He used to dartbetween buildings, trying not to be seen. He knew this would bring attention to himself so he would walk on the streets like everyone else. People would point to him and whisper to others, it all rumors or gossip. They tried to figureout
why he wore that mask and what happened to his arm. He normally didn't speak so no one knew the truth. They would say that he had special abilities no one else did. They would say he lost his arm because he activated the bomb. He didn't even knowhis
backstory. He knew bits and pieces but not much. People began to call him the 'Corrupted Prince.' They did have theories that he had been the missing son of the king but the king never believed them.
It had been years, really, of him like this.
"Look. It's bird boy. Did you lose one of your wings?" The older boys would always tease him but it didn't effect him. He didn't have many emotions. He would look up at them then start to leave. The boys would try to grab his mask but he held thebeak
tightly in his own hands as he ran.
He was very secretive. He lived in a deserted, destroyed house at the outskirts of the town. Almost no one traveled that far. Sometimes he would see merchants coming in or leaving but that was about it. He had gotten very lonely but he didn't mind. Hewas
healthy and happy. That was the only thing that mattered to him.
It was his 19th birthday and he wandered into the village like the many years before. He thought he would be alright. He thought that no one would make him take of his mask. Someone tapped him on the shoulder.
"Corrupted Prince.. They're coming soon.. The king said that he would finally figure out who you are and take off the mask.." A shiver went up his spine. He looked up to the castle, the troops already heading down. Without missing a beat, the corrupted
prince darted away into the woods, no one but one man, as old as he was,noticing.
He ran farther into the woods.
"They can't know it's me," he thought, "I can't go back"
His legs almost gave in but he kept running. He has to be kept a secret.