Arcane Anew (Rewrite)

"Zzzz Zzzz ZZZT Zzz Zzz"

'I can't tell which I hate more. His snoring or the random spazzing.'

Between Mylo's elephant snoring and Claggor's sleep spasms, thudding his foot against the base of his bed or wall, Orion couldn't fall asleep. True, they'd laid out some blankets and a pillow for him, but that was only one part of sleep. Their room was also right across from the girls' room and next to the bathroom.

'I wish I could still fall asleep anywhere... concrete, vehicle bay, outside under the baking sun- damn it!'

He sighed, adjusting himself on the blankets that acted as a thin cushion between him and the rotting floorboards.

'Not as bad as concrete,' Orion thought. 'Has a little more give.'

But that idle thought didn't stop the part of him that just wanted to get up and leave, risking the Undercity dark just to get a better night's sleep back at his collapsing home. There were no books, no computers to pass the time, and no stars to gaze upon. Only the sickly green light from outside bathed the floor around him.

His mind wandered. The horror-movie arrival, the things he'd seen, the excitement of being in a new world- it kept him buzzing no matter how hard he tried to calm down. Orion wanted a full night's rest and to process it all in the morning. But clearly, that wasn't happening.

'Fuck it. I can practice magic. It was barely a sputter last time, so I doubt it'll wake these two.'

Watching his hand faintly illuminate under the green-tinged light, Orion reminded himself: magic needed an outlet. Storing it might be possible though it would be incredibly difficult, if not downright impossible. The mana wanted to return to Runeterra and not be constrained.

Regardless, he needed to get used to circulating it first.

'Baby steps. Like boxing. One-two, one-two, basic footwork. Let's figure out how to circulate it before anything complex.'

Closing his eyes, he visualized the mana again. Countless rivers flowed in harmony, twisting together like living rope. But instead of water, it was mana.

Orion plucked one out like a thread from fabric again and this time it came easier. Even with this success however, he shifted irritably.

'There are so many more rivers and ropes of mana in the distance... but I can't reach them!'

'Focus, focus! You have the mana. Control it. Circulate it...'

He focused on the thread and gently guided it through his body. It flowed through his arms, legs, and chest. Deceptively tranquil as it contained energy that could shatter his physical body.

A faint trace of magic escaped through his raised palm and Orion opened one eye curiously.

There it was.

Arcane magic.

Faint blue energy danced from his palm into a glistening mist. The soft light bloomed into a glowing, blue arcane orb that pulsed faintly in his hand. Meager to an experienced mage but enough to make his inexperienced heart and mind race.

'This is awesome!' Orion beamed. 'I gotta try... more?'

His head began to spin.

Immediately, he cut off the current and released the excess. The orb burst with a mystical hum- sparkling blue light sprayed outward like a miniature firework, hovering in the air for a moment before fading into nothingness.

Smiling, Orion's vision blurred as his consciousness began to fade. He felt... accomplished. Happy.

Just before slipping away, he saw that blue bird again, chirping angrily on his chest.

'What do you want...? Get off me...'

'Be careful!'

---------------

Yawning, Powder stumbled out of the bathroom. She shuffled blindly, arm outstretched to guide herself along the wall toward her room.

Just as she reached for the knob, a mysterious hum and faint blue glow lit her from behind.

She blinked, confused, and turned around. Her eyes widened.

The boys' doorframe glowed faintly but faded the moment her gaze landed on it, as if to tease her.

She froze for a second, then rushed over excitedly. 'Was that my imagination?'

'What are they doing in there? Is Orion showing them something cool without me?!'

Powder tilted her head, eyeing the door suspiciously before pressing her ear against it. There was nothing, only the sound of snores.

'Nothing... what was that?' Powder frowned. 'They're doing something cool without me!'

She crossed her arms angrily, glaring at the door before storming back to her room. Just before stepping inside, she glanced back, hoping it might happen again.

But it didn't.

Disappointed and upset, she sighed and went back to bed.

'Jerks! They want to keep it a secret!'

-------------

Orion hung with the gang until the evening. Vi had taken charge, eager to prove herself and assert her dominance through solid leadership to him.

"It's pretty simple. We wait until he closes! I'll smash the windows and you guys start hucking the sludge," Vi ordered, gesturing at Orion and Claggor.

"Powder will keep watch incase the owner or enforcers come around."

"What about Mylo?" Claggor asked, tilting his head.

"Don't you worry. I'll be painting a masterpiece tonight!" Mylo smirked from his usual lounged appearance on the couch. He gestured 

"But how's the new guy going to help? We only have two buckets, and I'm using one! We agreed on that!"

Orion shrugged, "I'll get in the canal and scoop it up to Claggor. He's has a better throwing arm."

"So you'll just be standing there half the time? What use you are? Do we really have to bring him?" Mylo complained, throwing a disgruntled look at Vi.

"Yes, Mylo. We are," Vi answered matter-of-factly, leaving no room for argument.

"Vander ordered it. Besides, you aren't much better. I paid for the paint, remember? It came out of my pocket!"

She raised her voice, causing Mylo's eyes to guiltily shift away. He mumbled under his breath, "It was only two bronze."

With her frustration evident, Vi sighed and turned to Powder. She was nervously holding her new 'explosive' with a pink Poro sketch drawn on. Her innocent eyes kept darting between the boys, her expression showing envy.

'She's been wanting to say something to us all day,' Orion mentally commented as her gaze flickered away from Orion as if hurt.

'There it is again!'

Vi's soft voice attracted Powder's depressed gaze.

"It will work this time, trust me!"

She gives Powder's hair a playful ruffle and her eyes lit up in response.

"Let me be clear: if Powder spots anyone approaching, we split. We can't risk being caught together." Vi said, her tone commanding.

The gang nodded with approval but Orion felt some doubt.

'Splitting could be dangerous, especially with dark approaching. Also, they only need to catch one of us...'

If an outsider started throwing in disagreeing opinions, however, it may alienate him from the group. It was also already established that Orion is back-up. 

'Enforcers don't come down here often so the most we probably have to deal with is the shopkeeper.'

"Can you do that Powder?" Mylo sarcastic jab interrupted his thoughts. "Not going to Jinx it again?"

Immediately Vi responded, except with a gentle tone directed at Powder.

"Yes, she can. You've got this, right?" Powder looked up at Vi with wide trusting eyes,. She began to bounce again, grinning with excitement.

"Yeah, I've got it!"

Claggor joined in glaring at Mylo, while Orion kept his expression neutral. His doubt had him reluctantly agreeing with Mylo.

Mylo rolled his eyes.

"Guess we'll see how long this lasts."