Chapter 2: Inheritance

‘There are three things you should never trust.  The Fae, Devils and a Hallow.’

-Unknown Mage

***

“Now, we can talk.”  Emyrith muttered then looked at me.

My heart was pounding.  Emyrith had done something just now, but I had no idea what.

When I was eleven, I was homeless for a while because I ran away from my foster home.  Back then, I ran because my foster dad at the time was a little too fond of his belt.  It’s hard to describe why, but now that I’m a little older, I know it was because I felt helpless.  I had felt cornered because I was too young, too small to do anything about this older man who was so angry all the time.

Thanks to him, I learned a lot of things on the streets.  Including what this feeling was.

This helpless feeling of being completely at the mercy of someone else.

I felt his legs tense, ready to bolt and would’ve but Emyrith continued talking like nothing was wrong.  

“Mr. Hallow, I am here as both Arbitrator and Executor of your Parent’s Will, which includes both the entirety of the Hallow estate and a portion of the Shin Estates.”

Making sure Emyrith’s hands were out in the open, I nodded.  I barely understood half of what he just said.

“A will?”  I repeated hoarsely as the words drunkenly stumbled into my headspace.

Emyrith nodded.  “Yes.  Your parents have left you a significant amount of wealth which warrants discussion.”

“That’s…”  The word ‘wealth’ was too far away of a concept.  Wealth and the Hallow name is akin to water and fire.  I frowned, “I’m sorry, what kind of wealth?”

Maybe wealth was lawyer talk for debt.

“Wealth.  Estate.  Knowledge.”  He took a sip of tea, and looked out the window.  “Power.”  He mummured the last bit.  “The traditional inheritance that a parent leaves their child.”

“Then why am I just getting it now?”  I was having a hard time wrapping my head around this and Emyrith’s strange verbiage wasn’t helping.

“There were, and are, laws in place that kept your parents Will from being executed.  One such law precedes that the inheritor, you, turn seventeen years of age.”

“I turned seventeen last year.  Why now?”

“The same set of laws possessed a great deal of room for interpretation, which allowed a great number of forces to try and latch on.”  He put the tea cup down, “Few succeeded.  Hence, the delay as well as the requirement of a discussion with said parties.”

“I…”  It was a lot to take in.  “How much money are we talking about here?”

“This is not wealth in the form of currency  that you speak of, Mr. Hallow.  Money is only one form of power and in our world, a very limited one at that.  What your parents left you is calculated by generations, karma and status.”

I shook my head.  “What do you mean, our world?  Were my parents spies or something?”

Emyrith stared at me, and I could tell the man was thinking.  “Suffice to say that your parents,”  He began slowly, mulling the words over till they reached his tongue, “were elite members of a highly exclusive and powerful society.  A society with its own form of government, citizenry and culture.  It’s not a lie to say that the wealth your parents left would elevate you to the upper echelons of it.”  He stopped, then added, “Should you gain full mastery of it.”

“You’re still speaking gibberish.”

“Yes,.”  The lawyer let out a sigh.  I’d never heard a good-mannered frustrated sigh before until today.  “There are… certain forces at play which have forced the firm’s hand in a particular direction, a direction that’s not favorable to your case Mr. Hallow.  But this might shed light on a few things in question.”

Emyrith reached for his briefcase and the nerves from before came back in full force.  My body jerked of its own action, reaching for my bag.

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah.”  I grabbed the bag and moved it closer to me.  “I’m fine.  Allergies.”

Emyrith looked pointedly out the window.

It was snowing.

I shrugged.  

He took out a fancy looking leather folder with one of those metal sleeves for business cards out on the front.  I took it from him gingerly, careful not to drop it.

“Inside, you’ll find a few things.  The first one is a letter from your parents.”  My eyes widened when he said that but Emyrith continued, counting off his fingers.  “Two, a when and where of the meeting place where the Will’s Arbitration will take place.  Three, a small amount of money for transportation.”

“From… my parents?”

“As I said, Mr. Hallow,”  Emyrith said, “Your parents were powerful people in their own right.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat at the word 'letter'.

When I think about my parents… all I remember are a pair of blurry faces.  That’s it.  It’s sad, because I only remember the outline of events, never the exact details about my parents or who they were.  I remember them doing things and saying things, but not what they looked like, smelled like or even what their voices sounded like.

If Emyrith was telling the truth…

This was about the closest thing I had to remembering my parents.

I clutched the leather folder close to my stomach all manly, instead of hugging it like a little girl.

“Can I read it now?”

“Please, go ahead.”

Opening the folder, I found a sealed envelope.  The paper inside was long and dry to the touch.  Afraid that it might crumble, I handled it delicately.

I unfolded the message my parents had left for me.

Dear Jain,

Son, the very fact that you are reading this means that I have passed.  You must be scared and frightened.  I could only hope that your mother and I have prepared you accordingly.  If not, I pray to all the powers that be that this letter finds you safe in body and mind.

I must admit, I am not sure where to begin.  I guess I should begin with this.

If you know all of the following, then we have done a sufficient job and you can skip to the end.  If not, please pay attention.

The Hallow Family Line is an ancient one; some say that we can even trace our lineage back to the sons of Solomon, the first Mage King.  Others argue it’s much more recent.  The name ‘Hallow’ came into record during the rule of Roman Emperor Julian Apostate, the Pagan King.  Regardless of when, our family has always been one of researchers, pushing the boundaries of what was possible in the anagogic arts and science.  This has been passed down from Father to Son, Mother to Daughter and Parent to Child.

It must be difficult to believe, especially if you have not come into direct contact with outside Forces.  Even so, you must start preparing.  The Karma of the world dictates that like attracts like; as such the moment you begin, you will start attracting the attention of our World.  Especially since you are a Hallow in name and a Shin in blood; part of both bloodlines with less than favorable Karmic debt.

Your mother and I have left you a wealth of knowledge and techniques, passed down since ancient times –older than some of the things that claim to have no name.  Most of these books have been translated in the 19th century and should prove to be an easy read.  But if you can find ancient texts in their original forms, I recommend reading them.  As for how, I leave that to your imagination.  

Start with the ‘Arcanum: Condicio sine qua non’.  You can find the english translation titled ‘Prerequisites’.

Second, prioritize the selection of a Familiar before carving your Staff.

For instruments, it might be best to consult the Hallow collection.   For familiars, the Shin collection.  But your mother would disagree, as she is shaking her head right this minute.

Last but not least, do not trust anyone and anything.  We have entrusted the execution of our Will to the Fae Courts.  They will fulfill their end of the bargain, but no further.  Paranoia is a weapon that has ensured the survival of our predecessors and I’m sure it will do the same for you.

I wish this letter could’ve been something else.  More love, less instructions.  More being there with you, less teaching.

Jain, your mother and I love you very much.

Never forget that.

In loving memory,

William Everblack Hallow

There was a break in the writing as the handwriting changed, from flowing cursive to precise clear-cut lines.

Jain, this is your mother.

The rest of the letter wasn’t there.

“Where’s the rest?”  I asked softly.

“...The forces in question have managed to extend the definition of ‘inheritance’ to the letters.  As such, until you have proven yourself, it remains sealed.”

“I don’t understand.  It’s… it’s just a letter.”  I closed my eyes, trying to stem the tide of emotions.  There was a lot here that I needed to absorb but right now. Hell, I didn't understand a word. But all I could care about was the fact that my parents had left something for me.  For me and me alone and yet...

Emyrith closed his briefcase, setting it off to the side and straightening his suit.  He was getting ready to leave.  

“Who are these guys?  Why do you guys keep calling them ‘Forces’?  What do they want?”  It had been a perfect moment for a Jedi joke, but I was in no mood for jokes.  Even from myself.

“I thought that was quite obvious, Mr. Hallow.”  Emyrith said before he left.  

“Family.”