Reincarnated as the disaster prince

Theodore gripped the hilt of his dark mana sword tightly, his stance firm but his body trembling slightly. He knew the old man standing before him wasn't ordinary. No, this being was on a completely different level. The difference between them felt insurmountable, like the distance between a speck of dirt and a mountain that touched the heavens.

The old man watched Theodore with amused eyes, his hands clasped behind his back. His laugh echoed through the vast temple, as though mocking the boy's futile attempts to appear ready.

"Ah, young master," the old man said, his voice dripping with condescension, "you're clever enough to understand, aren't you? This wouldn't even be a fight. At your current level, you'd be dead in an instant."

Theodore swallowed hard, trying to steady his breathing. He didn't lower his sword, but he didn't strike either.

"Then what do you mean when you say you'll make me stronger? If you don't want to fight, what is your plan?"

The old man opened one glowing yellow eye, his expression smug.

"You need training, young master. Not just training in battle, but in understanding the very foundation of the power you wield. It's painfully clear you're stumbling around in the dark. You don't even know the true nature of the black magic flowing through your veins."

Theodore's grip on his sword tightened, anger sparking in his chest. "And whose fault is that?" he snapped. "You gave me this power but left me to figure everything out on my own! I had to master mana and aura without any guidance. Do you know how much time I wasted?"

The old man's chuckle was maddening. "Ah, my apologies, young master. This old man's memory isn't what it used to be."

Theodore sighed, his frustration bubbling beneath the surface. This man, whoever,or whatever,he was, seemed to enjoy making Theodore's life as difficult as possible. But there was something in his cryptic words, something unsettling, as if he were hinting at a much larger truth.

"Fine," Theodore said at last. "Teach me."

The old man grinned, his sharp teeth gleaming in the dim light of the temple. "Excellent answer, young master. Let's begin."

With a snap of his fingers, the old man shattered their surroundings. The Shadow Temple dissolved into darkness, and when the world came back into focus, Theodore found himself standing in a bright, sterile room.

"What the—" Theodore froze, his eyes darting around the space. Rows of desks and chairs filled the room, with a chalkboard at the front and faded motivational posters lining the walls. His heart sank as he realized where he was. "This… this can't be."

The old man stood near the teacher's desk, his arms crossed. "Oh? Does this place look familiar, Akira?"

Theodore spun to face him, his hands clenched into fists. "How do you know that name?" he growled.

Ignoring the question, the old man gestured to a desk in the back of the classroom. It was filthy, covered in graffiti, spilled ink, and torn pages. The chair was stained and broken, a reminder of years of neglect.

Theodore's blood ran cold. He knew this desk. It was his.

"This was your classroom in the eighth grade, wasn't it?" the old man said, his voice almost gentle. "Ah, the memories of Earth. Such a mundane place, yet so cruel."

Theodore's mind raced. He hadn't thought about this life in years, hadn't let himself remember the torment he'd endured. His classmates' mocking laughter echoed faintly in his ears as he stared at the desk.

"Why did you bring me here?" he demanded, his voice rising with anger.

The old man smirked. "Just trying to understand you better, my little prince. Or should I say… Akira?"

Theodore's fury boiled over. "Did the gods send you? Are you working with them?!"

The old man shook his head, laughing softly. "No, no, nothing so dull. I serve only one god—the God of Shadows. I have no interest in their petty schemes."

"Then what's the point of this?" Theodore snapped, gesturing to the classroom.

The old man's grin turned sinister. "Does it bother you? Seeing this place? Does that desk trigger something deep inside you? Maybe the memories of what they did to you?"

Theodore's breath hitched as the memories flooded back. His classmates had made his life a living hell. They had beaten him, humiliated him, painted cruel words on his blazer, and left him isolated. No one had helped him,not even his parents. And then there was the popular kid, the one he couldn't remember clearly.

"Loser," the boy's voice echoed in Theodore's mind. "That's why your parents are cheating on each other."

Theodore staggered, his hands trembling as panic set in. The walls of the classroom seemed to close in, the mocking laughter growing louder in his ears.

"Breathe, young master," the old man said, snapping his fingers.

In an instant, the classroom disappeared, and they were back in the Shadow Temple.

Theodore collapsed to his knees, his body drenched in sweat. His chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath, his mind reeling from the old man's cruel manipulation.

"You…" he gasped, glaring up at him. "What was the point of that? What are you trying to prove?"

The old man smiled down at him, but there was no malice in his gaze this time. "I needed to see something, young master. And you didn't disappoint."

Theodore forced himself to his feet, his fists clenched. "You're cruel. And selfish. You drag me into this nightmare and expect me to just move on like nothing happened?"

The old man's smile faded, his expression growing serious. "Then what do you want me to do? Apologize? Fix the past? No, Akira, that's not how this works."

Theodore's glare burned into him. "Stop calling me that name. It doesn't exist anymore."

The old man tilted his head, his grin returning. "As you wish. Theodore it is."

The boy took a deep breath, steadying himself.

"You owe me answers," he said, his voice firm.

"Explain the God of Shadows. Explain the gods. And tell me why I should trust you."

The old man chuckled, his energy shifting as the room grew colder. "You're bold, I'll give you that. Very well. I'll tell you what you want to know."