Sebastian took a deep breath, narrowing his eyes as his fingers worked on a lock more intricate than any he had seen before. It wasn’t budging.

This is what he had been reduced to: a common thief, a thug, a rogue. Once upon a time, Sebastian had been set to inherit his mother’s extensive business. He’d finally be able to make a name for himself; not be known as the mistake his mother had made with a human man. His stepfather, Demetrius, had ruined it all seemingly overnight.

His stepfather was a respectable scholar. A high elf. Together, Demetrius and his mother, Robin birthed his younger half-sister, Maru. An elf of pure blood, unlike Sebastian. He couldn’t take the blatant favoritism anymore and ran away when he was fifteen. As it turned out, Sebastian was a great pickpocket. Wouldn’t you know it, people paid a pretty amount of coin for skilled thieves!

“Open, godsdamnit!” He sure didn’t feel like a skilled thief right now, though. He’d been hired by a shady fellow to rob an artificer. Some local prodigy; Sebastian didn’t care to hear the details. The amount he had been offered had been enough to seal the deal for him, but now he was starting to regret it. The chest he was supposed to crack open wasn’t cooperating! He had half a mind to take the damn thing and run.

Moonlight that peeked through an open window provided just enough light for him to see what he was doing. Not that it made his job any easier...

He was certain he had almost heard a click before he jumped, startled by a pair of footsteps. Someone was coming! He was about to be caught if he didn’t move!

There wasn’t enough time to make his way to an exit, so he quickly dove under the desk. Not an ideal hiding place, but he’d have to make it work. He didn’t realize it right away, but Sebastian quickly realized he’d left his dagger on the desk. Weaponless and trapped, he could only hope his victim didn’t spot him.

I’m so screwed…