I… was born a lowly noble's son. Before I even existed, my life was set for me. A world of lies and deceit, where ties were formed for the sake of using each other. Ever since I was but a young boy, I was tired of the world. It was then, that my uncle introduced me to Go. At that time, Go was widely popular, a pastime that many partook in. Seeing this, I was immediately enraptured.

What a wonderful thing Go was, I thought. Only when the nobles play Go, do they let go of their masks, for their feelings themselves could be seen from within the stones. It turned the blank faces into ones of laughter, lightened the atmosphere, and sent happiness rippling like waves.

The board was like an empty sky, the stones placed stars that lit the way to an unpredictable future. And indeed, Go lit the way to my life. Every day, what kept me going was a game of Go, regardless of my opponent. And slowly but surely, I got stronger.

One day, a messenger from the palace came. I was chosen to be the emperor's Go tutor, he said. I accepted. In the palace, I played Go every day, and I was happy.

There was another Go tutor who worked for the emperor at that time. He commented to the emperor, only one instructor is needed. Why don't the two of us play, and the victor shall remain, he said.

So I played, the game progressing evenly. With everyone watching, it was a coincidence that only I saw it. A white stone had been somehow mixed into his bowl. It hardly, if ever happens, but it did. One of my stones was mixed with my opponent's.

Usually, the person would notice, and hand over the stone. But he… He waited for the right moment and, added it to his captured stones. Before I could call him out on his cheating, however, he stood and accused me of cheating instead.

I could tell the nobles watching and the emperor was shocked. Cheating was a very high crime, and one would be stripped of rank and position if one were caught to be committing such an act.

I immediately claimed that the cheater was not I, but him. Looking back, I know now that such an action was foolish. In the eyes of the beholders, it only made me seem more suspicious. At that time, however, the injustice was all I could think of.

The nobles started whispering to each other, the noise escalating, until the emperor finally ended the chattering, and ordered us to continue with the game. Yet, I could feel the distrustful gaze of many on my back.

It was not me… I'm not a cheater! He is the one who cheated! Why can't anyone see?

My mind empty due to the shock, I lost the game. I was banished and driven from the palace, from Hein itself. Former acquaintances shunned me, not wanting to be seen with a disgrace such as myself. Everywhere I went, I met looks of disgust.

Two days later, I found myself standing at a river bank, staring into the waters. What use was there in living, I wondered, if my life itself had been taken from me? No one would believe me, no one would talk to me, let alone play a friendly game of Go. My heart was already torn in two.

I walked slowly into the rushing waters. It was icy cold, and numbness started to creep up on me. I revelled in the feeling, thankful that at least I would feel no pain. Soon, the waters reached my shoulders, and I was swept away by the current.

My vision started to fade, and I could feel my lungs constrict at the lack of air. I knew I was on the verge of death. Tears slipped from my closing eyes, mixing with the water surrounding me. I ended my life under the waters, sinking lower and lower. One thought rang, before my consciousness slipped away and I knew no more.

If only I could have played one final game of Go…