Chapter 22: The Successor of the Whitlocks

The Whitlocks are a family known for their undying loyalty to the White Lotus Priestess, which some have described as a sick obsession. It is said that the priestess chose them for their sense of responsibility, justice, and discipline. The Whitlocks reached high noble status for their service to the priestess and, therefore, their service to the crown. The Whitlocks spent all their fortune on plans to ensure the vessel was protected, ensuring the return of the priestess. Elwodd Whitlock was known as the current head of the family.

"Elder Elwood Whitlock…is my grandfather."

"Come again? Elwood Whitlock as in the head of the Whitlock family?"

Nerian stared in surprise at the sudden confession but he was not alone. Even Agatha, who had been with Daliyah for so long, had her eyes wide open when she heard what she had said.

"Yes, the only one with that name."

"That doesn't make sense. As far as the palace was informed, Elwood only had one son who disappeared without a trace. That's why he is still the head of the Whitlocks despite having a descendant."

Arcane looked at Daliyah suspiciously. Myers nodded in agreement and also questioned Daliyah's statement.

"Also, aren't the Whitlocks known for their unique white hair? Now I know I can distinguish colors and you ma'am…"

He pointed at her,

"Have one of the reddest hair colors I have ever laid my eyes upon."

Daliyah took a strand of her long, red hair and smiled.

"You are both correct. The information the palace was given is true. Keegan Whitlock, the only known successor of the Whitlock family after Elwood indeed disappeared without a trace 15 years ago. What the palace was not informed of was that he had a daughter with a woman he met at the bottom of the mountain. That woman is the reason yours truly has this hair color. It appears my mother's genes were quite strong."

"Why did Elwood keep such information hidden?"

Arcane asked this trying to puzzle together the information that Daliyah was giving him. A new successor being born to an influential family such as the Whitlocks was of great importance. The crown had to be aware of who their allies were, including those of coming generations. Hiding and preventing a new successor from swearing their loyalty to the crown could be seen as a sign of treason.

"Who knows? It is always hard to know what that old man is thinking. I can say that one of his reasons could be because he is ashamed."

"(Ashamed of what?)"

Daliyah looked at Zaki confused at what she was trying to ask. Zaki looked at Nerian who nodded.

"Zaki is asking what he would be ashamed of."

"Ha, well, not only did his son marry an outsider against his father's will. He also ran away like a coward because he couldn't handle the death of his wife, leaving Elwood with the misery of having a half-blooded woman as his only true successor."

Daliyah went silent as she closed her hands into fists. A quiet hint of resentment and anger could be seen reflected in her eyes.

"Daliyah…"

Agatha placed her hand on her friend's fists. Daliyah turned to her and smiled.

"My apologies. It's not a topic one could talk about during afternoon tea."

Everyone fell silent for a moment. It was clear that the Whitlocks had some internal conflict which had been kept from the outside world.

"Daliyah, if you don't mind me asking, what do you mean by 'half-blooded?'"

Arcane broke the silence as this had caught his curiosity.

"Well, to make sure that the bloodline that serves the priestess stays pure, the Whitlocks did their best to not marry outside the family. This is most strictly applied to those who are on the succession line."

"That's disgusting…Ow!"

Zaki pinched Nerian's thigh as he said what he was thinking out loud.

"I agree. It is rather disturbing. I guess that's the one thing my father did right in my opinion. He met my mother at a nearby village during one of the days he was scheduled to go down the mountain on patrol. It's all history from there. They fell in love, married behind Elwood's back, and had me. I have been told my mother died after giving birth to me. Complications they say, though I was never given the specifics. My father lost his mind, and finally, after 5 years he left without a word."

"Since your father is nowhere to be found, then would you say he can be considered to be deceased?"

Myer asked this with a serious and cold tone. Agatha shot him a glare for his lack of delicacy on the matter.

"How can you ask her something like that? He was her fa-"

"Yes, that is correct. That man left 15 years ago. He is dead to me and the rest of the world."

"Daliyah…"

"Keegan Whitlock is dead, thus whether the old man likes it or not, whether he reports it to the palace or not, whether he wants to accept my existence or not, I am the rightful successor to the Whitlock family."

"Is that why Elwood placed you by the vessel's side?"

Arcane once again asked.

"That is correct. Even though he was not happy that my hair was like my mother's and that I was a woman, he allowed his optimistic side to come out one day and had the idea of placing me as Agatha's closest maid. He trained me like he trained his son. He made sure I knew how to fight. He trained me day and night. From reading and writing to fighting and killing. Anything that came in handy to protect the one through which the White Lotus Priestess would return."

"Did that training include learning how to use blessed stones? Like the wizards?"

This time it was Nerian who asked the question. He had been curious how Daliyah and Agatha had managed to leave among the chaos earlier that day. He and Zaki had both been closely watching over the carriage from a distance in case something happened. And something indeed happened. They had both disappeared without anyone seeing them. The only explanation for this was if some sort of blessed energy had been used. Daliyah had no blessed energy within her like the rest of them did. This only left the option of her being able to use blessed stones.

"That is correct. Though I would not call myself a wizard in that matter. I can only use blessed stones for so much. My ability is very limited in that matter. The old man was not very happy about that either but then again, very few things make him happy so there is no harm in this not being part of that list."

"Who would have thought a simple maid would be so capable? Though, you struggled quite a bit while fighting Nerian back there. Are you sure you were consistent in your training?"

Myer smiled sarcastically. Daliyah took a deep breath and smiled back at him.

"Yes, my incompetent self struggled to keep up with a mighty Sapphire Warrior. Someone who has blessed energy running through their body. Still…"

Daliyah took out one of her daggers and pointed at Myer who felt a bit of enthusiasm as he looked into the fiery eyes of the young woman.

"Slicing a man who possesses no blessed energy or whose blessed energy is for whatever reason blocked, is a piece of cake. After all, no amount of blessed energy takes away your humanity. All it takes is cutting the right spot and you will no longer exist on this earth."

"Geez, you two are so intense. Enough to start a fire. If I had known, I wouldn't have asked Zaki to bother doing it herself."

Nerian said this as he chewed on his food and witnessed the scene before him.

"I think that is enough for now."

Arcane interrupted before things got out of hand. He turned to Agatha who looked back at him with sleepy eyes.

"It is getting late. Sleep would be good for all of us. We will take turns keeping watch. Myer and I will be up first. Nerian and Zaki will take the second watch."

"Sir!"

"(Yes, sir)"

"Understood."

"Get some rest. It has been a long day."

Agatha only nodded at Arcane and did her best to get comfortable. She never thought she would have the grass as her bed and a starry night as her ceiling. Once again, she had learned so much so fast. She turned to Daliyah who was also making herself comfortable as she sat against the tree, close to Agatha. She wanted to ask her so many things but her eyes were too heavy. The fire made soft, crackling noises which became Agatha's lullaby as she closed her eyes.