Adrian spent the next 30 minutes to stitch up the man and another 2 hours to stabilize him using healing Magic to accelerate his healing
""Finally… fuck, that was tiring," Adrian mutters to himself, downing another swig of whiskey.
As he wipes his mouth, something catches his eye—a mark on the young man's hand. A tattoo. One he recognizes immediately.
"Hm." His gaze hardens. It's the insignia of a notorious assassin group.
"Figures. They're taking in kids now?" Adrian scoffs. "Typical." He inspects the tattoo more closely, noting the rank. "Inquisitor rank… so he's fresh meat. That explains a lot. Losing control of magic like that is rookie shit, but the amount of power he had? Kid's got talent. Just doesn't know how to keep his cool when his life's on the line."
Leaning back, Adrian sighs, a smirk tugging at his lips. Ahh… to be young again.
His mind drifts, memories creeping in from a time long past. His old comrades. His training. And the woman who changed his life—the master he met all because he tried to steal her damn wallet.
He chuckles to himself.
25 Years Ago
Adrian, just eleven years old, knew nothing but struggle. Sold into slavery by his own parents, he escaped by sheer luck, only to end up on the streets—a beggar, alone in a world that didn't give a damn about him.
He met plenty of people during that time. Mentors, criminals, thieves. They taught him the tricks of survival—how to pickpocket, how to move unseen, how to use sleight of hand. But trust? That was a lesson he learned the hard way. Every so-called mentor betrayed him the second they got the chance. So he kept running, never letting anyone get too close. The only thing keeping him alive was his ability to steal.
Until the day he stole from the wrong person
The marketplace was crowded—perfect for a quick score. Adrian weaved through the sea of people, nimble hands slipping into pockets, taking whatever he could. A few coins here, a trinket there. Nothing big. Just enough to survive.
Then he saw her. A noblewoman, alone, no bodyguards in sight. A rare opportunity.
Adrian made his move, feigning an accidental bump as he reached for her coin purse.
But before his fingers even grazed the leather, her hand snapped around his wrist like a vice.
Effortlessly, she lifted him off the ground, bringing him face-to-face with her.
"You dare steal from me, boy?" she asked, her voice dripping with amusement rather than anger. Her expression? A playful smirk masked as a scolding glare.
"Hmm… you are a boy, right?" The woman tilts her head, inspecting his face. Beneath the layers of dirt and grime, she can make out sharp features—thin but not frail. His long, unkempt hair nearly hides his piercing eyes, and though his clothes are ragged, they aren't torn. He's been stealing fresh ones whenever he gets the chance. Smart.
"Ah, let go, you bitch!" Young Adrian snarls, thrashing in her grip, kicking at her arm.
She doesn't even flinch. Instead, her smirk widens, as if thoroughly entertained by his defiance.
"Do you have parents, cutie? 'Cause if not, I might just steal you for myself," the woman teases, her tone dripping with playful mischief.
Adrian's face twists in disgust. "The hell's wrong with you? Let go, you freak!" He thrashes harder, but her grip doesn't budge.
The woman bursts into laughter, clearly amused.
"Hey, I swear, if you don't put me down, I'll stab you! What are you, some kinda pedo? Let me go!" Adrian shouts, hoping to get a rise out of her.
But instead of getting angry, she laughs even more. "Oh, cutie, if I was a pedo, I'd have done something already. And don't forget—you're the one who tried to steal from me."
Without warning, she swings him over her shoulder and starts walking, carrying him like a sack of stolen goods.
"Ah, what the—! Let go, you kidnapper! You crazy bitch, put me down!" Adrian curses, kicking his legs wildly.
Smack. The woman swats his backside, not hard, but enough to get his attention. "Tsk, tsk. Who taught you such foul language? A gentleman should know how to speak properly to a lady."
Adrian glares down at her. "Oh, you're a lady? Hah! And here I thought you were just some drag queen."
The woman pauses mid-step, her grip tightening slightly. Then she clicks her tongue. "Ohhh, now you're just being a little shit. How dare you? I am a beautiful woman. Men would die just for the chance to spend a night with me."
Adrian scoffs. "Sounds like a you problem."
Suddenly, the man from earlier stirs with a painful groan.