Enlightenment II

I clambered onto the carriage.

“You’re going to wanna hold on tight.” the driver said.

“Huh? Wh- WOAH.”

The carriage began to fly.

“This is how the royals travel round, Unicorn drawn carriages.”

“Woah…”

So instead of the 5 hour trip, we returned in little over an hour.

-

I gathered all my belongings, clambered out of the carriage, and knocked on the front door.

It took a while, but the door eventually opened.

I was greeted by Mara.

“JOB!” She screamed as she embraced me.

“Hey Mara!” I said, somewhat bewildered.

“Didn’t expect to see me now did ya?”

“No, not at all, shouldn’t you be home around this time?”

“Well about that… I kind of moved in!”

“WHAT?”

“SHEESH Quiet down Job, and come inside! I’ll explain then.”

“Are you hungry? Thirsty? There’s still some leftover food from dinner.”

“Sure yeah, thanks.”

“So yeah, I moved in partially because it was getting too expensive to live where I was. I mean, I could afford it out of my savings but, I don’t have a job soooo…”

“And being a vigilante doesn’t really pay all that well” I added.

“Yeah… I brought up my issues with Grandma, and she suggested I move in here.”

“So this was grandma’s idea?”

“Yes, yes it was.”

“Ah, okay. Speaking of Grandma, where is she?”

“She’s out on her late night stroll, she’s been doing that ever since you left.”

“Any idea when she’ll return?”

“Well, considering she left not long before you got back, it should be quite a while from now. Oh and you, what happened to you? Are these bandages??? DID YOU GET INTO A FIGHT?!”

So I told her what transpired.

“Oh… I see, also this Holly girl totally likes you by the way.”

“Oh stoppit! Her brother would kill me!”

“Well if he’s anything like his sister, then I suppose…”

“Perish the thought.”

She let out a hearty laugh.

“Also, congratulations on being a Protection Corp Officer! Now you can protect this poor helpless damsel in distress from those scoundrels legally!”

I let out a laugh.

“Oh also, follow me out to the backyard! I have something to show you!”

She picked up both her machetes and they were glowing a faint yellow.

“TADA!”

“Mara! I’m so proud of you!!!”

“Well you ain’t the only genius here you know! I mean, it did take me eight months after you did, BUT that’s still earlier than most!!”

Just then the front door opened.

“Mara? Are you in? I’m back!”

“Ah, hi Grandma!”

“Are these your trunks? Were you planning on moving out?”

“No Grandma, they're mine.”

“JOB! Oh what a splendid surprise!” Grandma said as she hugged me, “Please! Tell me everything! Oh sit, sit.”

I told her of my escapades, even those I had written of, and gave both her and Mara the docket.

“I’m going to need the both of you to read this.”

After some time Grandma spoke, Mara seemed too shocked to do the same.

“Grandson, it’s about time I tell you of who our family really is. Give me a moment, I need to get something.”

While she was away, Mara spoke.

“Job… I’m so sorry, I… this is horrible. To think that your sister has been this close for all this time and we didn’t know? Oh God. Please, please let me come with you.”

Before I had the chance to speak, Grandma interjected.

“No Mara, you cannot go. This group is way WAY out of your league. I can’t afford to lose anyone else.”

Grandma then spoke of her past.

“I come from the now destroyed House of Manilla. We were a great house. Unlike others, we gave no credence to a single discipline of weapon or Karma mastery; whether it was the sword, the spear, the fist, the dagger, or the complete manipulation of Karma itself, known simply as Magic, we cared not. For fifty decades our house flourished, but then the Great Heavenly Demonic War erupted.”

“What happened then?” Mara asked

“The King was ill, and he had not decided on a successor. The Eldest son, in his arrogance seized the throne by force, and declared himself to be king while his father was still alive. The entire kingdom was in uproar, and it practically split the Kingdom in two. It was true that in those days, those who walked the path of the Demon, and the Just lived together in relative ease, but with the eldest son walking the path of the Demon, naturally, those houses, and those individuals who shared that path, were inclined, dare I say incentivized even, to join him.”

“In the face of such a great affront to the sovereignty of the King, the youngest son took it upon himself to deny his brother the throne. Their forces were evenly matched, and the battles were a drawn out bloodbath, well that is until a Mage of unparalleled mastery, Gerthard the Blood God, joined forces with the eldest son, and began to steamroll the King’s men.”

“I was but nine at the time, when the youngest son came climbing up those mountain steps to urge us to join his cause. House Manilla had pledged its path of neutrality long ago. But in the face of a world destroying war, we had no choice but to act for the greater good.

“But why your house specifically?” I asked

“Because, at that time, we had the Kingdom’s second and only Great Heavenly Sage. A man who had mastery of all walks and manifestation of Karma. He could not only wield each weapon with great proficiency, but he had an innate connection with Karma itself. So it was decided, for he was the leader of our House, that we would join the youngest son’s cause.”

“But Gerthard, that bastard, would give no time for my family, for my uncle to prepare. He devised a siege, and a great battle took place. The battle ended with the sealing of Gerthard by my uncle, but his wounds were too great, and he perished shortly thereafter.”

A single tear ran down her cheek.

“Shortly after, the eldest son’s forces were destroyed, and he was publicly executed. I was the sole survivor from House Manilla, and as such, to pay off his great debt, the youngest son, who became King, as appointed by his father, took me in.”

“I was trained in the way of the sword, and when I grew older, I had become a Royal Guard… Specifically to the King’s son, who was not much older than I was. We were fond of each other, so much so, that I bore a son for him. All this happened while the King was busy with his purges, and I was very vocal with my unwillingness to support the King in this regard. Mostly because it meant the destruction of any records that proved that my House, my Family existed.”

“W-w-wait. You mean to tell me that the KING is MY GRANDFATHER?”

“Yes child. Yes. When I found out that I was pregnant, I fled. The prince was under a lot of political pressure, and he had many rivals. Rivals that would tear him apart if they found out that he slept with his guard. That he slept with me. So I deserted.”

“So, all of this… is because of the KING? THIS PAIN AND HURT THAT I’VE EXPERIENCED IS BECAUSE YOU DESERTED?”

“NO, AND DON’T YOU DARE SPEAK TO ME LIKE THAT.”

I felt as though I was being crushed, as if I was about to die.

“Forgive me, my Grandson. I’m sorry, it’s just that this… I’ve never spoken about this to anyone, not even your father. Oh God, if I did, maybe, maybe none of this would have happened.”

Grandma broke down.

Me and Mara ran up and consoled her.

“Thank you, my children. You are too kind. But Joe, no it wasn’t the royal family at all. I didn’t know who it was but the assassins that were chasing your mother. They weren’t human at all. They just kept reminding me over and over and over of Gerthard’s people, and this docket, this report. It confirms everything to me. Does the Commander know of this?”

“Yes, yes he does.”

“Good, because I will be joining you.”

“But Grandma!”

“If Gerthard is about to break his seal, then I have to put a stop to it. I have to avenge and save my family. When do we leave?”

“In two days.”

“That’s too late, WAY TOO LATE. They will have had broken Gerthard’s seal by then.” she continued, “We leave at dawn.”

“Ok Grandma.”

After so long, I would finally see my sister again.