"What Hope abnegates, Despair will inherit!"

"What really matters in one's existence? Being successful in your craft? Raising family with your soul mate? Or is it something that is beyond the reach of my comprehension..." This existential enigma tormented Leshrac for as long as he can remember, having pondered upon it ever since he proclaimed himself the Grand Philosopher. Having acquired Chronoptic Crystals has shed light on mysteries beyond mortal understanding, yet answers to his existential problem still eluded him. Whenever he harnessed the power of the crystals to this purpose he would be filled with terrifying energy that malformed his body into most gruesome (yet for Leshrac - majestic) shape, only for him to lose it a few moments later.

The furious Tormented Soul cursed the crystals time and time again for not enlightening him on this core predicament, having tried to shatter them quite a few times before finally giving up. And it was not until he felt desperate beyond hope that the crystals began resonating to his crippled will, showing signs of being in "good spirit" as to help Leshrac in solving his troubling dilemma. It took him on a spiritual journey through the mortal realm, showing him people who were suffering for reasons beyond count. On some of their faces you could clearly read agony, on others - misery and contempt, but all of them shared one initial plague - despair. That Assassin of Hope, Cutthroat of Dreams, Enforcer of Agony and Emperor of Torment! It was under his nose all these years, yet he failed to grasp it since he never truly experienced it. And God, did he ever so enjoy Despair in all his life, one would wonder...

The Crystals felt it was time to grant him the answers, lest he becomes infatuated with Despair enough to develop his own power and cast them aside as useless trinkets. As crystalline spikes ruptured his skin, Leshrac let out a scream of maddening joy, for he finally understood that meaning of life is to suffer beyond hope, to relinquish your possessions, to leave your craft and family and pursue Despair in all things, for there can be no true gain without horrifying pain...

Thanks Thuzar for cool lore.