Sad Moon

Chapter 2: Betrayals - 3

The day of the team registrations had arrived, and a latent unease gripped Gideon, like a heavy fog that refused to lift. In the past few days, Aldric, Balthazar, and Lyria had been avoiding him with a subtlety that had become unbearable. At first, he attributed it to the tension looming over all the orphans as the teams formed, but as he approached the great hall, that shadow of betrayal haunting him grew darker and more suffocating, a weight he couldn't shake off.

He crossed the threshold into the side garden, the sky heavy with grey clouds that heralded a storm. There, beneath the ashen light of noon, he saw them. Aldric, Balthazar, and Lyria huddled together, speaking in low tones, complicit in a conversation that did not include him. And beside them stood Eira, as striking as ever, her imposing figure wrapped in that colorful scarf she always wore. A faint smile played on her lips, oblivious to the storm brewing in Gideon's soul. The betrayal he had feared was now laid bare before him.

With determined steps, Gideon approached, his presence immediately disrupting their conversation. The murmurs ceased, and for a moment, only the soft whisper of the wind could be heard. Balthazar was the first to speak, with that carefree air that once might have made Gideon smile.

—Gideon— he said, his tone light but lacking the usual spark in his eyes. —What brings you here?—

—What brings me here?— Gideon's voice was low and tense, laced with a coldness no winter could rival. —The real question is, what have you all been doing? Why have you been avoiding me?—

Aldric and Lyria exchanged a brief, uncomfortable glance, as if searching for an escape in the silence of the other. In the end, it was Aldric who stepped forward, his expression hardened by a mix of guilt and resolve.

—Gideon, listen...— he began, but the unspoken apology in his voice only fueled the fire in Gideon's chest. —We... changed the team. It's already registered—

Confusion and anger swirled within him, and Gideon frowned, struggling to comprehend what he was hearing.

—What do you mean?— he asked, his voice trembling slightly. —What have you done?—

It was Lyria, her voice barely above a whisper, who delivered the truth that would crush him.

—We replaced you... with Eira—

The words hit him like an invisible blow, knocking the air from his lungs. For a moment, the world around him seemed to freeze, as if everything solid had begun to crumble. Balthazar watched him with a glint of defiance in his eyes, while Eira stood unbothered, distant from the storm that threatened to consume them all.

—You left me out?— The disbelief mixed with the rising anger in his voice. —Why?—

Aldric averted his gaze, and once again, it was Lyria who spoke, this time with a blend of shame and justification.

—Aldric and I... we've started seeing each other. And Balthazar is with Eira. We want to be together in the team—

Gideon's world closed in around those words. He could feel the fury bubbling up inside him, demanding release.

—So that's it?— he said in a low, dangerous tone. —Because you've all paired off, I'm the one who gets left behind?—

Balthazar, ever the provocateur, stepped forward with a smug grin that only stoked Gideon's anger.

—It's not personal, Gideon. Things just... changed. We thought you'd understand—

The tension between them was thick, almost tangible. The air was charged with the anticipation that everything could explode at any moment. Gideon took a step forward, his face just inches from Balthazar's, the fire in his eyes reflecting the storm raging in his chest.

—Not personal?— he spat. —You left me out at the last minute, and the team's already registered. Of course it's personal!—

For a second, it seemed like blows were only a breath away. Gideon's body was coiled, ready to strike, but then, something stopped him. A flicker in the corner of his eye: Ravenna.

She stood a few meters away, hidden in the shadows of a nearby building, watching everything unfold in silence. Her deep, penetrating eyes were fixed on him, as if she could see the storm within. That gaze, that presence, made him hesitate. Though the anger still burned hot inside him, it was momentarily tempered.

Gideon stepped back, though his glare never left Balthazar.

—Enjoy it while it lasts— he muttered, his voice heavy with an unspoken threat. —But this isn't over—

Without looking back, he turned and began walking away, his fists still clenched, his body vibrating with the energy he hadn't released. As he walked, the weight of their betrayal pressed down on him like a stone, and though he felt the sting of their rejection, he couldn't help but glance back in Ravenna's direction, just before her figure faded into the shadows.