The morning sun bled gold over the ruins of Starhaven's outskirts, casting long shadows across the scorched earth where Orion and Damien stood, bruised and breathless, surrounded by scorched rocks and shattered trunks. Smoke still clung to the air, curling from Orion's fingertips as the embers flickered out.
"You're getting better at that," Damien said between pants, brushing the dirt off his coat. His brand glowing faintly beneath the fabric. "Still not sure what all my power can do… but I can feel something in there. Like it's holding back on me."
Orion wiped sweat from his brow, nodding. "Same with my shard. I can feel something deeper, like memory or instinct." He glanced toward the trees. "But we've wrung about all we can from this place. If we stay too long, we'll just start going in circles."
Damien smirked. "Good. I was getting bored with the scenery anyway. How 'bout we roll the dice a little? There's a town up north—Lorianne. Place runs on cards, dice, and bad decisions. just like home."
Orion raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess… it's got a casino."
"More than one. But only one that matters."
Lorianne — The City of Vice
The moment they entered Lorianne, the air changed. The scent of cigar smoke and cheap perfume clung to the streets, and the sound of dice, laughter, and shouts spilled from every corner. Banners of gaudy gold and velvet red flapped in the desert wind.
Damien's eyes lit up like a kid at a candy stall. "Now this is living."
Orion didn't respond. His eyes were locked on the alleyway just ahead, where a collared girl with a busted lip and torn rags for clothes had just been kicked to the ground by a brutish bouncer.
"Worthless gutter trash," the man spat on the girl.
Saphira flinched but didn't wipe it away. Her eyes burned—not with shame, but with hate.
The bouncer stepped forward, hand raised to grab her by the hair.
He never got the chance.
A hand caught his wrist mid-motion, firm as iron and burning hot.
Orion.
His eyes were like twin embers, locked onto the man with quiet fury. "You touch her again," he said, voice low, "and I'll make sure you don't do anything with this hand ever again."
The bouncer tried to jerk away. "Who the hell do you think you—"
That was his second mistake.
The moment he yanked his arm, Orion twisted. A crack echoed through the alley as the man dropped to his knees, clutching his wrist and howling in pain, only for Orion to kick him into the alley wall, knocking him out cold.
Damien whistled behind Orion. "You always this quick to start fights in new towns?"
"Only when someone deserves it."
Damien dragged the bouncer out of the alley while Orion knelt by the girl.
She flinched, shielding herself. "Please… I didn't mean to disobey…"
"I'm not here to hurt you," Orion said gently. "What's your name?"
The girl stared back in silence. Her lip was split, and one eye was swollen.
She didn't answer.
Instead, she tried to stand—legs trembling, feet raw and bloodied.
Orion noticed. She wasn't just scared. She had no shoes. Her feet were calloused, cracked from walking for years on stone and gravel.
Damien returned. "I tossed him in a trough. Townsfolk didn't blink. This place sucks."
Orion slipped off his pack and drew a deep breath. "Time to try something."
He held his hand out, focusing on the warmth in his chest—the familiar fire, but gentler now, shaped by recent training.
Tiny embers drifted from his palm, coalescing into soft, glowing feathers—each one pulsing with golden light.
He laid them on the girl's wounds. Her bruises faded. The cuts sealed.
The girl stared in disbelief, eyes wide and wet.
"Watch her for a bit Damien"
"Aye aye boss man."
Orion sighed. "Very funny, just keep an eye on her."
Orion slips away and returns with some women's boots.
"I just guessed on the size, but this has to be better than how you were walking around."
He knelt and slid them onto her feet without a word.
The girl stared down at them. "I haven't had shoes since I was a little girl…"
She looked up at him, eyes glassy. "Why are you doing this?"
"Because you deserve to walk your own path," Orion said. "No chains. No cages."
Damien crossed his arms. "We're heading out. You'd be smart to lay low, alright?"
Orion nodded. "Stay out of trouble."
They turned and started walking down the main street.
Behind them, the girl hesitated… then followed quietly. Step by step, clinging to the shadows.
Later that day…
The sun had long set by the time Orion and Damien circled back to their makeshift camp just beyond the edge of Lorianne. The flames of their campfire flickered low, casting amber light across the ground. They hadn't made it far before noticing her—awkwardly crouched behind a bush, not even trying all that hard to stay hidden.
Damien nudged Orion with a smirk. "You think we should tell her she's terrible at spying, or just let her cook a little longer?"
Orion exhaled through his nose, amused. "She's been trailing us all day. Might as well invite her to dinner."
He turned his head, speaking loud enough to carry. "You can come out now. There's food."
There was a long pause before Saphira crept from her hiding spot, sheepish and silent. Her eyes flicked between them, wary. But the scent of the stew Damien had managed to throw together must've been too much to resist.
"Sit," Orion said, offering her a bowl.
She did, hesitating only a moment before taking it with both hands like it might vanish if she let go.
"So," Damien said between mouthfuls, "what do we do about our guest?"
Orion looked at the girl. "Well, for starters what's your name?"
"Saphira...."
"Well Saphira what's your story?"
Saphira shifted. "I… I need help, and i don't have many options."
Damien waved her on. "Go on, tell it like it is. We've heard worse."
She stared into the fire, voice quiet. "My parents gambled too much. Years ago, they put me up as collateral in a game to settle their debt. They lost. I've belonged to Morrison —the owner of the Crimson Bloom Casino—ever since."
"That bastard who runs the biggest casino in town?" Damien muttered. "Figures."
"He charges me for everything," Saphira continued. "A place to sleep. Food. Even to bathe. It doesn't matter how hard I work—I'll never pay it off.
Orion's fists clenched in his lap.
"You're a prisoner," he said.
She nodded. "I only followed you because… I thought maybe…"
"You don't need to ask, we will help you."
"And just how do you suppose we do that Orion"
"We win her freedom. Fair and square."
Damien smirked. "You wanna out-gamble a crime lord in his own den?"
Orion nodded.
Damien leaned back with a grin. "Well, lucky for you, you're looking at the best gambler this side of the Sand sea. If your freedom's got a price, I'll win it."
Damien's grin widened. "Alright, boss. Let's play."
"You should head back for now, I don't want to imagine what will happen if you're gone too long."
Saphira nodded, then left.
The Next Day – The crimson bloom Casino
The plan was simple. Damien would enter the casino and challenge its best—ideally drawing out Morrison himself. Orion would keep watch, ready if things went south.
Saphira returned to the casino reluctantly, trembling as she disappeared through the side entrance. She was terrified of being caught, but desperate for a chance at freedom.
Inside, Damien played like a master.
Table after table, he cleaned them out. His luck—and skill—was unmatched. Patrons gathered. Whispers grew. Eyes followed.
And then, a message came.
"You've been invited to the High Rollers' Lounge."
Damien winked at Orion from across the room as he was escorted behind velvet curtains.
There, Morrison awaited.
A greasy man with too many rings and a permanent sneer, he shuffled cards with deliberate flair. "They say you're good."
"They say right," Damien replied, sitting across from him.
The game was fast, ruthless, and Damien dominated.
When the final chips were claimed, Morrison's smile tightened.
"And here i thought I'd have a challenge, I don't know what's worse, your poker face or your normal one."
"You must have cheated." Morrison growled
"You types are all the same, such a fragile ego, just admit it, you got outplayed"
"I don't have to admit anything, and you're not going anywhere until you lose all your money; the house always wins ."
Okay fine, you think i cheated, then how about a little wager I bet all my winnings that my buddy Orion can beat you. One round. All or nothing."
Moments later, Orion was dragged into the room, confused—but game.
He sat, recalling old nights with Cyrus by firelight. Bluffing. Reading tells. Betting and losing every time, but this time was different; he had to win.
He played a single hand. And won.
Morrison stared at the cards, then at Orion—murder in his eyes.
But he didn't snap. Not right away.
Instead, he clapped slowly. "Impressive. Really."
Two guards dragged a limp figure into the room.
Saphira.
Her face was bloodied. Tears streaked down her cheeks as she collapsed to the floor, whispering, "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"
Morrison stood, straightening his cuffs. "You thought you could walk into my casino, humiliate me, steal my property, and walk out heroes?"
Orion and Damien froze.
"She tried to run," Morrison said. "We got the truth out of her eventually. About your little plan."
Orion stood, teeth bared. "You bastard—"
"Like I said, the house always wins."
A wall of fire erupted, forcing the guards back. Damien rose behind him, eyes glowing, brand fully awake.
"Let's burn this place down," Damien growled.
Orion sent forth flames as Damien struck a guard with a palm, sending him flying into a wall.
In seconds, the room exploded into chaos. Henchmen went down screaming. Tables shattered, cards catching fire.
Morrison panicked and escaped the room through a secret door, sending any guards he passed.
"Take care of them, and someone grab her father." he shouted.
Damien and Orion fight back to back, making quick work of the guards as Orion blasts the final guard through the plate glass overlooking the casino, The two then rush to Saphira's aid with no time to heal her properly Orion carries her princess style and jumps to the casino floor below, only to be met once again by Morrison only this time, he had someone with him Saphira's father, a dishelved man in his 40s
"I do this and my debts will be cleared," he whispered to Morrison before walking forward.
"Yes exactly, they are here for the girl if you convince her to stay then they wont make a move."
The man slowly walked over, stopping halfway, putting on a smile.
"Come home." he said. " We can be a family again, Help me fix what we broke."
She shook her head, trembling. "You were never family… You let them take me. You never came back."
His face twisted. "Ungrateful little brat! You think you're worth anything, you barely paid half of what i owe, now be a good girl and help your family!"
Saphira recoiled into Orion's chest.
Orion then hands her off to Damien.
That was the last straw.
"You are never going to make her cry ever again."
Orion soared forward, fist alight with flame, punching the man so hard he felt his hand break
The father hit the floor like a sack of stone, his face shattered.
"What kind of father sells his own daughter?" Orion roared, fire dancing from his shoulders.
Morrison backs away, sweat beading. "F-Fine! Take her. Just go."
They didn't wait.
Orion carries Saphira on his back, still crying, and walks into the night.
Later That Night – Campfire
The fire crackled quietly as they sat beneath the stars, Orion just finishing healing Saphira
Saphira sat between them, wrapped in a blanket.
"So…" Damien said, tossing a twig into the fire. "What now?"
She looked at the flames, voice soft but clear. "I want to come with you guys."
"You're free now," Orion said gently. "You can go anywhere. Start over."
"I am starting over," she said. "With you. I want to help. I can be your medic. I can—"
"Saphira, I can heal myself—"
"I don't care," she cut in. "I'll be of use, please just don't abandon me."
Orion looked at her.
Then nodded.
Damien raised a brow. "It took you long enough."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Come on man, after you charged in like that all hero like did you really think I'd believe you would just let her stay here and fend for herself."
"Orion put a hand on the back of his head," i just couldn't stand by and listen to him talk to her like that it pissed me off."
"Well, with all that out of the way Orion do the thing."
"The what now?"
"The ring"
"Oh, that thing."
Orion slips a ring on Saphira's ring finger, not thinking much of it, but making Saphira flustered
"Welcome to the eternal flame."
Damien can barely contain his laughter seeing how oblivious Orion is.
Saphira smiles, finally feeling like she has a place where she belongs, as they load up to head out into the night Saphira decides to share Orion's horse.
At that same time back in town, Morrison was filing a report with the local officers.
Within the hour, new posters began to circulate.
WANTED
Orion – Alias: the eternal flame
Damien – the gambler
Saphira- run away slave
Affiliation: Outlaw Group – Eternal Flame
Reward: 50,000 gold Each – Dead or Alive
The world was watching now.
And they were just getting started.