Queen Mamona stood at the edge of the lake. Her palms extended forward. Towards the still water.

  “I summon the Blood Circle!”

  Her hands began to glow, a sign of her magic gathering on her palm. Soon, the purple glow converged into an orb the size of a watermelon.

  “Let the night turn red. Take my offering, and give me strength!”

  With the chant finished, she launched the purple orb to the centre of the lake.

  The orb plunged into the water.

  The night turned silent. Mamona, along with a few hooded figures behind her, waited patiently. Waiting for the spell to work.

  Their patience bore fruit. The calm lake suddenly trembled. Huge ripples erupted, coming from the centre. Probably due to the purple orb.

  Soon, the tremor even rocked the place Mamona was standing. Yet there wasn't an ounce of worry on her face. But delight instead.

  For at the centre, a huge stone platform had risen. The round stage with a stone table surrounded by six dark red pillars appeared.

  Cheers erupted from behind Mamona. In fact, if it wasn't for the anticipation for the next moment, she would have been excited as well.

  “Bring me the prince!” She ordered without looking back.

  One of the hooded figures wasted no time. He brought a baby and gave it to Mamona.

  “Very well. Now go and prepare the sacrifices.”

  The hooded figure slightly bowed. “Yes Your Majesty.”

  All six hooded figure took a coffin-shaped large wooden crate, and walked on the surface of the lake to the stone platform.

  As they were getting ready, Mamona smiled as she looked at the baby in her arms.

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  “My child. My sweet boy.” She said, almost like a whisper.

  As if answering her, the baby opened his eyes. Seeing his mother, he chuckled. A sound that melted her heart. And steeled her will.

  “Mommy will do whatever it takes to make you strong. Okay, my sweet child.”

  As if in agreement, the child's chuckle louder.

  “Hahaha. You are my child indeed.”

  She played along with her child. Oblivious to the horror happening on the stone platform. As if what happens is not due to her ambition.

  Moments later, one of the hooded figures teleported and arrived beside her. “We are ready to proceed, Your Majesty.”

  “Excellent.” She turned to her child. “Come my darling Devlin. Let us go and get you your own Soul Weapon.”

  When they arrived at the stone platform, Mamona couldn't help inspecting the sacrifices. Six bodies, each tied upside down to their own pillar, all had a long wound spread horizontally over their neck.

  The blood that escaped is now fully absorbed by the pillars.

  Seeing all this, a wicked grin formed on her beautiful face.

  “You did good work.” She said.

  All six hooded figures were elated. “It is our duty to serve the descendants of the Great Witch, Your Majesty.”

  Mamona grimaced, remembering her bloodline. She thought she could escape it. She thought she could live a normal life, far from the influence of her bloodline. Sadly, things did not go her way in the end.

  ‘It doesn't matter.’ She reaffirmed her stance. ‘I would do anything for my son’.

  With her resolve strengthened, she gently placed baby Devlin on the stone table. Right in the middle of the magic circle.

  Surrounding him were six hearts, all freshly dug out from the sacrifices.

  Perhaps due to the table being too cold, Devlin began to cry. Mamona wanted to get her son, but she didn't. The ritual had to start now.

  “Begin.” Mamona commanded.

  The six hooded figure wasted no time. They placed their palms on the hearts, and began to channel their magic energy. As the energy began to fill up the circle, it lit up.

  The hearts also began to change. It almost looked like it melted, before turning into mists. And thanks to the guidance from the activated magic circle, the mists moved to enter Devlin's body.

  “WAAA…WAAAA…!”

  Devlin cried louder. No doubt due to the pain. The mists entering his body must have done something to the infant.

  “You can feed the prince your blood now, Your Majesty.” One of the hooded figures spoke.

  Mamona approached the table. A dagger in her right hand. With a swift motion, she cut her wrist. Dark red blood flow, and dropped into Devlin's mouth.

  Suddenly…

  “What the hell is going on here, Mamona?!” A voice boomed at the edge of the lake.

  Mamona was surprised. “Husband?!” She turned to the voice.

  This wasn't supposed to happen. She went home to ensure that the ritual could be done uninterrupted. And nobody at the castle knew what she was gonna do.

  So what is his husband, and the current king of Pulcra, doing here?

  “P-p-please Raynel. I will explain everything. Just…just please. Let me finish.”

  King Raynel was enraged. It's been how many millenia already since dark magic was abolished. Who knew how many lives were lost just to end this barbaric practice.

  But now? His own wife uses dark magic. On their own son!

  “Stop this now, Mamona.” Raynel said a little softer. But still with the firmness of a king.

  “Please, Raynel. Please let me continue. I'm…I'm doing this for our son.”

  “I don't care! This…this is not right.”

  Mamona's eyes turned bloodshot. “How could you let our son live without a Soul Weapon. He is your son. The heir to the throne. Don't you want that? Don't you love your son?!”

  “Ceh.” Raynel scoffed. “I would love our son no matter if he became King or not. Why won't you?”

  Mamona was startled. But only for a moment. Her resolve returned. She took out her spear, and flew to the edge of the lake. Confronting her husband.

  “My son should be king. The throne, the crown, the kingdom. All belong to him. And I will make sure of that!”

  Raynel sighed. “Then there's nothing further to discuss.”

  Mamona did not say anything. Only nodded. She took her battle stance. The tip of her spear pointed towards Raynel.

  Raynel reciprocated. He took out his own Soul Weapon. A great sword, fit for a king.

  They stood there, face to face. Both had the same eerie calm on their faces.

  The battle shall soon commence.