When the people of Runeterra hit puberty a peculiar thing happens. A tattoo will appear on their wrists with the first words you hear your soul mate say on them. It was rather convenient and exciting. People would still date of course before finding their soul mate, but others would rush to scour the lands to hear those fated words come from someone's mouth.
Draven had waited excitedly for his tattoo as a young boy. He was hoping something cool would appear, something badass. He wanted his soulmate to be just as amazing as he was. Darius got his first, of course since he's older, but had refused to show it to Draven. He even began wearing long sleeved shirts to cover it up. Draven didn't press too hard about it; it must have been a pretty embarrassing one for him not to want to talk about it.
When Draven turned 14 and his didn't appear like his brother's he was slightly worried. He pestered Darius about it for weeks and Darius would only tell him to focus on his training, he was just a late bloomer.
The years went on and the tattoo never appeared. What did it mean? Did it mean he had no soul mate? Around when he was 20 he had given up hope on it ever appearing. He became Noxus's executioner and became as famous as he'd ever want. He had women crawling all over him anyway, he didn't need a soulmate. Well that's what he told himself. He couldn't stop the pangs of jealousy when he'd see the tattoos on the wrists of the women he was sleeping with.
Draven was 27 when Darius told them they were going on a diplomatic mission to Demacia with Swain. "Why are you bringing me on a Diplomatic mission. I'm awesome and all but they probably don't want to talk to me I've executed like a billion Demacians." Draven asked as they were packing up to leave.
"We're at peace with them now. That means we need to discuss prisoner trades. You're in charge of the prisoners." Darius explained to him.
"Yeah well I coulda just given you a list."
"Swain wanted you there."
"Yeah yeah whatever let's just go."
The three men ride on horseback to Demacia. Draven hated travelling with these two. They never talked, and when they did it was all military jumbo. Besides the fame and fortune, sometimes Draven missed when they were street rats.
They arrived in Demacia after 4 days of travelling. As they approached the gates they could see a man waiting for them, recognizable as Garen Crownguard. "Small welcoming Committee." Draven comments.
"They have archers watching us from the walls." Darius comments.
Draven examines the Demacian soldier as the approached. "Could you take him if things got messy?"
"Hard to say, I never had the luxury of crossing blades with him during the war." Darius comments. "You and I could definitely handle him together. It'd be the rest of the city we'd have to worry about."
"This is a diplomatic mission, boys." Swain interrupts. "We can worry about bloodshed another time."
They approached the gate. "Demacia welcomes you." Garen states but his face didn't look very welcoming. Draven notices that Darius has become very tense. His horse noticed too and began shifting, obviously agitated from the sudden tension of his rider. "Under orders, no harm shall come to you within our walls as long as no harm comes to our citizens."
"We understand your terms." Swain says slowly dismounting from his horse. A stable boy runs swiftly from behind Garen to grab the horse for him. "I do believe we have not met Demacian. I am Grand General Swain. The two accompanying me are the Hand of Noxus, Darius, and the Executioner, Draven." At that both Darius and Draven dismount as well.
"You did not mention bringing two others with you."
"They will be serving as both my bodyguards and fellow ambassadors for Noxus. May we enter now? We are tired from our journey."
Garen nods slowly and begins their walk through Demacian. The city was practically glowing in the afternoon light; it was beginning to hurt Draven's eyes. The public stared at them as they walked by. "We're already famous here too Darius!"
Garen scoffs. "Infamous is a better word."
"After a few days I'm sure your public will adore me too."
Draven keeps attempting to make small talk between the 4 men, but it was like talking to a brick wall. Not that Draven really minded, he did like talking about himself after all, but it was still odd. Usually by now Darius would at least tell him to shut his yap.
They arrive at the inner parts of the city, just outside the castle, at a very fancy inn. "Guards will be stationed outside your door. Do not attempt to leave the inn without them. I will arrive in the morning to escort you to the meeting." With that Garen took his leave.
The moment he was gone Draven elbows Darius in his side. "What's with you bro. You're quieter than usual. And you were glaring daggers at Garen." Darius then turned his glare to Draven. "Oof sorry I asked."
Draven approaches the guards that were at the inn as Darius and Swain walk by them. "So are we really not allowed to leave? No sight-seeing? Nada?"
They look at each other. "You would require an escort." The taller one states.
"Great! Who's taking me around town then?"
"Sir wouldn't you like to rest after your long journey?" The smaller one asks nervously.
"No way! Once the meetings start this place is going to be boring as hell! Take me to the fun times before I'm bored to death!" He hooks his arm through the taller one's. "Come on Demacian. What's your name? You look like a Jerry. I'm Draven, you've probably heard tales of my performances." Draven drags off the guard he had dubbed Jerry and began his exploration through Demacia.
They wandered for a bit hopping in and out of bars. Draven didn't think they were rowdy enough for his tastes. "Is this really all there is to do in this town Jerry?"
"You turned down every bar in town. We could go see if Miss Buvelle is performing tonight but otherwise that's it."
"Performing? Why didn't we start there!"
Jerry took Draven to the central plaza. A small crowd had gathered around a stage where a blue haired woman was standing, no wait she's floating, gently strumming a string instrument. "There's usually more people here for her free performances, but a lot of Demacians were scared to come out tonight knowing you Noxians were in town." Jerry explained as they drew closer to the stage.
The music was beautiful, and Draven found himself captivated by it. She played multiple songs, each invoking different emotions from Draven. He had no idea music could move you like this. He didn't realize time had passed until the blue haired woman stopped playing and took a bow.
"She's beautiful." Draven states in awe. "Who is she?"
"That is Sona Buvelle. They call her the Maven of the Strings. She's also said to be a powerful mage." Jerry explains to Draven.
Most of the crowd began to disperse and Draven found himself walking over to the stage. Some of the audience members had gathered around Sona and were complimenting her performance. She was smiling and nodding to them, but not saying anything back. Draven approached them, some of the members recognized him and moved away giving him nasty looks but he ignored them.
"Hey that was amazing! I've never heard anything like that! My name is Draven I'm a performer from Noxus. I don't make music though. It'd be awesome if we could work together one day though. I'd really boost your popularity you know, I'm like a superstar."
Sona's expressions changed very rapidly, from slight fear when he approached, to shock, to a look of excitement over the course of Draven's spiel. He awaited a verbal response but when he got nothing he smiled.
"I see you're flabbergasted by my generous offer! Not to worry-"
"She's mute you idiot." One of the audience members who was still lingering around said. "Besides, Miss Sona would never want to perform with a murderer."
Draven's face flushed a bit at his mistake. Sona just smiled politely at him making his heart flutter. She took out a pen and paper from god knows where and began to write. She handed it to him with a smile.
Sorry but I already have a lot of offers for my opening act, you'll have to get in line read the note with a heart at the bottom.
"First of all missy, Draven is nobody's opening act. We'd be costars of course! And second of all, Draven doesn't wait in lines." Draven says puffing out his chest.
Sona raises an eyebrow, silently laughing at his display. She swiftly writes another note for him. I have to leave now, but I do hope you'll come to tomorrow's performance. I'll save you a seat so you won't have to wait in any lines! She waves to him as she takes her leave.
Draven smiles down at the note before turning to Jerry who had been watching from a distance. "Why didn't you tell me she was mute! I made myself look like an idiot."
"You don't need any help with that. You can't even remember my name."
"Wait you mean it's really not Jerry?"