Piltover - Veteran's Center - [The Future]

Woods clenched his fists, his voice growing angrier. "And just like that... Caitlyn changed. It was like I was looking at someone else entirely. Whatever happened down there, it didn't just shake her—it scarred both of them."

He paused, growling under his breath, his frustration boiling over. "Vi—she wasn't herself too. And when she punched me square in the face," he leaned back in his wheelchair, his knuckles white as he gripped the armrests. "I lost my shit when she did that. Could have smoked her on the spot..." Woods paused attempting to calm himself down, "The whole thing was in shambles. That was it for me. I wasn't about to stick around and deal with their fucking drama. I left. End of story."

Lawson remained silent, sensing the weight of the memory and Woods' simmering anger, knowing better than to push further.

Woods exhaled, his frustration easing into a more reflective tone. "That's what set it all off. I didn't know all the details of what went down between Caitlyn and Vi after that, and honestly? I didn't have the time to care."

Woods leaned back, a glint of defiance in his eyes, his tone steady but intense. "We thought the war was between Piltover and Zaun. But it was more than that. The real war? It began at the Council room."

He exhaled, his gaze hardening. "The real challenge started with a warlord from Noxus named Ambessa and a Jiralhanae warmaster named Atriox—the leader of what they themselves as the Banished. Fitting name, considering how things ended for them. And Atriox? He wasn't just some ordinary leader. He was something else entirely."

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He paused, his tone heavy with skepticism. "Back then, he was an ally—at least on paper. But it was clear from the start that Atriox wasn't just looking to help. He came in with his big ideas, trying to turn Piltover into a militarized stronghold. Claimed it was all about creating stability, giving us a chance to win the war against Zaun." Woods' jaw tightened, the thought of Atriox's ambitions still clearly bothering him.

He shook his head, his frustration clear. "But it wasn't stability he wanted—it was control. Atriox doesn't do things halfway. And that's when everything started spiraling into something much bigger than any of us expected."

Woods scoffed. "Like hell I'd let that happen. That's not how we operate around here. But Terrance? He was the one who really held the line. Wouldn't allow it, not on his watch. The man's like Piltover's own voice of reason, the one who kept us from tearing ourselves apart."

He leaned forward slightly, his tone lowering. "And then Ambessa Medarda stepped in. She actually agreed with Atriox, said it was the best way to bring stability after what happened. I get it—her daughter almost got killed. It made sense from her perspective. Terrance didn't budge. He wasn't about to compromise Piltover's values for anyone, not even for both of them."

He glanced at Lawson, his eyes resolute. "That's why people like Terrance matter. He kept his cool, kept us grounded, even when it felt like everyone else was losing it."

Woods paused, his expression darkening. "But it wasn't enough," he admitted.

Lawson tilted his head. "Not enough? What do you mean?"

Woods exhaled, leaning back. "Ambessa made some deal with Atriox. Wanting to form some alliance. She even tried to rope Caitlyn into her game. She wanted Caitlyn to join her, working together combined with Ambessa's Noxian soldiers, and Caitlyn leading the Enforcers under her command."

He paused, as he adjusted himself on the wheelchair. "She dangled promises—told Caitlyn they'd work together to take down Jinx." He scoffed. "But Terrance? He wasn't buying it. Saw Ambessa and Atriox for what they both were— warlords obsessed with the power Arcane holds."