《Where god failed》 1- The Ainsworth House ¡°Come on Jared, are you trying to make yourself look bad¡± ¡°Fuck off Jason! I was just going easy, now watch this¡± Jared¡¯s spaghetti like footwork caused all his blows to strike pain in his own arms, his long hair was anything but majestic but tatty complementing his weasel like appearance, in full contrast with Jason¡¯s effort less swings that seems lazy but precise each landed with the sound of a cannon. But to the inexperienced eye it still looked like a close match between two closely matched experts ¡°Do you think Jared will win this time?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know he¡¯s lost the last 10 matches against Jason¡± ¡°I heard that Jared just became a first circle knight maybe this time he will win¡± ¡°A first circle?! Wow he truly is an expert, we¡¯re lucky he¡¯s on our side¡± The other knights of the Ainsworth family rambled in a circle around the ongoing fighting that was happening in the back courtyard and while this commotion was going on a young boy was watching from his window with stars gleaming in his eyes, spinning in anticipation. After blocking a strike from Jared ¡°I think it¡¯s time to end this don¡¯t you Jared¡± Jason said in a calm tone ¡°Hmph that¡¯s if you can Jason¡± Shortly after Jared proceeds to plant his front foot on the floor and aggressively push of his back foot crating a spinning motion while keeping his body low to the ground but Jason doesn¡¯t even react, he just puts the tip of his sword into the floor and covering his leg¡­ ¡®clang¡¯ the swords collide Jared looks up at Jason while still in his crouched position but Jason already has his sword pointing to the clouds ¡®swoosh¡¯ the swing was so straight so perfect that the air started to whistle. But just as he reached Jared, he¡¯s elbows locked, and the sword stopped inches from killing Jared. No one spoke a word, no one needed to, everyone was thinking the same thing. Wow wow wow, that was so amazing I can¡¯t believe Jason won again I can¡¯t wait till I get to fight with the knights as well! This was the same boy watching from the window, his name Titus Ainsworth heir to the Ainsworth house you could tell he often visits this window from the worn Windowsill that had paint peeling off in stark contrast to the gothic and lavish room Titus would spend most of his days. After a knock on the door a old but not too old butler came through the door of Titus¡¯s room ¡°young master Titus do you want to go on your evening walk?¡± ¡°Look at them down there¡± Titus muttered,¡± that¡¯s where I want to go, I want to train with the knights, I want to be as strong my as Jason just look at the respect, they all look at him with¡± ¡°Is that so young master, hmm I suppose Jason is respected but that¡¯s because even some of the best knights from other families can¡¯t match him¡± The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Really! He¡¯s that strong, then I want to go down there too and earn all the knights respect like Jason¡± Titus''s gaze was once again drawn to the court year where Jared was picking himself up from the battle clearly bruised and beaten but he still seemed fine he avoided eye contact with Jason and proceeded to walk away I wonder what it¡¯s like to actually be involved instead of watching from down here Titus thought. ¡°From today onwards I¡¯m going to become a knight¡± ¡°Oh, is that right young master, would you not want to organise the logistics of our region¡± ¡°Organise the what of the what?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll note that down as a no young master¡± chuckled Alfred Well, that¡¯s certainly fine with me Titus thought ¡°Leave me alone now Alfred I have private matters to do¡± ¡°As you wish young master¡± Alfred left the room and Titus was deep in though on how to become a knight. Thinking about it I¡¯m not too sure on how to become a knight but I heard there is a secret method on how to advance as a knight and gain true power like Jason I¡¯m sure father has some information on it. I¡¯ll have to wait for nightfall to try and sneak into his study. But in the meantime, I¡¯ll try to become strong like a knight in my own way, he started with push ups he managed to do 13 then his arms trembled, and his muscles started to shake intensely. Huff 14 push ups is more than I¡¯ve ever done, now time for sit-ups. So, Titus proceeded to do sets of sit-ups, squats and pushups until he felt he was closer to becoming a knight. But instead of going to bed that night he decided to creep out of his room avoiding all the creaky floorboards in the mansion he stuck close to the wall to give him some security he crossed the long corridor and took a-few turns until he was outside his father''s study the large oak door was slightly opened away from the wall so Titus took a look inside and he scanned from left to right but nothing was different. Maybe father just forgot to lock the door? So, he did what any curious young boy would do and crept inside closing the door behind him. on his right was a wooden, polished desk adorned with the flicker of a warm candlelight and to his left was a lines of bookshelves that have been collected through the generations leaving the scent of old paper and warm leather, he scanned the titles on all the books looking for something related to knights afew of he labels he spotted were ¡°advanced sword techniques¡± and other combat related book with some scholar and administrative books mixed in aswell but still determined Titus keep looking for what he¡¯s needed he discovered a folder labelled confidential on top of his fathers desk with the contents being related to income and outcome as well as the territory management of the Ainsworth family but that wasn¡¯t of any interest to Titus. However, after looking in the Draws of his father''s desk he discovered a leather-bound journal titled ¡°advancement ritual to knighthood¡± This had been exactly what titus had been looking for! Then with haste he opened the book First page had bold letter stating ¡°the knight ritual¡± Titus¡¯s eyes gleamed with curiosity when he read through the ritual. But then his eyes turned to disgust when he read the passage. ¡®The advancement of a knight requireth the consumption of an Eldritch creature¡¯s heart. To purge the heart of its foul impurities, the blood of a maiden, untainted and pure, is needed. Once the heart is consumed, one must take their own life to complete the rite and thus ascend as a being of supernatural strength and vitality.¡¯ This is how to become a knight?! No, this has to be wrong Jason would never have done this there has to be another way right? Titus was simply put in despair he thought you would need to do some training Regime to gain strength he never realised that Jason¡¯s strength was gained through some supernatural ritual, Titus Carried on reading the book and discovered there was a requirement process before the ritual one needed to be in good physical shape as well as over the age of 18 with a high resistance to the corruption of Eldritch blood. However Titus wasn''t certain what eldritch creatures were, he had never seen or heard of one? He decided to ask Alfred tomorrow morning, he crept back out the door and along the long hall to reach his room unaware of the eyes that had been watching him the entire time. ¡°It seems the boy has grown up fast.¡± 2- the forest Titus woke up the next morning to the screech of cats outside his window, they seemed to be in a rather gory scrap. He sat up stretched out wide as soon as he did Alfred walked through the door alongside a maid that he hadn¡¯t seen before but it mattered little. ¡°Titus, you¡¯re up early, do you have any plans for today?¡± ¡°I was thinking about asking you a question Alfred¡± ¡°Asking me? Well what is the question young master?¡± ¡°What are eldritch creatures?¡± Silence The tension in the air was palpable Alfred didn¡¯t dare speak and the maid seemed to be in a state of shock. ¡°Where have you heard of such things Titus!¡± Alfred demanded The maid still didn¡¯t move an inch, and Titus was unsure of what to say as he had ent ever heard Alfred speak to him like this he his voice usually calm and soothing was now authoritative and raspy. Titus blinked, taken aback by the sudden shift in Alfred¡¯s dementor ¡°I heard some knights talking about them outside last night¡± Alfred¡¯s eyes widened to the size of saucers, ¡°the knights! Blasphemous they shouldn¡¯t be talking about such subjects when the young master could hear!¡± ¡°Alfred¡± Titus said meekly trying to garner his attention ¡°Titus the subject of monsters is forbidden to know before going to a knight academy and your father could get in deep deep trouble if people find out you know¡± ¡°I won¡¯t speak a word Alfred, I swear it¡± pledged the young Titus ¡°It¡¯s best that you don¡¯t, life is more blissful the less you know¡± 1 year later ¡°Titus, come here my sweet boy¡± a woman called, she had very long and dark hair just like everyone from the Ainsworth family. ¡°Yes, mother I¡¯ll be there soon¡± Titus was now 10 years old he hadn¡¯t changed much but he seems to be growing at an alarming rate that was unusual, he was now about the height of 60 books stacked atop each other. Ophelia Ainsworth couldn¡¯t help but grin showing large dimples when she looked at her little boy her white teeth in stark contrast to her black hair and dress. ¡°My little boy is so grown up now! Look at you¡± ¡°Why thank you mother, it seems I¡¯ve also inherited your looks¡± Titus responded with a subtle amount of cheekiness. ¡°And you¡¯ve certainly got your fathers tongue got your fathers tongue aswell¡± she laughed ¡°When will I be able to meet father? I want to know what he¡¯s like mother¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°When the time is right sweetie¡± ¡°But when is that mother¡±, ¡°I want to know¡± ¡°Enough Titus¡±, ¡°I don¡¯t know¡± I wonder what father is like, every time I ask, I keep getting shut down like it¡¯s a sensitive topic, but shouldn¡¯t father be here for his child, no? I heard father is a very strong knight one of the strongest in the kingdom, but doesn¡¯t that mean that father has also been through that terrible ritual. I can¡¯t imagine having to eat a monster''s heart then killing myself but if that¡¯s what it takes to become strong like my dad and strong like Jason then will I have to do it? ¡°Mother I think I will take a walk around the forest, is that fine?¡± ¡°Okay Titus, As long as you bring Jason with you, okay¡± ¡°Okay mother¡± Titus ran outside the mansion towards the training ground where he assumed Jason would be to go ask him to accompany him in the forest. There he was training all alone, Titus decided to sit there quietly and watch Jason practice in hopes that he would gain something for his own swordplay. After awhile of trying to understand Jason¡¯s movements Titus decided to let out a small cough to garner his attention. ¡°Oh is the young lord looking for something?¡± Jason questioned ¡°Yes, are you free Jason, mother asked if you would guard me through the woods?¡± ¡°The woods is it? I suppose I don¡¯t have anything urgent, how come you want to go there?¡± ¡°I feel like I should, it¡¯s strange but I need to go¡± ¡°Well okay then haha if that¡¯s all I understand if you want to keep some secrets young master¡± ¡°No you¡¯ve got me wrong Jason I speak the truth there isn¡¯t a reason¡± After some more idle chatter, they both left the front gates of the mansion and ventured towards the surrounding forest, each tree had a weird, twisted structure that gave the forest a whole creepy vibe, they were also of ginormous size that pierced the clouds and all the forest floor was full of mosses and other peculiar plants. They both walked along a sort of pat that was created by footsteps of others who have wandered into the woods although it was hard to make out the whole path it was a useful guide to not got lost. ¡°Young master Titus, have you been practicing with your sword often these days?¡± ¡°Yes I have! Everyday I practice the sword as-well as train my body I can even do 50 pushups now¡± ¡°50? That is quite impressive indeed young master¡± ¡°Well how many can you do Jason?¡± ¡°Pushups? Hmmm I guess as many as I want haha¡± ¡°Huh as many as you want?¡± ¡°Yes that¡¯s right, you¡¯ll understand once you become a knight, things like pushups are rather trivial¡± ¡°Wow that sounds amazing Jason I can¡¯t wait,¡± then with a quiet mutter ¡°although I don¡¯t want to do the ritual¡± Jason picked up on the small whisper and froze for a second, he was in shock at what he just heard, how did Titus know about the ritual? This is too exaggerated. However, Jason didn¡¯t let Titus see his reaction and carried in walking as if nothing happened. As they both walked deeper into the forest the path became more obscure swallowed by winding thick roots covered by the forest flora. ¡°Titus, I believe we¡¯re lost¡± said a puzzled Jason ¡°Yes I don¡¯t know where we are Jason¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just keep walking and try to find the path¡± As they kept walking through the forest the environment became more and more unfamiliar the trees changed to the darker shade and the light no longer penetrated the canopy of leaves both Titus and Jason kept silent often checking their shoulder and over reacting to all the little sounds the forest made. Me and Jason have been walking for ages now but I think we¡¯re even more lost in the forest now and I know Jason is trying to keep a straight face but is secretly worried aswell I wonder what mother will say if we don¡¯t get back soon. ¡°Jason I think I¡¯ve seen that tree before¡± ¡°What are you saying? They all look the same?¡± Jason sounded quite annoyed at Titus¡¯ comment ¡°But that one has a marking on it¡± ¡°What are you talking about child have you finally gone crazy?¡± ¡°The mark on the tree it looks like a twisting yellow loop¡± ¡°Yellow loop? Yeah you¡¯ve gone crazy Titus¡± But then time froze every single animal every tree even the breeze all stood still something unknown in the distance stirred, something so ineffable you would have a better chance of describing colour to a blind man. This thing has complete control, complete authority. And then all went back into motion Jason and Titus both out of the woods and In front of the mansion the only difference was; only one of them was alive. 3- Bloodline Jason looked around in disbelief, hadn¡¯t they just been lost in the forest how could they suddenly be back and the strangest part was it almost seems right that I¡¯m back here like I should be here? What is this feeling? Jason was perplexed however when he looked to his side and saw that Titus wasn¡¯t moving, he didn¡¯t know what to feel he questioned reality. ¡°How?¡± He simply questioned. ¡°Help, I need help!¡± Shouted a desperate Jason Shit what do I do I was meant to be looking after the young master and now he¡¯s unmoving and I simply have no explanation for what happened out there? Ah shit I¡¯m dead. ¡°The knights and servants from nearby came running over after hearing the call and some went into the house to further relay the Message. ¡°It¡¯s the young master, he¡¯s not moving¡± Titus slumped to the ground unmoving, but his mind was stirring, coming back to the living all he could see was darkness and text. Name: Titus Ainsworth Age: 10 Lv: 0 Circle: 0 Vit:10 Str:11 Bloodline: *ot***h Skills: swordsmanship lv 2 Shop While Titus was reading the text that filled his vision the outside world was in a frenzy of panic, Titus¡¯s mother Ophelia was having a panic attack from the sudden disturbing sight all the maids and butlers were trying to help as best they can to support both her and Titus. But then an antique of a man appeared out of nowhere giving everyone around no time to reach to his movements then carried Titus into the mansion to the shock of everyone around. ¡°Who was that man?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure I haven¡¯t seen him before¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s one of the family ancestors¡± ¡°Yeah, he looks familiar the portrait in the grand hall¡± The man was Titus¡¯s grandfather Titan Ainsworth, and he had brought Titus to the basement of the mansion. Hmm I wonder what happened to my grandson. I guess the only way is the break the treaty and then go into hiding for some time. Titan went over to the corner of the basement and picked something out of a box, the shape couldn¡¯t be made out because of the dark but one could hear a dripping sound come from the object that left a red trail as he walked back to Titus the object was about the size of a head and it had visceral tubes clinging all around the object and it appeared to be moving in a rhythmic beating pattern. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Titus but you¡¯re going through the ritual early, I hope you survive for the sake of our family.¡± Titan then proceeded to poor a vile of blood on top of the overly sized heart causing it the wriggle and shiver as if salt had been poured on a slug. Titan then grabbed a knife slicing a piece of heart and then putting it in Titus¡¯s mouth. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. In the present, The screen enveloping Titus¡¯s vison faded then his body started to twitch, and then twitch slightly more violently, what was once twitches became violent spasms as if his body was rejecting something, his teeth were grinding against each other, his muscles cramping then uncramping, his whole skin felt itchy all over, but he couldn¡¯t move an inch to scratch himself. His vison started to blur again turning his sight to black every single nerve in his whole body screaming in protest his consciousness start giving out he was drowned in a sea of black unable to ensure whatever was happening to him at the moment. All went dark ¡°it seems he successfully assimilated with a monsters bloodline at the age of ten, I guess my grandson is more special than we all thought.¡± Age: 10 Lv: 0 Circle: 1 Vit:10 Str:11 Bloodline: *ot***h Skills: swordsmanship lv 2 Shop The light was flickering in the corner, a dim light revealing his aching body that felt like it had just been pieced back together however, pieced in the wrong order. He was lying going on a cold, hard surface when his mind came back to reality then with each blink his vision gradually unblurred revealing the shadowy confines of the basement. some of his unpleasant memories rushed back to him helping him remember the terrible pain and itching he just endured as well as this he could also still taste the metallic liquid on his tongue but, that wasn''t the strangest part, the strangest part was the new energy he could feel within himself an unfamiliar energy raw untamed and terrifying. What is this feeling? What happened to me, I remember being in the forest now I¡¯m in this strange place? Wasn¡¯t Jason looking after me? And what¡¯s happened to me I can see a screen that looks to be information about myself but what¡¯s confusing is it says I¡¯m in the first circle? Does that mean I went through that knight ritual? Titus almost threw up thinking about it No, it can¡¯t be how could I have done the ritual? But the evidence was all around him the blood the basement and the screen in his vision. Nut he just couldn¡¯t come to accept it. ¡°So, you¡¯re awake?¡± ¡°Who?¡± Titus looked around, puzzled. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°The person who saved you.¡± ¡°Saved me? So, you¡¯re the one who performed the ritual on me?¡± Titus sounded furious. ¡°Oh, you knew about the ritual?¡± ¡°Yeah, I know you have to eat the heart of a monster that¡¯s purified with virgin blood.¡± ¡°I guess you do, then. To answer your question: yes, I performed the ritual on you. However, it seems there was already a bloodline within you, so it only nourished your existing bloodline. I must ask, Titus, how do you already have a bloodline, and what happened before I came to get you?¡± What I already have a bloodline, what does that even mean could he be referring to this system that I can see. ¡°I don know what happened, all I remember is being in the woods with Jason then suddenly I was here? Can you explain how I got here and who you are?¡± ¡°Hmm strange indeed, it seems both stories match so unless you¡¯ve planned that, but that¡¯s unlikely, strange, strange¡± titan started to mutter his thoughts out loud ¡°well young Titus, my name is Titan Ainsworth the current house patriarch and a 5th circle knight Aswell as your grandfather¡± Titus stared blankly, he didn¡¯t know what to think never mind what to say, this man was his grandfather, his grandfather fed him monster heart? Why has today been so weird? ¡°S-s¡­so I have a bloodline, what is one of those??¡± ¡°It seems I¡¯ll have to explain somethings, sit boy¡± ¡°let me start at the beginning, our world is ruled by monsters of alien origin and in the beginning the humans and other races had no means to fight against them, that is until in a battle one day the blood of a weak monster was spilled and accidently consumed, but what happened next saved humanity, the blood of monsters give access to the same strength they have and depending on ones compatibility with the blood they can achieve higher circles of power however it comes at a risk if you consume the blood before the age of 18 or if your compatibility is low you will instantly die.¡± ¡°Then why am I alive?¡± ¡°That I don¡¯t know, I took a gamble in trying to save your already suspected dead body, but it seems that before I found you, you¡¯d already been put through the ritual by someone else. And the heart you were given was one of higher quality than what we have here¡± ¡°Then does everyone have to go through the process of the ritual to become a knight?¡± ¡°There are different methods the most common and safest is a bloodline potion however you lose out on benefits the ritual gives. With the ritual you advance instantly to the first circle, and you gain some abilities from the monster that you integrated with, in other words you are by far the strongest youth currently but it is also illegal for someone of your age to have integrated yet so you cant let anyone, not even your mother know about this okay.¡± ¡°Okay grandfather¡±