Chapter 19: Heritage (I)

Kilian knew the way now, there was no longer any reason to stay in this manor anymore, or follow along with the people in this place.

Even before he took over this body, Kilian Heathgrave had been treated poorly, and with the recent support of Stella and Dante, he had been a lot bolder, but also a lot more content in his days there.

The hallways were filled with the sound of his footsteps, with the feet that no one thought would work again, followed by the "clanks" from the impact of the metal cane against the hardwood floors.

Kilian had just barely survived another incident, and this time he knew that even if it wasn't magic, something inside him had protected him again.

Besides the intruder had referenced the north, about not wanting to mess with the north or something, he remembered.

This meant whatever strength he had, was not because of the Count but because of the Countess.

"Master Kilian."

The words were hesitant, but loud enough to make Kilian stop in his tracks and turn around to face the knight escort, which was the only precious thing his father had granted him.

But what Kilian saw now, was that this person was soft, the look Kilian was given looked like pity and concern like he was something that would break easily.

Dante was not weak, and Kilian definitely needed this strength, but not his pity.

Even if Kilian was to leave, he could not continue to simply rely on this man, he wanted to find his own strength, and now there was something that had interfered again, something that had been like an invisible force doing what he had willed it.

To make the intruder stop.

"Yes?"

Kilian stared at his knight with the flaming hair that looked messed up as if it had been real moving flames.

The indifference was shown in his eyes to his servant. It was a cold ice-blue stare, waiting to see what he wanted, this was not the time to stop him, but he valued this person enough to hear him out even if the pity was misplaced.

"Are you sure you are ok, your wounds… We found you severely hurt".

Dante's look darted away from Kilians, as there was no change in Kilian's expression, causing an uncomfortable atmosphere to lay about them.

"I am ok Dante".

Kilian gave Dante one of his smiles, while placing his hand on Dante's shoulder.

However, what Kilian didn't notice was the dejected face Dante was giving his back, after Kilian turned around and continued walking through the halls.

It was the dejected face of someone who knew their Master very well, and knew that smile was fake.

Silence fell between them again, and they reached the door to Kilian's father's study.

The butler outside looked shocked when seeing Kilian was about to enter the study, and Kilian stepped aside to give room for Dante, who without a word, walked forward to seize the man, covering his mouth while Kilian proceeded to enter the room.

"James, I didn't call for y…"

The words stopped, and the man behind the desk stood up in an instant, when seeing that Kilian had entered.

"How dare you! Why are you still alive".

The words were loud, the words from a criminal admitting his crime right then and there, in an instant.

Kilian simply smiled the same smile he had done in the hall just a moment ago, and walked over to a tall plant that was standing up against the wall in the room.

He gave the plant a weird amount of interest, like he could not be bothered to explain to this man why he was not dead.

After the leaves seemed to have filled his interest, Kilian looked over at the fuming man.

"Congratulations, besides being an incompetent father, at least you have eyes, but I do not see why I should answer the murderer why his victim is still walking... You sure are bold".

A sudden heat rose in the room and his father walked from around the desk moving forward with flames shooting up from each of his palms.

It was fire magic, and the heat and deadly flames were just as real as if they had been in a fireplace.

'Is this man a complete tool? This whole house is mostly made of wood, it would go up in seconds, how does he not know how dry-wood and flames work'.

Kilian stared back at his father with a bored expression.

"Are you trying to burn the entire manor with me in it now, is that how far you will go?"

Kilian pointed to the small embers falling, creating little burn spots on the otherwise spotless floor.

From the books he had read, fire magic did not seem to hurt the bearer, but anything else would go up in flames.

The Count's face became as red as the deep parts of his flames, and put them out, instead to take out his sword.

Kilian sighed.

Yes maybe that would do it, but in this room, with all the ornaments and furniture, how would he go about swinging that useless thing.

"I am here to leave this place and renounce my name, is that good enough for you?"

His father came to a halt, staring down at the son, he was ready to kill.

"What?". The pulsing veins in the distorted face made this man look even more ugly, than his face already was.

"Why would you ask such an obvious question? There have been several attempts on my life and I want to live, it is that simple. Besides I do not even know why you want to kill me".

Kilian was basically asking why he had been treated poorly all this time.

"You are filth, brought into this noble house by that mother of yours".

"Oh, you mean the Countess".

Kilian corrected his father, as it was the only little thing he could do for his mother, remembering the few fond memories of her smiling face, to the young Kilian who was already gone.

"So? what was so awful when giving birth to a noble a son, isn't that what all nobles care about, more heirs? In this world you never know if the others will die".

Kilian raised an eyebrow, trying to push his father for answers.

This man was no father at all, probably not even to his brothers, but they had excelled and been given all the rights that a Count's son would have.

The Count straightened up and composed himself, walking over to the desk to open a small drawer.

"You say you wish to leave and renounce your heritage to this family completely, to be erased from the family books?"

The vicious voice, sounded distrustful as if the man could not comprehend why anyone would give that up.

"I see no reason to stay, and meet more night guests".

Kilian replied calmly.

"Fine, what do you want?"

The Count spat out, seeing this was probably a cheaper option than hiring another assassin.

"I want to know exactly why I was treated this way, and I want to meet my mother first, then a handful of coins and the clothes, and items I already own".

Kilian placed the mask he had been holding on the desk, and the count's eyes widened, showing him, that even if he disagreed the next time may not go any better.

The Count could not tell if the blood on the mask was Kilian's or the perpetrator, but it was the young Kilian who stood before him, seemingly unharmed.

"Fine, leave! By the time you exit this room, you will no longer be a Heathgrave".

The Count took out an old-looking envelope covered with an elaborate designed broken seal.

"I was given the option to marry the Countess to save the business, her dowry was enormous and she was to give me a son bearing my family magic, as she had no magic herself."

Kilian was now the one surprised. His own mother had had no magic.

"So... you have two other sons, why did it matter, was the dowry not enough?"

Kilian was given a piercing stare, from a face that showed both deep greed, and the words spoken next were coated with heavy vanity.

"They got their magic from their mother the previous Countess".

Kilian couldn't help but smile at the situation, it had been for something so petty as a man's vanity of having an heir with his own abilities, yet he hadn't gotten it and instead resented a completely blameless child and Mother.

"I'm keeping the name, Kilian".

He spoke the words softly, thinking he would at least do that for the mother who had not asked for this, but been pushed into this situation by greedy men and their need to show off.

"Get out".

The count had lost his patience, seemingly annoyed by remembering the whole thing.

"I was able to forget this for 18 years, even after the magicless brat turned into a cripple as well, humiliating the name of this house, you were not even supposed to be able to live this long. Then you turn up prancing around with that shameless face, if they knew what you really are, I would be humiliated!".

Such an idiot, Kilian thought, who no longer wanted to look at this man that seemed to have lost it.

"Just tell me where she is".

"Towards the North Tower, so she can look in the direction she came from, you see I'm not completely unkind".

Kilian felt chills down his back, seeing a small smile on the man, as if he had done something sinister to get back at the Countess.

'He is crazy…'

Kilian grabbed the mask and turned, leaving the room, knowing he was no longer a Count's son, he was no one basically, without the last name he was a commoner, and without money or a house, he was even less.

"Like the children on the streets".

However, a small smile crept over his face as he walked, people with greed and vanity will only fall so much harder.

This business that had been mentioned, he wanted to look into it now.

Dante followed behind his master, he had heard most of the conversation, but it changed nothing in his heart and mind.

The one he had said he would serve, was Kilian, not the house of Heathgrave.

He followed the young man through the house, seeing him grab the attention of Stella to tell her something, and watched as she scurried off in a hurry.

The frame of the young man in front of him was confident, if not even partly delighted, as the steps sounded lighter over the floors and the breathing calmer.

The blonde golden hair was hit by the wind when they went outside, and Dante felt an urge to catch and run his fingers through it.

He had failed this master of his numerous times, lastly no later than the evening before.

He would not fail again, he would not leave this young man alone again, he would follow and keep the words he had promised to The Lady, serving his master without betrayal.

The scent of something sweet hit his nose, and he couldn't help but stare at the nape, visible at the angle he was walking behind Kilian.

He lowered his eyes. 'Do I like him?'.

He had never known how it felt to love someone and couldn't tell if this was it, but he kept finding himself drawn to Kilian, wanting to ease his pain, and felt an urge to touch him, when he was close.