The Flames of Betrayal

The morning sun bathed the fields of Augustine in a golden glow, but an unsettling tension hung in the air as Orion and Cyrus prepared for the day. They moved through their routine, but an ominous feeling lingered beneath the surface.

"Morning, Old Man," 

"Good Morning, Orion," Cyrus replied, his gaze distant. "I can't shake the feeling that something's off today."

They loaded the carriage in silence, both sensing the growing storm in the air. As they finished, Cyrus turned to Orion. "Let's get moving; the city waits for no man."

Suddenly, a voice broke the stillness. "It's been a long time, Cyrus… or should I say, Cyrus the Eternal Flame?"

Cyrus and Orion turned to find Sheriff Malden leaning against a nearby building, a sly grin spreading across his face. Orion's heart raced as he recognized the malice in Malden's eyes.

"Malden," Cyrus growled, stepping protectively in front of Orion.

With a flick of his wrist, Malden unleashed a torrent of dark energy, tendrils of shadow coiling through the air like serpents. The aura radiating from him surged forward, crashing into their home. The shockwave rumbled through the ground, jolting Orion's family awake inside.

Malden's power erupted, and the walls of their home cracked. As Malden raised his hand in a quick draw motion, a shadow tendril shot forth. Cyrus barely dodged the blast, his instincts honed from years of survival, but the attack found its mark elsewhere.

"No!" Orion cried as he witnessed the horror—his family, trapped inside their destroyed home Their screams pierced the air, drowning out his voice.

At that moment, Orion was frozen, paralyzed by fear and disbelief. The world around him blurred as he watched his parents become crushed by the only home he had ever known, consuming the last remnants of his life.

"Guess I over did it, but you know aiding and abetting a wanted man is a crime equivalent to the criminal they help."

Malden chuckled, watching the destruction with twisted satisfaction.

"You should have known better than to come back, Cyrus."

With a final, devastating roar, the house collapsed, and Orion's heart shattered alongside it. As the fire crackled and the smoke billowed into the sky, Cyrus grabbed Orion's arm, forcing him to move.

" It's too late for them Orion we have to go, Now!"

Cyrus urged, his voice strained with urgency.

Orion's mind raced, the horror of his family's demise consuming him. But he couldn't linger; he had to follow Cyrus. They fled in the carriage through the chaos, Malden's mocking laughter echoing behind them, a dark reminder of the evil that had just destroyed their lives.

As they reach the outskirts of town, Cyrus falls over, blood seeping from wounds inflicted by Malden's brutal attack.

"Orion… listen to me," he gasped, fighting to keep his eyes open. "I have… a chaos shard. When I die, it will find its way to you."

"No! You can't leave me!" Orion shouted, desperation flooding his voice.

"Its power is the only way you can stop him," Cyrus replied, his breath growing ragged.

"Find my old gang in Constellion. They will help you."

With those final words, Cyrus slumped over, the light fading from his eyes. The shard of chaos pulsed within him, slowly transferring to Orion, binding their fates together even in death.

Orion arrived in Constellion, a hollow shell of the boy he once was. Each step felt heavier as he wandered the streets, asking about his mentor's gang but receiving nothing but blank stares and dismissive shrugs in return. Hope slipped through his fingers like sand, and despair wrapped around him like a shroud.

Finally, he pushed open the door to a dimly lit tavern, the scent of ale and smoke clinging to the air. He approached the bar, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I'm looking for the gang of the eternal flame…"

An old man behind the counter looked up, skepticism etched into his features.

"Why would you want to find them?"

Orion hesitated, feeling the weight of his loss pressing down on him.

"Cyrus sent me… and I need answers."

The tavern fell silent, patrons glancing at one another, the tension palpable. The old man's demeanor shifted as he processed the information, and he leaned in closer.

"Cyrus… the Eternal Flame?"

Orion nodded, hope flickering in his chest.

The old man's expression changed, and he nodded slowly.

"Cyrus.... I haven't heard that name in a long time....."

Before Orion could respond, a figure emerged from the shadows—a tall man with graying hair and a scarred face, his gaze piercing as he locked eyes with Orion.

"typical he sends a boy to do his dirty work after all these years"

"I need your help"

"Help.... boy what you need is to get out of my bar"

"I'm not leaving if you know something I'm not going anywhere."

The old man approaches Orion standing face to face.

"I wasn't asking!"

Orion backs down and begins to leave

"And tell Cyrus I said to be a man and face me yourself next time.

"There won't be a next time.....Cyrus is dead." 

Jace paused, studying Orion intently the look in his eyes showing the truth behind his words.

The tavern was silent, the weight of Orion's words hanging thick in the air. Jace's expression hardened, his jaw tightening as he processed the news.

"Cyrus is dead?" His voice was rough, edged with something unspoken—resentment, sorrow, or maybe both.

Orion nodded, his hands clenched into fists.

"Sherrif Malden killed him. He killed my family too."

Jace exhaled sharply, his gaze darkening.

"So that's how it ends, huh? After all these years, after leaving us behind, he still couldn't outrun his past."

Orion stepped forward, desperation creeping into his voice. "He told me to come here. To find you. He said you could help me."

Jace scoffed, shaking his head.

"Help you? Why should I? That bastard abandoned us two decades ago. Left us to rot while he played house in the countryside."

His eyes flicked over Orion, scrutinizing him.

"What makes you think I owe him anything?"

Orion felt something burn in his chest, something close to anger but tainted with grief.

"Because I have nothing left." His voice cracked.

"Because I don't know what else to do."

For the first time, Jace hesitated. He studied the boy standing before him—hollow eyes, slumped shoulders, the weight of loss dragging him down. And despite himself, despite the bitterness lodged deep in his chest, he saw a flicker of something familiar...

Cyrus.

Not the man who left, but the man he once followed.

Jace sighed, rubbing his temples.

"Damn it, kid." He turned to the others. "What do you think?"

The old gang members exchanged glances. One by one, they nodded standing.

Jace groaned.

"Fine. One week. That's all you get. After that, you're on your own."

The training was relentless. Jace didn't hold back, nor did the others. They drilled Orion day and night—combat, strategy, survival. If he faltered, they knocked him down. If he failed, they made him do it again.

But Orion endured.

Through bruises and exhaustion, through the ache of his body and the fire in his chest, he pushed forward. Not because he wanted revenge—because he needed it.

At the end of the week, Jace stood before him, arms crossed.

"You're not ready for 5 Points."

Orion stiffened.

"Then why did you waste my time?"

Jace smirked.

"You're not ready for them… but you're ready to lead."

Orion blinked.

"What?"

Jace turned to the gang, his expression unreadable.

"We're done, Orion. We're too old for this fight. It's time for a new generation to take over."

He pulled a silver ring from his finger, tossing it to Orion.

"And that means you."

The others followed suit, slipping off their rings and handing them over one by one.

"We were strong because we stood together," Jace continued.

"If you want to survive, if you want your vengeance, you'll need to build your own crew, Find people who believe in something, Make them believe in you."

Orion stared at the rings in his palm, the weight ofthem heavier than he expected.

"I… I don't know if I can."

Jace placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You will."

The gang members stepped back, giving Orion space.

Jace cracked his knuckles.

"But first—one last test."

Before Orion could react, Jace lunged. The attack was swift, but Orion moved on instinct, blocking with ease and countering with a force that sent Jace staggering back.

Jace smirked from the ground, looking up at Orion.

"Heh. Yeah. You'll do just fine."

Orion exhaled, steadying himself. He looked at the rings, then at the men who had once been the most feared gang in the land.

He had his title. His reputation would spread.

And now, he had a path.

As he turned toward the door, stepping into the night, one thought burned in his mind.

Malden.

He was coming for him and he would burn 5 Points to the ground to do it.