//Last Drop - Backroom Lounge//
Vander, breathing heavily, barged through the door with a worried expression.
Vi and Powder were huddled together on the couch, eyes puffy and raw. Powder trembled faintly, her little body curled close against Vi for comfort while Isha sat looking at them all, confused. She was escorted home by Benzo and Ekko earlier in the day.
Claggor and Mylo sat opposite on the other sofa, pale and silent. They flinched when Vander stormed in, his heavy footsteps echoing.
Bruises marked them all from a street fight on the way back. Vi's clothes were drenched in dried blood. The room itself was weighed down with grief.
Vander rushed straight to Vi, cupping her face, eyes scanning the stains. "What were you thinking, going topside?!" he barked, furious yet desperate. "Are you hurt? Is everyone alright?"
"I'm sorry," Vi whimpered.
He froze. That wasn't Vi's usual fire. Her apology felt fragile and broken. Something was very wrong.
Vander scrambled to the shelf for the medical kit, his chest tightening at the thought of losing her. "Don't worry, we'll get you fixed up, Vi!"
"She's fine," Claggor muttered hoarsely. "That blood isn't hers, mostly…"
Vander blinked, confusion twisting his face. He turned slowly. "Then whose blood is—"
"It's Orion's," Vi croaked.
Vander's blood ran cold. "Where is he?"
Vi trembled, unable to meet his gaze. Powder hiccupped and clutched tighter at her sister's arm. Claggor and Mylo stared at the floor, silent with guilty expressions.
Vander's tone dropped, low and dangerous. "Where's Orion?" His eyes hardened, scanning their faces.
No one spoke. His fists clenched. "Answer me," he growled.
Silence.
"ANSWER ME!" Vander roared, his voice like thunder. The commotion in the tavern above dimmed instantly and the air downstairs thickened with fear from the kids.
Everyone jumped. Powder shrieked, crying harder as she buried her face into Vi's chest.
Vi wrapped her protectively, her own tears spilling. "We don't know! He said he would be fine!"
"He used magic to save Vi!" Claggor blurted out suddenly, voice cracking under the weight.
Vander's head snapped to him, disbelief painted across his face. "Magic? Do you expect me to believe that?"
Powder whimpered against Vi. "It's true… I called him Nightlight… because I saw it."
"You were seeing things!" Vander snapped, rubbing his eyes with frustration.
Powder's muffled voice broke through her sobbing. "He healed Vi's head… when thugs hurt her…"
Vi hesitated. Her hand brushed instinctively at her temple. She couldn't confirm if it happened because it was unconscious.
Vander shook his head, voice breaking into a low growl. "Orion told you to leave him… because he knew. He knew he was already gone, or maybe, just maybe, the Enforcers could save him."
His shoulders sagged as he muttered to himself, "But I doubt that…"
The room fell into a heavy silence. The only sound was Isha's growing sobs, her cries tearing at every heart in the room.
Vander finally spoke, his voice rough but steady. "Listen to me. The Enforcers will be searching for you. None of you leave here until I get back. Understand?"
They nodded weakly. Vander's expression hardened again but his eyes betrayed the grief behind them.
"If Orion doesn't make it back…" His tone was hollow, broken. "…this one's on all of us."
He turned sharply and left, the door slamming shut behind him.
The gang sat in silence, Powder's quiet sobs filling the room as Isha clung to her. Vi, Claggor, and Mylo could only stare at the floor, guilt gnawing through them like a wound that wouldn't close.
Out in the alley, Vander pressed his back against the wall, exhaling shakily. His fists unclenched, blood rushing hot in his ears.
'Damn it, boy…'
He dragged a hand down his face, the weight of leadership and guilt crashing in. 'I should've kept you closer. I should've seen this coming with how those kids behave.'
The image of Orion bloodied and broken from the Old Hungry replayed in his mind, mixing with the sight of the kids' tear-stained faces. They weren't just scared, they were broken.
Vander closed his eyes.
'If he's gone… that blood's on me as much as it's on them.'
With a heavy grunt, he forced himself upright and his expression hardened.
'I'll find out. One way or another. Grayson...'
----------------------
Throughout the days to come, Orion faded in and out of consciousness, unable to act. Even if he wanted to, Enforcers stood guard at his bedside, reporting every flicker of movement whenever he woke.
Meanwhile, the Council convened for Jayce Talis's trial.
Tradition demanded Jayce's exile after he revealed his attempts to create magic, yet certain influences and favoritism prevented such a sentence.
Shortly after, the Council met again, this time without Heimerdinger. Sheriff Grayson and Marcus were summoned for a full debriefing on the explosion.
"You said this was a robbery. Did they take anything dangerous?" Mel asked.
"Hard to say," Grayson reported. "We don't exactly know what we did find, let alone what we didn't. It appears they lost most of it during the explosion."
"This mention of magic has the people afraid," Hoskel said sharply. "The culprits must be apprehended!"
"Your attitude makes me question if your best is up to the task," Salo sneered.
"Oh, we'll find them. Don't worry," Marcus shot back confidently.
Grayson interjected, her voice calm and professional. "We've conducted exhaustive interrogations, frozen commerce for half the district. With all due respect, councilor, don't you think we've pushed them hard enough?"
"Do whatever it takes!" Bolbok's voice ground out in metallic fury. "Turn the Undercity upside down if you have to!"
Mel tapped her fingers on her arm, contemplative. "What of the one culprit? Is he still alive?"
Cassandra's eyes flickered, her gaze darting briefly to Mel before returning to Grayson.
"Yes," Grayson answered evenly. "We don't know the full extent of his involvement. Witnesses reported him sprinting across the city moments before the explosion. Once he wakes up, we can question him. Caitlyn Kiramman claims he was at both the Menagerie and Cultivar incidents as well."
"That's it?" Shoola scoffed.
Grayson's tone didn't waver. "His injuries are severe. It is a miracle he survived."
"If he knew where they'd be, then he knows who they are," Mel mused aloud. "And who they are tied to. If this boy was also at Count Mei's Menagerie, and the Cultivar, then his connections are valuable."
She gestured and Grayson nodded. "Ensure he survives for questioning."
"We are securing a Spirit Tonic from one of the traders," Grayson added. "It won't be much longer before we have answers."
Marcus stepped forward, overflowing with confidence. "We'll get names out of him! It won't take long."
"Good!" Hoskel chuckled, smug. "I enjoy it when competent people are on the task!"
Marcus smirked but behind him Grayson let out the faintest sigh.
"Still, the people want answers," Salo pressed. "Keep scouring the Undercity until he wakes. Use any means necessary to get answers after he wakes. Any tools."
Marcus's smirk grew but Cassandra's cold voice cut through.
"As the victim of another attack, and the one who will pay for the tonic to keep him alive, you will not."
The chamber fell silent.
"You?" Salo blinked in disbelief. "Why would you pay such an exorbitant amount to keep that filthy rat alive?"
"That rat is one of our citizens," Cassandra snapped. "We need to know the cause of these events, otherwise they will continue."
Mel's eyes narrowed. "While I sympathize, the boy is complicit. He knew this would happen."
Cassandra opened her mouth to protest but Mel's cold stare silenced her.
"We were lenient with Jayce Talis. That is enough."
"Send him to the Dredge Prison!" Bolbok's gears screeched with rage. "Let him learn his lesson there!"
Shoola shook her head. "Too harsh. We still don't know the full extent of his involvement, or why."
"An example must be made!" Bolbok thundered. "Two attacks in one month are unacceptable!"
Mel nodded slowly. "Two is unacceptable. I agree." She paused. "Stillwater works well. It keeps him off the streets and is reserved for high-profile criminals. Let that be the compromise."
Greyson remained silent as the Council decided Orion's future behind closed doors.
Later, there may be a public trial but his fate was already decided.