A letter written in a scrawl on a torn piece of paper. It is delivered by a young page in the middle of the day.

vantas,

while i appreciate everything in your whole attempt at being the better person, id like to offer you a humble fuck you.

seriously.

i get it. you tried. but did you honestly think that you could talk me out of this? at all? i appreciate the effort but you should know by now that this isnt how i work. im not something that can be changed at the drop of a fucking hat, dude. things happen. this is one of them.

i know whats going to happen next too and i know that you aint gonna have any regrets about it. youre going to tell john first of all, and hes going to hate me. you may or may not show him this letter. youre definitely going to tell your superiors. im basically fucked if i ever want to come back or tell john or even explain myself without you as a filter. and youre going to sit up on your pedestal, thinking that you did the right thing but honestly feeling betrayed by the guy who dare dream of freedom (or something similarly romantic)

and thats why i say fuck you. because youre so misguided that you think that everything is your personal war to fight. my issues dont involve you. they never did and i honestly doubt that they will.

it looks like im getting away with this at least. if everything goes right, you wont hear from me ever again. bet thats something that youre looking forward to. a world free of dave strider. its a holy miracle that the prophets will laud as being only the act of a certain god.

me and my dragon, alone. just runnin away together. you really dont think i would have left him right? he probably wouldve been punished for my dumb actions, which is the opposite of what i want. hes my friend.

look though.

i get what youre getting at. whats best for the crown, ecetera ecetera, responsibility to your duty, blah blah blah. i dont care. i genuinely, honestly, have zero shits to give. i have a responsibility to myself. i cant believe i didnt actually understand this before now. im a guy who fights for what he believes in.

it just so happens that i dont believe in what you do. thats not a crime, is it?

we could have been friends you know. you and me.

but who cares. i have my dragon. im chillin somewhere that aint here. what more could i want?

hey, by the way. its gonna be a waste of time to try and find me. youd be surprised at how inconspicuous the giant dragon and the albino kid can be.

that aint gonna stop you from trying, of course, but i figure your timell be better spent goin and fuckin yourself.

-ds