Agares’s Domain- Will O’ World

“It’s that half-breed again,” the whispers of others grew upon him.

“Why does our lord allow such a disgusting hybrid to breath the same air as him, we will never understand.”

“How disgusting, he’s looking at you!”

“Someone should put that abomination out of his misery.”

The maids continued to whisper amongst each other.

“…”

“Do you hate it, what they are saying about you?” Agares asked, walking down the corridor with the teen by his side.

“No.” He replied nonchalantly.

“Is that so, because I feel like it is the opposite for you,” Agares responded, “even if you want to try to hide it, I can see right through you.”

“My lord, I do not…” he wanted to continue but Argares interrupted him.

“You are still a child, and part of being a child is that you let your emotions get the better of you,” he explained, “everyone goes through it. You do not have to deny it.”

Erebus wanted to speak, but he stopped himself.

Seeing that the boy was rather dejected, Agares laughed heartily, “even if you are wrong, you should try to deny it.”

Erebus looked up at him. There was a hint of annoyance.

“Well, Erebus, you must endure their criticism,” Agares continued, noticing that he was unusually silent, “endure it, endure their mockery, endure the humiliation, that is all that you can do. Do you know why?”

Even though the morning was bright and the gentle wind sweeps through the castle, Erebus couldn’t help but feel dejected.

“I am aware of it, my lord,” he responded nonchalantly, “I am weak.”

“Good,” he responded, patting Erebus on the head, “there is no place in this world for the weak. Once you acknowledge that, then can you improve yourself. Only the strong may survive. If you wish to rid yourself of the humiliation, become stronger, strong enough so that no one can look down on you.”

“… I understand,” he nodded his head obediently.

“You are talented, Erebus, far more than your father,” he said, looking pass him, “you have more potential than most would know, but that is all- potential. Unless you wish for it to remain that way, you must continue to train and unravel your potential.”

“My lord, if I remain by your side, and do as you say, how long… how long do you think I must endure?”

“That… I am uncertain of,” Agares replied, “you are a fletching. Given enough time for your wings to expand, the sky will be your limit. But if you are constantly boggled down by the opinions of others, then your vision will blur and you will eventually crash.”

“…” Even though he was trying to hide his disappointment, Agares saw right through him.

Patting his head, Agares assured, “you do not need to rush. You are already strong enough to reclaim your father’s throne.”

Erebus stopped, and with a resolve expression, asked courageously, “my lord, if that is the truth, then why is it that I am still the 72nd demon lord.”

“You are still a child compared to us, Erebus. Within the coming month, you will be eighteen years old, but compared to me, who is five hundred seventy-two years old, do you expect to receive the same amount of respect as the rest of us? For your circumstances, it is more complicated than you may think,” Agares turned his gaze towards the garden on the right side of the grand hallway that they were walking down, “you are talented, and many have acknowledged that fact, but it will take more than that for them to forget the fact that you are a half-breed. Besides yourself, there has never been a demon lord who have claimed one of the seventy-two thrones before whom blood is that of a human. Such discrimination has existed since the birth of the original demon lords cannot not be easily changed within a few years.”

His fingers curled up into a tight fist, “… then, what else must I do-”

Before he could continue, a childish voice arose in front of them.

“Father,” a girl around his age appeared, calling out for her father as she rushes toward Agares with a bright and cheerful smile on her face.

“Lilith, my daughter,” he declared, spreading his arms wide open. The sight was not what one would expect of the second most powerful demon lord who ruled over his territory with an iron fist.

Without even bothering to glance at Erebus, she hugged her father before wrapping her arms around her father’s arm, “Father, listen, today I was able to conjure my first spell!”

“That’s amazing sweetie,” Agares replied, caressing his daughter’s head, “as expected of my beloved daughter.”

Agares glanced at Erebus, urging him to speak with his eyes.

Erebus sighed, “congratulation, Lilith.”

Lilith glanced at him with the same disgusted expression as ever before smiling towards her father, “Father, will you come have tea with mother and I?”

“I have matters to discuss with Erebus,” Agares responded, noticing how lonely and silent the boy by his side became, “perhaps I will join you later.”

“But Father!” She protested, pouting cutely as she tugged his arm, “can it not wait?”

“… My lord, this matter is of little importance,” Erebus said, stepping away from the picturesque family before him, “since your daughter wishes to spend time with her father, it would be rude of me to interfere. I will deal with the issue accordingly. Now, please excuse me. I have overstayed my visit.”

“Erebus, wait!”

“…” Erebus turned back around.

“If you are not too busy, why don’t you join us for some tea,” Agares offered, “we may discuss the issue over a cup of tea.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Erebus bowed lightly before leaving down the hall silently.