Meaning of Existence

An hour has passed after their reunion.

"Clear." Gio said as he activated his detection ability.

Kali requested to talk to the count but somehow it ended up as a family meeting.

"You can talk now, child. What happened?"

"The Resistance. What do you know about them?"

Konrad flinched at her question. He was caught off guard to hear those words in Kali's mouth.

His eyes returned cold as he met Kali's unwavering eyes.

"What do you know about the Resistance?"

There was silence. The game between Konrad and Kali starts again. Who knows what.

"You won't be bold enough to ask if you had no idea. Did you remember something?"

As expected Konrad saw through her. They tried to get information from each other.

"Let me change my question. Is the late countess a resistance?"

Konrad didn't give any reaction. Kali clicked her tongue internally. He already controlled his expression. Only Theo and Gio gave away a frowning look.

"Are you a resistance?"

Kali maintained her poker face. She is determined to get information but the Count is not budging. She realizes the count will not blink, not this time.

"Can I trust you, Your Grace?"

"That depends on your answer."

Kali is thinking if she will gamble or not. She sighed. She held her weapon tightly and opened her mouth.

"According to my memories, yes."

"Since when did you know?"

"From ---- Is the late countess also resistance?"

Kali stopped herself from reflexive answering. Konrad softened his expression.

"She was. How did you know?"

"I tried looking for information but I couldn't find any until I remembered the books I used to memorize. It was a record of nobles 25 years ago. It was all written in a language I can read, so I assumed it belonged to someone who knows that language. Those books belong to the Countess, right?"

"Anyone can learn that language."

"I think so too but then that language is considered Forgotten and Forbidden Language not just anyone can freely learn it plus all those books are about nobility and its festivities around Southern Kingdoms centering Millano Kingdom. I am guessing the countess had lessons like me. Those books were records of her lessons."

Konrad stares at Kali with a relaxed expression like he already expected her answers.

"Why come up now? You could just stay quiet."

"That was my original plan but things have changed. I need to know why you are hiding a resistance existence."

Kali didn't falter as she continued to speak. "I know you are hiding me and have someone watch over me."

"Since when did you notice?"

"Back in the old mansion, aside from two girl servants. I could feel someone watching me. Why are you hiding me?"

"What is your guess?"

Kali grimaced but still gave an answer " Either you are planning to use me or you are protecting me. I want to believe it's the latter"

"Maybe I purely want to help a child."

"Yeah sure and give a complete stranger your beloved daughter's code."

Konrad smiled at her quick sarcastic reply before answering "Child, I could lie to you right now."

"Yes you can and I might believe it."

"You have a dangerous way of dealing."

Kali is already aware about her situation and the dangers of her choices. One of the possible reasons she could think of as to why the count continues to help her is because her existence is somehow connected to the Count but all she knows about are the words " I am Resistance". She gambled her chances on slim chance on the identity of the former Countess.

'My skill has already evolved from beginner's luck to divine luck.' She internally mocked herself as she left her fate to a skill.

She reached for the stitched code on her right wrist and felt it under her thumb.

'The code is still incomplete.' She thought. The code remains unreadable.

"I am aware, your grace."

Theo was reminded of the time that his father answered why he wanted to give Kaleena's code to Kali. It is because she reminds him of their mother. Not only were their unique physical characteristics the same but there was something more than that.

"I see. . . " Konrad said in a very low voice.

"Your Grace, what is resistance?"

Konrad sighed. "I'll tell you a famous story."

"Thousand years ago, continuous unending war broke out among humans that devastated the world, on the verge of losing a certain group of people who sought power to end the wars. They began to seek godly powers. These people successfully gain enormous power from the gods."

"That story ---" Theo frowned as he listened to a familiar story.

"The story of the beginning of Mana. Those humans who wield the great power of gods forced humanity to end the wars. They were hated by those forced to submit but to those who were saved they became their salvation. These people were called in many names True Monarchs, Kings and so on but they were best known as the 'Saviors'

The Saviors brought peace but it didn't last long. The humans begin to pray and worship the Saviors as gods and they rule the ruined world like one but then the Saviors turn to each other. In pursuit of the title the strongest of all, another war began, more destructive than the previous. Humanity once again turned to each other, as soldiers of the saviors. The unending conflicts and ceaseless destruction angered the gods.

The gods blessed selected humans with the ability to tap nature's power. They rely on nature's power instead of god's destructive powers. They were called Blessed. Humans wield powers that can rival the Saviors."

"What is the Resistance Role in that story?" Kali already knew about the story since she read it. History and fairytale version.

"Do you know how the War ended?"

"After many years the Saviors lost to the Blessed. Humanities once again attained peace. As a sign of God's second chance to humans, the gods bestowed the world fraction of their power called Natural Mana for humans to start over again. Hundreds years later, after long exposure to Natural Mana, humans with their own mana were born. "

"Right, The Blessed Humans won. . ."

'Are resistance some sort of related to them?' Kali frowned at Konrads sharp point

". . . and the Saviors lost but they didn't die."

"...!" Kali slightly opened her eyes processing Konrads' words and just like her, Theo and Gio slightly flinched.

'The Blessed and Gods let them live? Are they that generous. . .wait, is it . . .possible?' Kali continuous thought.

"They are still alive?" The Saviors have godly power; it is possible that they too can obtain immortality like gods.

"Their existence lives on."

'What does that mean?' Kali crumpled her face.

"Descendants." Gio said in a low voice but it was loud enough to be heard.

"The Saviors' descendants survived and they inherited the godly power of their predecessors. There are a select few who know about their existence and keep it a secret. To maintain peace."

"Are you hiding me from them?" A revenge for killing their ancestors, if the saviors descendants were as powerful enough to stop world wars, they are truly fearsome beings

"It's the opposite." He smiled lazily at her.

"The Savior's Descendants are hunted down in secret."

"..?!"

"It wasn't that hard to know who the descendants are since they possess unique characteristics and signs that they inherited their predecessor's powers."

The flow of the conversation is going in the direction Kali is not mentally prepared for.

"No . . . no way. . . "

"They all have pitch black hair and eyes."

"The Resistance . . ." She mumbled. She is connecting dots in her mind. She thought since the Blessed were one who resisted against the saviors, they were called resistance but she had it backwards.

"The Savior's descendants were called many names but their official name for those who know their existence is The Resistance."

Kali was frozen from her seat as she tried to understand. Her mind is overworking to think about it's possibilities.

Theo wears a confused face while waiting for an explanation at their father's revelation. The Saviors have descendants. Their mother and Kali are descendants of these powerful beings.

Kali's eyes are shaking violently. All the screams, running, bloods in her hazy memories must be because she too was hunted before. Her brain took a series of rollercoaster ride of morbid scenes as she bit her cheeks to remain conscious but her tired throbbing brain was hurting like hail.

*bzzzzzzt*

"HEEEEEEEEEEELP!!!"

"Nooooo! pleas---"

She forcefully opened her eyes and a strong taste of iron filled her mouth. Before the blood dropped in her mouth she hid it with the back of her hand.

"Ha. . . How did you know all about this?" Kali asked, twitching her eyes while frowning hard like she already had her answers.

Konrad looked at the piercing glare of Kali before he answered "I came from the few families who know about your existence."

Kali's eyes shook more and said accusingly. "YOU ARE ONE OF THEM! You hunted down the resistance."

There was a brief silence among them before Konrad opened his mouth. "Yes."

"...!"

*bzzzzt*

"Spare me please!!!"

"Nooooooo!!"

*bzzzt*

"YOU HUNTED US DOWN!" She shouts accusingly.Her head is ringing and her chest is swelling with anger. The screams that are usually incomprehensible are now loud and clear though memory scenes remain almost unrecognizable.

Konrad remained calm in front of half crazy Kali.

"WHAT ABOUT MOTHER?! You said she is also a ----" Theo raised his voice. He is more confused than ever.

'What is father saying?'

"Ellena . . . She was my. . . I was sent to hunt her down."

Theo felt like his heart was stabbed with his father's words. He couldn't cope up with his confession. Their mother being a Savior's descendants and their father hunting down humans. To Theo his father has always been righteous and just, to think that he was once . . .

"Ellena, is a very powerful resistance, so powerful that she can destroy a kingdom at her will. '' Konrad said with a sad faint smile.

"...!"

Kali who was in deep concentration to keep her aching head in check reacted to his story.

"How did. . . how did it go?" She is unable to complete her sentence because she struggles to keep herself away from distorted and morbid images in her head.

"Having either black hair or black eyes is not much of a threat but having both of them is different. Ellena, My wife was aware of her fate. She was forced to enter a pact with the Millano Royal Family in exchange for a peaceful life. . . with me. '' Konrad clenched both of his hands. Theo and Gio looked at their father with an unpaintable expression.

Kali wanted to know more but her mouth didn't move. The memories stopped resurfacing but her tongue and inside cheeks continued to bleed inside her mouth.

The silence is too heavy to bear after Konrad said his piece.

"Nevertheless, you hunted humans just because of their ancestors." Kali moved her gaze to the silent dark forest.

". . ."

There was long silence again. The truth is too much for him right now.

'Is this really all the truth?' There was one thing for sure, she needed someone like her. A person like her, a resistance.

'How can I trust the words of someone who hunts people like me?'

*Ting

~New Quest Has Arrived~

[QUEST :  Find out the Countess Alexander's Past]

Rewards:

Piece of Forgotten Memory

1 x Random Armor (Rank A)

1 x Random Item (Rank A)

'...?!' Her body perked up. She glances at the Alexanders who are still completely silent.

She smiled internally.

[New Quest had been Added]