," Powder muttered, side-eyeing Orion. "This some kind of favoritism thing, or what?"
Orion sighed, already knowing where this was going. "It's not like that, Powder-"
"Sure, sure. I see how it is," she cut in, her voice laced with mock bitterness before she turned back with a smirk. "Guess I'll just have to show you why I'm still the best, huh?"
With that, she casually flipped one of Orion's guns in her hand, spinning it on her finger before aiming at a nearby street lamp.
BANG!
A perfectly placed shot knocked the glass loose, sending shards scattering onto the ground.
Isha let out an impressed "Nn!" while Orion just exhaled sharply.
"Alright, alright, you win," he admitted, shaking his head. "I'll show you something later, alright?"
Powder's grin widened, victorious. "Damn right you will."