Despair

<p>In this world, the scariest thing is not death, but succumbing to despair and fear. Once a person succummed to despair, it was very hard to get out. Experiencing despair is like being thrown to the deepest depths of hell. Especially when one experienced falling from heaven to hell. Those people who smoothly walked through their path, becoming prideful and arrogant, only to meet a failure in the middle of their journey.<br/>Charles was also one of this. Since he was child, he was respected by everyone. His overwhelming talent of being a dual elemental Mage (Fire and Lightning Element) made him a worthy person to become a Divine Commander. Everything he did was successful, no matter what. He was also very kind and benevolent. He, oftentimes, help people. He couldn't bear poor people to be bullied by those in upper society. However, no matter how benevolent he is, he still have a hidden pridefulness that every Royalties have.<br/>And now that he experienced his first major failure in life, he suddenly began to feel despair. He pondered if he was walking in the right path. He was beginning to doubt himself. When he thought about the gazes of his members, he felt scared. He suddenly wanted to hide himself, just to avoid those gazes. He disappointed the expectations of people around him. He disappointed his father, and the other Royal members. Most importantly, he also disappointed the expectations of his idol who he looked up to in his entire life—his brother.<br/>Thinking of all this, he just wanted to escape. He felt that his life was ruined, that everything is meaningless. <br/>"Despair is scary, isn't it? It's just like you're thrown in the deepest corner of hell. It was scary, like your soul is being tortured." <br/>Charles tilted his head and saw the gloomy black-robed young man earlier. His expression changed, saying, "You already knew about it right? You know Demon's plan but you didn't tell me. Why? Why would you do that!?"<br/>"Hehe," the black-robed young man chuckled. "I already advised you that your idea is wrong but you still foolishly fell right on his trap. You're really incompetent."<br/>"Why didn't you tell me directly?"<br/>"Tell you directly?" the young-man revealed an expression as though he heard the most laughable thing in the world. "Why would I tell you? Will it benefit me? I know you're a prince and you have a power to influence an ordinary person's life but I am no ordinary."<br/> Charles was stunned when he heard this. He couldn't believe his words. Someone don't give a damn about him, a prince, a member of Royalty?<br/>The black-robed young man's gaze turned sharp. "I know what you're thinking. Just because you're a member of Royal Family doesn't mean everyone in this Kingdom will pay respect to you. You're merely a prince, don't forget that. Only when you became the strongest powerhouse will you be respected by everyone, remember that!" he paused for a moment before continuing, "In any case, escaping the reality will only worsen up the problem. Face your inner fear, and you will be rewarded. If you still didn't follow this advise then I have nothing to say."<br/>After that, the black-robed young man stared walking, but, he stopped, turned his head, saying, "Oh, and don't tell anyone, especially your brother, about this. If not, hehe. You'll not like what will happen next." After that, he started walking again.<br/>"Wait! What's your name?"<br/>The black-robed young man didn't stopped walking but Charles faintly heard his replied, "Man Dong, remember it."<br/>'Man Dong…what a strange name.' Charles thought when he suddenly realized something. 'Could it be, he came to that place?'<br/>***<br/>Within the great hall, Prince Almond Daswind emotionlessly stared at the screen of light before he lost interest. Just as he expected, Charles took the bait very fast. It was a pathetic ending. The good thing is, his younger brother will become mature once he overcome this. Of course, that would be if he really overcame the problem.<br/>"Well that's quite a performance," the masked woman said. Even though Almond couldn't see it, he imagine that she was curling her lips mockingly. <br/>He shrugged his shoulders as he left his seat. Almond stared at the woman near him as he smiled, "Well then Lady Darkness, how about we take a short walk before we return to the palace?"<br/>"I'm grateful for your invitation," the woman called Lady Darkness nodded her head, accepting his invitation.<br/>Then, they left the great hall coolly, walked through the corridor, staring at the wonderful scene in front of them.<br/>Just outside the corridor was a garden full of beautiful flowers and plants. This place was an exclusive area within the academy, only people with high status can enter this place. After ten minutes, Almond suddenly heard a footsteps. He turned his eye, seeing his pathetic younger brother with his head lowered. His good mood suddenly turned sour but he didn't reveal it. Instead, he coldly stared directly at his younger brother, waiting for him to say something.<br/>When Charles sensed his gaze, he felt even more ashamed. The person he idolized with was now in front of him, his gaze very cold. He knew that his shitty perfomance really disappointed him. However, just as how the black-robed young man said, he had to face this head-on. Even though he still felt despair, at least his mental was much better than a moment ago.<br/>Charles bit his lips, mustering all of his remaining courage. "I…I'm sorry."<br/>Seeing that his brother didn't speak, Charl continued, "I've been too careless. I didn't know about his plan so—"<br/>"Enough!" Almond interrupted, his voice full of coldness. "You lose, my little brother. You lose to a mere brat of a Count Family. It's shameful, you just embarassed us, Royals. Do you even know that the reputation of our Royal Family will take a hit because of hit?"<br/>Charles smiled bitterly. Of course he knew that. In other people's eyes, the members of Royalty are peerless and undefeated. Even in an almost impossible battle, they would be able to win easily. In short words, they were supremes in this Kingdom, the absolute ruler!<br/>Him failing the entrance examination will shake the other people's perspective. They will naturally realize that Royalties are not invincible as they initially thought. They also have their own moment of weakness.<br/>"However, you did a quite good job. Our Lord Father will be the one to handle your punishment. I will help you lessen the punishment, but only this once." Almond said.<br/>"Thank you, Brother," said Charles gratefully. As expected of the person who he idolized, he's really great. That was at this moment when he recalled a certain memory. He subconsciously stared at the masked woman behind his brother, suddenly feeling a chill in his heart.<br/>Originally, his brother, no… The entire Royal Family is not overbearing as it is now. He could still remember at the time when the other Royalties were very kind. They helped each other. However, everything changed ever since that woman entered his and his brother's life. <br/>The members of Royal Family had changed. They became cold, and they act as though they were plotting something. His originally amiable father also became a ruthless, violent person. Since then, his entire life became fucked up. <br/>He just couldn't accept this fact. However, he was very helpless about this situation. He knew that he has no power or authority to change anything. The only thing that he can do for now is to follow his father to become a Divine Commander.<br/>"Now get out of face at once," Almond said coldly.<br/>Charles nodded his head meekly before retreating. After that, the woman called Lady Darkness whispered, "So, what will you do about that Volheim guy?"<br/>"Oh him?" Almond's eyebrows rose slightly, before he decided what to do. "Let him be. He might be cunning and scheming but he's no threat to us."<br/>"Of course he's not a threat," Lady Darkness replied. "The organization behind me could make even you, a respectable Royalty, fear us. What I mean is that if you let him without doing anything, won't it impact the Family's reputation? After all, a prince losing to a mere scion of Count Family is a slap on the face."<br/>"Why would I care about reputation?" Almond sneered. "The Daswind Family is the strongest within the Kingdom. No one could threaten us, other than outside forces like your organization. Do you think we gives a shit about face? As long as you are extremely powerful, people will automatically give face. Even if they talk behind our back, it was still but a mere small problem that was not worth of our time. Let's go, we'll go back to the palace."<br/>Lady Darkness didn't reply as she started to follow him.</p>