The Lost Descendant Chapter I

Kinnith Yan walked into Damunt Inn and Tavern where he knew if he had the coins and the time for it, he could get both a drink and a bed. This time, though, he didn't want both; he just wanted the drink.

Kinnith looked around as he flipped down his hood of his emerald green robe as he walked toward the bar. The place was crowd with people who were both employees or customers, but he didn't expect anything less of the place or of it's reputation which had been rock steady since the turn of the century fifty-six years ago.

When he got to the bar, he was lucky to find an empty seat.

“Hey, buddy,” the man said from behind him. “I wanted that spot.”

Kinnith slowly turned and flicked him a look. He could see that the man was wearing a blue robe.

The man shrank down from that look alone before he realized he was talking to his superior officer. “I'm sorry, Ultra Class Yan. I didn't know it was you,” the man said apologizing.

“I don't want to hear about it,” Kinnith replied curtly. “You see the color robe I'm wearing. That should have been your first clue, High Class...”

“Quadankin Truemunt,” the man supplied for his superior.

“Medium High Class Trumunt, I've a meeting to go to after I'm done, and then you can have your precious seat back,” Kinnith said sharply. “Next time you disrespect me in that way, you'll be written up. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, sir,” Quadankin replied.

“Good,” Kinnith replied. “I don't want to see you while I'm here. I just want my drink and then go find out why I'm being summoned by the counsel.”

Quadankin slinked off in the other direction as Kinnith made sure that he was going to keep his word.

“You know you could have done with a bit more care,” the man at the bar had said.

When Kinnith turned, he smiled deviously. “Then my reputation would be in the toilet,” he said.

“Oh, if only,” the man replied. “Whiskey?”

“Yeah, Dymn,” Kinnith said addressing the man. “That's what I want.”

Dymn took out a shot glass from under the bar and poured whiskey into it. “So it's true,” Dymn replied. “You have been called into a counsel meeting?”

“It's true,” Kinnith replied with a sigh. “I hope to Master Class Senat that I don't have to travel with anyone I don't like.” He lifted his glass to examine it before drinking it all in one big gulp.

“You don't much like anyone,” Dymn pointed out.

“Well, then, I'm screwed,” Kinnith replied.

“How's your mom doing?” Dymn asked.

“Busy. From all accounts, she loves teaching the Beginning Class at the SSaC,” Kinnith said referring to Sorcery School and Church where he served as team leader when traveling to other towns or cities gathering important information for the organization. He flicked his gaze to his friend. “Why are you asking? Was my stepfather in here?”

“Now, Kinnith,” Dymn replied. “He is the mayor, and he can go anywhere he damn well pleases. You know that.”

“He's also my mother's husband and my brother's father,” Kinnith replied bitterly. “I don't know why she puts up with his behavior. Was here for business or pleasure?”

“A bit of both,” Dymn replied. “I don't have all the details.”

“You wouldn't,” Kinnith said in disgust as threw down some bronze and silver coins on the bar and then stalked out the door.

Outside the Damunt's, there were people traveling left and right. Some were walking and others who were on horseback were either exiting or entering Sebesito City's stables.

Kinnith flipped up his hood, headed left toward the center of the city where Sebesito City's SSaC headquarters stood.

It was nice and clear day. There were barely any clouds in the sky. A type of day Kinnith enjoyed most despite the people in his life and the people he met on a daily basis, but he knew how to take some time to enjoy it.

When he got to the SSaC building, there were guards posted everywhere around the massive building. He walked up to the gate.

“ID card,” the male guard in the black robe replied.

Kinnith took out his card and then passed it over to the guard.

The guard swiped it and then looked over at his partner who was looking at the computer in front of him who nodded. He hit the mechanism to open the gates.

Kinnith was handed back his ID card. He then clipped to his robe and walked in. He headed directly to his mother's classroom.

A hallway stretched out before Kinnith. He walked down the hallway with hunched shoulders like the hallway always made him did since the first time he entered it when he was eleven years old starting at out the SSaC as Beginning Class student. Then he came upon a room that had the door wide open and a lovely yet authoritative female voice streamed out of it, "Who can tell me what the robes we wear mean?"

Kinnith peered into the room. There were several children varying from age eleven to age thirteen, and they all wore brown robes. The children's teacher, on the other hand, wore a white robe.

Kinnith smiled at the teacher who had her back to him. He leaned against the door frame to watch her teach her latest lesson.

A few hands shot up, but one very eager to please student was already answering the question the teacher had asked. "The robes mean of what class sorcerer or sorceress we are," the male student answered.

"Thank you, Beginning Class Miph Moremsay," the teacher replied, "but next time raise your hand to be called on or you get another strike and for you, that means no free time this week."

A blond hair hazel green eyed boy had straightened in his seat responding to the seriousness in his teacher's warning. "Yes, Master Class Yan," Miph replied sternly.

"Alright, class," the teacher replied, "I want you to take out your journals and copy what I have on the board while I talk to the young handsome looking gentleman behind me."

There were some giggling that came from several of the female students as all of the students took out their journals and writing utensils. They started to do what the teacher had asked of them; they were copying what was on the board.

Kinnith shook his head and suppressed the laugh that had wanted to come. She always knew his presence without even looking in his directions. He always wondered if it was because they were mother and son or if she just knew when someone was watching her. He walked into the room. He looked over at the board and saw what the students were copying into their journals and no doubt were learning about in this class session.

Ten Classes and Robe Colors of the Sorcery School and Church
Beginning Class = Brown Robes
Low Class = Purple Robes
Medium Low Class = Orange Robes
Medium Class = Yellow Robes
Medium High Class = Blue Robes
High Class = Black Robes
Mega Class = Red Robes
Ultra Class = Green Robes
Ultimate Class = Grey Robes
Master Class = White Robes

"Hello, Master Class Jorrora Yan," Kinnith said loudly for the benefit of her students when Jorrora turned to look and smile at him. Once when students become the rank of High Class when they became the age of eighteen and graduated, they can start addressing their former teachers by rank, first, and last name.

Jorrora was a striking woman with a willowy build. She had long maple colored hair that was tied back into a ponytail and then braid half-way down her back. She also had chocolate brown eyes; it was the same colored eyes Kinnith had inherited. She wore a long white robe that was tied at the waist, and she, like her son and her students, wore her hood down.

Jorrora smiled at Kinnith. "You know, Kinnith, you can still call me Mother inside these walls," she told her son.

Kinnith smiled at her bashfully. "I don't like doing it front of your students; I don't think they've quite made that connection as of yet," Kinnith replied.

Jorrora just smiled at her son and then turned to her class to her students. "Class," she started, "how many of you know that Ultra Class Kinnith Yan is my eldest son?"

All of the class raised their hands without a blink of surprise on any of their faces. They then diligently went back to work without Jorrora telling them to.

Kinnith sighed. "Or maybe they do know," he said. "Point taken, Mother." He looked over at the board again. "That was a fun lesson to learn."

Jorrora tilted her head and just gave him a knowing smile. "I seem to recall that you always mixed up the colors of the highest classes: Ultimate and Master."

Kinnith's expression turned sheepish. "In the end, I got it right," he defended.

Jorrora just shook her head. She walked over to the board to erase what was written before she looked over at her class. "Who can name the classes from the lowest class to the highest class?" she asked as several hands shot up. She looked around the room to spot an individual who was worthy of answering her question. "Alright, Beginning Class Miph Moremsay, since you raised your hand."

Miph lowered his hand and recited, "Beginning Class, Low Class, Medium Low Class, Medium Class, Medium High Class, High Class, Mega Class, Ultra Class, Ultimate Class, and Master Class."

Jorrora nodded. "Very good," she said and walked to his desk and her hand down on his desk. When she lifted it, she revealed a chocolate candy bar, and Miph's personal weakness.

Low murmurs sounded throughout the classroom.

"Class, there's more where that came from," Jorrora replied. "You just have to answer my other question."

She always does a wondrous job of keeping them entertained and paying attention, Kinnith thought as he marveled at his mother.

Jorrora glanced at her son knowing exactly what he had thought. "Okay, class," she said. "If said in this way it is very disrespectful to yourself and to the one that you're calling it to. Who can name the colors once again from the lowest class to the highest class?"

Another few hands were raised.

Jorrora looked around the room and noticed the female who was sitting at a desk in the back of the classroom. She had her head down with a pencil in her hand. Likely drawing, Jorrora thought with an inward sigh. "Beginning Class Ashkina Jictin," Jorrora called. "Name them."

Ashkina blinked. "Ah," she said nervously. "Brown, purple, orange, yellow, black, blue, red, green, gray, and white."

“Correct," Jorrora replied and walked to the desk of a tall awkward blue eyed who looked odd with her big glass while she closed her notebook. Jorrora leaned down to whisper, "I'm going to tell you a secret of one SSaC's most respected members. My son, Ultra Class Kinnith Yan, was as nervous, if not more, as you when he started school here at the SSaC."

They smiled at each other knowingly, and then they both looked at Kinnith in a sheepish manner.

Kinnith didn't have to guess what his mother and the young awkward girl were talking about it; he already knew. He made a show of rolling his eyes for the girl's benefit which made both his mother and the girl giggle.

Jorrora stood up and put her hand on the desk where she revealed prize: a nice set of colored pencils.

"Thank you, Master Class Yan," Ashkina replied with wondrous awe.

Jorrora leaned down again. "You're welcome, dear child," she told Ashkina. "Don't hide your sketches from me. It is a great talent that you possess, and I believe one that you'll need in the future. Trust me."

"Yes, Master Class Yan," she said.

With that said, Jorrora walked to the front of the classroom. "I want all of you to write an essay about someone from the Master Class," she said and saw that Miph's hand shot up. "No, Beginning Class Miph Moremsay, you won't be able to write an essay on me."

Miph crossed his arms annoyed that he couldn't write the essay on his favorite teacher.

"If you do, you will be held back, and you won't even be allowed to take the LCT." The LCT was the initials for the Lowest Class Test. The Beginning Class takes this test to become a member of the Low Class, though, it was very unlikely any eleven year olds would pass. "Tonight, I want you to think about who you want to do it. If you still haven't figured out who want to do your topic on, I will have a list of those of the Master Class. Only one person per topic. I don't want to hear any complaints, Class. Tonight, I will compile a list of people with the best grades. I will start with who has the best grade."

Every one Jorrora's students groaned knowing that Miph and Ashkina would be the first ones who would get to pick their topics, but Miph and Ashkina only grinned at this.

"Class dismissed, and I'll look at your drawings later, Beginning Class Ashkina Jictin. I have a council meeting to go to after this class," Jorrora told Ashkina as she dallied behind everyone.

"Yes, Master Class Yan," Ashkina said as she gathered her things. "I'll show them tomorrow after class if that's okay." She looked over at her teacher for permission.

“Alright,” Jorrora agreed. “Hurry on now, child. Your friends will be wondering where you are.”

“Yes, ma'am Master Class Yan,” Ashkina replied and then left the classroom without another word.

After when Kinnith knew that Ashkina wasn't in earshot, he asked, "Do you always have to tell one Beginning Class member that I was nervous when I first started?"

Jorrora just smiled at her son. "Some actually look up to you more for that," she said frankly. "And Beginning Class Ashkina Jictin has a slight crush on you. She's still a bit shy, but I'm helping her with that. Actually, I think the reason why Beginning Class Miph Moremsay acts out is so he can impress her with his knowledge."

Kinnith looked over at Jorrora curiously. "Are you telling me that Miph Moremsay has a crush on Ashkina Jictin?" Kinnith asked.

"To be twelve again, right?" Jorrora asked him teasingly.

Kinnith rolled his eyes. "Yeah, right," he said sarcastically. "You want to walk to the Council Room with me?" He offered her his arm.

Jorrora smiled at Kinnith's thoughtfulness. "Absolutely," she said and took his arm. "I'd love to."

"Any idea of what I'm going to do for the council?" Kinnith asked.

Jorrora shook her head. "I can't tell you in these hallways," she said. "It's a very sensitive subject."

"I should have known you wouldn't tell me," Kinnith replied also shaking his head.

Jorrora smiled. "But I can tell you that it's one of your brother's findings; something in a certain legend. He brought it to me and I in turn brought to Master Class Dakis Damunt. You've been part of the SSaC to know how this works by now."

"I'm going to be chasing one of Neo's legends?" Kinnith scoffed at the thought of chasing a legend let alone something that Neo dug up.

"Kinnith," Jorrora said sternly. "You're twenty-seven years old. That's old enough to do whatever you want, but you will show me respect as your mother and a member of the Master Class."

"Yes, Mother," he replied sourly.

They came to a large set of double doors. Two people with black robes-High Class members-were guarding the door. "Names and Identification," one of the High Class guards said. He was tall and stocky. He also had dark brown hair and dark brown eyes.

"Very funny, High Class Tinsam Tournhat," Jorrora replied. "I did teach you when you were a member of the Beginning Class, so you should know who I am."

"Master Class Jorrora Yan," Tinsam replied with a dubious grin. "I wasn't talking to you, but to your companion."

Kinnith looked from Tinsam to his mother. "Mother," he said to her. "You didn't mention that this was a tightly closed meeting."

"Kinnith, dear," Jorrora replied. "I told you it was a very sensitive subject; it was supposed to be inferred."

"Point taken, Mother," he said again. "My name is Ultra Class Kinnith Yan." He unclipped his identification card and showed it to Tinsam.

Tinsam took it and blinked. "Ultra Class Kinnith Yan?" Tinsam said with awe. "You're the one who passes your tests on the first try. That's very impressive, sir."

Kinnith bit down on his temper and on his embarrassment. He didn't care about how impressive he was. He just wanted to do the job he was getting paid to do, and that meant that he wanted to get to his next assignment. "Could you just let us in?" Kinnith asked.

"Oh, sure. Right away, Ultra Class Kinnith Yan," Tinsam said as he and his partner opened the doors for Kinnith and Jorrora.

When mother and son entered, they saw many people wearing grey and white robes. They meant Ultimate and Master Classes, but Kinnith knew there would be at least one other member of a different class. It would be someone from the High Class, and that meant it would be Neo who would be giving the information.

Jorrora slipped her hand away from Kinnith and went to go find her seat, and Kinnith went to go to his own seat so the council meeting to start.

After a few moments, an elderly man nearly shouted, "Order! I demand order in the council." The elderly man was an elder after all, so he couldn't actually do all the things he used to when he was Kinnith's age. He looked as old as he looked with his tall and thin figure and balding white hair. When the council had quieted, he addressed, "I call forth Master Class Jorrora Yan."

"Yes, Master Class Dakis Damunt," Jorrora addressed her superior and stood up from her seat to stand in front of him. "My son, High Class Neo Yan, brought us something to my attention a little while ago. He found a descendant of a great powerful sorceress from over a slightly over one hundred years ago."

Dakis looked at Jorrora with his clear blue eyes with immense interest. "Are you meaning the total Master Class Senra Seacard-Senat?" Dakis asked greatly humbled.

When Jorrora nodded, the room erupted with whispers at this new information being given. "Indeed. It is Master Class Senra Seacard-Senat," Jorrora said louder as the room quieted. "High Class Neo Yan has more information on the subject."

Dakis took the hint and said, "Very well, Master Class Jorrora Yan, you may step down." When Jorrora stepped down, he then addressed the next person, "I, now, call forth High Class Neo Yan."

A man who looked remarkable like Jorrora, in almost every way, had stepped forward. Even though he was an image of his mother, he was at least six inches taller than her and obviously held more of a youthful feature. "Yes, Master Class Dakis Damunt. It was supposed that Master Class Senra Senat," Neo said shortening Senra's name, "didn't have any children with her husband, Ultimate Class Torline Senat, but she did."

Dakis looked even more interested and looked at Neo with suspicion. "Tell me High Class Neo Yan, how did you come across this information?" Dakis asked quizzically.

Neo gave him a small smile of triumph and pride lit into his eyes. "Research and establishing a network of contacts," he answered. "My contact who lives in Torsay just confirmed it in a letter he has written to me."

Dakis just nodded trying to conceal how impressed he was. "Continue," he said with building interest.

Neo nodded. "It is common knowledge she suffered the loss of said husband before she left Sebesito City. We suspect that she left because she couldn't handle the memory of him here any longer. When she finally decided to leave, we know it was a month after she buried her husband. That's what we have in our books, but my contact in Torsay says that Master Class Senra Senat settled there not four months after she left this city. He's stated that she was very much swollen with a baby when she arrived."

Dakis nodded understanding what evidence Neo was handing him and the rest of the council. "Yes," Dakis said logically while doing the math in his head just as he was sure everyone else in the council was doing the same thing. "It would have to be Ultimate Class Torline Senat's baby."

Neo nodded again. "That is what is believed," Neo answered. "Sir, there was a complication."

Dakis glared at Neo. "What complication was that, High Class Neo Yan?" Dakis asked annoyed.

"Not only did Master Class Senra Senat died giving birth to a baby girl," Neo replied, "she also married two months before died." The first was problematic because when the girl baby she surely would’ve taken her husband name, but it would’ve been easily gone through. The second added even more of a complication because when the girl was born, she could’ve been given either her real father’s surname name or her step-father’s surname name.

"High Class Neo Yan," Dakis addressed interrupting his report. "Are you saying that a man intentionally married Master Class Senra Senat when she was swollen with another man's child?"

"Yes, sir," Neo replied sheepish. "It was said that the man was very persistent as well as clumsy with her. I was told that he was a comfort to her, before long it's said that they fell in love. It's not exactly unheard of, sir."

Neo sighed and paused for a moment to say the rest. "I was also told after Master Class Senra Senat died giving birth, he took care of the little girl as his own. Some had commented from that time period that Ardwen, the girl, loved him like a father, but she was very aware of the fact that she came from a different man."

The room was quiet for a moment, and then the room exploded with whispers again.

"Order!" Dakis wheezed as the room quieted under his voice. "If this was over a century ago, High Class Neo Yan, I pray that you have the names of Master Class Senra Senat and Ardwen's descendants."

Neo gave a curt nod. "Some not all," he said, "but I can't get a fix on known and living descendants' location or the rest of the names of the descendants until I actually arrive in Torsay, sir. I have all the copied records mailed to me that was included with the letter." Neo approached his superior when Dakis gave the signal to approach and gave him the papers he held. Then out of respect, Neo walked backward to where he was standing.

Dakis took his glasses and looked over the information for a moment and then for another moment. "This is legitimate information, High Class Neo Yan," he finally said impressed. He used his third eye to see the legitimacy of the information.

"Yes, sir," Neo replied.

Dakis nodded, leaned back a moment to decide what he was going to do, and looked at his second-in-command, Jorrora. "Master Class Jorrora Yan," he said. "I want you to pick at least a team of six for this mission. No more or no less."

"Yes, sir," Jorrora replied.

"And Master Class Jorrora Yan," Dakis replied. "I want you to include both of your sons for this mission."

"But, sir," Jorrora protested.

Dakis motioned for Jorrora to approach him so they can talk privately. When she did, he whispered, "When I held the papers your son gave me, I also had a vision-a vision that will make you a grandmother."

Jorrora looked into Dakis's eyes curious and saw what he was thinking knowing that he knew her greatest wish. "Yes, sir," she said and then looked over at Neo and then over at Kinnith. "Boys, you will be going on this mission together."

"But Mother-" they both started to protest.

"I mean it, boys," she said in that motherly tone they both knew. The tone meant she said what she meant no exceptions and there would be no way of talking her out of it either. "You will be going with Mega Class Clistche Taghach, Mega Class Ixil Warbanusk, High Class Malyon Soirrage, and Medium High Class Quadankin Truemunt."

Neo's bad enough, Kinnith thought bitterly, but don't tell me traveling with that idiot from earlier too and if it is him, that's even worse.

"Kinnith, Medium High Class Quadankin Truemunt needs this mission to graduate from the school," Jorrora answered.

Kinnith scowled at his mother. "Quit digging through my thoughts, Mother," he replied even more bitterly.

Jorrora just smirked at him knowingly. "I don't have to dig through your thoughts; you often where such things on your face," she replied which got a laugh from the council well used to the Yan family arguments. "I expect you to gather your team and supplies tomorrow morning for the trip, Kinnith."

"Yes, Mother," Kinnith said. "I'll be there on time." With that said, he stalked out of the council room before being dismissed.