Chapter 1: The Villain's Return

Present,

Valdemar had awoken from his slumber when his phone rang. He blindly reached for it on his side table. He sat up the moment he heard the message. "Chosen?! What now!? I don't want to guard that villain!" Valdemar yelled through the phone. The president of the Hero Association had informed him that the greatest villain's descendant had chosen him to be his lifetime rival.

"The Dark Prince is the one who want you as his rival." The president's voice was trembling.

"Tell His Highness that I won't accept it." Valdemar rubbed his eyes,groaning.

The villain, who was destined to destroy the the world, has returned.

The president gulped. "Valdemar... Please. Just accept the offer." He begged, sobbing.

"Why would I?" Valdemar asked, though not knowing why the president was acting this way.

"Because the Dark Prince is in front of me right now. He's threatening to kill me." The president explained.

"Then, die." Valdemar responded in a cold manner. He had known that the president had the power kill him but he won't. It was frustrating.

"Those are not words of a hero~." Visha said in a singing tone.

"I'd rather quit than be your little entourage!" Valdemar yelled that was more like a growl.

"You have no right to decline me, Val. I ought to destroy the world and they'll know that it's all your fault." Visha threatened. His chuckle rang inside Valdemar's head.

"You little..." Valdemar gritted his teeth. "Just you wait until I come to you." He warned, standing up from his bed.

Valdemar swung open his window and climbed on the windrow frame.

The wind blew his green hair, the blazing sun pierced his light brown skin, and his golden eyes roamed around the city.

He inhaled the morning air.

Today, he's going to face his childhood friend, once again. The one who killed his other friend, Arsen.

He closed his eyes, hoping this was all a dream. He hoped that he was still able to live with the two most important people in his life.

He bit his lip, blood flowing freely, he hoped he was, as well.

As the cold breeze brushed along his cheeks, his dagger necklace dangling on his chest. He held it with a tight grip, opening his eyes, ready to face whatever danger may come.

He activated his power. Yellow aura started covering his body and it lifted his body, as if he was made of feathers.

He kicked the door, darkness disappeared slowly as he entered the room.

"You've finally come." Visha said, facing the window, looking at the mindless city. Hundreds of people, if not thousands were walking around. Visha found them irritating, how could they be so free?

The swivel chair turned to Valdemar as Visha's cold silver eyes landed on Valdemar. His long black hair fell on his black suit.

The hero had always thought the villain was ill due to his unusual pale skin, though, it suit his ruthless demeanor.

"I've been waiting for you." The Dark Prince greeted, his cheeks flushing red as soon as he felt his long lost love presence. His smile was lethal, if anything else.

The white haired president of the Hero Association was knocked out cold on the couch.

"Why are you doing this?" Valdemar asked and Visha's smile left his face. The villain's eyes were digging holes on the hero.

"You know exactly why." Visha responded, messing up the documents on top of the office table.

"I have nothing to say to you and I don't want to have any connection with you." Valdemar slammed his hands on the table making Visha stare at him.

"That hurts my feelings, Val." Visha wiped his inexistent tear. "Weren't you the one who wanted to hide and chase in the dark?" He pouted. His long black hair cascaded on his back as he walked towards his hero.

"Foolish childhood memories. I don't want to remember any of them. I already got rid of everything that is related to you." Valdemar's face scrunched up as his breath hitched.

"Is that so? Then, why are you still wearing the dagger necklace I gave you?" Visha tugged Valdemar closer to him with the necklace, their faces were inches apart from each other.

"What a liar you are, Mr. Hero." He smirked, feeling the breaths of Valdemar. It made him feel alive.

Valdemar grabbed his hand, marking on Visha's wrist. "What do you want from me?!" He snapped.

"I just want us to return to what we were. Come on, Val. Come back to me. I need you." Visha pleaded.

"Enough. You've gone too far, Visha. Stop it, now. You're hurting people." Valdemar said

"And, they will continue hurting unless you come with me." Visha threatened.

"No."

Visha sighed. "This is troublesome. I thought that you would be the one to initiate our reunion, just like before." He walked behind Valdemar, snaking his arms around his neck.

"There is no before to us, now. The past has been erased, together with our identities." Valdemar pulling away from the villain, pinning him on the table. Visha's hair scattered on his flawless face, his eyes meeting the hero's.

"We're adults, now, Visha. Act like one." Valdemar stipulated.

"I'm a villain, Val; therefore I act like one." Visha said, not even sparing Valdemar a glance. He played with the shadow, passing it through his knuckles.

"I'll ask you, again. Come with me to the Dark Castle. We can even share a bed, just like old times." He offered, a smile crept on his face.

"No, thank you." Valdemar rejected, letting go of Visha. He kept his distance from him.

Visha sighed. He knew Valdemar was going to refuse his offer, although it was not excuse to not try again "Fine. I'll come back some other day, then. Take care, my little hero." He bid, his smile still plastered on his face.

The darkness surrounded Visha, his whole body was surrounded by black matter, then, he disappeared.

"I told you not to call me that..." Valdemar's plea was not heard.

The hero ran to the president's side, checking up on him.

"Ugh... What happened?" The president groaned, rubbing his head.

"President. I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. If only I've arrived sooner." Valdemar bowed his head to the Light Attribute User.

"It's okay, Valdemar. Everyone either despises or fear the Dark Prince, we can't do anything about that." He sighed, arranging his documents.

"Can't we just banish him, forever?" Valdemar proposed and the president froze.

The man looked at Valdemar as if he was consoling him. "Valdemar, you know we can't do that. It is the fate of the Greatest Villain, the Dark Emperor to choose a hero rival. Whichever side wins shall reign above all earth. We cannot change our destinies, it is written in the stars, written by the gods." His tone was apologetic and his eyes were filled with pity.

"Then, let the gods be dammed." Valdemar declared.

He will not let those filthy gods decide his fate.

Those were the same gods who took his companions from him, even if he was given a thousand years, he won't be able to explain how much he loathe them.

If choosing his own destiny means belittling those gods, then, he'd be more than happy to comply.

That's what he'll do.

∞

Visha's red pupils dilated at the red marks on his wrist, it was shaped in Valdemar's fingers. Heat rushed to his cheeks.

"Hmm... You've marked me, Valdemar. You must be mine, now..." He mumbled, kissing the bruise.