A handsome young man, standing at 6' exactly, stood on a hill overlooking the city of Ocean Bluff in the early morning. His long, blonde hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail, his skin was lightly tanned, his deep green eyes scanned his old home town, his body was fit and well toned, and he wore the uniform of the secret Pai Zhuq Academy. He adjusted his pack and headed towards his old home on the beach.
As he walked through the streets he could feel the stares of people as he walked by, his appearance new and strange, but he didn't care. He reached the park and went through, moving aside to let kids go by on their scooters, skateboard, or skates, many of whom stopped to stare at him.
He sat down on a bench to rest his feet, for he had been walking for several hours before he had reached Ocean Bluff.
"You're new here, aren't you, young man?"
He turned to see an old woman next to him.
"I was born and raised here but left when I was ten," he answered, his voice rich and smooth as well as filled with respect.
It was clear he knew how to respect his elders.
"Your clothes a very strange."
He chuckled.
"Yes, they are, but they're comfortable and cool, despite being darker colors."
The old woman smiled. She could tell that he had great wisdom, despite his age. He was no older than twenty-one.
"My name is Clarice," she said.
"My name is David. David James."
He got up.
"I better keep going. It was nice to meet you, Ma'am."
With a polite and respectful nod he left. He hadn't gotten far when he heard Clarice yell.
"Help! Thief!"
He whirled around to see a man in a black ski mask running away with Clarice's purse. In a split second he was running after him at amazing speed.
"Hey, stop!"
The man looked back and ran faster.
David quickened his speed as well, leaped forward and tackled the man. A blow to the side of the head caused him to let go.
The man got up and pulled his foot back to kick David. The young man saw this, caught the man's foot before it hit him, and twisted it, sending the other man to the ground.
David let go and jumped up, in fighting stance.
A crowd had gathered around them with Clarice in the front.
The man got to his feet and ran at David to punch him.
David easily avoided the attack and sent the man to the ground again, saying nothing.
The thief got up up and swung the purse as David, who leaned back, dodging the attack.
"Dang it, kid, get hit and go down!"
David remained silent and straight faced. He knew that battles, no matter how small or for what reason, were serious matters. This was a battle.
He was a young Pai Zhuq Master, Master Finn, holder of the Shark Spirit, the most agressive of the Pai Zhuq animal spirits, yet he prefered non-violence and resorted to violence only when he had no other choice, such as now.
As the thief tried to punch him again, he stood his ground and caught the older man's fist in his hand, not even flinching.
The crowd gasped as did the thief.
"What?"
David narrowed his eyes and moving swiftly, pinned the thief's arm behind his back, causing him to cry out.
"Drop the purse," he ordered, speaking for the first time.
The thief hesitated.
"Do it!"
The thief dropped Clarice's purse, and David released him, picking up the purse.
"Who are you?"
"That knowledge is not for you to know," he said with the wisdom of a Pai Zhuq Master.
The police arrested the thief and thanked David.
David went over to Clarice.
"I believe this is yours, Ma'am," he said, handing it to her.
She took it, her shocked eyes never leaving the young man before her.
"That was amazing."
He smiled and left without a word.
David James would remain a mystery to Clarice, but in time she would come to know that side of him she had just seen against the thief, Pai Zhuq Master Finn.