"Welcome, noble members of the Blood Clan, to the Rite of Bloodhood!" the Queen announced, her voice resonating across the grand hall. She stood tall at the center of the black podium, her throne looming regally behind her. Beside her was her spirit beast, Jack, his grim expression unwavering as he surveyed the gathering.
The crowd encircled us from a distance, their appearance varying subtly. The men donned black robes, some hooded and others without, while the women were clad in flowing red garments, with a few choosing hooded red robes. I stood amidst them in a black, calf-length medieval uniform, my face obscured by a hood. Beside me was a stranger dressed in a pristine white uniform, his hood also concealing his features. Yet, his bearing exuded an air of royalty, as if he were a prince. Despite the obscured visage, his presence was strikingly commanding.
My gaze shifted forward, past the podium where the Queen spoke, to the chair positioned to the left of the throne. It was smaller, yet elegantly crafted, and upon it sat Meredith. She was a vision in a golden gown, her silver gloves catching the light. Her hair was meticulously styled, an intricate complement to her regal demeanor.
Between the stranger, myself, and the podium lay an intricately engraved circle on the ground, its design both mesmerizing and otherworldly. At its center, a silver, liquid-like substance floated, its form constantly shifting. It spiraled upward like a column, connecting seamlessly to the edges of the engraved circle, casting an ethereal glow across the space.
"This night, I present two distinguished royal members who wish to test their bloodhood before the throne and the kingdom of the Blood Clan," the Queen announced, her voice commanding the attention of every soul present. "As you all know, no royal member without a powerful bloodline may partake in this sacred rite. Their identities remain hidden, as is tradition in all ceremonies past."
She paused, her scarlet eyes scanning the gathering with a piercing intensity. For a brief moment, her expression darkened as if sensing a subtle shift in the auras around her. She furrowed her brows but swiftly regained her regal composure.
"Whoever possesses the strongest bloodline shall be named a Blood Knight to the Princess and the future heir to the throne. Furthermore, if the victor is male, he shall be awarded the Ring of Union and betrothed to the Princess."
Betrothed? My mind reeled at the word, a sinking realization washing over me. I felt Meredith's aura shift—an anxious tightening that radiated from her as she glanced my way from her seat. Her usually composed expression betrayed a flicker of distress, confirming my worst fears. I recalled her warnings about her mother's manipulative nature, but even so, this was beyond what I had anticipated.
Shouldn't a spouse be chosen out of love? In my world, marriage is a union born of mutual affection and consent between two people. But here, in the ethereal realm, things were starkly different. This place, steeped in medieval traditions, clung to the notion that strength and power determined worth—and the strongest was rewarded with the royal bride.
My stomach churned uneasily, my palms growing clammy despite the chilly night air. I had entered this rite of bloodhood for two reasons: to gain an audience with the Queen regarding my mother and to secure the cure for my father. But now, another purpose had rooted itself in my heart—I had to win. I couldn't allow anyone else to claim Meredith as if she were some prize to be won. I loved her, and only I should have the right to call her my bride.
The low murmur of the crowd grew louder, and I instinctively heightened my senses to catch fragments of their whispers.
"There's a rumor that one of the participants is an outsider, disguised as a royal member," one voice said, tinged with apprehension. "If word gets out, the Queen's image will be irreparably tarnished. The laws are clear—outsiders are forbidden from joining the royal family."
The words struck a chord of tension within me. I could feel the weight of suspicion hanging in the air, threatening to unravel everything. The stakes had never been higher, and I had no choice but to face what lay ahead.
I clenched my fists, anger simmering beneath the surface. The Queen hadn't told me about this—a revelation of such gravity, where life and death hung in the balance. If my secret was exposed, I risked banishment from the Ethereal Realm—or worse, execution. My thoughts swirled in turmoil as the Queen raised her left hand, gesturing toward the mysterious stranger clad in white.
"Step into the circle and offer your blood," she commanded with authority.
The stranger obeyed, his movements calm and deliberate as he entered the engraved concentric circle. Drawing a dagger, he cut his palm and held it over the silver, fluid-like object floating a few feet below him. His blood trickled down into the strange substance, and in an instant, red flames erupted around the second layer of the concentric circle. The fiery energy rose high above the silver liquid, surrounding him in a blazing aura.
The crowd gasped in awe.
"Astounding! That's the highest peak the holy flames have ever reached in the Blood Clan's history. Only the Queen has ever achieved such a feat," murmured the gathering, their voices tinged with excitement. Applause rippled through the onlookers as some congratulated the stranger with enthusiasm.
As the flames gradually subsided, the stranger bowed respectfully toward the Queen before stepping out of the circle. Her expression betrayed a faint trace of worry, though she quickly masked it. Her scarlet eyes locked onto mine, and she smiled faintly before addressing me.
"Well, well," she said, her voice tinged with both intrigue and challenge. "It seems we have a perfect score. By 'perfect,' we mean the highest peak any Ethereal has ever attained. Yet, we have yet to witness someone who can surpass this. Are you willing to be tested in the Rite of Bloodhood, knowing full well that your chances of winning are close to futile?"
My gaze flickered to Meredith. Even with my hood obscuring my face, I could see her clearly. She sat there like a goddess, radiantly beautiful, yet her expression was marred by fear. She subtly shook her head in disapproval, her distress evident. I felt her attempt to reach out to me telepathically, but her mother's psychic powers blocked her. Her eyes pleaded with me to walk away.
Two paths lay before me: I could retreat, return to my father, and never see Meredith again. Or I could step into the circle and face the test—a choice that, if I failed, would not only condemn me to banishment or execution but might also implicate the Queen, threatening her throne.
I tore my gaze away from Meredith and fixed it on the Queen. Her scarlet eyes bore into mine, unyielding and intense. She gave me the faintest nod of approval. For reasons I didn't entirely understand, I found myself bowing in response.
I pieced together the fragments of my past. If my mother had been a Blood Mage, and the Queen had gone to such extraordinary lengths to ensure my participation—risking her own position—then perhaps there was something extraordinary about my bloodline as well. A glimmer of hope ignited in my heart. I recalled my mother's words when I was a child: "When the time comes, your blood will bear witness to the power you wield."
At the time, I hadn't understood her meaning. But now, standing on the precipice of fate, I did.
Summoning my courage, I stepped into the circle. A dagger materialized beside me, and with steady hands, I grasped it, slicing my palm. Slowly,my blood began to drip into the silver liquid below,which shifted and writhed as if alive,reacting to the esscene it now consumed.
"There are no flames from the circle. He's not one of us!" a royal member shouted from the crowd, igniting a fierce argument. Some defended Queen Andromeda, swearing she would never bring an outsider to the Kingdom of the Blood Clan. Others cursed, accusing her of betrayal to her kingdom and her people. I glanced at the queen, who stood motionless, her eyes piercing into mine.
"What do you have to say, Queen Andromeda? Why did you bring an outsider to our kingdom? Don't you understand the consequences of your actions?!" one of the hooded members yelled in anger. In a split second, Jack darted towards the hooded figure and, with a swift motion, slit his throat. The head of the hooded figure rolled away, and the crowd gasped in fear and shock.
"One more word from any of you, and your heads will roll off your necks!" Jack exclaimed, his eyes blazing with fury, glowing a reddish glare.
"Kill him! Kill the outsider!" another member in the crowd shouted. "If the queen will kill us for seeking the truth, so be it! Kill the outsider!" Some members echoed the cry, while others, loyal to the queen, prepared to defend if anyone moved to attack either me or the queen.
At the edge of my vision to the left, the hooded figure who had first participated in the Rite of Bloodhood removed his hood, revealing his identity.
"Ceaser?" I muttered under my breath. So, it was him all along; he never viewed Meredith as just a friend but as someone he loved. Why hadn't she told me about him? My thoughts were cut short as the ground beneath me began to tremble. My senses heightened, and in a blur, Caesar leapt into the air, drawing his dagger in an attack stance aimed at killing me where I stood.