Chapter 61

　　Two Weeks Before

　　Kal walked through the deserted halls of the Palace, the Imperial Herald`s warning ringing in his ears. Despite Tamara`s and his other advisor`s assurance that his forces would be more than capable of dealing with the pirates, Kal was worried.

　　Samuel`s presence and the Emperor`s assurance that this would be some kind of test` for him had made him uneasy.

　　Despite the name being the same, Caledon was different than it had been during his grandparent`s time. Kal had never felt so alone before, pulled out of his time and placed in an almost alien world. That sense of peace and security he felt as a child here was long gone, replaced with the burden of responsibility and shame of his heritage.

　　Before he knew it, he was standing in the hidden vault in the depths of the palace. Ignoring the sealed doors to his left and right, he focused on the painting of his grandparents. Happy youths were enjoying the most important day of their lives.

　　Kal wished he could leap through that painting to warn his grandparents of the future. He would tell them that their son would be a disappointment. His time learning on Terra had put him into contact with other like-minded nobles, more interested in their pleasure and power than caring for their fiefdoms.

　　Or maybe he would drag them out of that happy scene and show them the consequences of their deaths, how Kal`s entire life had gone to rack and ruin, leaving a small boy with no one to rely on as he tried to blunt the worst of his own father`s disasters.

　　He would show them how he failed.

　　With a sigh, Kal ran his hand through his hair, closing his eyes and resting his forehead against the cold metal wall below their painting.

　　He remembered his grandmother`s death. Illness had finally taken her after centuries. He hadn`t been there when she passed. She hadn`t wanted him to see her die. But he recalled what she told him from her bedside in the last hours before she left him.

　　"I`m so proud of you, Kalen. Be good, serve the people. There is such terribleness in the universe but such joy as well. It all depends on what you seek." She had whispered, patting him on the hand. It was the last time she had shown him affection. She died the next day.

　　She told him that there were things gathered for him in the vault and informed him how to open it. But she also warned him to keep it secret from others, particularly his father. He could still clearly recall the frown on her face at the mention of her son.

　　Kal`s father hadn`t been home in years, his time spent on Terra or in the fiefdoms of some of his allied houses. There were rumours about Emerick, disgusting things that they had tried to dismiss as lies, but as time passed, they could no longer ignore them.

　　A few short years later, his Grandfather joined his Grandmother in the afterlife, leaving him utterly alone. And now he was in the vault filled with things they had left him, searching for something that could restore what his parent`s negligence and stupidity had destroyed.

　　Lifting his head from the wall, Kal turned to the left. His Grandmother`s vault was closed once more. Most of the items had been diligently catalogued by Tan, who was quickly turning admirable profits from his investments.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

　　The symbol representing her fervent desire for him hung above the sealed doors. The stylized P` and x` represented Peace.` It had been what she wanted for him, to live his life in harmony, goodwill and comfort. She never sought to pit him against enemies or tie him up into machinations or plots.

　　"Use what is in that vault to provide a better life for others." Kal could almost hear the words echo in the empty room.

　　Kal let out a sigh, shaking his head. He had failed. Peace was something that had been denied him since their deaths. Even with his inherited wealth, it couldn`t buy him that.

　　Turning away from the doors, he stared at the other vault. If his Grandmother had desired peace for her grandchild, then his Grandfather had prepared him for war. He was more realistic than his wife, Emeritus Caledon knew that the universe was a harsh and unforgiving place.

　　Although he prayed that Kalen would never know conflict, it was best to prepare him for it. In that philosophy, the symbol of war had been carved above these doors. Inside, Kal knew that a monster awaited, leading to bloodshed and conflict.

　　With no choice, Kal walked toward the sealed doors and placed his palm against the cold metal. It lit up, lines of symbols appeared, and a warmth coursed through his hand. The unthinking system confirmed his identity, verifying his DNA and bloodline.

　　"Kalen." A voice whispered from behind him. Whipping around, Kal came face to face with the real-life image of his Grandfather.

　　Emeritus looked younger than when Kal had last seen him. White-haired and sickly, the Duke on his deathbed had looked every day of his hundreds of years of life. This version still had some grey in his hair, his blue eyes bright and alert, and his skin was healthy and tanned.

　　"Grandfather," Kal responded before catching his mistake. This was clearly just a recording. One made when Kal was young if he could judge the differences in the man before him. Was this from before his Grandmother died when Emeritus first sealed the vault below the palace?

　　The recording continued speaking while Kal was momentarily lost in thought. Recovering, Kal returned his attention to his Grandfather`s holo.

　　"Kalen. If you`re watching this recording, then it seems that I have passed before things have settled. Hopefully, you will never see this, but Aurora gave me a portion of her wisdom and advised me to make a safeguard.

　　Man proposes, and God disposes.`" Emeritus laughed ruefully, running his hand through his hair in a familiar fashion. Many of Kal`s own habits came from his Grandparents. Their presence had been a constant for so much of his life that he couldn`t help but imitate them.

　　"Damnable sayings. She always seems to brush off a new one for every occasion." Emeritus continued.

　　"That she did," Kal whispered mournfully.

　　"I have petitioned the Emperor to replace your father with you as my heir. It`s as clear as good glass that you`d be much better as Duke. Emerick inheriting the Duchy would be a disaster, but the wheels of bureaucracy move slowly and if something happens to me before then&" Emeritus trailed off, and Kal saw something in his grandfather that shocked him.

　　Worry, doubt and fear waged across the old Duke`s face. He seemed to age years in a moment before pulling himself together.

　　"I`ve made this recording for you in the event you ever attempt to open the vault I have left here. Inside is an object that I fervently wish you will never need. But, if you are hearing these words, you have no choice but to seek its power."

　　"I`m sorry, Kalen. I hope that Aurora and I live for many more years and that you take your place as my heir. I pray that you never see this recording and spend your life in the peace and happiness you deserve."

　　Kal could swear his Grandfather was looking directly at him as he spoke, his piercing blue eyes locked onto his own. But it was a foolish thought. The man was dead and gone. Centuries had passed since he had sealed the vault, and there was nothing Emeritus Caledon could do to help Kal now.

　　Taking a deep breath, Emeritus drew himself upright, his bearing becoming noble and stern.

　　"Kalen, what I am entrusting to you has passed down through our Bloodline since the Unification War. It`s a machine of unimaginable power that can never leave the custody of Caledon`s Nobility. I have sealed it here to hide it. If I die, and you are not the heir, Emerick must never Pilot this Mobile Suit." Emeritus explained gravely, the Duke giving an order to his descendent.

　　The holo image walked towards the sealed vault door, the ancient metal sliding open soundlessly, revealing the interior.

　　"Come, Kalen. Behold, the Titan Class Mobile Suit Atlas.`"