Woodbridge Recollection : The Hidden Kingdom

Chapter 25: Behind closed doors.

Once I received notice that all the inheritance had been sorted and cleared out of Xenophil's house, I made the decision to return as fast as possible.

I walked through the front door to find the place much tidier than I had previously seen it. All the piles of books had been cleared out or put on shelves. As far as my observation went, the book shelves were now at their full capacity. In certain places and were completely empty in others.

I spotted three books in a pile on the coffee table and picked them up. I stepped over to the closest book shelf and placed them into any open spaces between the books.

Between this shelf and the next one was a large wooden chest. I stepped before it, bent down on my haunches and lifted it open. It was filled with just scrolls and rolled up pages.

I stood up and then began to move around the room. I collected every scroll that was left lying around and then put them away in the chest. When all the scrolls were in the chest, I closed it and then continued to look around the house.

Without all the books, it was much easier to see the house, as well as move around it. I found the door to Xenophil's bedroom rather easily now that it wasn't blocked by books. I opened it and went inside to see what else he had left. I turned on the light as I entered the bedroom. It lit up to reveal a rather large but very, very empty place. There was nothing in the wardrobes, or the drawers. The bed in the very middle of one wall was a large, but stripped down of all its bedding and linen. The curtains still hung, all dusty, on either side of the window. On the right side of the room was a large mirror mounted on the wall. It was rather pretty, as its frame was made of silver baroque styled curls. The most outstanding feature was the mural painted on the whole ceiling of the bedroom; depicting the universe with exquisite detail of the stars, planets and galaxies.

I turned off the light while on my way out the room, only to be mesmerized by the mural once again. It glowed, rather brilliantly, in the dark and looked as if the stars were actually moving or twinkling.

"You must have been brilliant," I murmured as though I were speaking to Xenophil. No doubt he must have been if he had the power to do that.

I walked out the bedroom and then made my way through the house and into the kitchen. When I turned on the lights, a set of keys and an envelope on the kitchen counter was the first thing to take my notice.

I stepped over and picked up the letter. There was also a folded piece of paper. I first opened the paper to see that it was a note.

Xenophil left this letter for you.

Take care of this house.

I put the note down and then tore open the envelope. The letter inside was a rather old yellowish colour and folded two times over. I opened the letter up and then leaned back against the counter to read it.

Dear Zelena,

If you have received this letter then it's rather clear that I have left Woodbridge, or have died in some unfortunate circumstance. Regardless of how I am no longer here, I leave my house to you.

I'm putting my trust in you to protect the vault on your return to Woodbridge. You are the keeper, now. Should the need arise, it is up to you to give people my knowledge at a responsible reason. Don't let the wrong thing get into the wrong hands.

The house and everything unclaimed inside it is now yours. Take care of it all for me.

Thrive Fare, Zelena.

Your master and eternal friend,

Xenophil.

I sighed and folded up the letter. It felt odd, I wouldn't lie. It felt exceptionally odd to read something that was signed by a master and eternal friend. I have never met Xenophil, yet the evidence of a close relation was as clear as crystal – not to mention overwhelming.