Radcliff POV
2 days ago
"Sorry sister," I thought as he looked outside the carriage at the passing green. The carriage was drawn by two healthy black horses newly bought for my sudden escape. The carriage itself was rich and vibrant, adorned with flowers carved over its doors and frames. Radcliff wanted a plainer carriage however since I was in a hurry I had to take this carriage since this expensive carriage was the plainest carriage my family owned.
As expected of my corrupt father as expensive good for nothing items were all bought by my father, the corrupt Earl who would not even hesitate to abandon his Earldom in the face of danger, an Earl who would do anything for money even running assassinations, an Earl who would not even batter his eye and look for his wife as she ran away. He was not a tyrant to his children nor was he overbearing or dominating. Yet he lived without caring for his family. While he was alive he led a selfish and greedy life. Now that he was dead, money was the only thingbehind.
Earl Cremian Kousov died at the age of sixty-three, two years before. Anxiety was the cause of his death. Was his anxiety due to his wife or his son or his daughter? No, it was due to the stress of losing money from a failed assassination.
I did not miss my father neither did my sister. Since his death my elder sister, now nineteen years old, took care of his business. After father's death I received his noble title of earl but since I refused the title it passed on to my sister and she came to be known as Countess Clariss Kousov. Both me and my sister had learnt martial arts and magic from the assassination guild that our father used to run. As the other assassins already knew us, Clariss did not have much trouble running the guild.
After staying in the capital for two more years after my father death, I got tired of this monotonous grey city life. I will soon be leaving for Eton Academy, a prestigious school that trains you in magic, swordsmanship, martial arts and various other subjects. I was never interested in going since I had already learnt everything that can be learnt from those assassins, but I had to go considering my sister has spent a lot of money to get me admission.
That's why I left the city for Nirmia. I used to leave here once back when I was three. It was back when life was still rosy and full of colors and the depressing adult world did not hit me yet. Nirmia was my birth place but I abandoned it. I would sometimes remember those rosy days. My sister back was also innocent back then. I remember a hunter who would often want to teach me how to hunt. I remember its small brick buildings and thatched houses. Most of all I remember a girl who I often played with. I wonder what this feeling is? Nostalgia? First love? My three years in Nirmia were the best days of my life.
"Young Master we have arrived," the coachman reported.
I nod towards him and get out of the carriage. Seeing the old castle from my childhood, I smile. It was not like what I remembered it to be. It was not even an appropriate place to live in. Yet This Ruined Castle that I once lived in was the source of my happiness. The Castle 'Lyconian Manor' was passed down by my great grandfather to my grandfather and then my father. In the past it was lively and inhabited by assortment of ideas that formed the designs of both inner and outer walls. Constructed by a famous architect, who was also hailed as a genius artist, this castle was once came to be known as the greatest architectural masterpiece from the Lyconian Era.
The gates were still intact, however the walls were withered and the paint worn off. I opened the gates with the keys I inherited from my father, keys that were not used for the past thirteen years. Even though I rotated the keys, the lock did not budge open. After a few more rough tries did it open itself. As soon as I enter the castle, the dizzying smell of moss and moisture hit my nose.
"Cleanse!" I run the magic formula in my mind making sure that only the moss and fungus and dirt are removed and then say the magic word.
1 second, 2 second, 3 second I receive the response that my magic was successful.
"Repair all" I run a second magic formula and say the required magic word. My mana spread around the entire castle and started fixing the walls and broken furniture.
"You can leave the luggage in here," I commanded the coachman who was carrying my heavy luggage. I had made sure to pack some clothes, money and enough food to last me a month. Of course the food won't rot since it has been preserved with magic.
"Well then young master," the coachman said, "I will take my leave and stay in a nearby inn."
"No need," I reject him, "You can return to the capital along with the carriage."
"But the mistress would- "
"I already wrote her a letter," I interrupt him, "You can return as soon as you want I am going to stay here till school starts."
"I pray your success to whatever you came to achieve in this forsaken town," the coachmen left after giving me his last words solemnly.
I could not help but laugh after all I did not come here with a goal to fulfill. I came here because my memories bought me here. Because my soul wanted to return to my ancestral ground. Perhaps I was destined to come back to clean what my father had defiled. As for my sister I did write her a letter that I was leaving for Nirmia with the intension of settling here. If I told her about my plans before she would have stopped me with all her power that's why I had to leave her explaining my sudden escape with a letter. I shall miss her dearly for she is my beloved elder sister but it is not like I will never see her again though. She might be overprotective towards me but her heart is in the right place. Although she took over the assassination guild and a lot of thing about her changed, the relationship between us ever changed.
I grope the stair railings and find my way to my room. The winding stair that should have been broken were newly repaired by my magic. I lit a small lamp powered with a beast core. This was an inexpensive essential item that was normally used in dark places or during night. A strong sense of nostalgia hits me when I enter a room. I sigh at the sight of the small bed and the ruined table that was burnt beyond repair. The walls were plain and unsightly yet they were satisfying. The names Radcliff, Clariss and Elise were etched at various corners of the room. I sat down at the musty old magically-repairing bed that had no mattress nor cover on top of it. It was absolutely uncomfortable and even painful. The very sight could give goosebumps to anyone sane. Yet my heart ached, not in pain but in happiness. I am finally home.