Kai and his family stood at the edge of the forest outside of town the next morning. Kai was forced into exile by leader Lusaas. Lusaas forbid Kai to come back, and did not allow him to bring anything other than the clothes on his body.

"Mom, Dad... I don't want to leave. Please don't make me leave." said a crying Kai.

Kai's sobbing mother hugged the boy. "I know, hon, I know."

"Can't you go with me?" Kai asked.

"It's not that simple." Kai's father answered. "Lusaas has forbidden our departure, and plus, your mother and I are vital to this town, you know that. We are needed here."

Kai turn toward the forest, and then he looked back. "Can I visit?"

His parents did not answer, and Kai assumed that he was not able to.

"What about Deren? Will he be alright?"

Kai's parents remained silent. Kai assumed the worst. I killed him, Kai thought to himself, he's dead and it's all my fault. No, Kai continued, I didn't kill him. I'm not the monster they called me.

Kai had a new challenge ahead of him; surviving. This would be the first time Kai ever left his town. This will be the first time Kai will enter danger. As Kai took his first steps to the forest, his father called him back.

"Kai!"

He turned back.

"Remember two things. First, always remember that your mother and I love you very much. It scars us to let you go."

Kai stared at the ground.

"Secondly, remember, conceal it."

"Don't feel it." Kai continued.

"Don't let it show." the two said in unison.

Kai entered the forest, and for the first time in forever, Kai was alone.

Kai didn't know how long he was walking. Hours, days, weeks, months. Time was untrackable in the forest. He was scared. He was alone. He was unsure. Kai faced many dangers. Some were real. Some where hallucinations. He was chased by wolves who he was forced to blast with fire. He fell down holes. He thought he was being chased by rock people. There was never a moment of rest in the forest.

Kai didn't even notice how hungry he was. Food, he thought to himself, I almost forgot what it tastes like.

Then, Kai heard voices. Commotion. The little Kai looked around to see the origin. He noticed a clearing to his left, and he walked the path. As he walked, he noticed a trail become more clear. He looked ahead and saw light. He walked towards the light and out of the forest.

Kai stood at the edge of the forest. It was at the top of a hill that overlooked a city. There was a castle and many other buildings such as houses and other services.

"The capitol. Teranhall capitol. I did it." Kai walked down the path towards the city. "Now, I need to find something to eat."

He walked into the city into what seemed like a market place. Kai felt relieved. He had made it to a safer place. He made it to civilization. It would be the first time seeing unfamiliar faces. Kai was raised all his life in that town. He knew everyone there. Now, he knew no one.

Kai noticed that everything had a price. He didn't have money. But, a shiny red apple was calling his name.

"Eat me!" it yelled at him. "I'm so cold Kai. Please, warm me with your mouth."

"Well now," Kai smiled, "I'm no one to refuse that request."

As Kai reached for the apple, he hesitated. I'm not a theif, he thought to himself, but you got to do what you got to do. When he grabbed the apple, a hand grabbed his arm with force.

"Trying to steal from me child?" the merchant yelled "We'll see how much it will take for you to apologize."

The merchant raised his hand to smack Kai, but a voice commanded "STOP!" The merchant looked behind his shoulder. A man with more elegant clothes walked toward the two.

"I command you to let that child go." said the man.

"Hahaha. You expect me to listen to you, Lyre? You can't run a kingdom. You can't run me." the merchant barked.

"I wonder how many years in prison it will take for you to change your mind." Lyre threatened.

The merchant scolded, then let Kai go. "You will be the end of this once great kingdom." the merchant said, "Good day to you Lyre."

"What was that again?" Lyre asked.

The merchant gritted his teeth. "Good day to you King Lyre."

"Now, that wasn't so hard was it?" the King replied. "Child," Kai looked up at the King, "come with me."

They talked as the King led Kai throughout the city.

"What is your name child?" the King asked.

"Kai." he answered.

"Well, Kai, why were stealing from that man?"

"I was hungry, and I had no money. I needed to." he answered.

"Kai, as you might have heard, I'm king of Teranhall, and I want to make a deal with you."

"I'm listening." Kai responded.

Lyre led Kai to an area at a far side of the capitol. They walked towards a tree with a little wooden trapdoor at the base of it.

"I'm not only the King of Teranhall." Lyre said. "Kai, how would you like to be a bandit?"

Lyre stomped on the ground, and the trapdoor opened up. Stairs led into darkness.

"Since I'm the leader," Lyre said, "you get a free ticket."

The stairs seemed to go down forever. Kai counted the steps. As he counted, he thought about the idea of a bandit. The word bandit gave Kai a negative connotation. A thief? A murderer? He did not know what to make out of it.

"What are the Bandits?" Kai asked.

"We're an organization that look after ourselves. These individuals have no time for jobs. We take what we need from those who don't deserve it." Lyre answered.

"When I saw you take that apple, I knew you had potential."

"But Lyre, you're a king. Shouldn't you be looking out after your citizens, not harm them."

"Bah!" Lyre said. "I created the bandits guild as punishment for my citizens. This kingdom is falling. People are refusing to pay taxes. They're rebelling. They're critizising me. They're ungrateful. They deserve this. This is payback." Lyre said with fire in his eyes.

"I don't want to hurt people." Kai said. Then, Kai started to remember his past life. "But, I guess its too late."

Lyre smiled. "My bandits are now the only people that obey me in practice."

As they reached the bottom of the stairs, Kai asked "How many of you are there?" Lyre opened a door, and that revealed a grand room filled with people.

It was a giant sort of banquet hall. Everything was made of stone. A giant table lay in the middle of the room. Chairs lined both sides. Banners with a certain symbol hung from the walls. A throne-like chair sat at an elevated platform in one of the fronts of the table. At least 100 people were in the room. They all wore a sort of cloak. Some where talking. Some where eating. Some where fighting.

"We like to call ourselves the Guild." Lyre told Kai.

"Hey Lord Lyre!" one bandit called out. "What's with the shrimp?"

"This may be our newest member." Lyre answered. "What do you say Kai? Will you join us and become our brother?"

The entire room went silent and stared at Kai. Kai looked around. "I lost my past life." he said. "I lost my family. But now, I have a chance to start anew. I'll have a new family. So King Lyre," Kai looked up at Lyre and smiled. "Consider me family."

The bandits cheered and raised their arms in the air. Kai smiled.

"Lyre," Kai said.

"Hmm?" Lyre answered. "there's something I have to show you."

Kai held out his hand and produced a small fireball which danced on his hand. Lyre smiled.

"Well," Lyre said, "life just got a whole lot more easier for us."