Chapter 36: Willow
Ini woke up feeling refreshed, the warm sunlight streaming through the window a stark contrast to the darkness of the previous day. He got up from the bed, stretching his muscles slightly, and began his morning routine. He headed to the bathroom, brushing his teeth and then proceeding to take a refreshing bath.
After his bath, he did a few hundred push-ups to get his blood pumping, the physical exertion helping to clear his mind. He then walked out of the room, heading to the living room, where he was greeted by the sight of Arike already awake and working on the laptop.
"Good morning," she said, looking up from the screen with a hint of a smile. Ini replied, noticing that she was holding the file he had "taken" from the orphanage.
"I figured this is the file we went to get, so I got to work early," Arike explained, her eyes returning to the screen. "Going through the files, I realized the information there was very detailed, and we don't need to hire anyone yet unless we hit a dead end." Ini nodded, intrigued by her findings.
As she continued typing, she asked, "So, she's your sister?" Ini nodded, his expression neutral. The silence that followed was only broken by the sound of Arike's fingers flying across the keyboard.
For almost an hour, the only sound in the room was the clicking of keys and the soft hum of the laptop. Then, Arike's voice suddenly broke the silence, her tone laced with surprise. "No way."
Ini's attention was piqued, and he asked, "What is it?" Arike didn't reply, instead turning the laptop to face him. Ini's eyes scanned the screen, and his gaze landed on a picture of a fair African woman.
She had white hair, which was unusual for someone of African descent, as most people from the continent had black hair. She was wearing a battle suit similar to Ini's own, but it was white and had some customization. There was something elegant about her, something that drew Ini in.
Without a second thought, Ini knew that this was his sister. She looked so much like their mother, the resemblance striking. He clenched his fists firmly, his emotions in turmoil.
He scrolled down the page, reading about his sister's accomplishments. She was an S-Rank hunter, her code name "Willow" a testament to her skills. Her family owned the Twilight Guild, and to be exact, her grandfather was the one in charge.
Ini's eyes widened as he scrolled down further, seeing a picture of his sister beside a man in front of two little boys. The man was also an S-Ranker, his name "Moray" accompanied by a symbol of lightning.
For a moment, Ini's thoughts were a jumbled mess. He murmured to himself, the words barely audible. "For someone who shouldn't be alive, you've made quite the nice life for yourself." Arike didn't hear what he said, too engrossed in her own thoughts.
Ini continued scrolling, his eyes scanning the screen for any information that might be useful. He saw the location, South Africa, Cape Town, and his mind began to whirl with possibilities.
He looked at Arike, his expression unreadable. "Thanks," he said, his voice neutral. "I have to go somewhere." With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Arike to wonder what was wrong.
Ini made his way to Tosak's ship, navigating through the familiar corridors until he reached the room where Tosak was meditating. The air was calm and serene, with a hint of incense wafting through the air. Tosak was levitating about a meter off the ground, his eyes closed in deep contemplation.
Despite not looking at Ini, Tosak seemed to sense his presence. "You finally found her?" he asked, his voice low and soothing.
Ini didn't show any surprise at Tosak's awareness of his presence. "Yes," he replied, his voice neutral.
Tosak's eyes remained closed as he continued, "You're here hoping I would stop you." Ini didn't respond, his gaze fixed on Tosak.
Tosak's expression was calm, but his words carried a weight of wisdom. "Normally, I would have told you to forgive her. She was just a child and didn't mean for anything to happen. And I'm sure you know that."
Tosak's eyes opened, and he looked at Ini with an intensity that made Ini's heart skip a beat. "But you took a mental note to kill her. That thought got intensified when you got your mind powers. It's just a minor thought now, but it would grow more till it interferes with your powers, making them unstable."
Tosak's words struck a chord within Ini. He knew that Tosak was right. His desire for revenge had been simmering beneath the surface, fueled by his newfound powers.
"It's already starting now that you went after her," Tosak continued. "She's been on your mind, that's why it was so easy for me to pry." Tosak's words were like a mirror, reflecting Ini's inner turmoil.
Tosak's expression turned serious. "My advice is to get closure, whether you kill her or not. Although she's your only family left, killing her makes you more powerful, increasing our chances against the Celestial. Just do it, and it's not a must you kill her. You can also forgive her. Just make sure you do it fast, before another Colossal appears."
Tosak's words hung in the air, leaving Ini to ponder his options. The weight of his decision was crushing, and Ini knew that he had to make a choice soon.
Ini left Tosak's shop with a lot on his mind. He couldn't shake off the feeling that he needed to see his sister before making any decisions. He thought about the information he had found out about her and the possibilities of what could happen if he were to confront her.
He couldn't help but wonder how things would have turned out if their parents were alive. He sighs knowing they aren't alive and she has to pay.
With a newfound sense of purpose, Ini quickened his pace, his heart pounding in anticipation. Would he be able to forgive her, or would he seek revenge? The questions swirled in his mind as he walked, but he knew one thing for sure - he had to see her.