"you built up a world of magic because your real life is tragic."

The chattering of voices echoed throughout the room, thieves of all ages gathered around in a group as dinner was served. Those that earned more from their stolen goods would be rewarded with the top dinner, meat, veggies, fruits, and even desserts all plated up, those that earned less would get the regular meal of soups, enough for them to have their daily nutrients. The difference in meals was unsightly, unfair, but no one complained, its the way they were raised and taught. A good and well-prepared dinner is for those that deserved it and the rest should be lucky they are being given a meal in the first place.

Many of these thieves were taken in by the elders from horrible and tragic experiences, from abuse, from the streets, from near death, from anything as long as you were deemed worthy enough to be taught. Just like the rest of the thieves, Orian was also chosen, he was the youngest of the bunch, only brought in not that long ago at the age of five. For a long thirteen years, Orian was taught day after day the ways of survival and thieving. To be the best, to be perfect, to not make mistakes; any mistakes would be punishable by the worst things imagined. Whipping, nail removals, anything to prepare your body for the worst. Orian was beaten and punish multiples times before he stopped making mistakes and finally earned the title of a thief among the rest of the house of thieves.

At dinner, he sat with his brothers and sisters and ate his soup with high hopes for the future before one of the elders (his mentor Armand) asked for his attendance in the elder’s room. Setting his soup down and giving threats to those around him not to touch his meal, he darted off and followed his mentor into the elder’s room. Inside they both sat facing one another. For a couple of minutes, they sat in silence before Orian spoke up due to his curiosity for his being there, “Um..mentor?” but before he could ask his question Armand spoke up, “Orian why have you been messing around with a magical being?” At the question Orian slightly gasped, quickly covering his mouth and trying to dismiss the claim, “I..haven’t..” Because of this, his mentor sent him a sharp glare that stabbed right through him, “The others have seen you, do not dare sit there and lie to me!”

Shaking, Orian bowed his head, “I’m sorry...I was only trying to steal from him…” What he said wasn’t a complete lie, but it wasn’t the complete truth either, “What is our rule about magical beings?” Armand questioned, “To not associate...or...come in contact with them..” Orian replied, “And why is that?” Armand stated harshly, his voice rough. Orian continued to shake in his place, not saying anything, “And why is that!” Armand yelling this time. “Because they are evil and cruel monsters..” Orian stopped shaking and responded back like a puppet on strings to his master would. Standing up, the mentor circled around Orian, “Have you forgotten what they did to you?” Using a special technique, his mentor created illusions of himself all of them circling around and echoing their voices inside Orian’s mind, “They killed your parents.” One stated, “They marked you like cattle,” Another stated, “They enslaved you,” Another, “They beat you till you were nothing but blood,” Finally the illusions went back into one, revealing his mentor now standing and facing in front of Orian, letting out one more comment in a harsh whisper, “They took your sister.”

Inside Orian became an emptied shell, his eyes shadowed like a fish, tears welled up and fell from his cheek down his chin. Bringing his hand out, Armand petted Orian’s head, “It was us who saved you, and it will be us, together, that will save your sister.” he then placed his hand under Orian’s chin, forcing him to look up at him, “As long as you follow the rules. Do you understand Orian?” Understanding, Orian gave a weak nod and reply, “Yes…” Pleased with the answer, Armand grabbed Orian by the collar and dragged him across the halls and into the cellar, “You can stay in here tonight to dwell on your mistake.” And like that mentor tossed Orian inside and locked him in. Orian didn’t fight back or do anything, instead, he laid in the small, dark room and cradled himself to sleep, his voice softly whispering, “Poppy…” before closing his eyes to the darkness.

( Made with Carrd )