The Charm of an Insomniac

Chapter 1: The Recluse, the Trickster, and the Baby

The Prince of Shoren was, to say it lightly, was an unambitious person. To say it harshly, he was simply the worst sort of trash. He was a privileged person who has made no effort to be worthy of his position in life.

He spent most of the day sleeping, as it was the thing he most loved in life, because he was blessed with the most wonderful dreams.

When he was young, his father, the king, provided him with the best education. At first he was enthusiastic about learning new knowledge, and did everything to the best of his ability. He learned much of the world in that way, but troubles began after he started learning how to cultivate.

You see, the young prince was born with a major flaw in this particularly cruel world; he had a great sense for ethics, and his demon-like conscience was quite irrational, considering the state of the world.

In this world, monsters hunted men, and men hunted other men, while true freedom was for the strong.

One day the prince asked his teacher a childish question out of curiosity.

“Teacher, why am I learning to cultivate?” He asked, not knowing that this question would change his life.

“What do you mean? Of course, to become strong!”

“Hmm? Why do I have to become strong?” The kid asked, not realizing the importance of strength in this world.

“What? Of course, to defeat your enemies!”

“What? I have no enemies! And I don’t intend to make any!” The prince said in bewilderment.

The teacher laughed at the child’s statement, and said to him, “Young prince, someone of your position is bound to make enemies sooner or later. And most influential people are forced to kill their enemies in one way or another. If you have any brothers or sisters in the future, you might be forced to fight with them for the throne. How are you going to do that if you don’t become strong?”

“K-kill? Fight my brothers and sisters?” The Prince said in thought as fear became apparent on his face. “No way! I’ll never do that!” The Prince yelled before running away to his room in the castle.

After that, the prince’s fear of the world grew as he learned its true face. Then his days consisted of sleeping and meditating, as he was a reclusive monk.

Although he was still technically cultivating by meditating and gathering the surrounding mana in his Conception Palace, but he never used that mana by converting it into useable energy through a cultivation technique. For him, it was simply a method of calming his mind and passing the time as he was awake.

It wasn’t long before he become known as the Lazy Prince. The people had forgotten his existence and the king’s optimism turned into disappointment. Before this, the king even planned to stop having children, giving him a clear path to the throne, because he saw how much potential the prince had. Unfortunately, that all came crashing down when the king realized the boy’s idealistic thoughts.

Foolish child. There’s no place for ideals in this world. The king thought with a sigh.

A year later, an unusual troublemaker was passing by. A Deity realm cultivator, by the name of Rosh. Often, when Rosh was bored, he would come to little kingdoms like this and played tricks on the residents. He would give a womanizers erectile dysfunction disorders, and give those who were unwilling to have children the ability to asexually reproduce, just to watch their reactions.

For the innocent prince, Izia Arroloz, Rosh thought he was lazy. Like sleeping, eh? Don’t you know that you’ll never get anywhere by sleeping all day? Rosh thought with a mischievous grin. Then, obviously he gave Izia insomnia.

Rosh watched as Izia finished meditating and prepared to go to sleep, giggling as he did so. Izia lied motionless ly for half an hour before becoming agitated and began squirming around on the bed for an hour. Then without expression, Izia simply decided to meditate again.

“Hmm?” Rosh exclaimed in confusion as Izia didn’t get angry. Well, it’ll get to you eventually, Rosh thought with confidence.

A day passed before Izia tried to go to asleep again, but just like before he was a little bewildered before beginning to meditate again.

Another day passed and Izia was beginning to realize that he might never be able to sleep again. But fortunately, that lack of sleep didn’t make him go crazy as he was able to keep his calm through meditation.

As Rosh watched this, he became confused. I thought he was just a lazy child… Hmm, guess I’ll just check his memories. Rosh thought to himself.

After Rosh checked Izia’s memories, he understood the situation. So he doesn’t sleep all day because he’s lazy but because he’s afraid of the world… What a weird child… Rosh thought to himself. But I still have to get something out of this. Jeez, I spent so much attention on him already…

There were a several ways a trickster could go, considering Izia’s situation. He could incite someone to attack him, forcing Izia to kill someone, or give him a conflicting personality that only wants to kill, leaving him emotionally broken inside.

But I can’t do that, Rosh thought.

As Rosh wasn’t a particularly cruel man, he didn’t want to act that way. He played tricks for a light hearted laugh, not to make people suffer. Although a light hearted laugh for a Deity realm cultivator could be detrimental to a mortal, it wasn’t done out of cruelty.

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Well since he wants to be weak his whole life, I’ll force him to become strong. Although It’s more of a blessing than a prank, I’ve decided. From now on, you’ll be my first disciple! Rosh thought firmly.

Although Izia had his eyes closed and was deeply meditating, if he were to open his eyes he would realize that his body was surrounded by a blinding silver light, which grew until it bathed the whole room in a magical light.

Everything went unnoticed by the meditating Izia.

After the surrounded light faded, the door opened, revealing the king, Alten Arroloz.

“Izia, wake up!”

“Hmm?” Izia exclaimed at being woken up. “Father? What is it? Is something wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong, just get up and follow me.” The king said with a stern face.

“Yes.” Izia assented obediently, following behind his father.

Eventually, they came to the king’s bedroom, from which the cries of a child were heard.

“Hmm? Is there a baby inside?” Izia asked.

“Go inside and see.” The king said, crossing his arms as he waited for Izia to enter.

Izia opened the door and saw his mother on the bed, holding a crying baby in her arms.

Izia’s eyes grew wide as he exclaimed, “Is that…”

“It’s your baby sister.” The king said as he entered the room. “Go on, hold her.”

“Sister…” Izia said, weakly walking forwards.

The queen, Elona, saw her son approach and held out the baby in her arms. “Little Ellize, meet your big brother.” She said softly.

Izia reached out, holding Ellize in his arms, and bringing her close.

After crying for a long while, she made some baby sounds, and grew quiet as she looked up at her big brother.

Alten laughed at this scene with heartfelt joy. “Izia, it seems only you can tame this little one. She’s already been crying ever since being born. Haha!”

“Ellize…” Izia said in deep contemplation. It seems I won’t be able to pass my days in meditation anymore… Izia thought knowing what this meant for him.

His idea of the world was that it was a cruel place, and because of that, he chose to have nothing to do with it. But now it seemed he couldn’t do that anymore. The moment Izia saw her, he knew that his heart was not his anymore, it belonged to this child.

Izia looked down at this innocent life and gently smiled. Ellize, I won’t let this world taint you. I will protect you with my life. Even if… Even if it comes to having to do what I hate most.

☆☆☆

After that Izia was determined to become a cultivator. Most people would have to wait until they were much older than Izia to begin using a cultivation technique, but since being born Izia was highly sensitive to mana, so he was able to absorb it at a much higher rate than his peers.

This should exactly be the time for Izia to begin using a cultivation technique, but no matter how Izia tried to use his mana, he could do nothing with it. The only thing he could do was gather it in his Conception Palace.

After a time of frustration at his disability, he resolved himself to completely focus on fighting techniques and learning any bit of knowledge that would be of use to his little sister when she grew up. In this way, he began planning for the day his sister inherited the throne.

Learning of his son’s plans, the king smiled gently. If this is how It’s going to be, I won’t make it hard on you. Although my son can’t cultivate, he still has great talent. With someone like him behind Ellize, I can rest assured. The king thought as he prepared to tell his wife that they won’t be able to have anymore children.

The king himself was one who struggled with his siblings for the throne. Although he knew that it was for the purpose of producing the most capable monarch, he himself was against such barbaric ideas.

Like Izia, the king opted to support his older brother for king. It was only when his brother was assassinated that he swore revenge and took the throne by force after his father had died.

Alten didn’t want such a future for his children.

☆☆☆

10 years had passed since then, and Izia was now 17 years old. He had grown up in his own peculiar way, devoting his time for the sake of his sister’s future.

“Big brother, you don’t have to keep me company. I know you’re busy…” Ellize said with mixed feelings as she walked through the garden with Izia.

“Nonsense. How would I go on if I don’t spend some time with you every now and then.” Izia said with a smile.

Ellize innocently smiled back at Izia and said, “Thanks big brother! Then what game should we play today?” She asked, playfully grabbing Izia’s hand and swinging it. As I thought, I can count on big brother! She thought in relief.

Izia laughed. “Let’s just relax for now. Tell me, how have your studies been going?”

“Ah? Fine, I guess.” Ellize said with slight disappointment. She didn’t want to talk about boring stuff like that, she wanted to do something fun.

In truth, Ellize was much like her big brother. She excelled with all that she was taught, but it wasn’t as much a case of talent as it was with Izia. It was more so, a determination to be just like her big brother. Although it produced a good effect, she is more reliant on her big brother than she thinks.

“And how had your swordplay been? And your cultivation?”

“I’m obviously improving everyday. As for cultivation, It’s slightly troublesome…” She says quietly, as if she didn’t want to speak about this subject.

“Hmm? What’s wrong with your cultivation? If I think about it, you should be planting your mana seed by now…” Izia said in thought. In fact, he assumed it would be done by now, and had prepared a gift for Ellize.

“Well, about that. It seems I’m not able to use my mana…” She said with slight shyness.

“What?” Izia exclaimed. “You mean you’re like me? Is it genetic? Ah, how unfortunate!” Izia said, blurting out his agitated thoughts in a panic.

“But it’s okay though. I don’t need to cultivate; I’ll be just as capable as big brother!” Ellize said with enthusiasm.

If this were the truth, it would, indeed, be unfortunate. However, Ellize wouldn’t have any trouble planting her mana seed. It was just that she didn’t want to cultivate. If big brother isn’t a cultivator, then I won’t be either! She thought with determination.

“Ah, how troublesome. But at least make sure to keep gathering mana. Meditating is good for the mind, and you never know we might find a solution some day.” Izia said comforting ly. In truth, he was a little disappointed. This might disturb my plans a little… Izia said with worry. However he wasn’t phased with just this. He was determined to have Ellize take the throne in the future, and he didn’t care who would try to stop him. I’ll deal with whoever blocks her way…

“Well,” Izia said, wanting to brighten the mood, as he put mana into his Dimensional Pocket Ring. Although he couldn’t use his mana to cultivate, he could still use it for magic items. Also he had an immense amount of mana for someone his age, and because he couldn’t sleep, a lot of his time was still spent in meditation. So he could still match many people of his age in a fight, by simply relying on technique and magic weapons, as it was possible to embed Battle Skills into these weapons.

Izia took out a portrait from his ring and presented it to Ellize. “I was going to give this to you as a congratulatory gift, but for now, take it as a former of encouragement. Don’t stop trying just for something small like this.” Izia encouraged.

Ellize took the picture and looked at it. It was an oil painting of Ellize bending down to look at the flowers in the garden. When Izia saw this scene in real life, he thought this would be a good painting, and began to memorize the scene so he could paint it for Ellize.

“Wow, it’s pretty. Thanks, big brother! But for my next gift, you have to teach me to paint, okay?” Ellize said with a smile.

“Ah, what a pretty painting!” A voice called out from behind.

Izia’s gaze grew cold for a moment at the voice, before turning around to greet his uncle with a smile.