"I'm sorry, but I can't accept this," Kerriel shook her head, "Ever since the death of my husband, we only wish to live a peaceful life. I fear this would complicate our lives and destroy our peace."
"That choice isn't yours to make, Kerriel." Parlut gazed at her as his eyes slowly emitted killing intent, increasing in intensity by a notch as Kerriel shuddered, "You are just a messenger. I told you first for the only reason that you can understand the situation."
"The one to decide the fate of our Great Empire's Legacy is Kalluto. She's the last of our bloodline. Whatever she wishes to do with it, I won't complain. Rather," Parlut finally dropped his gaze, sighing, "I don't think I can last the night. My time's up."
He then got up, pushing the scroll towards Kerriel, "Give it to Kalluto. If you ever respected your husband, please do it."
Parlut then got up, inched his hand into his coat, and took out a top hat, gently wearing it before bowing a little towards Kerriel, exiting the inn, "My job here's done."
Kerriel stared agape all along, unable to process her thoughts clearly, feeling like a storm had passed. 'Grister…was related to the Great Megwest Empire? Does that mean…no, it doesn't make sense. I've known Grister since young. If he had been hiding a secret as great as this, how had I never sensed it until now?'
Just as she thought of that, Kerriel suddenly began to recall scenes from her memories that she had otherwise not paid much attention to until now. Slowly, one image after another, the scenes of Grister hiding something over the years, the times when he was suddenly troubled, and the times he conversed in secret with Parlut but had just played it off when she asked about it.
One after another, Kerriel recalled pieces of information that she was able to make sense of now that she had become privy to the entire picture.
"My goodness, how could this be…?" Kerriel slumped on the table, breaking out into tears, gazing at the bag before her, for a moment intending to rip it apart and throw it into the ditch. But, upon seeing the state Parlut was at, and the way he gazed at her, Kerriel hesitated, unable to decide how she should proceed with it.
Time passed in such a fashion as he sat there, contemplating, finally grabbing hold of the bag after a couple of hours, looking at the scroll within. The scroll seemed to be created from a mysterious leather of sorts, for it exuded a sense of quality that she had never seen.
Even though it was old, and showed the age that it had been created and preserved for around 120 years, a look at it and Kerriel realised that it was indeed the real deal. Such a fine piece of leather that no amount of money could ever buy could only be from a lost superpower civilisation.
After contemplating enough, she entered her house that was attached to the back of the inn, opening Kalluto's room to find her sleeping there, blissfully. Upon seeing the peaceful expression of her daughter, Kerriel was conflicted.
But, once she looked at the scroll and recalled Parlut's repeated reminders, she wished to just tell everything to her daughter and then work on convincing her to not bother with the contents of the scroll, 'That should be for the best.'
"What happened…mother? Has big brother Regriel returned from his hunt?" Kalluto woke up when Kerriel shook her awake, rubbing her eyes as she groggily asked.
"Silly child," Kerriel nudged her, blushing a little when she thought of Regriel, 'Even though I shouldn't, but I am unable to control myself before him.'
Kerriel switched on the lights in the room, gazing at Kalluto as she explained in seriousness everything that had transpired between her and Parlut.
Kalluto listened to everything with rapt attention, finally beaming with a smile as she held the scroll, "So, this was what father meant back then."
"What?" Kerriel was shocked as she looked at Kalluto in surprise, "Did Grister tell you about it before?"
"No," Kalluto shook her head, "Only the fact that he will tell me his secret once I grew up. He said it to me many times in the past, and also told me some stories. Now that you've said this, everything makes sense. He was preparing me for this eventuality."
Now that even her daughter had confirmed it, Kerriel could only sigh in defeat, realising that her final hope of everything being a big joke shattered. 'It is real. It's now proven that Kalluto is the last bloodline of the Great Megwest Empire, unless some other bloodlines managed to still live on. But, now that she became aware of the secret, her life would change.'
"I'm worried," Kerriel sighed when Kalluto hugged her.
With parlous laughter, Kalluto said, "Don't worry about it too much, mother. Big brother Regriel will definitely help me once I ask for his help. You might not know much, but he's strong. He'll surely help me reclaim my destiny."
"Can't you just remain as my daughter and take care of the inn once I grow older?" Kerriel shed tears, realising her daughter's intention from her choice of words.
"I'm always your daughter." Kalluto massaged her back, consoling her, "But, I want to give justice to dad. I'm afraid he won't be in peace if I don't put an end to this sin our ancestors have committed. Father has expressed his worries about it many times before, saying it haunted him every day. And now, everything makes sense."
…
Once Kerriel got up from her seat in the inn and began to walk towards her home, something slithered on the seat where Parlut had been seated until now. It was around 20 centimetres long, serpentine in shape with numerous segments in its body, almost numbering hundred. Each segment was a rigid piece, but thanks to its smaller breadth, and the fact that each segment was connected like a chain, the serpent was able to slither around freely.
The serpent coiled around the legs of the seat, sliding down to the floor. It then slithered along the floor, following Kerriel as she headed towards her home, silent in its actions. And, once Kerriel entered Kalluto's room and began to converse with her, it slithered towards a corner, hiding within some clothes that were strewn about, peeking out from a tiny gap, gazing at the two ladies conversing.
Farther away in a back alley was Parlut, leaning on a wall as his eyes were closed.
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