~~~~~Six years ter~~~~~

  Kaboom!

  Fireworks exploded in the sky as people filled the streets, happily talking and cheering, showing off their many iions. Kids giggled and ran through the streets, while adults engaged in pleasant versation or ducted thriving business.

  High above Piltover, the Hexgates loomed over the city- the new, mighty symbol of Piltover, the result of Jayd Viktor's work.

  Zzzzt

  A lingering, archaic hum resonated before the ship disappeared, leaving a trail of blue light that faded into the sky.

  Stalls lihe streets across Progress Bridge. Barbers gave haircuts, Jericho had his stall set up selling slugs, and people who once wres of hatred now carried warm smiles.

  In the Last Drop, sunlight beamed through the ceiling. What was once a pce of dark, somber colors was now vibrant, illuminated with purples and blues beh a newly installed gss ceiling.

  "Yeah, he's ht now," Powder said with a smile, replying to a er behind the bar. "What I get you?"

  Her hair was styled simirly to how it had been in Are- two long ponytails framing her pale plexion. She wore a green sleeveless shirt and brown pants, with a slightly heavier brown jacket draped over her smaller frame.

  "Two stouts!" the er replied, sliding a copper across the table. "Where are the others? Normally, they're buzzing around here like flies."

  Hitting the tap, she responded casually, "They're helping Ekko test his new hoverboard."

  "Always looking for the hrill," the er chuckled.

  Prinned as the foam reached the top of the pints and slid them across the table.

  "Is it any good?"

  "It go crazy fast!" she affirmed but waved a hand in the middle. "Stabilizers still need some work, though."

  "Why aren't you there? Aren't you the real genius fixing all his work?"

  Leaning on the ter, Powder smirked. "Yeah. They 't do anything without me. Last time Cggor tried to make a retractable clothesline for a dy, but he made the tension too high. She's still wearing a wig."

  "All the more reason to go che them," the er said, taking a hearty swig of his stout befrabbing the other to return to his table. "Before he breaks something!"

  "I will, once Vi es back," Powder replied, her gaze briefly flickering toward the entrance before she sighed. "Someone's gotta hold the fort."

  The er chuckled, shaking his head as he walked away, leaving Powder alone behind the bar. She leaned forward, propping her up with her hands, absently tapping her fingers against the ter.

  The Last Drop was different now- brighter, livelier. No longer a den of despair, but a true pce of gathering. Vander's legacy lived on, even if things had ged. Even if she had ged.

  Her fingers idly traced a small engraving on the wood- a tiny monkey face, carved deep into the surface. A familiar, f sight.

  The bell above the door jingled, drawing her from her thoughts. Powder's head snapped up, a small grin f as Vi stepped inside.

  "Miss me?" Vi smirked, walking up to the bar.

  "Not really," Powder quipped, crossing her arms. "You took forever."

  "Well, you know how Ekko gets," Vi replied, rolling her eyes. "He says he's almost got it this time, but I'm pretty sure he's just making excuses for the st five crashes."

  Phed, shaking her head. "So, how many bruises this time?"

  "Enough to make Mylo look like a genius," Vi shot back, leaning on the ter.

  Powder was about to tease her wheiced Vi's expression shift- her gaze flickering toward the window.

  "You okay?" Powder asked, softer now.

  Vi hesitated, then exhaled slowly. "Yeah. Just… thinking."

  Powder didn't press. She knew Vi well enough tnize when she wasn't ready to talk. Instead, she grabbed two gsses and poured a drink for both of them.

  "To thinking," Powder said, raising her gss.

  Vi smirked, king hers against Powder's. "To not thinking too much."

  They both took a swig, letting the momele between them. Outside, the fireworks tihe sky alight with color. Piltover was celebrating progress.

  -------------

  Harsh screeg of metal echoed through the tunnel as Ekko's hoverbround against the wall before flying out from beh his feet.

  "Shit," Ekko cursed, groaning as he sat up from the heavy nding.

  "You almost got it! Just a few more tweaks, and you'll be there," Vander enced, his arms crossed, amusement g his tone as he watched the board skid to a halt.

  Gray hairs dotted his beard, but his hair and outfit remaihe same as they had in the past.

  Ekko, oher hand, had ged. He now wore heavier clothes, yered with belts, dark uones, and a thick brown trench coat with leather gloves.

  The tunnel walls bore the scars of his testing- scuffed, burnt, and scratched from repeated crashes. Cggor and Mylo had already left, locked in a heated argument over who had ridden it better.

  Without a word, Ekko stood up, brushing himself off before walking over to pick up the board, his expression dark as he exami.

  Vander's easygoing demeanor faded, repced by a sigh and a more serious tone. "Silco's st major factory was destroyed. His operations are in ruins."

  Ekko's head twitched slightly, his eyes shifting, but he didn't turn to face him.

  "Is it not enough?" Vander asked, his sharp eyes watg him closely. "The others worry about you. I worry about you."

  "That's great," Ekko replied ftly. "Maybe your worry bring Benzo back- and all the people who've suffered because of him."

  Vander's jaw tightened, but his voice remained calm.

  "Look, all I'm saying is you should take a break," he offered, gesturing slightly. "Hang out with Powder for a bit, go check out topside. It's Progress Day- I'm sure you'll find something that-"

  "Every day we give him is a day someos hurt," Ekko cut him off sharply. "I don't want to see Powder or anyone else getting hurt. Besides, she's no different from me incase you fot."

  A heavy silence fell between them until the distant sound of footsteps echoed through the tunnel.

  They both turned, and Ekko stiffened. His grim expression vanished instantly, blinking in mild surprise.

  "Wow, really messed the pce up, huh?" Powder said slowly, her eyes wandering the wrecked tunnel with intrigue. She smirked, pg her hands on her hips, a satchel hanging over her shoulder. "Should've called sooner- I would've fixed it in a heartbeat!"

  Chug, Ekko held out the hoverboard as she approached. "'t let you go fixing everything. I o learn somehow."

  "Yeah, that's true," Powder affirmed as Ekko huffed. Running her fingers along the bdes, she studied them closely. "The bdes... you ged the pitch?"

  Ekko nodded, crossing his arms fidently. "The air is denser in the fissures. Seemed like a good idea."

  "Hm..." she mused, spinning the bdes. "Maybe a way to switch modes when you leave the fissures? I only imagine how unstable this is if you take it topside."

  "Maybe," Ekked. "But it isn't made for them. And anyways, they just have to try harder, then."

  Hesitating, Ekko gnced back at Vander, who gave him a nod of approval. His gaze slowly shifted back to Powder.

  "So... Hey, Powder…"

  "Yeah?" Powder asked, her attention still focused on the hoverboard.

  "I've been thinking," Ekko began after another hesitant pause. "Maybe it's a good time to take a break."

  Powder froze for a moment before her eyes darted up to him in surprise.

  "What?" she asked, bewildered as the hoverboard fell bato Ekko's grasp.

  Spinning the bdes absentmindedly, his eyes met hers as he tihis time more firmly. "A break. Take a day to enjress Day-"

  "This isn't you," Powder cut him off, her eyes darting acgly to Vander before snapping back to Ekko. "You know just as well as I do why we do this."

  "Yes, but-"

  Vaepped forward, unfolding his arms as his expression grew more firm. "One day. Take it off. The world won't end while yone."

  Powder's eyes flickered with emotion for a moment before her shoulders slumped, finally relenting. "Alright, let's do it, bozo."

  A small light flickered in Ekko's eyes as she turned away. He gnced back at Vander, who smirked at him befesturing toward her with a tilt of his head.

  Just like that, the mood shifted. Slinging the hoverboard over his back, Ekko stepped up after her.

  "How were the ers?"

  "Oh, you know how they are…"

  Their versation faded as they left the tunnel, leaving Vander behind, smiling warmly. His gaze wandered over the damaged walls for a moment, fingers brushing the scars before he stepped out as well, his expression lighter than before.

  -------------

  Deep in the depths of Stillwater Hold, no light touched the corridors or cells. Only the faint drips of water echoed through the silence, occasionally interrupted by muffled groans from those imprisoned.

  Pitch bck. Even if he raised his hand before his face, Orion wouldn't be able to see it.

  He y on the cold stone floor, unmoving, trapped iless sleep. Yet, in the darkness, something stirred.

  Tendrils of sickly purple energy weaved in and out of his head, illuminating the cell with a faint, eerie glow before retreating bato the void.

  Orion had ged over the years. He now stood at 190 cm (6'2"), his frame taller but still lean, almost malnourished from years of fi. His body bore deep, perma scars- reminders of the explosion topside and the tless wounds that followed. The smaller ones had long since faded, but the worst remained.

  His once rich brown hair was now streaked with gray and bck, a result of his time in the dark. A yer of grime g to his skin.

  And his eyes- when he opehem, their once-brilliant green was now tainted, a faint purple glow trag the lower portion of his irises.

  It didn't harm his looks though, his promi features made him still quite the looker if not for being so gaunt and pale.

  Not that it mattered. No one was looking.

  His cell was no ordinary prison. Are symbols were carved into the walls, etched deep in intricate, a markings. Across from him, runes and embedded Hextech crystals pulsed faintly, f a tai field meant to suppress criminal mages.

  The only time he ever saw light was when his meals arrived- when the food slot slid open, and flickering torchlight briefly spilled into his cage before vanishing again.

  Meals in the dark. Nightmares every night.

  The visions from beyond the portal had never left him. They followed him even here, ging to him like a siess.

  Dark rings g beh his eyes. And now, as he let out a ragged, desperate shout, he awakened from yet anhtmare.

  As his breathing slowed, the purple light receded, as if reizing the danger of being seen.

  Orion stared bnkly at the metal door, his gaze dull ay as torchlight illumis frame from the outside.

  Then- a noise.

  His eyes widened in shock, muscles tensing as the door creaked open.

  Years ago, he would have sprung into a instantly at a moment like this. But now, after so long in the dark, he hesitated.

  A sinister voice echoed from the entrance.

  "It took a long time."

  Two Enforcers stood in the doorway, masked and armed. One was massive, built like a brawler, while the other was lean and sharp, carrying an air of authority.

  The slimmer figure stepped faze sweeping over Orion's weakened form.

  "You wouldn't believe the strings I had to pull to make this happen."

  Oriohe weight of his stare, the silent judgment before the ma out a snort of amusement.

  "They've treated you well all this time. You should be thanking Greyson for that. Or maybe not, perhaps it was more of a curse? Dying would've been a release."

  Orion's throat was dry, his voice rasping as he finally spoke.

  "Who are you?"

  His own voice startled him. Deep, rough, and unfamiliar.

  The ma out a low, mog chuckle.

  "Who else in your lifetime has saved you?"