Shae has been in an awful mood ever since arriving in Rose Garden. It's starting to worry the others.

"I can't believe Shae." Michael complained as everyone were having breakfast together. The only ones that didn't show were Calleen and Shae. "He's got a lot of nerve to talk to Calleen the way he did."

"I understand Shae might have problems with me, but it's no excuse for him to talk to her that way." Sarah said. "Calleen wants Shae to be her brother. I just wish I knew what to do with that boy." After hearing her story, Nashi and Michael think Sarah has some nerve herself to say that.

"Shae has never been one to talk about his problems." Rona said. "Shae is like a shadow. He's mysterious guy that keeps his feelings in the shadows." Rona would know since she's been watching over him.

...

Flashback

Rona had a pretty good life like most people who are born in a guild. She had loving parents, made great friends, and grew to be a strong individual. She had her parents to thank for that. It wasn't just her either. Her friends in Sabertooth were like that. Almost all of them were. One day, years ago, she was walking by when she spotted Shae on a balcony.

"Shae?" Rona whispered. She stayed hidden as she kept an eye on him. She thought he was admiring the setting sun, but she could see he was watching mothers with their children. 'That's right. Shae never knew his mother. She left the guild when he was pretty young.' She thought as she was beginning to feel sorry for him. 'It must be tough for a boy to grow without a mother. Mother are suppose to watch over their children, but who is watching over Shae.' This was the beginning of something for Rona.

'I kept an eye on Shae because I was concerned about him.' Rona narrated. 'That concern soon turn into feelings of admiration. I couldn't help how I felt for Shae after that. He was mysterious, kind, and I admired how he pushed on ahead.'

End of Flashback

...

'Shae is an incredible guy. He doesn't deserve to suffer like this.' Rona thought. Nashi could see the look in Rona's eyes and could tell what she was thinking about.

"You really care for Shae. Don't you, Rona?" Nashi asked.

"What?!" Rona said as she was starting to get embarrassed.

"You mask might be red, but I can still see the blush on your face." Nashi said. "That's probably why you wear it, isn't it?" She teased. It is true. Rona holds strong feelings for Shae. She just wishes she knew what to do to help him and hopes it will all work in the end.

...

Shae

Shae has been having a rough day. In fact, he's been having a rough time ever since he arrived in Rose Garden. He's stressed out and it's causing some pain in his body. He was really feeling it as he could barely move his body without it hurting.

"Problems?" He looked and saw Cheng was there.

"I'm fine." Shae said.

"I can tell when a person lies, remember?" Cheng said.

"Whatever. It's none of your business." Shae said as he just wanted to ignore it.

"If you don't want to talk about it, may I recommend this." Cheng said as he handed a flyer to Shae. Shae took it and saw it was for an acupuncture session.

"Acupuncture? There's no way that really works." Shae said as he was disbelieving it.

"Try it. It might help." Cheng said and just left it at that. Shae had his doubts that this would actually work for him, but he was in a lot of pain. What did he really have to lose?

...

The Session

Shae decided to go through with the session. He went to see this doctor and was able to get inside. He removed his top and rested against a table with the doctor getting the needles ready, but Shae seriously doubted it was going to work on him.

"Okay. Let's begin." The doctor said as he held out the needles.

"How many of those are you planning to stick in me?" Shae said.

"It won't hurt. Just relax and trust me." The doctor said. Shae didn't really have much choice. He closed his eyes and tried to relax. The doctor put the needles in Shae's body and tried to guide him. "Relax... Let all the stress just leave your body." Shae tried to do just that as he took a deep breath and tried to keep himself calm. "How do you feel now?"

"Fine. I barely feel the needles." Shae said.

"Now, I must warn you. You might relive some repressed memories, but perhaps facing those memories is what you need." The doctor said. Shae seriously doubted anything was going to happen. One more needle was placed right in his forehead. When that happened, Shae had flash images of his memories. Memories of the times he was upset his mother wasn't around. He felt like he missed out on all the things a child should have because of a mother. The thing was that his mother wasn't dead. She was alive the whole time and she never came back for him, not even for a day. Shae couldn't take it anymore and he used his magic to cause the needles to fly out of him.

"I'm done here." Shae said as he grabbed his clothes and made his way out.

"Wait! Leaving in the middle of a session could make you sick!" The doctor tried to warn him, but Shae wouldn't listen. This might have ended up making things worse.

...

Calleen

Calleen was still upset about what happened with Shae. All she wanted was to meet him, but he doesn't want anything to do with her. As she sat alone on the ground, she wondered what she was going to do. She snapped out of her thoughts when she saw Gale sit next to her.

"You doing okay?" Gale asked.

"I just don't know what I'm going to do now." Calleen said. "He seems to hate me."

"I'm sure that's not it." Gale said.

"It isn't." They both looked and saw Nashi walking over and sitting with them. "I don't think his problem is towards you. It's towards Sarah. Shae clearly has a hard relationship, one at all, with his mother."

"I guess I can understand that. She left Shae's father when he was little and hasn't really seen them since." Calleen said.

"Yeah..." Nashi said as her mind thought about it. "It's weird. I know that sort of thing happens, but it's hard for me to think about. My parents have only been with each other and are still together."

"Same with mine, but I guess not everyone is that lucky." Gale said.

"Anyway, don't worry about Shae." Nashi said. "My dad doesn't remember his birthparents. We thought my uncle was gone for good, but he miraculously came back. It might have been done by a megalomaniac, but still... My father was cold to him when he first returned, but he eventually warmed up to him and they started acting like brothers. I still hear from him every once in a while. I'm sure the same will happen with Shae." One can only hope that will be the case.

...

Shae

Shae returned to where he was staying, but he didn't look too good. He was sweaty, pale, and felt himself getting weak. Whatever happened during his little session seems to have had the opposite effect of what he was told, just like he was warned about. He snapped out of it when he heard the door open.

"Are you going to be in here all day?" Michael said when he came in. "You still owe Calleen an apology." Michael was going to get him to apologize, but he became visibly concerned when he saw the state Shae was in. "Are you okay? You don't look so good."

"I'm fine." Shae said as he stepped out, but Shae leaning against a wall for a few seconds told Michael he wasn't.

...

The Acupuncturist

Shae returned to his session in hopes that the acupuncturist could help him. He threw the door open and got the doctor's attention.

"What did you do to me?" Shae questioned.

"I warned you. Please lie down and let's finish." The doctor said. Shae removed his clothes until he was shirtless and lied down. The doctor took the needles and placed them back in Shae. "It would seem that you were dealing with memories you want to forget, or ones you wished you had." The doctor hit the nail on the head. Those memories and feelings were flashing in Shae again. His mother not being there for him was harder than he showed, but he pushed all of it aside and just buried it inside. As it all came at him, he was struggling with him clutching the table. "Let it go. Don't resist. Accept what has happened. You can use what happened in the past to create the future you want."

"My future... My past..." Shae moaned as he was struggling. What he wanted in the past was a future with his mother, but he never had that. As he stopped resisting what was happening to him and begun to relax, all of it came at him like a wave of sadness. He just allowed all the negative feelings he had since a child came at him and caused a couple tears rolled down his face.

"It's done." The doctor said.

"It is." Shae said as he stood up and just took all the needles out carelessly. He just got up and started moving.

"Wait! You need rest!" The doctor said.

"No... It's time I did something I should have." Shae said and just walked out of their as he discarded his own well-being.

...

Calleen

"Do you guys really think Shae and I can ever be close?" Calleen asked.

"I'm sure you will. It's just going to take longer than you think. Shae just needs some time." Nashi said.

"To be fair, this guy had fifteen years or so. How much more time does he need?" Gale said. "Listen, Calleen, Shae isn't really a bad guy. You said you watched us compete in the Grand Magic Games. That means that we fought each other before. I could tell from that fight that Shae is a good guy. He's just got some issues he needs to work on." Calleen was starting to feel better. She hasn't given up hope yet that she and Shae can be close like real siblings just yet.

"Guys!" Michael called as he hurried to them. "Have you guys seen, Shae?"

"No. Why?" Nashi asked.

"I went to see him earlier, but he didn't look so good." Michael said. "He went off on his own. I think he might be sick or something."

"Maybe he went to see a doctor." Gale said.

"Let's look around. He couldn't have gotten too far." Nashi said. The three of them got up and was going to leave with Michael. Suddenly, Gale noticed something.

"Look out!" Gale said as he moved Calleen to the side and the two of them just barely missed getting hit by a shadow. They all turned around and saw Shae was there. "Hey, man! You almost hit us!" Despite the attack, they could see what Michael was talking about. Shae was taking deep breaths, was sweaty, and looked like he was barely holding himself together.

"Shae? Are you feeling okay?" Nashi asked.

"Where's my mother? It's time I settled things." Shae claimed, but the way he said it didn't sound too friendly. They say the past comes back to haunt you. For someone who controls shadows, it can be a dangerous force.