CHIAROSCUROBy Prince FirelornDISCLAIMERAll the characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. But the work reflects reality somewhat, which is one of the issues of our society.All Rights Reserved.INSCRIPTION“Maybe you have to know the darkness before you can appreciate the light.”— Madeline L’EnglePROLOGUEFor the longest time, all I've ever known was...Darkness.I was born and brought up in a family of royals, in a world of thorns and scorn, hate and greed, lies and betrayal, selfishness and parasitism. It wasn't easy surviving on my own but I found my way, in the shadows where I belonged.Many would envy and seek out my lifestyle because it appeared luxurious, and glorious even but it really wasn't. I was trapped in a neverending fight for control and most of all, my life only to see my death encroach slowly, to the point I started having nightmares about it.I was even abandoned by my own father. We

With the help of a few real friends, I created a secret guild that investigates mysterious crimes and conducts of the people of gladia, commoners or nobles. With my riches as a royal prince, I took a whole year gathering the best aura benders and scholars with certain detective skills to create the secret guild, Night's Eye.Even though, we had uncovered so many dirty secrets and discovered interesting mysteries of my kingdom, Gladia. We were far from finding a single clue that would lead to my mother's murder.I sighed, “Ha...!" Twas nothing but a thought I had. I soaked away my troubles, my aches and my entire body with my face under the bathtub.I rinsed myself clean, covered my bottom half with a towel and exited my bath only to bump into my personal maid, Penelope, who was waiting for me outside as always.She had fallen to the tiled floor, with her legs apart and her undergarments exposed to my eyes. "Black, huh?" I thought upon catching a glimpse of her underwear."Ah, sorry dea

The silver armoured knight with his loud and smoky voice, addressed the people once more, “Have you all lost your heads!? You stand before a prince of the royal family!”The knight concluded with a loud stomp on the wooden platform, “Do you all wish to have your heads on a pike for treason!!?”After hearing him out, the people's attitude changed from disapproval to respect at that moment. However, once the noise had subsided the honourable knight's words were rebutted by another knight to my left.The knight had a soft yet egotistical voice and spoke like a noble, “And why should they not lose their heads!? These... 'commonfolk' just received a royal decree spelling their demise...!"He walked to the other side of the platform, facing the people as if he was addressing them and not the knight, and he continued, saying, "Why should they not panic? These PEOPLE have been handed with unjust cause to the infamous Incompetent Prince!”The knight stood tall after his short speech, he was ju

Aura, as mentioned before is an atomic chemical element of the world that could not be easily seen or touched but felt even controlled.Thus, the only way to tell if someone was using aura would be by feeling it in the atmosphere like the feeling of pressure under the sea.The first level for aura benders is Aura Apprentice or Apprentice Of Aura – one who simply can use aura and can improve their physique a bit, thereby allowing them to do things like lift boulders, run fast or even fight beasts like bears or lions but in no way can they match an aura lord.They're basically humans just above the average man.The second level is Aura Lord or Lord of Aura – an aura bender with moderately high volume and control of aura, blessed with the capabilities of a dozen men.For someone like Sir Cassian, he was at the Aura Lord level, having the strength of ten men flowing through his entire being.As we fought, he increased the volume of aura in his body and used that ten-fold strength to throw

“Sire...?” Sir Ferdinand watched as I stood up from the bed, folded my arms behind my back in a regal manner and walked to the window, watching the people working around the estate."Tell me, Sir Ferdinand. In all this time of being the lord of the state, what have you accomplished?""Sire?""Tell me!" I demanded in a loud tone.The old man nervously rubbed his fingers together as he said, "I-I gave the people more work, which means more workers for the state, and with more labour, there comes more revenue."He paused, waiting for my response but I kept silent and continued to watch the people work through the window.Lord Ferdinand was still nervous, but he continued, "I-I gracefully offered to the old farming jobs so they could meet the town's taxes quota, I-I r-recruited the young men to work honourable jobs in town. I even established a district for the young women to work and provide for themselves in these trying times..."He added with confidence in his voice, "I have done a lo