3 The Prodigy

Maximillian stared boredly at the board state of the battle simulation game. There were three other players excluding himself and everybody had the same amount of access to resources. However, the other three formed an unofficial alliance against him by the end of the game. Nevertheless, all three of them still wanted to win the game.

That meant that all three of them would be eager to be the one responsible for defeating his army.

All he had to do was use that against them.

The enemies cavalry and main infantry were already in shambles while his army remained virtually untouched. All that was left to do was for him to wipe out their ranged formations and their general piece and he would win the game.

All he did was move his general towards the centre of the battlefield with a single crossbow battalion. The other players, aiming to claim the victory instantly ordered all of their cavalry to charge towards the general's position.

With a single crossbow volley the rag-tag and unorganised cavalry charge instantly turned into a muddled mess especially since all three seperate cavalry forces focused all their firepower into a single area. The fact that the cavalry were never truly allies in the first place also helped in hindering the massive wave of horses crashing onto his general's position.

The alliance virtually dissolved by that moment and the enemies had to order their infantry to charge to save what little cavalry they had left.

All that was left for Maximillian to do was to clean up whatever remnants the other armies had left but ordering an attack would still be wasteful of lives... despite being a hypothetical circumstance and no actual lives were being lost, Maximillian always felt that he had to ensure that he would have as little casualties as possible.

"I'll give you this one chance to surrender. I'd rather not waste time on a battle I already know I'm going to win..."

In response to his offer, his opponent's faces twisted a little, giving a tone of obstinate determination despite their dire circumstances.

Maximillian sighed, for the game wasn't even his current focus.

What his thoughts currently contained were those of the memories of the final examination in the grand hall and the trait of his friend, Persephone. Needless to say, it caused quite a stir when she placed her hand inside the liquid within the bowl.

After a short moment, the air turned grim and dark, the mood of the room was swept with negativity and the bowl began to crack. Persephone unlike the other's before her, displayed an oppressive aura which seemed to dominate the air around her. The other attendees weren't as observant but Maximillian saw it clearly.

Persephone herself probably didn't see nor feel it but she's never been the observant one. Maximillian clearly understood how society viewed the two of them.

The "King's prodigious and cunning nephew" and the "Hero's naive yet determined daughter."

It was because both the commoners and noble society saw them as the descendants of accomplished individuals that society often overlooked Persephone's antics.

Maximillian began to further contemplate the events of the final examination while cleaning up the game, his opponents are still trying to struggle on in vain but those are trivial matters.

Maximillian sighed once again as he recalled Persephone's expression once the professor announced her trait.

She appeared to have entered a sort of trance as she returned to her seat. Her long flowing bronze-red hair which typically exaggerated her bright and outgoing nature instead contradicted her empty tone, as if she was just a hollow doll following orders. Her eyes lost their usual illuminating lustre and she carried with her a sombre tone as if the world had turned against her.

In a sense it did. Those with "useless" or "servant" traits were generally looked down upon by nobility as people who can never be anything more than slaves and bellow that, the "chaotic" traits are often seen as traits that belongs to the enemies of the mankind. In a sense, in most people's eyes, she is now a national enemy pretending to be an innocent child but in truth is nothing more than a ticking time-bomb that will consume many lives in its wake.

He knew that even Persephone has realised this and that resulted in her current mental state. He knew better than to try talking to Persephone for the time being and that it was better to wait for the dust to settle.

Maximillian was so caught up in his contemplation that he didn't realise that he already won the game and the opponents already left the table with their sour moods.

"To think I'll lose to a servant with the 'Obedience' trait"

Maximillian unconsciously gritted his teeth as he overheard the boy's mumbling. Maximillian's trait was the 'Obedience' trait, the trait that often belonged to slaves and servants, those of noble birth who were revealed to have said trait were often immediately disowned and removed from the family, such was the cruel reality of this world. Luckily as one of royal blood as well as having been known as a genius child prodigy, Maximillian was able to escape such a fate.

However, that did not mean that others won't look down on him for his trait but at the very least...

[At least I don't have it as bad as Persephone huh? I wonder if she even knows what my trait is considering that trance state she's currently in.]

Maximillian continued to quietly contemplate their unfavourable circumstances until he came across a revelation.

[It's all because of those false notions and corrupt cesspool that is the nobility, church and royalty that our circumstances are like this... no it's not just limited to me and Persephone but many others too... In their idleness and greed for power and public image, people like me and Persephone end up as scapegoats for everyone else to look down upon... I promise that I will tear this broken society apart and build on top of it a righteous and just society where all human beings have a fair chance no matter their family heritage or trait.]

And that was a promise the Maximillian forever kept in his heart.