The council was called within the hour.
Aerin had rules for everything, but when something or someone broke those rules completely, there was only one response, to gather the highest ranks and decide fast.
In the upper levels of the headquarters, a large circular room lit up as its systems activated. A long metal table stood in the center, surrounded by high-backed chairs. Screens along the walls were displaying sealed symbols and security codes, which were blocking any outside access.
There Director Flint Raymond sat at the head of the table, his face was calm but tired.
To his right sat Colonel Harrick, a tall man with gray hair and sharp eyes, his posture straight like a soldier carved from stone. Next to him was Major Vance, younger but serious, his fingers were tapping slowly against the table as if counting seconds.
And across from them two familiar figures were sitting.
Lieutenant Jake Clinton, silent, hands folded tightly together.
And beside him, Lieutenant Rubin Pearson, leaning back in his chair, arms crossed, eyes cold and unreadable.
No one spoke at first.
Then the main screen at the far end of the room was on and a figure was showing. It was only a shadow. The lighting was too dark to show any face. But the presence alone was enough to shift the air in the room.
It was Yoshi Todaki, the Father of Aerin and the first man who fought against the Seven Deadly Sins.
Even the officers who had spent their lives in battle sat straighter when his voice came through the speakers.
"Begin," Yoshi said calmly.
Flint cleared his throat. "So this meeting concerns an unregistered being named as Kael. It's a survivor of a newborn Wrath manifestation, survivor of Resonance but failed, and survivor of the Survival Ethics Trial and the outbreak."
Colonel Harrick spoke next. "Medically confirmed Rin-null, yet capable of manipulating an undefined amount of the blood of his as a weapon."
Major Vance shook his head slightly. "Which should be impossible."
Rubin leaned forward. "Not impossible. Dangerous."
Jake's jaw tightened but he stayed silent.
Flint continued. "According to Doctor Looms' report, Kael does not generate Rin nor does he have any. He does not generate the blood he used. Which means his ability is neither human nor Aeri."
Rubin spoke sharply. "Then he doesn't belong in this city, no, not even in this world."
Jake finally looked up. "But he saved lives in that outbreak, and what about those two Aeri trainees, who caused that incident."
Rubin turned to him. "It was just an accident caused by them and they are going to be punished strictly. But that weakling, he went out of control and nearly died doing it."
Jake's voice was steady but firm. "And what about our trained units, why didn't they came to stop the outbreak."
Silence followed that.
Colonel Harrick spoke. "Lieutenant Clinton, emotions will not decide this. This is the matter of a dangerous entity."
Jake met his eyes. "Then facts will. Kael has not attacked anyone. He has not resisted. He has not shown aggression. Everything he's done has been to survive."
Jake continued with anger, " And he is not an entity."
Major Vance frowned. "Or he hasn't lost control yet."
Rubin nodded. "Exactly."
Jake looked at Yoshi's shadow on the screen. "Sir, you also saw the footage. Right? You asked for that Survival Ethics trial. You gave him that chance. And he passed it plus he survived for 40 minutes which is impossible to survive without any Rin."
Yoshi did not answer.
The silence from the screen felt heavier than shouting.
Flint finally said, "Council protocol suggests termination or permanent containment."
Jake stood up.
"I won't allow that."
Rubin's eyes narrowed. "You don't have authority over this."
"I don't care," Jake said. "Then punish me. Strip my rank, and lock me up too. But don't kill a boy who hasn't done anything wrong."
Colonel Harrick slammed his palm lightly on the table. "Sit down, Lieutenant."
Jake didn't.
Rubin stood as well. "You're risking Aerin for one unknown human. Are again making a bet to take that entity's life."
Jake shot back, "And you're willing to kill him because you're afraid of what you don't understand."
Major Vance raised his voice. "Enough!"
Flint lifted a hand. "Stand down. Both of you. Mr Yoshi wants to say something."
Jake slowly sat, but his hands were shaking now.
Then, finally, Yoshi spoke.
"Bring the boy."
Every head turned toward the screen.
Flint blinked. "Sir?"
"I said bring him," Yoshi repeated calmly.
Rubin stiffened. "But that entity is not stable, barely conscious."
Yoshi's voice did not change. "I want to see him."
The room went quiet again.
Flint nodded slowly. "Very well."
The medical room on the third floor was quiet except for the steady beeping of machines.
Kael was awake.
His eyes were open, staring at the ceiling. His body still felt like it was made of stone, heavy and slow. Bandages wrapped his arms, chest and face. His head hurt, but not in the sharp way like before. More like a deep ache that refused to leave.
He tried to move his legs, but they barely responded.
The nurse noticed and walked over. "Easy. Don't push yourself."
Kael swallowed. "Am I… alive?"
She gave a small smile. "Very much."
Before he could ask more, the door opened.
Jake stepped inside and said to nurse,"being me a wheelchair."
The nurse sighed softly. "Again… oh, yes sir, Lieutenant Clinton."
She went to get a wheelchair.
Kael looked at Jake, confused. "What's happening?"
Jake didn't answer right away. He looked tired. Older.
"They called a council meeting," he said finally. "And they want to see you."
Kael's heart skipped. "See me? Who? Why?… like— now?"
Jake nodded.
The nurse returned with the wheelchair and helped Kael sit up. His legs felt weak as they lifted him, but he managed not to cry out.
Jake took the handles himself.
As they rolled down the hall, Kael whispered, "Am I in trouble?"
Jake's grip tightened. "A big one, very big. But no matter what happens… remember this. You didn't do anything wrong... Intentionally or unintentionally."
Kael didn't fully believe that, but he nodded anyway.
The elevator ride felt too long.
And when the doors opened, guards were already waiting.
The council chamber doors slid apart slowly.
Kael felt the room before he saw it.
The pressure. The eyes.
And as he was rolled inside, he saw that the room went silent.
Kael lifted his head and saw them.
Flint. Two high-ranking officers he didn't know. Rubin, staring at him like he was looking at a loaded weapon.
And then on the screen, there was a dark figure.
Kael felt something in his chest.
Jake pushed the wheelchair to the center of the room and stopped.
"This is Kael," Flint said.
No one spoke.
Kael swallowed. "…Hello."
His voice sounded too small for a room like this.
Yoshi's voice came through the speakers, calm and deep.
"So… this is you."
Kael looked up at the screen. "Sir… I don't know who you are and what's happening. But I'm not trying to hurt anyone."
Rubin scoffed quietly.
Yoshi did not react.
Instead, he said only one thing.
"Well then… let's begin."
And the doors of the council chamber sealed shut.