enforce - vi

1

"So Jayce told you he went to the Undercity to get these?" Liona asked, eyeing the items with a look of distaste. Caitlyn chuckled at her reaction.

"Yeah, he said he got it for his Hextech project," Caitlyn replied.

Liona sighed, sprawling onto the bed. "You know, Caitlyn... I don't really think this whole Hextech thing is a good idea. It feels... messy. Dangerous, even."

Caitlyn lay down beside her, gazing up at the beautifully decorated ceiling designed by Piltover's finest artisans. "Hmm. Maybe you're right, Lio," she said, finally agreeing after their many debates on the subject.

After a moment, Liona sat up, brushing back her purple hair and clipping a bit of it to the side. "I should get going. I'm supposed to check on Jayce's room."

"You could wait until he comes back," Caitlyn suggested with a smile.

Liona returned the smile. "True, but I'm already on my way," she replied with a wink.

-

Muttering to herself as she approached the room, Liona sighed, "Every time I have to check on this project, I'm less thrilled about the idea." Instead of using the main door, she slipped through an adjacent room that connected directly to Jayce's workspace.

With a quick jingle of the lock, she opened the door and stepped in, only to gasp and pull back. Inside was a young girl with blue hair, examining one of Jayce's crystals.

"Maybe you should really head out," Liona said, stepping out of the shadows. The girl jumped and grabbed what looked like a metal toy.

"W-Who are you!? B-Back off, or I'll throw this bomb at you!" she stammered, clutching the object defensively.

Liona smiled, holding up her hands. "I'm not here to hurt you, kiddo. In fact, I'm supposed to stop you, but... I'm not going to. So just get out of here, okay?"

The girl hesitated, her eyes darting nervously, until another voice called from nearby, "Powder, we gotta go!"

Liona realized then who the young girl was. Powder hurriedly gathered the crystals and bolted out of the room. Liona heard Caitlyn and Jayce's voices outside and felt a pang of guilt. She could have stopped Powder—but she wasn't about to turn in a kid.

As she moved to leave, a bright blue flash erupted, engulfing her vision. Everything went dark.

-

"Wake up, Liona!" A muffled voice pierced through the haze as someone gently tapped her cheek. Blinking groggily, Liona opened her eyes to see her cousin, Caitlyn, kneeling beside her.

"What... happened?" she mumbled, sitting up and rubbing her head, wincing at the sharp ache.

"Oh, thank goodness," Caitlyn sighed in relief, wrapping her arms around Liona. The two were more than just cousins—they were practically one soul, bound by a deep, unspoken understanding.

Liona took a sip of water that Caitlyn offered, slowly piecing things together. "What happened?"

Caitlyn leaned back, wiping a bit of blood from Liona's forehead. "Jayce and I were outside, trying to get in. The door was jammed, and we heard voices inside. Then there was this blue flash, and next thing I knew, Jayce was thrown against the wall."

Caitlyn's expression grew serious as she looked at her. "Did you see anyone in there?"

Liona hesitated, feeling the familiar tug of guilt, but forced herself to lie. "No, I didn't. I was just opening the other door when the flash hit, and everything went black. I didn't even hear you and Jayce."

Caitlyn seemed to accept this, sighing. "All right. Get some rest. I'll let Aunt know you're okay. She's worried."

"Thanks, Cait," Liona murmured as Caitlyn draped a blanket over her. She settled into the bed, her thoughts drifting to Powder and the blue flash. Why had she lied?

-

"We're sending enforcers to the Undercity! It has to be one of them!" Liona heard Marcus shouting from behind the door. Her stomach twisted with worry. What if someone saw me? No, no... I'll be in trouble.

She stepped into the room. "I'm coming with you," she announced, her voice steady.

Marcus chuckled, shaking his head. "No, you're not, kiddo. You stay here with Caitlyn."

Liona's eyes narrowed, her arms crossed. "No, I'm going! I have to feed the cat, anyway."

Marcus was about to argue until Liona's mother, Sophia, entered, resting a reassuring hand on her daughter's shoulder. "It's fine. Let her go, Marcus. She'll be safer with you than going out alone each day."

Marcus sighed, relenting. "Yes, ma'am. We'll bring her along," he said, casting Liona a wary look. She stuck her tongue out at him, earning a glare in return.

Liona came from a half-wealthy family—her mother, Sophia, had served as a Piltover councilor for years, while her father, Benedict, originally from the Undercity, now worked as an advisor on the council.

Once in the Undercity, Liona spotted the stray cat she always fed and knelt down with a smile. "There you are!"

As she placed food down, a figure suddenly grabbed her by the neck and shoved her against the wall. Liona gasped, her gaze locking with a girl her own age with fierce pink hair.

Grabbed by the collar and slammed against the wall, Liona grunted as the impact rattled her. She looked up to see a girl with striking pink hair, smirking down at her.

"You're pretty for an undergrounder, but you're not an enforcer either. So who are you?" the girl sneered.

"I'm... here with the enforcers," Liona replied, trying to steady her voice. The girl's expression flickered with alarm.

"Enforcers? What are they doing here?" The pink-haired girl tensed, her hand tightening on Liona's collar.

"They're looking for someone," Liona explained, noticing the girl's defensive stance. "I don't know who exactly. I'm just... here to feed that cat." She glanced down at the stray, trying to soften the situation. "Which makes me wonder—could you please let me go?"

The girl raised an eyebrow, then chuckled. "You come all the way to the Undercity just to feed a cat?"

Liona glared at her, brushing off the laughter. "It was my father's favorite cat," she muttered, reaching out to scratch the cat's head. The pink-haired girl paused, seeming taken aback.

"Oh... I'm sorry. Is he...?" she trailed off.

"Yes, he's alive," Liona clarified with a quick laugh. "I mean, when he lived here, he fed her every day. So she's used to him. But now that he's gone, I think she knows I'm his daughter." She shrugged, then looked back up at the girl. "And what's your name?"

The girl hesitated before replying, "Violet. But I go by Vi."

Liona nodded, letting the name settle. "Do you... happen to know anyone named Powder?" she asked gently, remembering the young girl from earlier.

Vi's face hardened, her posture shifting to one of hostility. "You're with them, aren't you? Are you here to take my sister?"

"No, no," Liona assured her quickly, shaking her head. "I just wanted to warn her. I saw her in Jayce's room, and... it might be best if she lies low for a while."

Vi's gaze softened, but only slightly. After a pause, she nodded. "Fine. Follow me."

-

Inside the Last Drop, Vi led Liona through the dimly lit, chaotic bar. Liona's refined Piltover attire stood out, drawing a few curious—and suspicious—stares from the patrons.

"Hey, Pow-Pow," Vi called out, gesturing to her sister. "Someone's here to meet you."

Powder looked up from her seat, her eyes widening with recognition as she spotted Liona. "It's you! The girl who tried to save me!" she exclaimed, running over to her sister's side.

Liona gave a small smile, nodding politely. "Liona's the name," she introduced herself, noticing two boys nearby who were eyeing her warily.