Orion stood on the upper terrace of Piltover Academy, scanning a set of schematics with narrowed focus. Early afternoon sunlight bathed the stone columns in a soft glow, and a cooling breeze drifted from the open courtyard. Despite the Academy's bustle—students scurrying to classes, gears humming from ongoing experiments—Orion felt a tiny knot of tension in his stomach. Today, Caitlyn had promised to introduce him to another inventor backed by her family. He'd only heard a few details: that Jayce Talis was a bright and daring mind who'd risen in local renown.
Though Orion's nerves fluttered, curiosity got the better of him. If House Kiramman was supporting Jayce, then the newcomer's talents must be considerable. And perhaps, Orion mused, Jayce could offer fresh insights for some of Orion's own challenges.
"Hey!" Caitlyn's cheery voice startled him from his thoughts. She approached from a spiral staircase, leading a man only a few years older than them, tall and sharp-eyed, carrying a leather-bound notebook. He wore a well-tailored vest over a collared shirt and seemed to exude an air of enthusiasm.
"Orion," Caitlyn said, gesturing between the two, "this is Jayce Talis—an inventor my parents are sponsoring. Jayce, meet Orion, the Academy's up-and-coming mind who's been making waves with, well… everything he builds."
Jayce extended a hand, smiling easily. "A pleasure, Orion. Caitlyn's told me a bit about you—about your mechanical arm and your ongoing projects."
"Likewise," Orion replied, shaking Jayce's hand firmly. "I've heard House Kiramman is backing your own research. I'd love to hear more about it."
Jayce nodded, shifting his notebook under his arm. "Happy to share. But first, maybe you can show me your prototypes? Caitlyn was raving about this new power source you're developing."
With a subdued grin, Orion led them to one of the Academy's side labs. Though smaller than the central workshops, it offered privacy and contained everything Orion needed for his current projects. Wooden benches lined the walls, topped with half-built models, coils of wire, and meticulously labeled jars of chemicals.
Jayce scanned the clutter with eager eyes. "This is quite the setup. Did the Academy grant you your own lab?"
Orion chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Not exactly. It's shared, but I have special permission to store my more sensitive work here, so… it's become my second home."
Caitlyn grinned, tossing a playful glance at Orion. "He practically lives in here. I've had to drag him out to eat more than once."
"Can't say I'm surprised," Jayce said, smiling. "Let's see what you're cooking up."
They gathered around a long table where Orion's wind generator model and updated Energon samples sat in neat displays. Caitlyn, clearly comfortable in this environment, hopped onto a spare stool, resting her chin on her hand as Orion began explaining.
"Well, this is my most recent iteration of the wind generator," he said, tapping a small metal contraption with collapsible blades. "It's built to handle variable wind speeds. And here—" he moved his hand to a rack of faintly glowing test tubes "—is Energon, a power source I've been refining. The aim is to provide a stable, high-density energy that doesn't produce harmful waste."
Jayce leaned in, brow arching. "Looks impressive. May I?"
Orion nodded, stepping aside so Jayce could inspect the tubes. Jayce lifted one gently, holding it to the light and watching the subtle glow within.
"Fascinating," Jayce murmured. "I haven't seen anything like this. Our city's tech is still heavily reliant on steam-driven or electrical frameworks that can be inefficient. But if this is truly stable…"
Caitlyn, sensing the synergy, folded her arms with a hint of pride. "Told you it was extraordinary. Orion's on the cusp of something big."
Orion felt a rush of gratitude at her confidence. "It's not perfect yet," he clarified, "but with enough research, I'm hoping I can demonstrate its potential at the Piltover Innovation Showcase."
Jayce set the tube back carefully in its holder. "I heard about the showcase—congratulations on getting that far. Do you plan to power something with Energon as a demonstration?"
"That's the idea," Orion replied, mind buzzing. "I'm working on a small-scale engine that runs purely on Energon. It won't produce the same torque as a large steam engine, but it'll prove the concept. My biggest concern is controlling surges if the mixture destabilizes."
Jayce nodded, fishing out his notebook. "Maybe you could incorporate a regulator with a feedback loop. I've been working on something similar for my own experiments—though I'm using more conventional power sources. We might adapt the logic to your scenario."
Caitlyn watched the two inventors talk with a kind of quiet amusement. Their conversation grew increasingly animated, each riffing on the other's ideas: how to handle voltage spikes, how to measure fuel efficiency, which materials might reduce friction.
"Exactly," Orion said, excitement sparking in his eyes. "If I can find a reliable way to keep it from surging, we'd have a stable flow of energy that's more potent than typical electricity."
Jayce grinned. "And if that works, House Kiramman might jump at the chance to fund expanded research."
At that, Caitlyn interjected, hopping down from the stool. "Let's not forget that Orion's also dealing with a mechanical arm and eye, too. Between you two, I swear half the Academy's labs are under constant scrutiny."
Orion flexed the metallic fingers of his left hand in demonstration. "I keep refining the internal gears and the wiring to improve dexterity. The arm's nearly as precise as a natural one now." He tapped the intricate lens in his right socket. "The eye's trickier. It's about bridging mechanical sensors and biological nerves."
"Still," Jayce observed, leaning in, "the fact you've achieved partial vision is astonishing. If you manage full function…" He trailed off, letting the implication speak for itself.
Orion swallowed. "Yeah, it's the dream."
Caitlyn stepped up to Orion's side, resting a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "One we all believe in," she said quietly.
There was a subtle pause—an unspoken warmth passing between them—before Orion cleared his throat and resumed talking shop.
A Shared Future
An hour later, the trio adjourned to the courtyard for fresh air. They found a shaded bench under a grand oak, from which they could watch other Academy students practicing or testing out new gizmos.
Jayce shook his head in mild disbelief. "In just a few years, you've built multiple mechanical breakthroughs: the arm, the eye, the wind generator… and now this mysterious Energon. Caitlyn wasn't exaggerating about your talents."
Orion looked slightly embarrassed at the praise. "Honestly, it's taken countless failures to get here—nobody sees all the lumps and burnt-out coils."
Caitlyn laughed lightly. "I've seen a fair number of them. Remember that time you nearly took out half the workshop with a feedback surge?"
Jayce held up his hands in mock defense. "We've all been there. I once nearly short-circuited an entire lab wing trying to overclock a generator."
Conversation flowed easily, with Jayce inquiring about Orion's next steps and Caitlyn chiming in about her future plans—some combination of advanced studies and potential enforcer training. Though Orion and Caitlyn hadn't labeled what was brewing between them, the closeness was impossible to miss.
As the sun dipped lower, Jayce stood, stretching his arms. "I have to return to my workshop soon—there's a demonstration next week for the Kiramman sponsors, and I'm refining a key component. But, Orion, if you're free tomorrow, I'd love to compare notes. Maybe we can help each other out."
Orion nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely. I'd appreciate another set of eyes on my designs."
Jayce gave a short bow to Caitlyn. "Thank you for introducing us, Caitlyn. I see now why you spoke so highly of him."
Caitlyn smiled, offering her hand in a polite shake. "Glad to help. See you soon, Jayce."
With a last wave, Jayce headed off toward the Academy gates, leaving Orion and Caitlyn by the oak.
Uncertain Hints and Growing Bonds
Caitlyn slipped her hands into her jacket pockets, eyes following Jayce's departing figure. "He's good at what he does," she remarked.
"Yeah," Orion agreed, voice humming with enthusiasm. "There's a lot he can teach me, and maybe I can return the favor."
Caitlyn nodded, turning back to Orion. A gentle breeze stirred the leaves overhead, sending dappled sunlight dancing across her face. "I'm glad you finally met. I thought you'd click."
She paused, then added, "So… how are you feeling about everything? The showcase, working with Jayce, your projects?"
He shrugged, an earnest light in his eyes. "I'm nervous. Excited. The usual. At least now I know I'm not going it alone."
An unspoken resonance passed between them again—a moment of mutual understanding. Caitlyn felt the slightest flush in her cheeks. Their closeness, forged over the years, seemed to hover on the cusp of something deeper, though neither risked naming it.
"I'll help in any way I can," she offered, voice soft. "And if that means dragging you away from your lab when you forget to sleep, well… I'm up for the challenge."
Orion chuckled, an affectionate glint in his single functional eye. "Deal. Just promise not to use that rifle of yours on me."
"Only if you push me," she teased, rolling her eyes.
They let the banter fade into silence, content in each other's company. Finally, with the late afternoon sun tipping toward the horizon, Caitlyn sighed.
"I should probably head home," she said. "You know, family dinner obligations."
Orion nodded, stepping aside as she moved to go. "Thanks for introducing me to Jayce. Really."
"No problem." She flashed him a smile. "He's part of the Kiramman circle now, so you'll likely see a lot more of him. Just don't forget about me, okay?"
A flicker of warmth spread through Orion's chest. He reached out, gently squeezing her hand in a moment of uncharacteristic boldness. "Never."
Caitlyn blinked, a soft pink rising to her cheeks before she pulled her hand away. She offered a final wave, turning on her heel to vanish into the Academy's bustling corridors. Orion stood there for a moment, heart pounding, unsure of what had just transpired between them—but certain it mattered.
Looking Ahead
As evening fell, Orion found himself back in his workshop, replaying the day's events. Jayce Talis—an ally, maybe even a friend. A new set of eyes on Energon, with a fresh perspective on controlling its volatility. And Caitlyn… though their bond had been years in the making, he felt its weight shifting, intensifying, in intangible but undeniable ways.
He exhaled, turning his attention to a blueprint splayed across his bench. If everything went well, the next few weeks would see him finalize a stable Energon engine to present at the showcase. The world might change if he succeeded, or so he dared to hope.
"This is just the beginning," he murmured, reaching for a set of tools. "And I'm not alone."
A renewed sense of purpose fueled his tinkering, each gear aligned with the promise of collaboration—and perhaps the stirrings of affection he couldn't quite name. With both old and new friends at his side, Orion felt ready to push Piltover's boundaries further than ever before.