Mason’s excitement was hard to contain as he hurriedly set up his little stand on the bustling edge of the market. The morning sun stretched golden light across the quiet town, the sky painted in soft blues with only one dark, distant raincloud lingering like a bad omen. Still, Mason wasn’t worried. He’d gotten up earlier than usual… earlier than anyone else actually. All so he could soak in the quiet peace before the day truly began.

  With a proud smile, he carefully arranged jars of honey, each one filled with the fruits of his and his wife Nancy’s hard work. He didn’t expect to sell much today, but that wasn’t the point! If even one person walked away delighted by the taste of their honey, it would be totally worth it.

  He took a moment, closing his eyes and breathing in the earthy scent of the dewy grass around him. The crisp, clean air mixed perfectly with the timeless charm of Farmersville, a town that seemed frozen in the simplicity of the early 1900s. Mason loved that. Here, far from the noise and madness of modern life, that was seeping with superheroes and those accursed supervillains. In Farmersville, he felt truly at peace.

  His eyes were calmly gazing at a distance at a small pond where several ducks were elegantly floating on the surface of the water. There was never a time he was not amazed by such a serene sight. Nancy would usually join him in those early mornings; she would have the most joyful smile when she would feed the ducks. But that morning she was at home with a head cold. He already missed her, but he kept his trademark grin. It was the grin that made his bearded face look permanently cheerful.

  He popped open a jar of honey and dipped his finger in, savoring the rich, golden sweetness. The taste was everything he loved—warm, comforting, familiar. Just like Nancy.

  As he licked the honey from his finger, he noticed a figure approaching from down the street. It was too early for customers—only Earl ever showed up this early. But this wasn’t Earl. Mason squinted. He didn’t recognize this person at all.

  ”Hey there stranger, what brings you here!?” Called Mason, his voice was surprisingly cheerful for such an early hour.

  The man didn’t reply immediately. He just blankly looked at the jars of honey on the table, which had already been arranged. After a beat, he finally spoke. “Well, I'm currently traveling the world. I must say, this small little town is absolutely stunning. I could even imagine myself spending the rest of my life here."

  Mason’s smile widened. “You’ve picked a fine place! Go ahead, take a jar of honey—on the house. Try some, if you like.”

  The stranger had a mellow voice, and it resonated with Mason in a way that he could not quite explain, but he did not know where it was from. He frantically tried to recall where he had heard that voice before.

  The man didn’t hesitate. He dipped his finger into the honey and tasted it. Mason waited, eager to see that spark of delight most people had after the first bite. But the man’s expression didn’t change.

  "Delicious," the stranger said after a brief pause. "I can see myself becoming addicted to this."

  "That's what I'm hoping for!" beamed Mason.

  But something about the man’s voice—it tugged at Mason’s memory. It was familiar, too familiar. He searched his mind, struggling to place it.

  Then it hit him.

  "Now I recognize you! You're Lyteman! One of the most celebrated superheroes ever! I can't believe you're here in our humble town!" exclaimed Mason.

  The man, now identified as Lyteman, placed the jar back on the table and chuckled softly. “It’s been a long time since anyone called me that. I go by Lucien now. Lucien Blaine.”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  "Of course, Lucien! It’s great to meet you. I'm Mason!" Mason replied, still trying to grasp the incredible encounter.

  "The pleasure is mine," Lucien responded warmly.

  Mason tried to keep his cool but inside he was getting more and more excited. As a huge fan of superheroes, Lyteman had a special spot in his heart. After years of heroism, Lyteman vanished mysteriously, and the world was left baffled. And now, here he stood, right in front of Mason.

  "You were one of the first superheroes to appear after the first emergence. They say you abandoned the hero life, why would one of the first heroes do that?" Mason's curiosity couldn't be contained.

  "Well... I simply wanted a career change," grinned Lucien.

  "Oh bummer," Mason frowned. "Well I guess I don't blame you. Being a superhero must have been super stressful!" He was still starstruck.

  Lucien laughed lightly. "Indeed, it was quite demanding. I take it selling honey is a far less taxing endeavor," he said while playfully tapping one of the honey jars.

  "It's the greatest! Maybe you could find something to sell too," said Mason.

  "Perhaps I'll give it some thought," chuckled Lucien.

  Unable to contain his excitement, Mason eagerly inquired. "Do you mind sharing what you're doing now after your career change?"

  A moment of silence passed, Lucien's gaze was still fixed on the array of honey jars. Finally, with a touch of solemnity, he began. “_A World Without Villains_… That’s what I craved more than anything else in this entire world. Since childhood, I had always dreamed of becoming some sort of hero, a brave protector of the innocent. If the emergence hadn't given me superpowers, I would have probably become a police officer or any other career that would have something to do with protecting citizens from wrongdoers. However, reality has a way of dispelling fantasies. In due time, I learned that a world without villains is an impossibility; no one in this world is truly good... no, not one person. With this new reality, I had to seek out a new purpose, something that would invigorate me. And you know what I found, Mason?"

  Anticipation hung heavy in the air as Mason leaned in. “What is it?"

  With sudden swiftness, Lucien fiercely drove his fist deep into Mason’s lower abdomen, causing a wave of pain to spread through his body. Mason gasped in disbelief as he watched Lucien with a mixture of shock and pain while his eyes remained wide with confusion.

  "I craze destruction."

  What? Mason thought as he gasped with shocked pain. He looked down to see Lucien's fist piercing him, blood pouring everywhere.

  "Why...? You're Lyteman, a true hero! Why would you do this?" Mason's voice trembled with a mix of panic and pain. He then vomited blood, before eyeing Lucien's fist in his gut.

  Lucien leaned in close, his breath warm against Mason’s ear. A slight, unsettling smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

  “A world without villains is impossible” he murmured. “It doesn’t exist. Never did. And if no one out there is truly good… then tell me, Mason, what’s the point of saving anyone?”

  His voice was quiet, almost reflective—like he was talking more to himself than to Mason.

  “I used to believe in justice. In making things better. But somewhere along the way, that hope just… died. And what replaced it?” He paused, eyes cold. “Pain. Misery. Watching people break—that’s what I live for now. I move from town to town, leaving just enough behind to stay invisible. Nothing pleases me more, than to witness the defeated tears of every insignificant human.”

  He pulled back, just enough to lock eyes with Mason. “I don’t wear a mask anymore. I don’t need to. I’ve become the one thing no one sees coming. Chaos.”

  Mason's vision dimmed, his life force was quickly fading away. In his final moments, he yearned to see his beloved wife's face one last time. He struggled to comprehend how his greatest hero had become his merciless executioner.

  The overwhelming pain made Mason groan in agony. He had never experienced such terror, his pooled blood on the ground further horrified him. Somehow, he managed to utter weakly to the monster. "What... happened to you?" Unbelievable fear coursed through his veins as he gazed into Lucien's lifeless eyes, feeling as if he were staring into the depths of the devil himself. He was so afraid, that he was trembling. The revelation that Lyteman had transformed into a villainous murderer shook him to his core.

  Lucien grinned malevolently, relishing the suffering before him. "Don't you see, Mason? It only takes a single moment to turn a good man into one consumed by pure evil. I will continue wreaking havoc until I depart this wretched world."

  Mason tried to speak once more, but all he could do was gargle on his own blood. He couldn't comprehend how a day that began so peaceful and innocent would become the day he'd lose his life to his idol.

  "Goodbye, Mason," said Lucien coldly, as he retracted his bloodied fist from Mason's abdomen.

  As the veil of darkness closed in on Mason, his final glimpse was of Lucien Blaine, once his beloved hero Lyteman, shattering the jars of honey he cherished. There was no purpose in this act of destruction, except to crush Mason's spirit completely, leaving him to die in a world where even superheroes could become supervillains.