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Chapter 72 - The Final Message
🕑 Added 2024-11-16 23:30:47 +0000 UTCCoin took a seat on one of the couches as he unfolded the letter. His eyes briefly examined the rows of neat, tightly packed letters that lined the page from top to bottom.
His literacy had grown much better since he first started travelling with Elijah, though it was going to take him some time to pick through the whole letter. His own reluctance would hardly help him in that regard either.
He took a breath and started reading.
Coin, my lad.
If you're reading this, then I've unfortunately passed from this life into whatever lies beyond. Ideally you won't have to read this letter for many years. But if that's not the case, and I've left you prematurely, then I'm very sorry.
Knowing what you are now, the world around you must seem like a very vast, strange, and intimidating place. And I only wish I could give you the guidance you need to survive it. Should I fail, then I know you'll be able to bring others to your aid.
You're an odd one, no doubt about it, but you have an odd charm and charisma. There will always be those drawn toward it, so long as you remain yourself.
By now, some old fool of a lawyer will have given you the news of your inheritance: Everything that I owned is now yours. A lot to take in, eh? I know you hunger like a starving prisoner when it comes to gold, but please be responsible.
Maybe consider putting that gold to a more noble cause? Ever since I met you, and got to know Essine, I've spent a lot of my quiet moments ruminating on the world. All the ills and woes I could have done something to combat, but chose not to. I've sat on my money for a long while, accruing wealth but doing little with it. If I've died before I could change that, then it would mean a lot to me if you used that wealth for something good.
Find ways to help people, make the world a better place in a litany of small ways.
There was once a time when I had all these grand ambitions and plans in my head. But losing my wife and then my son, I fear that broke something irreplaceable inside of me. But perhaps you can live the grand ambitions that once guided me too.
I imagine, since your evolution, you have asked yourself what the meaning of life is. A burdensome thought known only to those with the capacity to think of it. Truthfully, I have no answer. As best I can figure, the pursuit of meaning is in and of itself the meaning of life.
Keep going, keep learning, keep striving. Every day.
Some would say it may be too soon to leave you as my beneficiary. But you are my apprentice, and there are few I could think to entrust this to. And, in truth, the dangers we have come upon since meeting each other, I've become increasingly aware of how fragile my own life is. I am not a man of faith, but I am a man who believes in premonition.
So many brushes with death, so suddenly, I fear the end of my road is coming faster than I wish it to. So, just in case, I'm covering my bases and ensuring my wealth goes to someone I know I can depend upon.
I'm very glad I met you, Coin. Taking you on as an apprentice was a spur of the moment decision on my part, a gut feeling that told me you had a lot of untapped potential. But even I couldn't have predicted how good my gut instinct was.
I know you may be afraid to be your true self, and you have a good reason to be. But ideally, some day, you will be able to be honest with the world.
My life was all the better for having known you.
Goodbye, my friend.
A small drop of moisture struck the bottom of the page. Then another, and another. Coin blinked to attention, only now aware that the droplets were rolling down his cheeks. He held the page away to avoid hitting any of the ink.
"What is... this...?" Coin asked, tapping a shaky finger under his right eye. Water was flowing from his eyes, a strange feature he couldn't wrap his head around.
When he first created his human disguise, his body had followed the exact template of all the exterior features of human anatomy. Tear ducts included.
And so, without even the faintest understanding of why on his part, his eyes were were being drowned in a sudden flood of tears.
"Oh, Coin," Pearl said in a soft voice, settling a strong hand on his shoulder. "It's alright. Let it all out." She reached over with a free hand, offering him a silken cloth.
Essine halted at his other side, stealing a glance to the page in his hands. Her own eyes, already raw from her own weeping sorrow, grew wet again.
"This grief you feel, it is normal," the kobold said in a low, soft voice. She stroked a hand over the top of his head, and gradually Coin felt a strange sense of relief bubbling up inside himself.
Or, a sensation akin to relief at least.
Yet the tears kept flowing, a strangled hiss of breath rising in his throat. "I don't... I don't want to feel this way ever again," Coin said, gritting his teeth until his jaw began to ache.
"It is part of being human. Of being alive. This one understands the pain all too well. The ache and longing of losing a loved one. It hurts now, this one knows, but... you will endure, in time. The heart mends."
Domajor stood by the door and watched all this transpire, uncertainty flashing on his normally grim face. What was he to make of all this?
Mister Sacke, who had remained rooted in place this whole time, gently cleared his throat. "I, er, realise that this is a difficult and turbulent time for you. And frankly, I may have just added to your confusion and uncertainty. But there is one more matter to discuss."
Grunting, Coin reached up and tried to dry his eyes as best he could. Easier said than done. He had to actively alter the flesh under his face, sculpting it to cut off those damn weeping ducts. "Ah... fine. Very well," he replied in a low, shaky voice. "Tell me... what else is there?"
"Well, in matters such as this, we have to be in touch with Archchancellor Velasco's people. Official paperwork, you see. And he became rather interested when he learned that a relative stranger had become Ser DiVenture's beneficiary."
"I suppose their interest is to be expected. Elijah was something of a legend, and his wealth being given to someone like Coin... well there will be questions asked, I have no doubt about that."
Sacke nodded. "Not just questions. You see, I was told to pass along an invitation to the Obelisk, at your earliest convenience. I was told that you would be granted a swift audience with Velasco himself once you give your name."
An irritable sigh rose in Coin's throat. He didn't want to see Velasco. He didn't want to see anyone, in truth. And the idea of leaving the manor for anything other than killing Valle Irons felt like a waste of time to him.
But, from what he knew of Velasco, he supposed he was a man who wouldn't appreciate being left waiting. And if the matter was not dealt with soon, it could become an inconvenience as he started hunting down Valle and his friends.
Best to simply get it all taken care of as soon as possible.
"Fine."
Essine and Pearl blinked and recoiled as Coin rose from the couch. "You're... going over there? Right now? Er... it's a little bit risky to just rush in. Even if Velasco is expecting you. He has a rather worrying reputation, after all," Pearl said.
Coin shrugged. "Has to be done. And maybe the distraction will help me... clear my head." He locked eyes with Domajor, who stiffened under Coin's gaze. "You er... keep doing what you're doing. I'll hopefully be back before tonight."
"Ah, of course... Ser," Domajor replied. He tried to stand to attention as best he could, still grappling with the reality that this bumpkin was now his master.
He spared a glance to his friends, his eyes red and raw. "You stay here. I'll handle this myself."
He had gotten careless, and walked Elijah into the jaws of danger. He couldn't allow anyone else to meet that same fate by following after him.
