Huck dragged his belongings through the streets of the Lanes, head lowered as passersby watched him go.
Many people already knew what had happened. Plenty were willing to help him, even carrying some of his luggage for him. They sympathized with him, but Huck had broken the Lanes' iron rule.
He was not the first person to be driven out of the Lanes, but he was probably the closest to Van among all those who had been exiled so far.
The people of the Lanes would feel sorry for Huck, but no one would plead for him. That was their respect for Torvan, Lord of the Lanes.
With everyone's help, Huck moved his things out of the Lanes. Then, amid farewells and sighs, people left one after another, leaving him crouched alone in a corner at the edge of the district.
He was in a daze. He could barely even remember how he had walked out of the Lanes, as if the whole thing were some terrible dream.
Huck lowered his head blankly. In front of him was a muddy puddle. The reflection was blurred, but he could still faintly make out his own face. The terrifying purple veins on his forehead stood out clearly, so clear they seemed to ache.
Huck covered his face in pain. Regret flooded him. He rubbed at his temple with all his strength, trying to wipe away those awful marks, but even when his skin turned red and sore, nothing changed.
Just then, footsteps slowly approached from nearby. Huck lifted his head in confusion and saw Scar.
Scar walked over and crouched in front of him.
"Is there something else… Scar?"
"I dragged you out, but I still want you to know this. You are… you were a respected old friend of mine. One of the old faces of the Lanes."
"You don't need to feel sorry… Scar. This is what you were supposed to do…"
"Sorry? No."
Scar shook his head and spoke without expression.
"I don't feel sorry. I was carrying out Torvan's order."
Scar took a money pouch from the pocket inside his clothes and held it up in front of Huck.
"This is from the boss. He said after you leave, find honest work and live properly."
Huck looked at the bulging pouch. Through the half-open gap, he could see that it was not filled with ordinary gear coins, but real gold coins.
From the weight alone, it was a large sum.
"No… I can't take this. I broke the rules of the Lanes. He was right to exile me. He doesn't need to compensate me."
"The one who exiled you was the Lord of the Lanes. The one giving you this gift is your old friend, Torvan."
Scar tossed the pouch straight into Huck's arms, then stood up.
"And I'm here to carry out an order, not to argue manners with you."
Huck held the pouch in his hands. The guilt and regret nearly drowned him, and tears slipped from his eyes.
"I'm so sorry… He was always good to me, and I was the one who broke his rule first…"
Scar looked down at him coldly and continued.
"One more thing. Van told me to pass on a message. From now on, don't touch Shimmer again. Use this money to do honest work… Can you do that?"
Huck raised his head and looked at Scar, but he saw no warmth for an old friend in his eyes. Only a businesslike stare.
"All right… I promise him…"
…
…
"Done?"
"Yes."
"How did it feel?"
Van sat in the first row of the chapel, gazing thoughtfully at Janna's portrait as he asked Scar the question.
"In his eyes, I only saw that the craving was still there… I've seen that look in addicts too many times."
Van sighed and rubbed the bluebird pendant with one hand.
"We've done all we can. Let him be."
"You didn't owe him anything. That money was completely wasted on him."
"Nothing is completely worthless, Scar."
Scar still looked angry.
"I just think… your sincerity was thrown away on someone who didn't deserve it."
"Don't say that, Scar. Huck was once your friend too."
After a moment of hesitation, Scar answered firmly.
"Anyone who betrays you is no friend of mine."
Van did not respond. Instead, as if sensing something, he looked toward the chapel entrance.
"Were you two talking? Did I… interrupt?"
"Caitlyn?"
Van looked in surprise at Caitlyn, who was peeking from behind the door. Then he gave Scar a look, and Scar understood at once and walked toward the exit.
Caitlyn looked at Scar's fierce face and instinctively stepped aside for him.
"What brings you here, Cupcake?"
"Mm. I came to wander around the Undercity. You weren't at the tavern, so Ekko said you were probably at the chapel… That is his name, right?"
Caitlyn walked in, came all the way to the first row, and sat beside Van.
"You snuck out again?"
"Ha. Yes. I couldn't help it."
Caitlyn looked around the small, simple chapel.
"Finding this chapel took me a lot of effort… You really can't tell from the outside. Why not make it look nicer?"
"What could be more beautiful than Goddess Janna?"
Caitlyn looked at the especially fine and detailed portrait of Janna. She had to admit that art of this level would draw plenty of eager buyers topside.
"I've only ever seen Janna in storybooks. I never knew people still worshiped her."
"There aren't many of us left, that's true. But I've always believed Janna is like the wind. She has always been around us… Whenever something troubles me, I come here and speak to her."
"Can she hear you?"
"Of course. She loves us."
Caitlyn looked at Van's profile. The devotion on his face did not look false. He truly was a believer, through and through.
"Do you have something troubling you, Caitlyn?"
"Me? Haha, a little."
"Really? I was just being polite… The young lady of House Kiramman has worries too?"
Van smiled and tucked the bluebird pendant back inside his shirt, letting it rest against his skin. He could clearly feel the coolness of the metal.
"Of course I do. I'm human too. Why wouldn't I have worries?"
Caitlyn propped her elbows on her knees and rested her chin in her hands.
"After I went back last time, I was officially sworn in. Now I'm guarding that wretched Academy… Of course, I'm not saying it's a bad place. It's just incredibly boring!"
"Haha…"
Van's eyes shifted slightly, as if he had thought of something.
"You went to the University of Piltover often before? Did you study there?"
"Me? No. I didn't study there. My family just knows a lot of people at the Academy, and we're one of its major patrons… My mother always wants me to build good relationships with the people there. She keeps going on about Piltover's future and all that. It's exhausting."
Van listened thoughtfully to Caitlyn's complaints. Then he smiled and stood up.
"Since you came here with troubles too, there's no point sitting around like this… Come on. I'll show you around Zaun."
[End of chapter]