The Useless Genius

'Ginuse' is really a funny word.

It makes you the center of the world at some time someone who is beyond this world. People don't really understand geniuses because they don't want to. it would be really foolish to lose a convenient excuse, wouldn't it?

'Only genius could pull out something like that '

'your genius so it's expected'

'Are you really a genius as they say? you at least be able to do this in half time as compared to others '

Jack was quite famous for his geniuses not only in his empire but throughout the whole world. The news of a human who could perceive mana at the tender age of four had spread like wildfire, despite the concerted efforts of his father, the Duke, and even the Emperor to keep it concealed. This revelation had sent shockwaves throughout the entire globe, for it was an indirect proclamation that a potential contender for the title of the world's mightiest being had come into existence.

The circumstances were so chaotic during that period that Jack's survival could only be described as a miraculous feat.

But as they say, "The higher you climb, the harder you fall.", so when Jack failed to awaken in three years. This news too, spread far and wide as everyone was keeping an eye on him. Rumors started to spread as people started to talk and the name which was held as a source of fear and envy became the laughingstock of the whole world. 

'The Useless Genius' is what the world calls him.

***

With the map of the sprawling central continent sprawled out before him, Jack's gaze swept across every individual in the room, a silent insistence in his eyes and his posture. His finger extended, pointing firmly at the northeast corner of the map. But he didn't halt there; instead, he meticulously trailed his finger along the vast expanse of the Kingsley Empire's territory, which stretched from the northeast to the northwest reaches of the continent.

"I think Kingsley empire is planning to invade our neighbor The Kingdom of Valeria and it is trying to create a tense situation between us and the human empire. The kingdom of Valeria is relatively weak compared to other empires and us, So the only reason it hasn't been concurred yet, was because of the delicate power balance between Crownsworth and Kingsley empires who both have been eyeing its mineral-rich land for centuries"

As his words cascaded from his mouth, the room seemed to shiver with an icy dread, its very atmosphere congealing around the frozen hearts of those who listened. The white-haired teenager's utterances held the room captive, an ominous spell of impending doom, and their eyes, taut with anxiety, remained unwavering, as if each word possessed the uncanny ability to reshape their very fates.

And indeed, they did.

"If what Jack has spoken is the unvarnished truth, it would signify that the ultimate battleground between the two mighty empires shall unfurl within the Kingdom of Valeria and our cherished territory, the sole sentinel at the perilous border of the Kingdom of Valeria."

A weathered and quavering voice, one that appeared to waver with each breath, resonated throughout the room, instantly seizing the attention of all who were present.

Jack looked at the source of the voice which belonged to a very old man with wrinkled skin which was desperately hanging on his old shaky bones. He was the only one among officials who didn't wear leather armor instead he was clad in a flowing, loose-fitting white attire that draped over his frail frame.

This frail old man was none other than the man who had fought valiantly alongside Jack's grandfather. He had not only been a trusted comrade-in-arms but had also played a pivotal role in nurturing the current duke, serving as his mentor. Presently, he held the esteemed position of military advisor to the Duchy, his wisdom and experience invaluable to the realm.

It came as no surprise that he had grasped the heart of the matter almost instantaneously. It was as though he had already foreseen this as if he had been patiently anticipating someone else to voice it.

'Was he, perhaps, waiting for me to Say it?'

Jack's interactions with the elderly gentleman had been limited. The old man had been ailing for several years and had chosen to spend his twilight years in a tranquil countryside village that happened to be his birthplace. Despite his position as a military advisor, no one had compelled him to work, for his past contributions had already been substantial and no further obligations were placed upon him. He was free to come in and go anywhere in the territory Ignis castle included.

Jack and the old man locked eyes, their gazes entwining as the elderly gentleman glanced in his direction. His lackluster green eyes bore into Jack with a profound intelligence, as if peering into the very depths of his mind. Jack couldn't help but feel as though his entire consciousness lay exposed before the penetrating scrutiny of the old man.

"Well done, young man. Well done," the elder commended, a sense of satisfaction in his voice. "Now, I can rest easy knowing that someone with a wise head on their shoulders will be guiding the new generation."

For the first time since the meeting began Duke's facial expression changed and his icy cold face became tinged with regret and worry as he silently stared at his son.

'well done, well done, well done, as expected, good, well done, you're a genius young master, you're amazing, well done, well done, well done, as expected, good, well done, you're a genius young master, you're amazing '

'Stop it, Not now '

'well done, well done, well done, as expected, good, well done, you're a genius young master, you're amazing, well done, well done, well done, as expected, good, well done, you're a genius young master, you're amazing '

Jack humbly responded, "Ha ha You praise me too much, elder, for I am not worthy of leading the new generation. I am not eve..."

The words spilled from Jack's lips as if the floodgates of his deepest, long-buried childhood trauma had burst open once more, overwhelming him with a tidal wave of emotions.

And they weren't stopping no matter how hard he tried. A single Parise had done it, A single genuine praise had finally broken the mask he always wore . It was like a last drop of water that broke the dam. The flood of emotion threatened to overwhelm him as his anxiety grew he became drenched in a cold sweat, his legs started to shake and his vision started to get blurry.

The weight of expectations, an insurmountable and monstrous burden, had been heaped upon him since his earliest years. When that colossal weight had come tumbling down upon him, it had left not just a mark but a searing, agonizing wound deep within his soul.

Self-loathing, self-hatred, and an overpowering sense of inferiority had become colossal mountains, casting dark shadows over his existence from the tender age of twelve, and it seemed as if their colossal weight threatened to crush him with every passing day.

Since then Jack has developed a trauma, when someone praised him and expected something good from him, it reminded of him his Past which he desperately wanted to forget.