章 5: Ogi and Muta Zenin
Ogi Zenin, a tall and slender elderly man with a prominent Roman nose and long, sleek black hair secured in a high ponytail, possessed eyes that seemingly bore the darkness of a black sclera.
However, whenever his eyes widened in recollection of the near-fatal encounter with Toji, they would reveal a startling white hue.
Clad in a white shitagi, a white kosode, and dark hakama with matching white socks, Ogi exuded an air of dignified elegance.
Now, Ogi Zenin's countenance was marred by a foul expression, and his eyes blazed with an intensity that hinted at a vengeful desire to take the lives of anyone obstructing his path.
His gaze fixated on the closed door of the training room, his face contorted with bitterness.
He had witnessed his son being forcefully dragged into that room, teeming with formidable adversaries known as flyheads, and a pervasive certainty gnawed at his heart—his son was likely dead by now.
"This damn brat."
Ogi muttered under his breath, his figure standing resolute before the entrance to the training room.
His mind, awash with memories of his son, was overcome by a profound sense of disappointment and desolation.
Throughout his existence, Ogi had never harbored aspirations for a lofty position within the Zenin family.
Yet, he found himself perpetually overshadowed by his elder brother's authority and eclipsed by his younger brother's sorcerous talents.
The weight of this injustice fanned the flames of anger within him.
Ogi's twin daughters, Maki and Mai, had come into the world prior to or around the time when Naobito ascended as the 26th head of the Zenin Family.
Regrettably, the twins had been deemed failures by the Zenins, and as a consequence, Ogi himself was denied the opportunity to assume leadership.
Consumed by envy, he sought to sire another son outside the confines of the Zenin lineage as backup plan.
However, after years of fervent grooming, this son of his proved to be a greater disappointment than his two daughters.
This made him hateful, bitter, and become someone who seeks higher status within the clan. And he would do anything for that now, after all, he couldn't count on his offsprings.
"This is all your fault."
Ogi mumbled wearily, his gaze fixed upon the door of the training room.
Within its confines, Gavin and his two Sage paths resided, engaged in an arduous battle.
"If only you had acknowledged my name, you wouldn't be subjected to such treatment and you wouldn't have died."
He added, his aged countenance betraying a sharpness that masked the sorrow emanating from within his eyes.
Ogi understood that his son possessed an innate kindness, one that extended even towards his own father.
His son was acutely aware of Ogi's standing within the clan, as well as the hardships he had endured.
Consequently, he refrained from revealing his existence to Ogi's twin daughters, out of consideration for his father's feelings.
It was precisely this very kindness that had become his downfall.
Ogi recognized that his son's knowledge of his existence and position prevented him from openly declaring himself to the rest of the world.
In his son's eyes, he was merely another failure, and the thought of his son making such an admission would only serve to deepen Ogi's embarrassment.
"You fool!"
Ogi cursed vehemently, lamenting the fact that his son had not reached out to him for assistance.
If only his son had called upon him, he would have intervened, preventing the calamity that awaited him within the training room—where cursed spirits eagerly awaited their next feast.
Ogi knew his son to be a person who refrained from extending aid unless it was explicitly desired.
Thus, he had allowed them to drag his son away.
In an instant, the visage of Ogi, previously etched with cruelty and sadness, underwent a profound transformation.
His sharp countenance softened, and his eyes, as if capable of piercing through solid barriers, fixated upon the door of the training room.
With a swift and nimble motion, he took a step back, displaying a reflexive agility that belied his advanced age.
"Hmm?"
Ogi's hands instinctively tightened around the hilt of his weapon, his gaze trained upon the door with utmost caution.
He knew that his son resided within those walls, surrounded by a multitude of flyheads numbering in the thousands.
Though individually feeble, these cursed spirits assumed a fearsome presence when amassed together.
However, among the horde, Ogi discerned a presence that deviated from the rest.
"Who are you!?"
He exclaimed, his voice laden with animosity.
A foreboding sensation gripped him, and he couldn't shake the nagging thought that his son was somehow entangled in this ominous presence.
Anxiety gnawed at his heart as he pondered the fate that had befallen his beloved child.
Spirits, after all, emerged from the depths of desire and animosity, and the implications of such a realization left Ogi reluctant to fathom the horrors that may have transpired within those walls.
Slowly, the training room door creaked open, revealing an ever-increasing aura of terror seeping forth.
Ogi's apprehension surged, for he recognized that this formidable energy was on par with his own.
Thus, his caution escalated to new heights.
Then, with a sense of familiarity that struck a chord deep within his being, a figure emerged from the room, bearing the same gait, appearance, and attire.
And then, it spoke, uttering a single word that carried profound weight—
"Father."
Ogi experienced an icy shiver coursing down his spine, his every hair standing on end, when he heard that voice, monotone and lifeless as if emanating from a corpse.
It claimed to be his son, and the implications sent a surge of disbelief through his veins.
"Muta?"
Ogi queried, for Muta Zenin was the name of his son.
Seeking confirmation, he directed his gaze towards the face of the individual before him.
His intuition proved correct—this was indeed his son.
Gavin, in his current state, bore an uncanny resemblance to the Sage Puppets, despite their middle-aged appearance.
Ogi, however, could still discern the vestiges of his son within the countenance of this person who now stood before him, asserting their identity.
"What has befallen you?"
Ogi inquired, his voice laden with concern and a tinge of sorrow.
However, his conviction wavered as he observed the figure before him.
Although the resemblance to his son was undeniable, an unsettling aura enveloped this being, akin to that of a corpse spirit or a twisted amalgamation.
The absence of any hostile action from it puzzled Ogi, for a spirit of such nature would typically launch an attack without hesitation.
Nonetheless, Ogi couldn't shake off the thought that this being might indeed be his son.
"I have awakened a cursed energy."
The person claiming to be his son replied in a flat, emotionless tone.
Despite having heard those words, Ogi couldn't help but shudder, a profound chill coursing down his spine.
His attention was particularly drawn to the armor hanging from his son's back, an object that seemed to possess a semblance of life amidst the lifelessness that surrounded it.
"What do you mean? What has happened to you?"
Ogi inquired, his voice filled with a mixture of concern and confusion.
How could his son, who had appeared no different from an ordinary human just moments ago, have ascended to the pinnacle of a Grade 1 sorcerer or a special grader sorcerer?
The sudden and drastic transformation left Ogi grappling for answers, his mind racing to comprehend the unfathomable circumstances that had befallen his son.
"I'll tell you."
Ogi's gaze remained fixed upon the figure before him, his heart heavy with a mix of trepidation and anticipation.
The emotionless voice of his son, or whatever entity now inhabited his son's form, echoed through the air, sending a shiver down Ogi's spine.
"However, we are the only ones who should know this."
The words carried an air of secrecy, a need for confidentiality.
Ogi understood the weight of the situation and the importance of keeping their conversation private.
After a moment of contemplation, Ogi nodded in agreement.
"I will listen."
He acknowledged the request for exclusivity, acknowledging that they alone should bear witness to the truth that awaited.
With a solemn expression, Ogi conveyed his readiness to receive the revelations that his son, or the entity within him, was about to disclose.
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