Igor's long, thin lips curved into a slow, unsettling smile. It was a smile that promised knowledge but hinted at a cost, a classic, cryptic expression that Agung had seen countless times on the screen. The smile didn't reach his yellow eyes, which remained fixed on Agung with penetrating curiosity.
"Ah, the timeless dichotomy," Igor hissed, his voice like silk being drawn across sandpaper. "The question of the Fool and his journey, is it not, Host? Your Djin is a creature of base desire and simple entropy, viewing your actions as mere entertainment. They mistake the stage for the script."
He tapped his long fingers lightly against the head of his cane.
"You ask if choice matters, or if the conclusion is predetermined. Allow me to offer you the perspective of the Velvet Room, the place between dream and reality, mind and matter. We do not force the human to act, nor do we write the ending. We merely provide the tools—the Personas—that reflect the potential within their soul."
Igor leaned forward, his yellow eyes holding Agung's gaze.
"Consider it a game of cards, Host. The 'fate' is the hand they are dealt at the start: the world, the circumstances, the Shadow that represents their trauma. The 'conclusion'—the inevitable end of the game—is that they will either confront their truth or be destroyed by it."
He paused, the scent of the simmering curry filling the air.
"But their 'free will,' Agung-san, is how they play those cards. The choice to trust a friend, the courage to face a painful truth, the decision to sacrifice for another—these choices dictate the journey. It is the journey, not the final destination, that refines the soul. The conclusion remains, but the quality of the soul that arrives there is entirely up to the human."
Igor gestured around the small, fragrant restaurant.
"You, for instance. You could simply be a detached custodian of the Djin's hub, serving food and collecting payment. That is your fate as the chosen chef. But you choose to expend emotional energy, to counsel, to risk the wrath of a Tailed Beast for the sake of a young boy's heart. That, Agung-san, is the magnificent, messy nature of free will. It dictates the texture and flavor of the journey."
The Gulai Kambing was ready, the mutton tender, steeped in the vibrant red curry and the rich, complex coconut milk. Agung ladled the fragrant curry into a bowl, serving it with fluffy white rice and a scattering of fresh herbs.
"So, my purpose is not to change the outcome, but to prepare them for it," Agung mused, placing the steaming bowl before Igor.
Igor inhaled the deep, spicy aroma, his eyes closed in what looked like genuine appreciation. "Exactly. And that, Host, is a far more satisfying endeavor than simple omnipotence."