CHAPTER 4: ARRIVAL AT THE CAPITAL
Around noon, two people were approaching the capital. They were Master Woli and his new student, Kaito. The air was burning under the scorching summer heat, as if the whole world was inside an oven. The stones had become so hot that the warmth seeped up through the soles of their shoes.
The capital was crowded and hot. The streets were teeming with people. Stalls were lined up side by side, vendors shouting at the top of their lungs trying to sell their goods. Some sold vegetables, some sold fabric, some sold spices. The air was a mixture of sweat, spices, and animal smells. Everyone had the same expression on their faces: exhaustion and tension. No one greeted anyone else; everyone minded their own business. Buyers raised their voices during bargaining, and sellers shouted back in irritation. The sun beat down so fiercely from above that finding shade was nearly impossible. People huddled against walls, trying to cool themselves with fans. Children, too tired to even cry, clung silently to their mothers' skirts.
Finally, Master Woli and Kaito reached the main entrance of the capital. The gate was so massive that Kaito had to tilt his head back to look at it. The iron-plated wooden door, flanked by towering stone towers on both sides, created an imposing sight. Guards stood atop the towers, their spears glinting in the sun. A battalion of guards greeted them at the city entrance. The guards' armor had heated up from the sun, and some shifted their weight from one foot to the other, but they never broke their stance.
Kaito looked around excitedly. The fatigue of the long journey was visible on his face, but there was a spark in his eyes. His mouth hung slightly open, his head turning left and right. He had never seen a city this big before.
"Master, we finally made it to the capital. Thank you so much for bringing me here."
Woli kept walking, his voice calm but firm. The fatigue of the journey showed on his face, but his steps remained solid.
"Your training starts from here, kid. We've already been through a lot just getting here. So be prepared for everything. There are very powerful and dangerous people in the capital too. Don't ever forget that."
Kaito straightened his back. He clenched his fists.
"Yes, Master."
They finally stood right before the main gate. Armored guards stood on both sides. One of them recognized Woli. A familiar smile appeared on his face. He immediately saluted.
"Ooo, welcome back, Woli. So you've returned from your mission."
Woli nodded. He returned the greeting with a wave of his hand.
"Yes. And I brought someone with me."
The guard looked at Kaito curiously. He scanned him from head to toe. He saw Kaito's torn clothes, his tired but shining eyes.
"I was going to ask about that. Who's this kid?"
"A child I found during the mission. His family was slaughtered by a Djinn."
The guard's smile faded. His expression turned serious. His eyebrows furrowed slightly. He didn't look like someone used to this news – rather, someone whose heart ached every time he heard it.
"Ah… I see. I'm very sorry to hear that, kid."
Kaito answered sincerely. He bowed his head slightly.
"Thank you, sir."
The guard nodded and pointed to the path. He gestured with his hand as if to say "please enter."
"Alright then, please enter, Master Woli."
"Thanks."
Woli and Kaito began walking toward the palace where the Hunter Guild was located. As they moved through the crowded capital, Kaito's eyes kept darting left and right. Everything was so new to him. At one point, a child ran past them with a toy cart, and Kaito's eyes fixed on the toy. Then he caught himself and turned his head forward. Playtime was over.
After a while, Kaito broke the silence.
"Master, can I ask you something?"
"Ask."
"You mentioned the Hunter Guild Chief before. Is he strong? I mean… a little strong, moderately strong, or very strong?"
Woli smiled slightly at the question. There was no mockery in the smile, only a hint of amusement.
"Why do you want to know that, kid?"
Kaito's voice was determined. He walked with his head held high, his eyes fixed forward.
"Because my goal now is to become the strongest hunter. And I will. That's why I want to know how strong the Hunter Chief is."
Woli laughed at these words. Not mockingly – more like he was impressed. Like a father proud of his child.
"Alright then, I'll tell you. The Hunter Guild Chief, Chief Erwin, is very strong. In fact, he's strong enough to defeat an Ifrit on his own. But he doesn't like fighting. And if he does fight… he will absolutely annihilate his opponent."
Kaito's eyes sparkled. His pace quickened.
"Wow… So he's that strong. Then I'll reach a level that surpasses even him. And I will become the strongest hunter. Just watch, Master."
Woli lightly patted Kaito's shoulder. His hand lingered there for a moment.
"I believe in you, kid. Because you're special. And only a special person can defeat an Ifrit."
Kaito hesitated for a moment. He bit his lip. Then he asked timidly.
"Master… is Chief Erwin stronger than you?"
Woli didn't answer immediately. His face became thoughtful for a moment. They walked a little further. Their footsteps echoed on the stone ground. When they finally reached the front of the Hunter Guild palace, Woli spoke.
"I think so."
Kaito turned his head in surprise. His eyebrows shot up.
"What? Just 'I think so'?"
"It wouldn't be right to speak with certainty about something I'm not sure of, kid."
Woli pointed to the magnificent palace before them. The palace was so huge that Kaito's neck hurt from looking up. It was built of white stone with red decorations. Two large lion statues stood in front of the gate. The statues' eyes seemed to be scrutinizing everyone who approached.
"And as you can see… we've finally arrived. Come on, let's go inside."
The guards at the palace gate immediately saluted Woli respectfully. They struck their fists against their chests. Then they opened the gate. The iron door creaked open. A cool breeze flowed out from inside. Woli and Kaito entered with slow but confident steps. The corridors were long and silent. Old battle tapestries hung on the walls. Each tapestry depicted a different battle, a different victory. As Kaito walked, he stopped in front of one tapestry – it showed a massive black creature and a hunter swinging a sword at it. Woli lightly touched Kaito's shoulder, and the child snapped out of it and continued walking.
As they made their way to the main hall where Chief Erwin waited, a group of four hunters approached from the opposite direction. They met in the middle. The torchlight on both sides of the corridor illuminated their faces.
One of the hunters, a tall, muscular man named Raven, spoke first. He had two swords on his back, and his hair was combed back.
"Ooo, I see you've returned, Master Woli." His eyes shifted to Kaito. "And who's this kid?"
The female hunter beside him, Rin, tilted her head curiously. Rin's long black hair was tied in a ponytail, and a thin sword hung at her waist.
"Yes, Master… who is this? Did you find a new student?"
Woli's voice was calm but reserved. His face showed no expression.
"Who he is is none of your concern. You'll find out soon enough."
Then he changed the subject.
"Where are you going?"
Raven answered. His arms were crossed over his chest.
"We've been assigned a mission. Strange things have been happening in Atsutki Village."
Woli's eyebrows furrowed. His hand went to his beard.
"Atsutki… I see. That's the village closest to the capital. What kind of strangeness could there be? No one can easily attack that place."
Rin nodded. Concern showed on her face.
"We don't know what's happening either, Master. We just received a distress call. That's why Chief Erwin assigned us."
Woli looked at each of the four hunters in turn. He scanned each of their faces.
"Alright then. The four of you be careful."
Raven spoke with confidence. He puffed out his chest.
"Don't worry, Master. We'll handle it."
"Good. Then set out before it gets too late."
The four hunters shouted in unison. Their voices echoed through the corridor.
"Yes, Master!"
Woli and Kaito continued walking. Kaito looked back at the hunters one more time. He watched until Raven and Rin disappeared from sight.
"Master, who were they?"
"Don't worry about them. They're a group of newly appointed hunters. I hope nothing happens to them."
Kaito made a sincere wish.
"I hope they stay safe."
After passing through a few more corridors, Woli stopped. His footsteps ceased.
"We've finally reached the main hall."
The guards at the door immediately stood at attention when they saw Woli. They struck their fists against their chests. They opened the door. The heavy stone door creaked open. Dim light spilled out from inside.
As they stepped inside, Kaito was greeted by an unusual sight.
The room, normally filled with the Hunter Council, was completely empty. A long table stood in the middle, surrounded by chairs. But no one was there. Only Chief Erwin sat in the chief's chair. The chair was so large that Erwin's small body seemed to disappear into it. But there was such weight in his posture that his presence filled the entire room.
Erwin stood up as soon as he saw Woli. He wasn't tall – about one hundred and seventy centimeters. But his presence was much larger than his height. He had long white beard and eyebrows. His beard reached down to his chest. He wore a white robe with golden embroidery. He held a long staff in his hand.
His eyes immediately shifted to Kaito. His gaze was so sharp that Kaito flinched for a moment.
"Woli? Is your mission over? And who is this child?"
Woli took a deep breath. He stepped forward.
"Chief, we can discuss the mission later. First, there's something I need to tell you."
Erwin tilted his head curiously. He tapped his staff lightly on the floor.
"So you have something to tell me. What is it?"
"Chief, I came across this child during the mission. His name is Kaito. His family was slaughtered by a Djinn."
He paused for a moment.
"Also… Kaito can see Djinn."
Erwin's eyes widened slightly. His eyebrows rose. The hand holding his staff tensed slightly.
"So… you can see Djinn even without being a Djinn hunter."
He took a deep breath. He took a step toward Kaito.
"That makes you the second person who can see Djinn without being a hunter. That's quite interesting."
Kaito asked in surprise. There was both excitement and curiosity in his voice.
"Second? Then who's the first?"
Erwin's face became expressionless. His voice was firm. It was clear he didn't want to speak much on this topic.
"You don't need to know that yet."
Woli interjected.
"Chief, there's something else."
"Tell me."
"The Djinn that attacked the child's family… his name is Zaryx. He told us himself."
The moment Woli said that name, the atmosphere in the room changed.
Erwin's usually half-closed eyes opened wide like saucers.
He froze for a moment. His hand remained in the air.
"So… Zaryx, huh?"
His voice dropped to a whisper. In the silence of the room, even that whisper echoed.
"The situation is dire. Very dire."
Woli frowned. He took a worried step forward.
"Why, Chief? What worries you so much?"
Erwin took a deep breath. As if the words he was about to speak carried the weight of a mountain. He fixed his eyes on Kaito.
"The Djinn you call Zaryx… is not an ordinary Djinn."
His voice grew heavier.
"He… is an Ifrit."
At that moment, a cold wind seemed to blow through the room. The flames of the torches flickered for a moment. Everyone fell silent.
But Kaito was the one who broke the silence.
Kaito's hands began to tremble. But not from fear – from excitement. His eyes sparkled. A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"So he's an Ifrit, huh?"
There was no fear in his voice. Instead, there was defiance.
"That's good. He's my ultimate goal. I will definitely kill him."
He clenched his teeth. He squeezed his fists so hard that his nails dug into his palms.
"Wait for me, Zaryx."
Woli bowed his head slightly.
"So he's an Ifrit… I suspected as much, but I wasn't completely sure. That's why I wanted to ask you, Chief."
Erwin, however, was locked onto Kaito. He thought to himself:
"This child… he's just like the one mentioned in the legends… M- ah, never mind."
Then he raised his voice.
"Woli, take the child. Start his training with Ren and Aiko. He must learn everything within three days."
His voice hardened.
"Then we will perform the Djinn Binding Ritual."
Kaito asked in confusion. His eyebrows shot up.
"Huh? What's the Djinn Binding Ritual?"
Woli placed his hand on Kaito's shoulder. His hand was heavy but reassuring.
"Yes, Chief."
Then he turned to Kaito.
"Kid, let's go. Your training starts now."
Kaito puffed out his chest and shouted. There was even more conviction in his voice now.
"Yes, Master!"
Woli and Kaito quickly left the room. The door closed behind them.
Erwin stared at the door for a long time after they left. Then he sat back in his chair. His eyes drifted into the void.
"This child…" he muttered.
"I sense something very powerful about him. His aura is very different."
He paused for a moment.
"Whether this is good or bad… we'll see. After all, time heals everything."
He took a deep breath. He struck his staff against the floor. The sound echoed through the room.
"It won't be long before the world falls into war again. I can feel it. The new generation must be very strong for the sake of humanity. Otherwise, the Ifrits will destroy us all."
His voice hardened.
"We must have allies who can prevent this, no matter what."
Then he shouted loudly. His voice filled the room.
"GUARD!"
The door opened instantly. A guard entered. He immediately stood at attention.
"At your command, sir."
"Follow Woli and tell him this: As soon as the child's training is complete, have them perform the Djinn ritual. Then send them toward Atsutki Village. I have a bad feeling about that place."
The guard bowed his head.
"Yes, sir."
After the guard left, Erwin leaned back in his chair. His eyes drifted into the void once more.
"Let's see how much promise this child named Kaito holds…"
He paused for a moment.
"We'll find out soon enough."