Power, pain and goodbye.

Raikuro looked out of the window.than, in quite voice 

that carried the weight of years ,he spoke.

"It was years ago. I had just returned from the 

Great battle arena.I didn't know how to face 

my parents.........how to tell them I couldn't 

win.I wasn't sad for myself- I was sad for my 

father.he was so proud when I left , saying I'd

come back victorious."

A silance followed.than Lior leaned forward,

eyes wide with surprise.

"Wait......you mean you already fought in the 

Great battle arena?"

Raikuro didn't respond.his eyes shifted toward

the floor.as if something painful was clawing at

his memory.his expression turned unreadable.

"Raikuro?" Garrin asked,his voice cautious."I 

want to know more about battle arena.what

was it like?"

"The truth is ", Raikuro said quietly,"I don't 

remember much.sorry."

Kaeli raised an eyebrow, suspicion in her voice.

"Who were your teammates back than?"

His gaze fell to the floor, shadow darkening 

beneath his brow."I don't want to talk about 

that."

A tension swept through the room like a cold 

wind.for a moment,a flicker of heat crossed 

Raikuro's expression - anger, maybe,or sorrow 

too deep to name.

Sensing the shift, Lior quickly interjected."hey...

forget that.just keep going.and tell us rest 

of your stories."

Raikuro turned to the window.the moonlight 

casting long shadows across his face.

"My parents were the royal captain of our

kingdom.they were legendary in battle.my

father used taught swordsmanship to me 

and others.I always admired him.

"one day, they were sent on an investigation

to a far mountain range.when they returned.....

something was wrong.they were weak,

barely able to stand.breathing heavily.

"Every healer examined them,but no one 

knew what illness they had.each day, they got

worse.and I - I was helpless,I couldn't do 

anything.slowly - slowly rumours start spreading 

all over the kingdom.that my parents were cursed."

His voice trembled now, though he tried to keep 

it steady.

"That day I had just come back from arena, already 

weighed down with shame.I wasn't sure how 

to tell them.they were lying in bed when I 

entered."

"My father looked at me and said "my boy,

you're back.......did you win?"

"I told him truth.that I failed.that I 

couldn't live up to what he hoped."

"But he just smiled and said."don't worry.try

again next time.I know you will win one day -and

fullfill my dream."

Raikuro paused, blinking back the sting in his 

eyes.

"Than he asked me to turn around.I did....and

suddenly,I felt something - an electric surge

tearing through me.pain,sharp and

overwhelming.coursed through my back.I

screamed.it felt like my skin was being torn

open.

"And then.......it stop.the pain faded, and 

he told me to turn back.

"This power belongs to our bloodline,"he

 said."that's why I'm giving it to you.when 

the time is right, you'll understand it."

"I said 'yes dad.I understand.'I didn't -but I

wanted to believe I would."

Raikuro take a deep breath, the hardest part still ahead.

"Than.......my mom spoke.

"I am sorry my child, we're leaving you alone.

we want to stay, but our bodies are given up.

we are unable to become a good parents.if you 

can...... forgive us........ goodbye,son......ta....ke...ca..re."

"She died in front of me.I was stunned,and before 

I could say anything.my father joined her.I was 

stunned.numb, alone.I cried whole night calling 

my parents not to leave me alone."

The room was silent,no one dared to speak.

"The next morning, some villagers came.but 

they didn't even came near the house.they

whispered about my parents illness - afraid it

would spread to them.they treated me like a 

curse.as if I carried the disease too.

"I buried them both behind our house, alone.

no one came,nor villagers,not anyone from kingdom.

"From that day, I was shunned.I stayed

indoors , afraid and forgotten.no one came 

to see me.but than I remembered my father 

stories - about a village hidden Deep in the 

jungle.a place called dragon village. a village 

where my father once trained.....with a master 

named Tenzin.

"So next day.I walked away from that place.and 

that's how I found my way here.

 

Raikuro voice finnally fell into silence.he 

was still looking out of the window.

Everyone was looking at him, eyes heavy with sympathy.

After a moment, Garrin "hey raikuro are you 

alright?"

"Yha,am fine."raikuro replied "now let's sleep".

Garrin again "hey ,but you didn't tell us about

that mask?"

Raikuro"it's nothing,I just put mask to hide my

identity,you know battle arena is on my hometown.

so I don't want anyone to find out that I'm that child."

Kaeli with sleepy voice "now everyone's story has 

finished so let's sleep, it's already mid night."

Outside,the moon watched over dragon village.

bathing the wooden rooftops in silver light.and

inside that small, humble room.four orphan -

bound by pain,fate,and somthing deeper than 

blood - sat together under the same roof, their 

hearts finnally open.

Their pasts may have been written in sorrow.

But their future -

Their future would be forged in fire.

     :To be continue.