The morning skies above Piltover glowed orange and pink, the sun's first rays cutting across the city's rooftops and spires. It was an unsettlingly calm start, given the nervous excitement rippling through those who planned to present at the Piltover Innovation Showcase. In a matter of days, the entire city—especially its elite sponsors and critics—would gather to observe the biggest breakthroughs that local inventors could produce.
Orion paced within an Academy courtyard. He fiddled with the straps on his mechanical arm, ensuring each screw and joint felt secure. A single crate of prototypes sat near his feet—inside lay the refined version of his Energon engine, plus a fresh set of regulator coils he'd developed with Jayce's input.
He was supposed to meet Jayce and Caitlyn to run one last major test, but so far, neither had arrived. The dread of the coming event churned in his stomach, amplifying every small worry.
A Concerned Friend
A familiar voice behind him made Orion turn. Tobin, the retired craftsman who had guided him through so many mechanical basics in earlier years, ambled across the courtyard. His beard looked a bit more silver than Orion remembered, but his eyes still shone with kindly wisdom.
"Why the long face, lad?" Tobin asked, hands tucked behind his back. "I'd say you have every reason to stand tall."
Orion forced a wry smile. "I know. It's just… everything is so critical now. One mistake in front of the city's watchers, and everything I've worked for could crumble. Jayce and I still need to finalize the synergy between my Energon engine and his harness device."
Tobin chuckled, shaking his head. "I always told you success is built on small steps. You've come this far—don't let nerves overshadow your triumph. Besides," he added with a wink, "word around the Academy is that you've pulled off near-impossible feats."
A bit of pride warmed Orion's cheeks. "I guess so," he murmured, glancing at the crate. "But it's not just about me. People like Caitlyn, Jayce, and even Lady Kiramman and her husband—they've all invested in this. If I fail, I let them down."
Tobin's expression softened, and he placed a hand on Orion's shoulder. "A wise man once told me: 'When you share your burdens, they weigh less on any single person's shoulders.' Remember that. Now, I'll leave you to your meeting—unless you want an old man eavesdropping on all your secret plans."
Despite his anxiety, Orion managed a genuine laugh. "Thank you. I appreciate it, truly."
With a nod and a departing wave, Tobin left Orion in the courtyard. Only a moment later, he spotted a figure coming around the corner.
Jayce Arrives—Alone
Jayce, panting slightly, rounded the hallway's bend and jogged toward Orion. "Sorry," he gasped. "Got held up by a professor wanting to chat about gear calibrations. You know how it is."
Orion's brow knitted. "It's fine. Where's Caitlyn?"
"I thought she'd be here already," Jayce replied, a puzzled frown crossing his face. "Maybe she's running late too. Or her parents needed to talk to her again."
Orion exhaled, his fingers tapping a restless beat on his mechanical arm. "They've been fussing over her more than usual. Something about her enforcer ambitions clashing with family expectations."
Jayce shook his head. "Gotta feel for her. All that tension… hopefully she'll make it soon. In the meantime, shall we prep the engine for the test?"
Orion nodded, kneeling to open the crate. "Yeah. Let's do that. We can't waste any time."
Unspoken Misgivings
They carried the crate into a nearby lab. Orion carefully set the Energon engine on a metal stand, while Jayce fetched his harness contraption from a storage rack. The plan was to connect the harness's input lines to Orion's stabilized power output. If it worked, they'd demonstrate a compact, energy-efficient device capable of generating short, powerful bursts of force—ideal for all kinds of industrial or practical uses.
"Still no sign of Caitlyn?" Jayce asked, glancing at the lab's entrance.
Orion shook his head. "No. But we can start some preliminary checks. She'll catch up when she can."
Jayce nodded, flipping open his notebook. "Right. Let's verify the coil alignment."
Orion placed one hand on the harness' external plating, carefully lifting the covering to expose the wiring. As they worked, his mind drifted. Was Caitlyn okay? She'd seemed uneasy the last time they spoke, caught between her parents' expectations and her own nascent dreams. But she hadn't really shared much since.
He forced his attention back to the coil alignment, adjusting each wire until Jayce confirmed the reading on a small meter.
"All good here," Jayce announced, voice echoing slightly in the lab's vaulted space. "Energy flow appears consistent."
Orion smiled faintly. "Then let's ramp it up."
They activated the engine. A soft glow emanated from the Energon chamber, pulsing gently. On a connected gauge, the power flow registered at fifty percent. Jayce nodded, slowly increasing the dial.
"Sixty… seventy… Seventy-five," Jayce counted aloud.
The harness device gave a low hum, building tension. A directed pulse of energy discharged into a weighted cylinder across the room, pushing it back a few centimeters. Orion's heart leaped in excitement—this was nearly double the force output they'd managed last time.
Then the hum spiked.
A warning light flared. Orion instantly threw a switch to reduce the flow, and the hum stabilized.
Jayce let out a short laugh of relief. "Close call. But that's progress."
Orion nodded, adrenaline coursing through him. "We can incorporate a fail-safe. If we can't push it safely above seventy-five, we'll aim for reliability instead of brute force at the Showcase."
"Agreed," Jayce replied, shutting the harness off. "Better to succeed with moderate power than risk a meltdown."
Caitlyn's Late Arrival
They were mid-way through triple-checking the calibration when Caitlyn finally slipped into the lab, shoulders tense, expression apologetic.
"Sorry," she whispered, stepping closer. "Things at home… took longer than expected."
Orion's worry flashed in his eyes, but he only nodded. "We're good here. We just tested the harness at seventy-five percent. The coil nearly went haywire, but we managed."
Caitlyn's gaze flicked between them, guilt evident. "I should've been here. I promised I'd watch the readouts."
Jayce shook his head kindly. "No harm done. You've got your own stuff going on."
She exhaled, removing her jacket and setting it aside. "My parents," she said, voice taut, "are more insistent than ever that I stay out of risky things. I tried telling them that I want to be an enforcer. They… well, they think it's all from being around you, Orion, and your 'dangerous experiments.'"
Orion straightened, feeling a twinge of defensiveness. "That's not fair. They know me—surely they understand this is about your own passion."
Caitlyn's lips thinned. "They do, but they don't accept it. They still see me as a Kiramman daughter who should pursue a safer, more refined path." She took a breath, forcing a faint smile. "I'll handle it. I just hate disappointing them."
Jayce, folding his arms, exchanged a sympathetic look with Orion. "Family expectations can be rough. We're with you, Caitlyn."
She nodded gratefully. "Thanks. So, how can I help?"
Testing Bounds and Bonds
With Caitlyn watching the monitors and Orion and Jayce manning the harness controls, they repeated the test procedure. This time, they inched the power from sixty to seventy, letting Caitlyn log each reading in real time.
A swirl of mechanical hums and faint Energon glows filled the lab. Caitlyn's focus narrowed on the gauges, calling out the numbers. Between the clatter of gears and the hiss of the coil, Orion found his gaze drifting to her now and then. Even in the tension, her presence grounded him, reminding him that he wasn't in this alone.
"All stable," Caitlyn reported as they neared seventy-five percent. "No surges so far."
Jayce's grin widened. "That means we've successfully ironed out the coil alignment. Orion, let's push it for three more seconds, then back off."
Orion nodded. "On my mark… now."
They engaged the final power spike. A satisfying pulse reverberated through the harness device, sending the test cylinder skidding across the floor. No meltdown, no sudden alarm.
"Cutting power," Orion called, flipping the switch. The harness wound down, and the room fell silent.
A ripple of shared exhilaration passed among them.
"That's it," Jayce said, practically glowing. "That's the sweet spot for the Showcase, I can feel it."
Orion exhaled a relieved laugh. "We'll present a demonstration that's controlled, impressive, and safe."
Caitlyn jotted the final data point, then let the pencil clatter onto the table. "You two are unstoppable. I'll never doubt it again."
Confessions in the Quiet
After tidying up, Jayce excused himself to consult with a professor about finalizing design paperwork for the Showcase. That left Orion and Caitlyn alone among the powered-down machines.
Caitlyn tapped her foot against the floor, hesitating. "Hey… about earlier. I'm sorry I was late. My parents…"
Orion shook his head gently, stepping closer. "You don't have to apologize. I get it. Your parents just worry, even if it's misguided."
She let out a slow breath. "Yeah, but you know, sometimes I feel like I have to defend everything I do. Why I want to be an enforcer. Why I spend time in labs when I'm not an inventor. Why I support your tech. It's exhausting."
Orion hesitated, then laid his mechanical hand softly on her shoulder. "I might not have the same family background, but I understand the pressure. Piltover's all about appearances and expectations. But you've never faltered on what you want, Caitlyn."
A soft blush tinted her cheeks, and she met his gaze. The tension from earlier—her parents' suspicions, their own uncertain friendship—hung between them, unspoken. Yet, she leaned into his reassuring touch, eyes flickering with gratitude.
"I just…" she began, voice low, "I don't want you to think I'm ignoring your struggles. Or that I'm using you as an excuse to chase something reckless."
He squeezed her shoulder gently, an unspoken warmth passing through the gesture. "Never. I know you better than that."
For a heartbeat, the noise of the Academy corridors seemed to fade, leaving just the two of them in the dimly lit lab. A question hovered in the air, yet neither voiced it. At length, Caitlyn stepped back, clearing her throat softly.
"I should… probably get going," she said, forcing a half-smile. "My parents will ask where I've been."
Orion nodded, letting his hand fall to his side. "Right. I need to finalize a few notes for the engine anyway. We'll meet again tomorrow?"
She gave a firm nod. "Tomorrow."
As she turned to leave, Orion stood there, heart pounding in that familiar mix of relief and confusion. Their bond felt stronger than ever—yet overshadowed by the unspoken tension neither was ready to address. Still, with the Showcase looming, there was little time to dwell on personal tangles.
He gazed at the harness device, the Energon engine, and the neat readouts Caitlyn had compiled. A surge of hope welled up: maybe they truly were unstoppable, forging new paths in Piltover. Yet a pang of fear lingered too, wondering whether either family drama or hidden emotions might unravel their delicate alliance.
With an exhale, Orion turned back to his papers, determined to keep forging ahead. After all, the city's eyes would soon be upon them—and the future they'd dared to imagine was within sight, if only they could balance all these interwoven pressures.