The young pirate took a deep breath.

- My name is Lucious, I'm a pirate and I was born and raised here in Oakvale. I don't have many friends but I get along with almost everyone in the crew. I love sailing and travelling to new places. And I think that's all there's to know about me- he looked at her and smiled- Oh, and I think that you are the most beautiful young lady in the world.

Dainara chuckled.

- Not so fast Mr Pirate!- she said- You will have to answer my questions. You will have to answer my questions. This information you gave me is very superficial.

Lucious smiled but he was hoping that she didn't ask him about his past.

- Fair enough. What would you like to know?

Dainara remained thoughtful for a few seconds.

- You said that you are from Oakvale, but I've never seen you around town. Where do you live? Or are you always travelling on the ship?

The young pirate felt relieved to hear this question.

- Well, I only come to Oakvale from time to time, when we have business here. I live on the ship along with my mates, I don't have any house of my own.

Dainara raised her eyebrows.

- It must be tiresome to live on a ship, always travelling.

- Oh well, I must admit that our bunkers are not the most comfortable bed ever, but I love the freedom pirate life gives me.- he replied proudly- Anything else?

- Why did you become a pirate?- she asked.

Lucious felt like something had hit his chest. He managed to fake a smile.

- Well, I've told you that I love the freedom, haven't I?

Dainara didn't look convinced.

- But becoming a pirate is not an easy decision, people look down on them. What did your family say?

Suddenly, the young pirate became so serious. He turned his head and looked at the lake. The clouds were disappearing and some sunrays reflected on the water.

- I had no family.

Dainara looked at him sadly.

- I'm sorry- she said- I didn't mean to…

- It's alright. I told you that you could ask me whatever you wanted- he said with a faint smile.

Dainara looked down. She knew she shouldn't ask him but…

- What…what happened?- she asked shyly- Why didn't you have a family?

Lucious was still staring at the lake. Somehow, looking at the fish swimming around and creating little waves on the surface made him feel better. He understood why Dainara liked coming here.

- My parents…they were murdered.

- Murdered?- Dainara was shocked- That's horrible! Who would do something like that?

The young pirate took a little pebble from the floor and threw it at the lake.

- Bandits- he replied.

Dainara looked at the waves that were created by the pebble. She remained silent; she didn't want to ask him about it any further. She knew how much these things hurt…

He went on speaking.

- I was just 10 years old. I had gone to school as I did every morning. I remember these times: we had a bandit raid almost every day. My mother was always asking me to be careful- he paused for a moment- There was a new bandit leader up in Twinblade's camp, a man who was bloodthirsty and cruel, a man whose greed knew no limits. In the past, bandit raids were a rare thing to happen in Oakvale…the last important one had happened in the Hero of Oakvale's times, when Twinblade still lived. But now it was different: it was rare the day when we had peace.

Dainara looked at him.

- I remember those times. Father had to increase the number of guards.- she said.

He smiled gloomily.

- Well, not all of us could afford guards to protect us.

Dainara looked down ashamed.

- That morning, before going to school, my mother asked me to be careful. She said that she had a bad feeling, and she handed me a little figurine of Avo to protect me. I just laughed and refused to take it, and I left for school. On my way, I saw my father from far while he worked the land and I waved my hand to say goodbye.- he looked down and started playing with the sand- If only I had known that it was the last time I would see them…

He took another pebble, but this time he threw it violently to the water.

He didn't like talking about his past and he had never told this whole story to anyone; it was so unbearable, so painful…But talking to her seemed so easy, so relieving…he felt like he could tell her anything.

- When I came back from school…I saw a lot of people around my house. I was confused, I didn't know what had happened. A guard spotted me and he approached and kneeled before me. He asked if it was my house and I nodded. Then he told me "I'm sorry, kid". I started running towards my house, pushing everyone on my way- he paused and sighed- And I saw them…I saw both my parents lying lifeless on the floor in a pool of blood. I walked backwards in horror and I stepped on something: the figurine of Avo, the one my mother offered me and I rejected.- he reached for his pocket and took a little wooden figurine out- I took it from the floor and run away as fast as I could, ignoring the shouts of the guards. I didn't want to go back there, I was so scared, so horrified.

Dainara's eyes were full of tears. She could have never imagined that such a cheerful and self-confident young pirate would have such a sad story in his past.
She understood why he had felt the need to leave, to run away from everything…

- I understand how you felt…I felt the same way when my father died. My father died in the battle of Southcliff. When some soldiers came to inform us of his death…I refused to accept it, I started running endlessly until I fainted. When I woke up, I was here, in Sandwood Lake; that's how I found it.- Dainara looked at him sadly- Bu at least I had Nana to take care of me…what did you do then? Did you have any relatives?

Lucious shook his head.

- Not that I knew of. I went on running until it was dark. I was really exhausted and I was lost. I saw a barn nearby and I sneaked inside. There was some food inside so I ate and fell asleep on a pile of straw, hiding in a corner. I lived there for almost two months…I really didn't know what to do. One day, while I was sleeping, some weird noises woke me up. Some pirates had entered the barn and were stealing goods. I was terrified, so I hid on the shadows. Suddenly, a hand pulled me out of the corner and threw me to the floor…When I opened my eyes, I found myself surrounded by pirates. I just managed to say "Please, don't kill me" while they laughed and unsheathed their swords. But then, he came- his expression now changed to a proud face- Captain André entered and ordered them to stop. He asked me why I was there and, when he learnt that I was an orphan, he offered me a job as an errand boy…And that's how I became a pirate.

Dainara felt very bad now: when they met, she had judged him badly just because he was a pirate and she hadn't considered why he had become one. But now she understood that he had no other choice.

Lucious felt so relieved after sharing this burden of his past with her. He felt that she was the only person in the world who could understand him. After all, she had felt the same way when her father died in the battle of Southcliff…Southcliff!...like the nobleman whose house he was supposed to break into tonight. He had got lost into his past that much that he had forgotten about his task.
He looked up to the sky. The clouds had disappeared and the sun was shining high up in the sky. It was getting late.

- Well, now it's your turn to ask me questions, I guess- Dainara said.

- I will only ask you 3 questions- he said nervously.

- Alright…- Dainara sound it strange that now he didn't seem that interested in her life.

- Was your father a nobleman?

- Yes, he was Sigmund of Oakvale.

- Do you have a mother and siblings?

- I'm an only child. And my mother died in childbirth- she felt sad when she mentioned her mother.

- Who lives with you?

- I live with Nana and some servants…well, and some guards too…but what kind of questions are those?- Dainara felt confused.

There was no doubt: the house he was supposed to break into tonight was indeed her house. He got up suddenly.

- I must go.

- What's wrong? What's the hurry?- Dainara said alarmed.

- Nothing, it's nothing…I just remembered that I have something to do and it's getting late- he started walking away- I'll see you soon.

Dainara felt even more confused.

- Soon? Will you come again tomorrow?

But the young pirate had already disappeared from her sight.