The world seemed to slow, the weight of the moment bearing down on Orion before sharply speeding up under Silco's intense gaze.

  "My parents were there years ago, on the bridge," Orion said, his voice heightened with stress. He felt a cold sweat trig down his back, his body hung defensively as his hand instinctively entered his jacket.

  Silco's expression turned into a dismissive, mog smirk. He took slow, deliberate steps toward Orion with the bodyguards shifting behind him. "You'll have to try better than that, boy." Silco taunted, his voice dripping with disdain.

  "The river," Orion raised his voice through the growing tension. Silco halted, eyes narrowing as Orion pressed on, "Varied to drown you. You cut his arm and escaped!"

  For a moment, Silco's face torted with disgust, his eyes flickering with distant, painful memories. He hissed through ched teeth, "And here I thought there were no rats skulking about."

  C shifted slightly, her arms unfolding as she leaned forward. Her mouth parted as if to speak, but she hesitated, gng at some nearby flowers before returning her gaze.

  "What did you think, boy?" Silco asked, his hands returning behind his back. Orion exhaled shakily, noting the ge in atmosphere as a ce to speak.

  Orion didn't have much to think- he was here- but he weaved lies based on his knowledge of Are.

  "I didn't know what to think." Orion's gaze shifted down. "All I know is ter, Vander went searg for you." Orion blinked and paused, realization striking him as he ected the story to Vander's about his parents. "My parents...they were helping- in the mines. And they went missing."

  "Ah yes," Silused, tilting his head, his gaze cold aached. "An all-too-on story. The mines are filled with far worse than people."

  His words hung in the air like a poisonous mist, dismissive of Orion's pain, and once more carrying a threatening uone.

  "Orion pys with the Kiramman's daughter," terjected, drawing a tilt of Silco's head, his eyes flig back toward her. "A seed iopsider's sanctuary."

  Silco gave a low, ominous chuckle, "Is that so?" Before his crimsouro Orion, pinning him in pce. "All I see is a boy fighting for his survival. Not a seed of vengeanot a passion for Zaun, hatred for topsiders, or even a spark of rebellion. Just... survival."

  "You're right. Survival is all I know." Orion responded carefully, his gaze finally meeting Silco's. "And every survivor knows it takes knowing the right people."

  He paused, his words slow and deliberate. "If I didn't care for the Uy, for Zaun, I wouldn't be standing here."

  "Indeed," Silco replied with a faint nod. He raised an open palm in front, staring at it thoughtfully before his gaze returo Orion. "g for any means of survival... it's a good instinct."

  Silco's hand suddenly ched into a fist, his voice taking on a ce. "But that also means your loyalty is thin. A dog that would bite its ow a moment's notice. Do you think I would make the same mistake twice?"

  Orion gripped his jacket tightly, his jaw tightening, "Vander regrets what he did to you, that much is clear. My parents also went missing searg for you. If that means anything to you, it should. But we 't live in the past."

  Silco raised an eyebrow, his gaze fixated on Orion, waiting silently and motionlessly.

  "If I befriend the Kirammans," Orion pressed on, slowly removing his hand from his jacket, his voice steady but tense. "Zaun will have someoopside who open doors to iations. It's not just about survival- it's about creating somethier."

  "Naive, "Silorted, taking a step closer. "Topsiders have taken from us for decades. Words, no matter how sweet, will never sway their cil."

  Orion held Silco's pierg gaze, unwavering uhe pressure and his looming presence. "Not alone, no. But you have something pogether, it could shift the bance. Or do you pn to make Vander right?" He paused before adding the provocation at the end.

  Silco's crimson eye seemed to fre, a flicker e crossing his scarred face, "I'll give you credit, boy- you have guts. But cross the line again, and I will spill what remains."

  Silence gripped the room, broken only by the faint echoes of despair outside and the screeg hum of metallitition. The tension was sharp and palpable, keeping everyone on edge.

  After what felt like ay, Silco exhaled slowly. His voice, though lower and with the edge removed, still carried a dangerous uone. "You have my respect- Orion. I'll sider your worth."

  Orion's shoulders rexed, catg C's simir rea as she sighed softly with relief. She purred, "Escort the sprout outside Factorywood."

  "Entresol's Chemtech Seams, if you care." Orion blurted out before the two meo him could act.

  Silco, who'd already turo leave and without looking back, returned only a slight tilt of his head and a low, dismissive, "Hmph." before tinuing toward the exit, disappearing into the shadows.

  The st thing Orion saw was C smiling widely, her expression mischievous as her fingers danced upon her lips. She giggled softly, a sound that echoed in his mind before the sack ulled over his head.

  Sometime ter, the sack was removed, and Orion stood at the entrance of Factorywood. He had no words, no expression, or coherent thoughts to describe the experience. He could only look down at the tainted dirt, his mind in turmoil, before slowly asding to Entresol.