Failed Assassination

Inside a castle was a 50-year-old man inside the first prince's chamber. The old man was mourning in a corner while his son's bed was replaced with a coffin and him in it. Surrounding the coffin was the royal family, family friends, and his son's friends.

The old man in the corner was King Christoph Rojas the 1st. The greatest warrior to exist, and the most powerful king to ever grace the Rojas noble family.

...

Originally Christoph was a bastard child born of a failing noble. He was never well off or been provided with any resources or proper tutoring when growing up. The only teacher he ever had, was learning from the negligible amount his mother could teach him.

His mother was a whore that worked at his father's favorite brothel. Since she was a commoner and a whore, she never received any proper resources from Christoph's father. The failing noble of Christoph's father only ever brought some money to live off. Never a book, a tutor, or anything that would be provided for noble-born children.

Because of this, Christoph couldn't rely on his mother's meager amount of money and teaching to live. Christoph had to work and learn at the same time. The world was his tutor and if he failed, there would be dire consequences. Most of the time, the consequence was death.

Throughout the years, Christoph had taken various jobs, learning various trades, but it all changed when he learned he had an aptitude for magic at 16 years old. In Christoph's world, mages were the pride of any kingdom's army. They held great power and capabilities that no other person could compare to.

Becoming a kingdom magician, Christoph was sent from battle to battle. Luckily, he survived during his learning phase and became a bonafide mage. Eventually, becoming a one-person army.

As years passed, Christoph's achievements grew and at the same time, the kingdom's king was becoming more and more tyrannical. Eventually, this led to a revolution that Christoph led himself.

Successfully beating the tyrannical king, Christoph rose to power and became a king himself. Even if others wanted to be king, Christoph was too powerful and had a too strong of a back to be able to retaliate.

Throughout the end of Christoph's years, he faced many adversaries; fighting other kingdoms, dealing with terrorists, a whole crazy religion, and corruption in his kingdom.

...

The people at the funeral were Christoph's most trusted aides, family members, and his son's friends. They were all here to pay respects to the prince at the funeral, who had died valiantly in the now-ended war.

Christoph's 40-year-old wife Ariel kept muttering to herself,

"Jack...Jack...Jack..."

Jack's fiance Lucy screamed,

"Why! I can't live without you! How will your unborn son live without you?".

Everyone in the chamber who was mourning stopped when they heard about the unborn child.

Christoph who was mourning in silence stopped crying as well and approached Lucy,

"You're pregnant?".

Lucy said sobbing,

"Yes, about 1 month already. It happened the day before you sent...".

Lucy began crying again, unable to complete answering Christoph's question.

Christoph,

"The day before I sent Jack!?".

Christoph wasn't hysterical because he now has a grandson, or that he has a grandson comes out of a holy matrimony, but because of the traditions of this world.

Queen Ariel stopped muttering and came back to reality. She quickly approached Lucy as well and asked,

"Lucy, have you had the blessing done yet?".

The blessing was a form of baptism. It meant they were desired children and born under god's protection. During these non-advance medical times, it was believed that the blessing ceremony increases the chance of a healthy birth. That neither the mother or child would die and that the child would be born without defects.

Lucy sobbed,

"No, I was supposed to do it with Jack when he came back from the war".

Ariel,

"Then if you were pregnant the day before my poor jack left, then that means today is the thirty-day deadline! Since it's almost sunset, we don't have much time! Christoph, you have to do the ceremony now!".

The blessing ceremony is meant to be done in the first month of the woman being impregnated. The ceremony is also to be done by a priest or mage. Since Christoph is a mage, he is qualified to do the ceremony.

Christoph,

"Of course! Everyone, clear away. We'll be doing my grandson's blessing ceremony in front of my son Jack. Even though he's not here with us anymore, we can still try to do one last thing for him. We can allow him to be in his only son's blessing ceremony".

Ariel,

"Quickly get our family ceremonial sword, we can't let it be sunset before we perform the ceremony!".

The blessing ceremony is where the pregnant woman would lie down on the floor, in front of everyone while the mage would lightly tap a mana infused ceremonial item on her stomach.

This ceremony was meant to respect the gods and wish for a safe birth. Infusing mana onto a ceremonial item sacrifices the mana, similarly to when people pour whiskey on the ground to mourn their beloveds.

Quickly, everything had been set up and ready to be used for the ceremony. Jack was dead inside the coffin, Lucy was lying next to the coffin, and Christoph was kneeling next to Lucy while holding the Rojas' ceremonial sword.

The people who originally came to mourn for Jack were having tears of love. They felt touched by seeing Jack; their lost son, friend, or brother. Being able to attend his unborn child's blessing ceremony.

Christoph,

"We were originally here today to mourn for a lost one, but luckily. This has become a day to welcome a new loved one. When I woke up this day, I expected it to be the worst day of my life. But who knew there would at least be something good out of this. The blessing ceremony of my first grandchild".

Christoph stopped for a moment and looked at the ceiling while letting tears drop.

A minute passed and he kept talking again,

"My dear grandchild, you will be the blessing our family needs during these trying times. So we welcome you with open arms and hope for a safe birth".

Christoph then lifted the sword and infused mana into it. The sword glowed a bright but pleasant yellow. The sword glowing, Christoph tapped the flat side of the sword on Lucy's belly. Once tapped, Christoph lifted the sword once again.

Christoph,

"We wish for a healthy birth!".

Christoph then looked proudly around him but then felt strange. Normally, the spectators would also wish for a healthy birth at the end of the ceremony but none of them did. Looking around him, Christoph noticed devilish grins on everyone except one of his merchant buddies.

Lucy got off the ground, leaving Christoph wondering what was happening. The next moment, Lucy kicked Christoph to the ground.

On the ground, Christoph was more confused.

Ariel,

"I told you guys my dumb husband wouldn't notice the curse enchantment. He hasn't even realized that he has been betrayed or the cursed sword been sucking his mana non-stop. Or even the fact the sword is sucking more than just mana!".

The crowd laughed and chuckled while showing arrogant grins.

When Christoph heard his wife's comment, he looked at the sword. Seeing the sword, Christoph saw that the blade was not only growing brighter and brighter. The sword was even sucking a strange mist from Christoph's buddy.

Christoph's mind,

'This is soul consumption! No, wait. They are capturing my soul!'.

Christoph finally noticed the danger he was in so he tried throwing the sword but it didn't budge. Christoph then slammed the sword on the ground. Creating a massive hole in the ground, but the sword still wasn't released. It was as if there was a strong adhesive on the hilt.

Christoph,

"What is happening! Why did you all betray me!?!".

Christoph's fellow merchant friend who didn't know what was happening said,

"I don't know! I would never betray you!".

The friend then looked at everyone,

"Stop this already! He-".

Before he could finish, a sword swiped his head off his body.

Christoph,

"No, Rick! He was my best friend! Please let me use my magic to heal him before I go!".

The owner of the sword was Christoph's most trusted general and decided to respond to Christoph's question.

"Why in the world would we let you? There's nothing you can do with-".

Furius hearing his general say those words, Christoph lifted himself and slash at the General. The General seeing the slash, he quickly used the sword to block.

Unfortunately for the General, Christoph was too out of the General's League. Christoph broke through the general's sword and hacked his torso in half as well.

Though, the one powerful slash took everything from Christoph. Christoph was now left on the floor with a sword that now felt too heavy to lift.

Christoph's wife Ariel walked around Christoph, smugly looking at him as if he was a prey that could be killed at any time.

Ariel,

"You poor fool, you manage nothing with killing your general".

Christoph said weakly and roughly,

"He's not my general anymore, and it was worth it. Avenging my last friend was necessary and not pointless".

Ariel,

"Well, it doesn't matter. The sword will consume your soul and kill you".

Hearing her comment, Christoph smirked and then lost consciousness.