EKKO

As he banged the door after reaching the entrance, now properly guarded since the last 'visit', it opened up after a bit, knowing those looking at the peephole would recognize their savior and leader, standing maskless, but chin high and proud. The door revealed the treehouse, that good sight of hope, of a home, where he could rest, and it was an earned one after that night, but he still won't.

Not yet, not with the new... thing he just brought, and just too interesting to disclose to everyone, yet. Still, there was the gemstones, just as he promised would bring for Heimerdinger to work with, given enough time.

That is, if time could also be granted. And would, depending on how it'd go, investigating that device. But that was for shortly enough. Now it was doing his leader duties, talking to the masses and giving them a reason that, despite the tragedies, the time to fight wasn't over, yet. Somewhat like he always idolized Vi always did with her group.

Ekko looked at the trio of guards at the door whom all helped roll it to give way to him and waved at them. "Hey, guys.", he said.

"Did you get it?", the voice of Scar asked, as the faithful Vastayan lieutenant stepped forward, clearly having stayed awake, tending to his baby daughter, expecting his leader to return.

Ekko said nothing, just put his hand on the pocket where the gemstones were and shown both of them to him.

"Shit, look at them...", one of the Firelight guards murmured in awe as Scar breathed in relief.

"Call'em.", Ekko ordered, smirking proudly.

"Cover her ears, please.", Scar told one of the guards, handing her baby daughter over to one of them. "FIRELIGHTS!"

The roar, more like a war cry, echoed across the treehouse and lasted over five seconds, certainly enough to draw someone's attention, and it did, with a pair of guards at one of the catwalks along the houses by the walls, in which they noticed someone down below, other than the guards and Scar.

It was none other than their leader, which then raised his hand, which flared a blue spark, one that immediately jolted their attention. "Go wake the others!", one of the guards said to the other as he went at the other direction, and thus they started going door-to-door to wake everyone up. Gradually, the haven's inhabitants did come by the catwalk, noticing Ekko was back, and by some shine he was carrying something. The eventual cheer rose up as those whom woke rallied to him, as did a particular, small, furry figure whom just left his space to see what was going on, and notice the towering Ekko before him.

Ekko knelt and opened his hand, showing the two glowing, harmonious but deceptively potent gemstones to Heimerdinger. "Make the most of'em, please.", he said.

Heimerdinger hesitated for a moment. "You'd best know what you're doing, young lad.", he said, as he extended his hand to pick the gemstones.

"That's why you're sleeping and eating here, ain't it?", he joked, and some around him did chuckle a bit, as the hourglass kid did get on his feet, to address the crowd, seeing their renewed spirits, their vigor, just waiting for the next words of the very one whom clearly was doing all he could for them, and it showed.

"I know what we went through, and the memory of loss is still too fresh.", he started. "I felt it like you did, it was losing more than friends, it was family we buried. I know some of you doubted we could last, or this place would last long. I know some of you thought I did all that for myself. You ain't wrong. I had to prove myself, that I could indeed make this more than a crusade, when I founded this group to stand against Silco, that I could make this a purpose. That I could do more than avenge those whom fell, I can honor their sacrifice, and make it worth for all of us. As well to prove this place could be more than a refuge, it can be a foundation. But I knew I couldn't do it alone, as you knew you couldn't do it alone either. It's what started all this, right? When we stood side-by-side. I know what we went through, the loss is still too fresh. From the heart, I can't promise it won't ever happen again. But I can assure you this: Our time ain't through, yet. Because we're still here! You still want a home. And I still want to make that foundation. The foundation of the home we were all supposed to have, all this time! The home we all deserved. But I can't do it, not alone. What of you, guys? Feel like you can do it alone? Or we're getting side-by-side on this?"

Someone in the crowd shouted 'Yeah!' and the rest followed along with Scar, whom howled for a bit, cheering for their boy savior. The boy he knew he was all the time, and it was heartwarming too see that faith restored, even if it took a couple of glowing blue balls to do it, to know that those hearts could still beat for that tree, for that home. That it wasn't all in vain. Ekko could only wonder if only Benzo or even Vander were around to see that...

"Okay, okay, everyone, good news done with, you can all go back now.", Scar said. "Plenty of daylight shortly to look forward to."

The crowd started dispersing, the smiles, faces of relief, going all around with them. The guards returned to their posts, vigor renewed, as Scar, nodding to Ekko in some genuine respect, picked her child and returned to his home as well.

Heimerdinger himself remained there, staring at Ekko, with eyes of a mentor whom could feel his student, something Ekko never was, could make him proud, at least more than the others did. In fact, this moment alone showed Heimerdinger the many things Ekko was what the others weren't, such as a leader that the Council could've used, or an inventor that could help out in Piltover. But he was best suited here, at that moment. It felt fair Heimerdinger helped him, despite the obvious issue of the Hextech gemstones and their destructive power.

"Quite a speech, lad.", Heimerdinger said. "Guess I can understand a bit what you said earlier, about giving people what they needed to live. However, I still stand that Hextech will do all but solve your immediate or long-term problems."

"Obvious, but it wasn't what I was looking for.", Ekko said, gesturing at the whole haven. "It was their hearts, and I just got that. But listen, Heimerdinger, I came across someone else up there."

"You did?", Heimerdinger asked, caught off-guard, before looking down and closing his eyes. "I knew this would bring problems..."

"No, not that, he kind of came down here too, but went his own way.", Ekko answered. "He did ask me to give you a message though. To tell you you're wrong, that not all that shine brightest burn the fastest."

Heimerdinger was confused at the message for a moment, until the mention shining and burning did spark a memory on his mind and it jolted him with awe. "Viktor?", he asked. "He's here?"

"Not here, here, he's down on the Lanes.", Ekko answered. "Was carrying something too, I never saw anything like it, kinda creepy. Some sort of a living metal ball, whatever, it was floating and glowing and beating like a heart..."

That mention alone caused another jolt at Heimerdinger's memory synapses, but this time one of dread. "The Hex Core...", he said, frightened, glancing then at Ekko. "Ekko, you must tell me where I can find him!"

"Didn't I just tell you, we split ways after getting in here.", Ekko replied.

"Then please, heed me where no one else ever did!", Heimerdinger said. "Whenever you can, find him. That thing, what he's carrying, it can prove to be the undoing of all the Undercity, this is no exaggeration!"

Ekko looked at Heimerdinger's eyes, burning with urgency. "Kinda suspected, tried talking him out of it.", Ekko said, looking to the entrance that was now closed back.

"Ekko.", Heimerdinger urged. "This title they gave you, 'boy savior'? Trust me when I say it, this mantle has never been needed more than now!"

Ekko nodded, a part of him wishing he could also share with Heimerdinger his discovery of the invention he found along with the gemstones, but now judging by his reaction of this 'Hex Core' thing, perhaps it wouldn't be bright to share with him on a thing capable of rewinding time. That could wait, no pun intended.

"I'll keep you updated.", Ekko said, as he passed by Heimerdinger, whom was murmuring to himself, a bit nervous, and went his way to the inside of the treehouse.

Heimerdinger stared at the entrance and did feel the urge to exit and go after Viktor, yet his mind gave him pause. He didn't even know where to start, there was the Hextech issue to handle and, as Ekko said, he'd find Viktor, whenever he could. He had to.

And if he couldn't find or stop him in time... Heimerdinger at least had better had the countermeasures ready.

He headed back to the workshop.