My story begins in the western lands, known as the Gates of Light, within the province of the Kingdom of Aurora.
The orphanage stood near one of the major cities of the domain—perhaps the greatest of them all: Zlodale. Surrounded by tall stone walls and rivers that curved around it, it was a symbol of strength and prosperity. About thirty kilometers from there lay a small village called Azgad, where the High Ever Orphanage was built.
I had been in that orphanage since I was little, but things began to change when I turned thirteen.
When everything began with dreams.
I was surrounded by a thick mist, and beneath my feet stretched dark water—alive, restless, as if it wanted to drag me down into the depths below.
Far away, beyond the gray fog and the blackened sea, something pale gleamed faintly—a silhouette of an enormous tower, majestic in its splendor. Its height reached the heavens, brushing against the stars. Around its base coiled a vast sculpture of a silver dragon, carved in marble or stone, circling the tower as if guarding it… or perhaps, being guarded by it.
I remember walking toward it. But with each step I took, the mist grew heavier, thicker, and almost suffocating.
The black ocean beneath me began to stir, pulling me downward, as though invisible claws were dragging me toward the abyss. Until, finally… I sank.
I fought against the current trying to drown me, but it was useless. The dark sea devoured me like a hungry beast, one more soul of light to extinguish. And then, inevitably… I lost. I let the water fill my lungs. For the first time, I felt what peace was.
And I saw a star fall.
"Hey! Hey!"
Bang! Bang!
I blinked abruptly, still half-asleep, trying to understand where the sound was coming from and literally where I was.
I was lying on a pile of hay, with only a small lantern keeping me company in the darkness of the barn. Then, the door creaked open.
"I knew I'd find you here, Mordred. It's pouring outside."
Sirius. Sirius Lockhart.
He was the one who opened the barn door. He wore his usual casual outfit—a long-sleeved dark violet leather vest with a loose collar over a deep blue shirt. But tonight, he had a hood and cloak to protect himself from the rain.
He was my friend from the orphanage—though, unlike the rest of us, he was the only one who had a family… or rather, a surname.
Still, he shared the same thing we all did—the solitude of belonging nowhere.
"Came to disturb my peace?" I teased, trying to wake my mind as quickly as possible.
Sirius raised a brow and smirked, sitting down beside the lantern.
"Says the guy who's been shouting in his sleep again. You have some weird dreams, you know that?"
I chuckled. It wasn't the first time that happened… those cryptic dreams of mine.
"What can I do? It's part of who I am." - I shrugged.
Sirius began unpacking his bag. The first thing he pulled out was lockpicks, then three small boxes containing padlocks, and a few hairpins.
"Well, if you don't mind… I'll train for tomorrow night."
That sentence made me jump up immediately.
"So… we're actually doing it? Breaking into the city bailiff's house?"
"It's either that," he blinked a little, taking a contemplative stare, "or the orphanage collapses. No other way to keep it running."
That didn't reassure me much.
"Are you sure about what you saw?" I asked, worried. "I just don't want us to get caught doing something reckless, and—"
Sirius stopped, his expression turning serious.
"Yes! I'm sure. And we're not talking about this again. Besides, you helped me with the plan, remember? You and I put this together!"
I went quiet. He was right… Who was I trying to fool? It is too late to back out now.
Minutes passed, and only the sound of rain filled the silence. While fiddling with one of the locks, Sirius gave me a curious glance.
"So… what was the dream about this time?"
"Just another weird, senseless one," I said, gesturing dramatically.
Sirius laughed. "Figures. Probably the only thing that goes on in your head anyway."
"What's that supposed to mean?" I crossed my arms.
"Means your head's full of crap, as usual!"
I laughed again at his joke; it was impossible to keep a serious note when Sirius was around, but eventually, we all fell silent as our minds were preoccupied with more complicated things, my eyes drawn to the faint slit of light coming through the barn door.
It had been five months since I started taking care of Azgad's stables, and I was already growing bored of it. Not that it was a bad job—it was just… monotonous. Still, for someone as 'special' as me, it might've been the most fitting work around.
Sirius raised his right hand and let the air swirl softly. Using his wind magic, he manipulated the lockpick inside the padlock, feeling the air pressure shift inside the mechanism until—
Clink!
He grinned. "Nice! Got it. I think I'm ready. That guy's tips really did the trick."
I smiled at his success, but there was still one piece missing.
"Now we just need to hear from William and Lara's group."
Sirius sighed. "Yeah, you're right. We agreed that only the older kids from the orphanage would handle the same part as ours. So… well," he gave a weak smile, "let's hope they're as responsible as we are… I guess."
"I couldn't agree more," I said, grabbing my backpack. Inside were candles, a few extra lockpicks, and a spare rope in case the one I gave William didn't hold out for too long.
In any case, I was prepared for whatever could go wrong during this little misadventure of ours. But for some reason, I felt uneasy that day—as if something was about to happen. I just couldn't tell of what nature.
"Hey, Mordred," Sirius began, his tone thoughtful. "There's something I've probably asked you before, but I keep forgetting."
I grinned ironically at his contemplative face. "Some friend you are, huh? Always forgetting what I tell you."
"Go to hell, Mordred."
I laughed. "Alright, what did you want to ask?"
"Where do you think you're from? I mean… you don't really look like someone from Aurora, or even from the western dominion of the Gates of Light. So…"
"I already told you the story that I know," I explained. "Apparently, I'm descended from a Noxian, judging by my name, but—"
"Yeah, right," Sirius interrupted with a smirk. "You don't look like a Noxian at all. Trust me, I've met plenty of them—big noses, you know? You didn't get that side of the family."
I laughed. "Should I take that as a compliment?"
"Take it however you want; it's true. You look like a foreigner from… anywhere else. And your eyes don't help either."
"Yes, yes, my eyes are violet, you bastard. You want to make me even more self-conscious?"
"Fair enough," Sirius laughed. "Me running my mouth again. Anyway—" he glanced at the barn door. "Night's fallen, Mordred. It's time."
I nodded and blew out the lantern.
For five months, I had tended the stables of Azgad.
Who would have thought that this job would become the bridge to my first act of subterfuge…