In the early morning at sunrise, the place was calm and still. Erold and his companions—Jasmin, Luce, and Argus—set out toward Utma.
Luce yawned tiredly and said, "Isn't it a bit early, guys?"
Jasmin replied enthusiastically, "Come on, Luce! We should have moved even earlier than this."
Erold approached Utma, and in a strange moment, he managed to take hold of him without the horse resisting. It seemed as though Utma had grown accustomed to Erold's presence. Erold lowered his voice and whispered, "We've become friends now."
But Utma suddenly looked at him and kicked him with force. Erold said, groaning in pain, "Oh… I guess we won't be friends." He added afterward, "If you hadn't done what you just did, I would have doubted you were the Utma I know."
Jasmin came running, saying, "Let's go, Erold! We must move."
But before he could take another step, a figure with dark fur appeared watching them from a distance, his voice echoing from the void: "Your test will begin today, earlier than the required time… Erold."
Standing there was Karl, the Jinn who had previously granted Erold a grace period for training.
In that moment, Luce and Argus exchanged glances. Luce said, "Let's eat first, then we move."
They all went to prepare food. During this, Erold turned toward Argus and asked, "Argus, tell me… what is your story? Curiosity possesses me. Why were you searching for the Jinn that was in the Kingdom of Egypt? And what is your connection to him?"
Argus pressed his lips together and said coldly, "That is none of your business."
Erold insisted, "We are traveling the same path, so there should be no secrets between us."
Argus smiled mockingly and said, "Tell me then… what are your secrets? What is your goal? And what do you want from the Kingdom?"
Erold sighed and said, "Fine… my goal is to separate the Jinn world from the human world. And what I want from the Kingdom is to recruit someone there to join my journey."
Argus paused for a moment, then looked at Luce as if prompting him to speak. Luce said, "My goal is to reach perfection."
Argus was amazed and said, "Perfection? Isn't that difficult, man?"
Luce replied confidently, "There is no such thing as 'difficult' in my dictionary."
After a moment, Argus said, "As for me… my goal is the extermination of the Jinn."
They were all shocked. At that moment, Arthur emerged from within Erold, laughing and saying, "Yes! That's what I'm talking about! Finally, someone with a brain among you."
Argus was surprised and asked, "Aren't you and he sharing the same goal?"
Arthur said seriously, "No, we are two different people… and each of us has his own goals."
Argus asked curiously, "Then what is your goal, Arthur?"
Arthur smiled and said in a sharp voice, "My goal is the extermination of the Jinn… without exception."
Erold's features froze for a moment. Argus asked Erold, "But your paths are different, man… how will you achieve what you seek together?"
Erold said to himself reassuringly, "I trust Arthur; he will understand my goal and won't interfere with it."
But Arthur emerged again and said with a grim sternness, "I don't think so. My goal will not change no matter what—until the fire of my father in his grave is extinguished… even if this leads to the death of us all."
His tone was deadly serious, like an explicit threat. Jasmin looked at them in wonder, "Why are your faces like that? What did Arthur say?"
Erold hurried to reply before Argus could speak, "He didn't say anything important… just some stupid things, don't worry about it."
But Argus kept staring at Erold, saying to himself: "This is impossible… a body and a soul that aren't in agreement? Is that possible? Or is this Arthur not a soul at all?" Argus gripped his sword and whispered in his depths: "I hope he is a Jinn… then killing him will be easier than I expected."
Jasmin shouted, "Let's move!"
They gathered their belongings and set out. Jasmin was on Utma's back, while the other three continued walking until they noticed the sunset. Erold said, "Let's stop here for a bit and set up the tents."
Everyone began preparing the tents. Luce said, smiling, "Lord Sebastieli is truly generous… he provided us with enough tents and provisions to reach the Kingdom. I used to sleep under trees and eat anything I found… I am in true bliss now!"
Jasmin laughed and said, "That is one of the perks of being a hero."
Luce looked at her mockingly and said, "And how did you become a hero? By lying on top of Utma?"
Jasmin shouted, "Even you haven't done anything! So let's stop here; no one will win."
Luce replied, smiling, "You're right."
Erold was helping Argus set up his tent. Argus asked him, "Erold… what will you do about Arthur? I know you hear me, Arthur! If you want to come out, then come out so we can talk."
But Arthur did not reply. Erold said calmly, "We cannot do anything to each other… we complement one another. Besides, I know that inside Arthur is a kind person beyond what you can imagine. What happened to him in the past caused this hatred, but I am confident he will realize that this is not the solution. Exterminating an entire race because of the actions of an individual is never fair."
Then he turned toward Argus and said, "And my words apply to you as well, Argus."
Argus answered him seriously, "You have misunderstood my goal. I do not seek total annihilation. My goal is to kill every manifestation of the Seven High Jinn and their servants; they are the ones wreaking havoc upon our lands. Moreover, the Jinn capable of possessing bodies are very few; not all of them can do it, so I am somewhat at ease."
Erold asked in surprise, "And how do you intend to go to the Jinn world then?"
Argus replied quickly, "I learned that there is a gate leading to the Jinn world… but it has a key. Something called the Eye of Mystery. And on my way searching for it… I found you."
Erold said seriously, lowering his voice, "Argus… do you promise me not to touch any innocent Jinn, and to treat them as you treat humans?"
Argus replied steadily, "There is no need for me to promise… that is what I was going to do anyway."
Erold smiled, then took the Eye of Mystery out of his pocket and showed it to Argus. Argus's features froze as he said hesitantly, "What… what does this mean?!"
Erold answered him calmly, "I want you to join us, Argus."
Argus was flustered and asked him, "How did you get it? And from where? Do you know the location of the Gate?"
Erold said sternly, "I won't answer until you give me your reply."
Argus breathed deeply and said with certainty, "Yes."
Erold smiled and answered him, "Then… I got it from a village in the North. But I know nothing about the Gate; that old man never mentioned it. All he said was that we need four people… and we are now four."
Argus explained, "The Gate requires four people to open it, and when it is opened, an unlimited number can enter, but only at a specific time… when the moon is full."
Erold said reassuringly, "That's good… we can recruit that man."
Argus was surprised and asked, "Who is he?"
Erold smiled and answered him, "A man named Gilgamesh."
Argus's eyes widened and he shouted, "Gilgamesh?! The Mad Prince?! How will you convince him to join you?! It is said that he is indescribably arrogant… he sees no one as his equal."
Erold replied calmly, "And what do I have to lose? Nothing… that's why I'll try."
Argus shouted emotionally, "Are you crazy, Erold?! Do you realize what you're saying? And who you're talking about?! It's Gilgamesh! Do you intend to take over the Jinn world or what?"
Erold smiled steadily and said, "If his path is the same as ours… then it won't be impossible. He was looking for the Eye of Mystery as well, so don't worry."
Then Erold stepped away toward Jasmin and Luce, and said as he turned back to Argus, "Right… don't tell them what Arthur said."
Argus feigned ignorance and asked, "What did Arthur say? I don't understand what you mean."
Erold smiled and said quietly, "Thank you."
The night passed, and everyone slept inside their tents. Erold sat lying down, contemplating the sky until sleepiness weighed him down. Just before his eyes closed completely, he felt a strange coldness surrounding his body, and he heard a familiar voice whispering in his depths:
"Welcome back, Erold… the time for the test has come."
Erold shouted within himself: "Karl!"