CHAPTER 14: THE CALL OF FATE
"Kaito… maybe now you can truly take your revenge!"
At these words, Kaito's eyes gleamed. The fire inside him had reignited. But this time, it was a larger, darker, more uncontrollable fire. As if that white energy in his soul was seeping out through his pupils.
"W-Why, Master? Why did you react so strongly when you heard about the Spirit Djinn?"
Aiko approached with the same curiosity. Her pink hair had fallen over her shoulders, her green eyes questioning.
"Yes, Master… why were you only surprised when you heard about Kaito's Djinn?"
Ren nodded. His blue eyes were as cold as ever, but there was a flicker within them.
"Aiko's right, Master."
Woli took a deep breath. He crossed his arms, gazing into the darkness for a moment.
"Because… the Spirit Djinn is extremely rare. It only appears once in a million."
He turned his eyes to Kaito.
"And Kaito… you happen to be that one in a million."
Kaito's breath caught for a moment. His brown eyes widened in surprise.
"H-How? Why did such a great power choose me?"
Woli's answer was short and mysterious.
"Maybe it's all fate, brat."
He straightened up.
"Anyway, our work here is done for now. Let's go upstairs. The Djinn Summoners have already gone to inform Chief Erwin. I have questions to ask them."
The four began walking toward Chief Erwin's chamber.
IN THE CHIEF'S PRESENCE
After a while, they finally reached Chief Erwin's chamber. Two guards stood before the massive gold-plated door at the end of the corridors. Their armor glistened even in the darkness, their spears planted in the ground.
One of the guards called out.
"Master Woli? Why are you here?"
"The ritual is complete. I need to inform Chief Erwin."
The guard nodded.
"Very well then… wait here. I will inform the Chief."
He entered. Exactly ten seconds later, he came back out.
"Alright, you may enter. Chief Erwin is waiting for you."
"Thank you."
Then the four entered — but the room was completely different from what they had first seen.
There were seventeen people inside. With the guards, a total of twenty people.
Kaito's mouth fell open. He couldn't believe his eyes.
"Whoa! The first time I came here, there were only four people including the Chief? Why are there so many people now?"
Woli's voice was calm but cautionary.
"Look carefully, brat. Only ten of them are the black-robed Djinn Summoners. The other six are council members. Three are guards, and one is the Chief."
He raised his eyebrows.
"Now do you understand why there are so many people?"
Kaito nodded.
"I understand, Master."
"Good."
The room was furnished with luxurious chairs. The walls and columns were covered in white and gold. The balcony on the right was almost completely gold-plated — dazzling in its magnificence.
At the far end of the room sat Chief Erwin. Despite his small stature, the aura he radiated filled the entire room. His white beard and eyebrows hung down, his eyes as half-closed and sharp as ever.
On the luxurious gold-plated chairs right in front of him sat the six members of the Hunter Council. Each wore different colored garments, their faces serious.
On the far left stood the ten black-robed Djinn Summoners. Their heads were bowed, silent.
There were guards on the right, on the left, and one directly behind Chief Erwin.
Chief Erwin began to speak. His voice was soft, yet it reached every corner of the room.
"Woli… I take it the ritual is complete?"
Woli bowed his head.
"Yes, Chief. The ritual has ended."
"And the result?"
A faint smile appeared on Woli's lips.
"You already know the result, Chief."
Erwin's laughter echoed through the room. But it wasn't a warm laugh — it was the laugh of a wise man who knew everything.
"HAHAHAHA! Correct. I know everything that happens in this kingdom!"
His eyes scanned the three young ones.
"According to the information I received… that cold kid, the one with blue hair… he has taken the Lightning Djinn."
Ren bowed his head slightly.
"And that pink-haired girl… she has taken the Mind Djinn."
Aiko's green eyes widened in surprise.
"Th-The Mind Djinn?"
Erwin nodded.
"So you didn't know? That's normal. People who gain such Djinn powers discover their abilities later. Don't worry about it."
Then his eyes shifted to Kaito. The atmosphere in the room changed at that moment.
"And this boy in the middle… he has gained the Spirit Djinn."
THE COUNCIL'S REACTION
At that moment, the silhouettes of the six council members became visible. They had straightened up in their seats, staring at Chief Erwin in shock.
One of them spoke in a harsh voice. It was Malrik — tall, sharp-eyed, someone who always expected the worst.
"The Spirit Djinn? We must place him under control immediately, Erwin!"
Chief Erwin raised an eyebrow. His voice remained calm.
"Why? Why should we control him? He is already under control. He is under Woli's command."
Another voice came in response, louder this time.
"What if he loses control?"
Erwin shook his head.
"You always think of the worst, Malrik. Try to be positive for once."
Malrik's voice was sharp. He straightened up in his seat.
"We must take precautions. We don't want a second Morde incident on our hands, do we?"
The moment Malrik said this, the atmosphere turned ice-cold.
The Djinn Summoners left the room without asking for permission. Their black robes silently glided out. The guards swallowed hard. The silhouettes of the council members flickered again — all of them were tense.
But Chief Erwin remained calm.
As if nothing had happened.
Then he stood up.
He may have been short in stature. But the aura he radiated was so immense that everyone in the room held their breath.
His white beard hung down, his eyes as half-closed and sharp as ever. And he began to speak calmly.
"Time… time is the cure for everything, my friends."
His voice reached every corner of the room.
"If he turns into someone like Morde… I will stop him personally."
Kaito couldn't hold back. His curiosity had gotten the better of him.
"M-Morde? Who is that, Master?"
Woli's answer was whisper-like, but it had a sharp edge.
"Be quiet, brat. None of you ask any questions."
Chief Erwin didn't take his eyes off Kaito.
"Does anyone else have any questions or objections?"
Silence.
No one opened their mouth. No one dared to speak. Even the council members were silent.
"Since no one has anything to say… then let me continue."
His eyes shifted to Woli.
"Woli."
Woli bowed his head.
"At your command, Chief."
"Set out. Go to Atsutki Village immediately. And once you're there, send me a report. Understood?"
His voice grew even more serious.
"Inform me of the situation of Rin, Raven, and the others. And be careful. I have a strange and bad feeling about that place."
Woli's answer was firm.
"Understood, Chief."
Erwin's eyes shifted back to Kaito.
"Keep an eye on that boy, Woli."
"Don't you worry, Chief."
Erwin nodded.
"I trust you, Woli."
THE START OF THE JOURNEY
The four slowly left the chamber. When the door closed behind them, Kaito couldn't hold back any longer.
"Master, who is Morde?"
Ren was equally curious. His blue eyes had become questioning.
"Why did the black-robed ones leave the room when Morde's name was mentioned? Why did everyone tense up all of a sudden?"
Aiko's voice trembled. Her green eyes shone with anxiety.
"Even I was overcome with fear."
Kaito smiled faintly.
"Everything scares you, Aiko."
Aiko's face scrunched up.
"HAHAHAHA! Do you think you're funny, Kaito?"
Woli's voice cut through like a sharp blade.
"ENOUGH!"
All three fell silent.
"Go get your belongings. Now. We must be in Atsutki Village by tomorrow."
His eyes scanned the faces of all three.
"And get ready…"
His voice lowered, grew heavier, almost turning into a whisper.
"To use your powers for the first time."
To be continued...