Inheritance o.t. Fallen, ch 1

Okay, this book is done! Writing it doesn't take away time from other projects.

Enjoy!

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My boots echoed as I walked through the hallway. After all the times I'd seen them, the tapestries on the walls held no more wonder for me, nor did the vases or any other signs of wealth. When I was younger, I'd studied them for hours. Now, the years had brought familiarity, and more importantly, I had other things on my mind. Everyone around me was acting like nothing was wrong, but at this point, it was obvious that ruin was inevitable.

I had stayed up late the night before, crunching numbers that I had borrowed from my father's study, trying to determine whether his strategy to save himself, to save all of us, was going to work. At this point, I had to conclude that without a miracle, we were well and truly doomed. My footsteps were heavy as I continued forward, my motivation at an all-time low to continue playing along like nothing was the matter.

Before I emerged outside, a servant bowed. "Afternoon, Master," he said. 

I nodded graciously and responded, "Thank you, Timothy." Then I passed through the doors and walked to another building in the distance. In all my life, I've never treated the servants badly, and I never would. One of the good things about Nuterra was the respect and recognition for noble servants and their stations. Of course, some nobles and merchants still mistreated their servants, but they were despicable for doing so, and if they were outed for it, their reputations would fall.

My mind was full of dark thoughts, and I was barely paying attention to where I was going as I made the trek across an outdoor courtyard complete with fountains and ornamental carvings in the flagstones. Despite all the grandeur, my family's estate was not even among the top three most opulent in the country. Still, I'd read the histories and knew that centuries ago we had been rich, one of the richest noble families in Yellop. However, things had definitely changed.

I glanced around, noticing other people bustling about, including a large number of servants, most of whom had the good sense to stay far enough away from me to avoid greeting me while they were so busy. I felt a momentary pang of guilt when I realized I hadn't been making it easy for them. Instead of cutting directly through the area, I moved to the side like I normally did to let the servants pass without going around me or greeting me for the day.

Briefly, I caught sight of a wall torch that was not lit, so I reached into my mana pool, such as it was, and cast a brief spell to light the sconce once again. Fire spells were tricky like that. For big impressive displays, one needed either to be close or have a lot of power, but lighting a candle was easy. Not least of which, the object itself seemed to want to be lit. Wet wood was difficult because the wood was wet. But once I learned magic, I also understood that there could be conflicting magical energies. To this day, it was still fascinating to me.

Suddenly, a side door opened, and a servant carrying a plate of glasses almost ran into me. At the speed of thought, I flexed my aura force power and bounded away with superhuman strength and agility. It was more than I could have imagined in my previous life, and the servant gratefully thanked me for saving the day, at least for them. But, while I was faster and stronger than the average person, I was still far, far below what it took for somebody to be called a great warrior on New Terra, much less a high-tier warrior. I was laughably insignificant to anybody who could ever earn the title of hero. The analogy I self-deprecatingly always told myself was that in a world of the Hulks and Thors, I was a Captain America without a shield.

To try cheering myself up, I forced myself to look around and actually appreciate what my family owned, and what it meant.  The Galrich estate was truly sprawling, with manicured gardens and towering spires. Everywhere I could see, the servants bustled about, preparing for the evening's grand ball. Guests from all corners of the realm would be in attendance, and my family's honor relied heavily on the success of this event.

But my dark thoughts could not be ignored, and I knew that the family’s honor was doomed anyway. All of this pomp and ceremony was just a distraction, and the other nobles attending, from other families, were likely either amused by my family’s impending demise or actively working towards it.

As I entered the grand hall, I saw Lady Lavintia, my cousin and closest confidant, supervising the final preparations. Her sharp eyes caught mine, and she strode over with a determined look.

"Cale, we must speak," she said urgently. "There is a matter of great importance concerning our family that…I don’t think you know yet. And it might come up during the ball."

"I'm listening." I found myself feeling restless. My duties or even social issues were a pain. I just wanted to go train more in secret. Lady Lavintia took my arm, guiding me towards the secluded library, away from the bustling servants. Her silk gown, the color of a summer's dawn, rustled softly with each step. The library, a sanctuary of knowledge and secrets, was dimly lit, the air filled with the scent of ancient parchment and leather-bound tomes. She turned to me, her eyes reflecting the dance of the nearby candle flame. 

Lady Lavintia's grip on my arm tightened, her perfectly manicured nails digging into the fabric of my doublet. Her voice was a low, urgent whisper, "Cale, we've received a missive from the House of Derry. They're threatening to withdraw their support in the Council unless we agree to... certain conditions."

She paused, her eyes darting to the door, ensuring no unwanted ears were within range. "They want us to arrange a marriage between their oldest bachelor, Dannole, and our dear Isabella," she continued, her voice laced with disdain. "That lecherous cretin is thrice her age, and his reputation... well, let's just say it's less than savory." She released my arm, pacing back and forth, her silk gown billowing behind her. 

I calmly said, "He's a widower. They're just trying to suppress us. I suspect it won't be long until one or more other families try to put us down for good. This is likely the beginning of the end. We probably have...two, maybe three years max."

Lady Lavintia stopped pacing, her eyes widening in shock. "Cale, you can't be serious. We're talking about Isabella's future here, not some…political chess game!"

Suddenly, the library door swung open, revealing a tall, imposing figure. Lord Edric Galdrich, my father, strode in, his face a thundercloud. I did not plan to change what I was about to say, my time pretending that everything was okay, and under control was over.  In front of my father, I said, "Lavintia, don't you get it? Isabella's future is part of a political chess game." 

Lord Edric Galdrich's eyes, as cold and hard as steel, fixed on me. His voice, a deep baritone, resonated through the library like distant thunder. "Cale, a word in private," he commanded, his gaze shifting to Lavintia. "Leave us, Lavintia."

Lavintia hesitated, her lips pressed into a thin line, but she complied, casting me a worried glance as she exited. 

"Yes, Father? Are you finally going to let me go out adventuring? It's not like we have much to lose at this point. I am twenty-seven and the other houses are aiming for us now." 

Lord Edric Galdrich's jaw tightened, the muscles in his face twitching as he regarded me with a stern gaze. "Adventuring? Is that what you think this is about, boy?" He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a low growl. "This is about survival, Cale. Our family's survival. And you're not going to find that in some godsforsaken ruin or dungeon."

I sighed. "You always say the same thing, Father. And you know I mean no disrespect, but what we've been doing has not been working. My old reputation is not enough to secure a good arranged marriage anymore, and the only way I am going to get any additional, personal power is through good fortune. I can't even help with the businesses. The other families are ruthlessly suppressing us. The only way to get through this is with personal power and reputation. When I was younger, I was called a genius. Please...just believe in me again. Give me one year. Just one year to make my own way. I want to help you, and I can't do anything as I am other than offer moral support and analysis."

Lord Edric Galdrich's expression remained stern, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—a hint of consideration, perhaps. He turned away from me, his hands clasped behind his back, pacing slowly towards the towering bookshelves. The silence was heavy, punctuated only by the distant hum of preparations for the evening's ball.

"You believe this is a game, Cale."

"Quite the opposite. I know it's deadly serious. That means there are no do-overs. And if we lose, it's all over. Father, we've had our fights about this, and I've tried to be patient, but we are circling the drain unless someone, perhaps one of us, can do something to save the family. I know you believe in your way, and I will support you in your efforts. All I ask is that you give me one year to try it my way."

My father stopped his pacing, turning to face me with a hardened expression. His eyes, cold and calculating, bored into mine. "One year, Cale. One year to prove yourself, or you'll bend to the will of this family and do as you're told. No more defiance, no more foolish notions of adventure."

He stepped closer, his voice a low growl. "But mark my words, boy." His breath hot on my face, My father continued, "If you fail, if you bring any shame or danger to our doorstep, I will strip you of your title and disown you. You will be nothing but a commoner, a disgrace to the Galdrich name."

I narrowed my eyes, my anger rising. "Father, in five more years, the way things are going, nobody will even remember the Galdrich name, so your threat has no teeth." As the words escaped my lips, the air in the library seemed to freeze. Lord Edric Galdrich's face darkened, his eyes narrowing to mere slits. The silence was deafening. Suddenly, he laughed, a harsh, bitter sound that echoed through the room.

"You have your mother's tongue, boy," he sneered. "Very well, one year."

I reined in my temper and gave a slight bow. "If I prove myself correct, I will not even demand an apology, Father, because I know you are just doing what you think is right, and you want to protect me. I get it. And I understand that some of your heat here is because of worry. So instead of snapping again, I will simply tell you that I promise to be as careful as possible. And I will remind you that, quite simply, I always try to use my head, and I historically make very few mistakes."

As I finished speaking, my father’s stern expression softened slightly, a barely perceptible nod acknowledging my words. "Very well, Cale," he said, his voice gruff. "You have your one year. Make it count." He turned on his heel, striding out of the library, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

However, I wasted no time at all. Instead of even telling anyone else what I was doing, I headed directly for my secret training room under the standard training room, a place I had discovered over ten years ago.

Everything was already ready, of course. I had been prepared for this day. My pack, my weapons, and everything I would need for my adventure were waiting for me there. As I slipped away from the grand hall, the clamor of the servants and the oppressive weight of my family's expectations faded behind me. The air grew cooler and damper as I descended the hidden staircase, the stone walls closing in around me. The secret training room, my sanctuary, lay beneath the estate, untouched by the chaos above.

The room was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of oil and steel. As I stepped into the room, the mystilight flickered, casting dancing shadows on the cold stone walls adorned with an array of weapons—swords, axes, bows, and staffs, each polished to a gleaming shine. The training dummies stood like silent sentinels, bearing the marks of my relentless practice. In the corner, my pack lay ready, bulging with the essentials I had meticulously gathered over time. As I walked across the room, I pointed at one of the training dummies, my hand like a gun, and without chanting, I cast a spell.  I sent an underpowered earth bullet at it. My aim was as accurate as always, and the low-powered bullet struck the dummy's head. 

Then I reached my packs and other gear and quickly changed out of my fine clothing, putting it in my pack in case I would need it later. I donned my practical clothing and light armor.

As I secured the last buckle on my light armor, the familiar weight settling on my shoulders like an old friend, I heard a soft, almost imperceptible sound from the shadows. I froze, my hand instinctively going to the weapon at my side. The sound came again, a gentle rustling, and a figure emerged from the darkness.

"Who's there?" I demanded, my voice echoing in the cold room. 

The figure stepped into the faint torchlight, revealing a young woman dressed in the simple, practical clothes of a servant. Her hair, a wild tangle of dark curls, framed a striking, but not particularly attractive face, with sharp features and burning eyes. She wasn't one of the usual servants I recognized from the estate.

I narrowed my eyes. "Nobody is allowed down here. Hell, nobody even knows this place exists, outside of a tiny handful of people. Who the hell are you and why are you here?" 

The young woman met my gaze, her chin lifting defiantly. "Name's Kiera," she said, her voice a low, husky timbre that seemed to fill the room. "I'm new here. Been workin' in the kitchens for a week now. As for why I'm here, I could ask you the same thing, milord."

"What!?" I cocked my head, genuinely confused. "What in the world are you asking? And who in the world do you think you are to be speaking to me like this?" 

Kiera's lips curled into a smirk, her eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and defiance. "I think I'm the girl who just caught you about to sneak off like a thief in the night, milord," she retorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

The interaction was so strange, so alien, there was no chance that this person was a friend, or even a real employee of my family.  Privately, I feared the worst, but I still hoped that the situation would turn out to be that this woman was acting up for some reason.  But it was fairly obvious that she was likely in the employ of the Galrich family’s enemies.  I couldn’t figure out why or how a real servant of our estate would have spoken to me this way, much less acted like this or snuck around, spying on me.

Being a noble for twenty seven years on Nuterra had definitely changed my morality and ethics a bit from what I remembered of my life on earth.

I walked up to her calmly and slapped the woman across the face with full force. "I don't know who you really are, or who you really work for, but I don't care. Did you think that whoever is backing you is enough to protect you?" 

Kiera's head snapped to the side, her dark curls whipping around her face as my hand made contact with her cheek. She stumbled back, her hand flying up to her face, eyes wide with shock and pain. "You bastard!" she hissed, her voice laced with venom. "You think you can just hit me and I'll cower? You don't scare me, milord."

In that moment, as she moved her hand downward and I made the decision to kill her, I was amazed by how calm I felt. My sword left my scabbard in a flash, the draw and slash exactly as I'd practiced it. The tip of my blade passed through her throat, and she looked almost comically surprised before fumbling for something at her belt. I jerked her arm back, breaking it, and she couldn't even scream.

The stream of blood was profound, but I managed to dodge to the side and trigger a magical wind gust just in time to avoid getting splattered. When she fell, I stabbed her through the heart, cleaned my sword, and dragged her out of my training area, using a bit of magic to help the process along.

My mind and emotions were in a jumble, so the entire process seemed to last no time at all.  Everything had become…slow.  Almost dreamlike for a while. 

Once outside the training area, I flagged down a servant, an elderly woman, who looked curiously at my outfit before screaming when she saw the body. I ordered, "Go get the majordomo, now. And be silent. Don't scream again." 

The elderly servant's eyes widened in terror, her wrinkled hands flying up to her mouth to stifle another scream. She nodded frantically, her gray hair bouncing with each jerky movement, and scurried away, her footsteps echoing down the cold stone corridor. I watched her retreating figure, my face neutral, the body of Kiera lying at my feet, her lifeless eyes staring up at the ceiling.

I was anxious. There was little time before my father found out about this, and then, who knew if he would still let me go. But at the same time, I had a duty to my family to inform someone in authority about what happened. The majordomo, Mister Caendor, was my best bet to tell about this and still have time to get away. 

As I waited, time seemed to tick by agonizingly slowly. The air was thick with the coppery scent of blood, and the silence was deafening, broken only by the distant hum of the estate above. The elderly servant returned, her footsteps hurried, accompanied by the measured stride of Mister Caendor, the majordomo. I gave Caendor a slight tilt of the head. "Mister Caendor. Thank you for coming so quickly."

Mister Caendor, a tall, gaunt man with a stern face etched with lines of age and responsibility, approached me, his eyes flicking from me to the lifeless body of Kiera, then back to me. His expression was inscrutable, but I detected a hint of disapproval in the set of his jaw. "Master Cale," he acknowledged, his voice a deep, resonant baritone. "What has transpired here?"

Caendor knew about my personal training space, and would know the significance of where we stood, so I didn't try to hide anything. "I just got permission from my father to leave the estate for a year. This strange servant I've never seen before came out of the shadows. She called herself Kiera and said she worked in the kitchens. The way she looked at me and the way she spoke seemed off, completely wrong. She was mildly disrespectful from the get-go, in addition to being in my personal space, and seeming confident about it. I figured she was either an assassin, or more likely, a spy or sapper in the employ of another powerful family.”

I continued, “She said that she ‘caught’ me sneaking off, ‘like a thief in the night’, and I slapped her. After that, she called me a bastard, and said I don't scare her. Her hand moved where I couldn’t see it. At that point, I made the decision to kill her in case she might attack me or transmit information to our enemies. I figure it's most likely she was watching me to see if I'd leave, and didn't know I'd gotten permission from my father. Either she could have been about to attack me, or was planning to try blackmailing me, or my family, or letting my enemies know I will be leaving and alone, or any number of things. Either way, I killed her before she could do anything, but as she died, she was fiddling with her waist before I stabbed her through the heart. I trust you will do a full investigation, but this is troubling. If she was working in the kitchens, our family has been infiltrated."

Mister Caendor's stern expression didn't flicker as he listened to my account, his eyes fixed on mine. When I finished, he nodded once, a sharp, precise movement. "I see," he said, his voice devoid of emotion. "I will have the matter investigated thoroughly, Master Cale. If there is an infiltrator within our ranks, we must root them out immediately."

"Good. I am leaving now before my Lord Father can change his mind. I have everything I need for my journey.”  My sword belt was riding just a bit off, so I straightened it.  “I will be back in eleven months for the next Noble Hero Tournament." 

As I finished speaking, Mister Caendor gave me a nod, his face still impassive. "Understood, Master Cale. I will handle the investigation and ensure the security of the estate. Safe travels, and may the gods watch over you."

With a grateful bow, I turned to leave.

Then, leaving the majordomo to deal with the grim tableau, I wasted no more time.  I swiftly made my way back to my secret training room, gathering my pack and weapons. Then I swiftly left the estate. I didn't even bother getting a horse. It would take too long, and I needed to be away, now.