Kaito was walking with Master Woli toward the main hall where the hunters gathered when a guard came running up behind them. His footsteps echoed through the stone corridor.
"Master Woli! Please wait… Master Woli!!!"
At these shouts, Master Woli turned around and called out to the guard.
"Huh? What's going on? Why are you yelling?"
The guard, out of breath, reached Master Woli and began to speak. He was trying to catch his breath but couldn't quite manage it.
"Master… Chief Erwin… right after you left, he called me… and told me to deliver a message to you."
Woli's eyes narrowed.
"What is it?"
"The training must be completed quickly. There's no time to waste. After that, the Djinn Binding Ritual will be performed immediately. Then you will go to Atsutki Village – to help the other hunter group. That is the Chief's command, Master Woli."
Woli's face tightened.
"What? We're going to Atsutki Village? Kaito and the others are just rookies. They'll be dead weight. I'll go alone."
The guard shook his head.
"Master, the Chief's command is clear and final. He said he has a bad feeling about that place."
Woli took a deep breath. He stroked his beard involuntarily.
"Hmm… fine then. If that's what the Chief wants, there's nothing I can do. But tell him this for me: When I return, there's something I need to discuss with him."
The guard bowed his head.
"Understood, Master."
Then the guard turned and left. His footsteps faded into the distance.
Kaito turned his head curiously. His black hair was plastered to his forehead with sweat, and his brown eyes looked at Woli with a questioning expression.
"Master, why are we going to Atsutki Village?"
"Didn't you hear, kid? The Chief wants it. He has a bad feeling. His instincts are never wrong. Now come on – the other hunters are in the hall. Let's go."
Five minutes later, Master Woli and Kaito entered the hall where the hunters were gathered.
The air inside was suffocating. Everyone seemed to be holding their breath. The moment they stepped in, all eyes locked onto them. Whispering began among the hunters.
"Who's that?"
"Who did Master Woli bring this time?"
"He looks pretty scrawny."
Kaito, however, walked confidently beside Master Woli, his head held high. His confident steps, despite his tattered clothes, drew attention. He didn't seem bothered by the stares. On the contrary, it was as if he was challenging them.
Master Woli stopped in the middle of the hall and began to speak. His voice filled the room.
"Hey, you fools! What are you looking at? Haven't you ever seen someone coming to become a hunter? Don't interfere with him, or you'll have to deal with me."
A cold voice rose from the other end of the hall.
"Pff… still the same attitude, Woli."
The speaker was a large man leaning back in a cushioned chair. It was Master Rambeel.
"Exactly. Woli's showing off again. And who's this scrawny kid?"
This time, the speaker was a sharp-eyed man leaning against the wall. It was Master Poel.
"Just leave him alone. That's just how Woli is."
The other speaker was a woman who smiled, but her eyes were serious. It was Master Robin.
Woli turned his head slightly toward them. There was no threat in his voice, but there was coldness.
"What business do you three have here?"
Rambeel shrugged.
"What, we can't rest here, Woli?"
The atmosphere was very tense. All the hunters held their breath, wondering what the other masters would say. It felt like a spark could set off an explosion at any moment.
Woli shook his head slightly.
"I don't have time to deal with you. I'm on a mission personally given by the Chief. Mind your own business."
Poel's voice rose. He straightened up in his chair.
"You've always been this arrogant. Be a little more polite, damn it."
"I told you. I'm on an important mission. Mind your own business."
Poel stood up. His eyes blazed with anger.
"You son of a—"
At that moment, Woli turned and looked at Master Poel. His gaze was so sharp that the temperature in the room seemed to drop for a moment.
"Do you want to fight?"
His voice was calm. But there was a storm inside it.
"Come on, then."
Poel took a step forward. The air grew even more tense.
But just then, Master Robin stepped in between them. He raised a hand to separate them.
"Hey, that's enough. You're not children. You're not setting a good example for the other hunters. Calm down."
Rambeel also nodded.
"Yes, Robin's right. Both of you, calm down."
Woli stared at Poel for a moment. Then he turned his head away.
"Kaito, Ren, Aiko – follow me. Now. We're in a hurry."
Then the four of them left the main hall together.
After the door closed, the whispering in the hall began again.
"I wonder who's stronger – Master Poel or Master Woli?"
"Yeah, I've always wondered that."
"I think Master Woli is stronger."
"No, I think Master Poel is stronger."
Rambeel shouted. His voice shook the entire hall.
"You tin pieces! Shut your mouths! Break's over – go back to your training. Those with missions, get going. Don't waste time."
The hunters immediately began to disperse.
Robin approached Poel.
"Hey Poel, why did you go that far?"
Poel took a deep breath. The anger was still on his face.
"Because his ego and his carelessness piss me off."
Rambeel stepped between them.
"Both of you went too far. If this matter gets to the Chief… it won't be good."
Poel lowered his head. He was silent for a moment.
"I think you're right, Rambeel. I'll ask him… to forgive me."
A faint smile appeared on Robin's face.
"Now that's how a master should speak, Poel."
Meanwhile, Master Woli, Kaito, Ren, and Aiko had arrived at the backyard where the hunters trained.
The yard was wide. It was surrounded by high stone walls. The ground was dusty and hard. In one corner stood weighted stones of various sizes, and in another corner were racks of swords and shields.
Woli stood before the four of them. He crossed his arms.
"You already know me, so I don't need to introduce myself. Now, let's do a quick introduction."
Kaito spoke first. He stepped forward confidently. His black hair swayed slightly in the wind, and his brown eyes shone with determination. Beneath his torn clothes, a slightly muscular build was visible – the marks of a long journey.
"Hello, I'm Kaito. My reason for coming here is to learn how to fight and become the strongest hunter. And then… to take my revenge."
His voice was confident. The fire in his eyes didn't lie.
Next was Ren. With his tall stature, blue hair, and blue eyes, he had a cold demeanor. His voice was as icy as his gaze.
"I'm Ren."
Woli raised an eyebrow.
"That's it?"
"Yes, Master."
There was no excitement or curiosity in Ren's blue eyes. Just one expression – expressionlessness.
Then came Aiko. With her short stature, pink hair, and big green eyes, she was like a spring day. There was a huge smile on her face. She could barely contain her excitement.
"Hellooooo!! I'm Aiko. I hope we have a great time together."
She laughed to herself.
"Master Woli brought me here. Ehh… I guess he brought all of us. Hehehe."
Then her expression became a little more serious. Her green eyes darkened for a moment.
"My goal is to become a strong hunter… and find my brother."
Kaito asked curiously.
"Is your brother missing?"
Aiko's voice dropped a little. She brushed her pink hair back.
"Uh… yeah. He disappeared three years ago. I've been searching for him ever since but… I haven't found him."
Kaito nodded. His brown eyes softened.
"I'm sorry to hear that. But we're together now. We can search for him together. We can find him."
Aiko's face lit up again. Her big green eyes sparkled.
"Ah, really? Thank you so much! You're so kind!"
Woli put his hands together and began to speak.
"That's enough of the introductions. Now it's training time."
His voice hardened.
"Starting today, it will last a total of three days. If you succeed, you will earn the right to undergo the Djinn Binding Ritual. If you also succeed there, you will gain the power of a Djinn."
Kaito's eyes sparkled.
"The power of a Djinn?" he asked curiously.
Woli nodded.
"Yes. But this isn't the time to explain that. First, get through this training. Then you'll learn."
Kaito had to swallow his question. Though curiosity gnawed at him, a master's word was to be obeyed.
"Any questions?"
Silence.
"Alright then. Let's begin."
Woli started counting on his fingers.
"The training will last three days, and each day we will do a different exercise. There are three in total. They are: Offense, which we will do today; Defense, which we will do tomorrow; and Willpower, which we will do on the final day."
Kaito frowned.
"Willpower?"
Ren muttered coldly. His blue eyes remained as expressionless as ever.
"Willpower? Boring."
Aiko, however, clapped her hands excitedly. Her pink hair bounced and scattered around her.
"Wow, that sounds like so much fun!"
A faint smile appeared on Woli's lips. But beneath that smile was a merciless master.
"You brats think these training sessions will be easy."
He stepped forward.
"Yes, today's will be easy. You'll just be fighting each other for ten hours straight. And then finally… you'll fight me."
Kaito's mouth fell open.
"What? Fight you? You must be joking."
Ren's eyes sparkled. For the first time, there was a hint of excitement in his blue eyes.
"Now that sounds fun."
Aiko, however, leaned back in worry.
"Oh… this is really scary."
Woli continued.
"Tomorrow, you'll do ten hours of defense training with me. At first, you'll defend against each other. One will attack, the other will defend. Then, for the last three hours… I will attack, and you will defend."
Kaito's face scrunched up.
"And the final day's willpower training… is the hardest."
Woli's eyes narrowed.
"And a surprise."
Kaito asked in surprise.
"A surprise?"
Ren shrugged. Even his shrug was cold.
"A surprise? Sounds boring."
Aiko, however, jumped up and down excitedly. Her green eyes sparkled.
"Wow! I love surprises!"
Woli lowered his hands. His expression indicated that he was finished speaking.
"That's enough talk. Now… Kaito and Ren – step forward. You two will go first."
The two stepped forward.
"Without rest, one full hour of offense. No defense. Just attack."
Kaito and Ren shouted at the same time.
"Yes, Master!!!"
And so, the story of this quartet began…
To be continued…