“Son, I’m disappointed in you.”

“Father, I tried my best, but that chosen one… agh! He said something about love and friendship, and then his hair started waving—“

“Enough excuses. I have been making this plan for centuries.”

“Not very good, it seems.”

“What?”

“I mean, I took the Armageddon and—“

“The one you destroyed.”

“I had him in my grips, and then he remembered his friends—“

“You should’ve erased his memory.”

“I tried! But he had too much willpower.”

“Again, with the excuses. How did a 17-year-old defeat you? You’re 25.”

“I don’t understand, father.”

“What?”

“If you knew he was the chosen one, why didn’t you, you know, when he was a baby…just…you know.”

“I tried. He had the power of love or some other ancient force.”

“If you loved mother more—“

“What are getting at?”

“I’m just saying maybe if you didn’t hit mother that hard and maybe, you know, showed more affection maybe you had that power too.”

“She only boughed me down.”

“Well, it’s been centuries. So, you haven’t been quick.”

“You are getting disrespectful at the moment.”

“But… he’s a 17-year-old, and you are hundreds of years old so…”

“There are forces beyond our knowledge.”

“And in hundreds of years, you couldn’t find them.”

“Boy! You dare push the burden of your defeat on me. I’ll… ah, you are right.”

“Really?”

“I have done everything, and I’m afraid their knowledge is lost forever. Not everything is meant to be achieved. Go, get some sleep. We’ll try again someday.”

“You’re serious?”

“Get some rest, son.”

The boy went away, and the dark lord said, “Hmm, I don’t feel any more powerful.” Patting his body