“Drin, are you crazy? Actually going out in the open like that?”

“Yes Emiliot, I am doing just that. And it isn’t crazy, it’s tactical.”

“How so?”

“I need to remind them of a few things. First of all, that I’m still alive and at large. Second, the mistake they made by stripping me of everything I could ever have. And third, I love to see them send ‘strong fighters’ after me. How long will it be until they realize that the only way to catch me is to upgrade the basic training?”

“It’s times like these when I truly question your mental health.”

“What would a Martial artist know about the need to exercise your power or risk it exploding?”

“That’s why you do these publicity stunts?”

“Yep. That, and they’re fun.”

“You never change, do you?”

“Wrong. I’ve changed many times. You don’t want to know about them.”

“Why do you get this misty look in your eyes when you say stuff like that?”

“One day, you may know. But I hope that that day never comes for you.”

“And there you go getting all sentimental again. Would holding me close help you feel better?”

“No. I just need some time alone. Until further notice, Shadow is in command.”

____________________________________________________________________________

“I see. Don’t worry about him. He’s usually back to his normal self by the end of the day. Leave him be.”

“Still. I’m concerned for him. Could you tell me a bit about what happened?”

“I can’t tell much. I know that it’s his story, so he is the one to tell it when he is finally comfortable. This is the story of how he started to lose everything.

I had just met him ten years earlier, and he was drastically different than the Drin you know now. He was carefree, always smiling and acting like an idiot. A really powerful idiot. But one day, someone killed off his race, but left him to live. He was blamed for that tragedy, and vowed that he would find the true killer. He still searches for them, with his true heart locked away under the pain of all those days one remembers, but for the wrong reason.”

____________________________________________________________________________

“Oh Drin! I was looking for yo… oh, never mind. I’ll leave”

“Yamada. Please stay. I have something to tell to you; something I have yet to tell anyone but Shadow.”

“What is is Drin?”

“Before I begin, I need your promise that you will not hate me because of the story I have to tell. You’ll understand why soon enough.”

“I promise. The only time a story would cause hate is when the populace accepts it as fact, or when there is no other story other than the one told.”

“Good. your father said those exact same words before I was to stand in front of the high court of elves. The two of you are very alike, you know that?”

“We are?”

“Yes, you are. That’s one of the reasons I’m so trusting with you. Sit down, this is a long story.”