With the soldier guidance syal reach in front of colonel office. The barracks sure bigger than what it seems on the outside.
The soldier knock at the office door.
"Come in!"
The same annoying sound from yesterday can be heard. Syal then enter the room alone, the soldier have his own duty after all.
Syal trudged to the Colonel's office, his feet heavy with grief.
Yesterday, the Colonel had come to his house bearing devastating news, his father had died.
In their country, the funeral of a fallen soldier was arranged by the state, so the family only needed to attend. But yesterday, the Colonel hadn't mentioned the funeral schedule, so Syal had come to ask.
Syal opened the door to the Colonel's office and stepped inside. The Colonel was sitting behind his desk, a strange smile plastered on his face.
"Good day, Syal," the Colonel said in a casual tone.
"What brings you here today?"
Syal felt uneasy with the unusual atmosphere. "I wanted to ask about the funeral arrangements for my father," he said seriously.
The Colonel burst out laughing, catching Syal off guard. "Funeral? Ha! I was just joking yesterday, Syal! Your father is fine!"
Syal felt like he'd been hit with a sledgehammer.
"What?! You were just joking?! How could you do that to me?!"
The Colonel was still chuckling, but Syal could see the realization of his mistake on his face. "I... I didn't think it would be a good joke. I have a bad sense of humor, Syal."
Syal felt angry and hurt. "You have a bad sense of humor?! That's not just bad, it's cruel! You have no right to do that to me or my family!"
The Colonel stopped laughing and looked at Syal with a serious expression. "I know, Syal. I'm deeply sorry for what I did. I'll do anything to make it right"
Syal's eyes narrowed. "Where is my father?" he demanded.
The Colonel's expression turned serious, and he leaned forward.
"That's classified, Syal. I'm not at liberty to disclose that information."
Syal felt a surge of frustration. "What do you mean it's classified? You're the one who told me my father was dead, and now you're saying you can't tell me where he is?"
The Colonel's expression didn't change. "If you want to know what happened to your father, you'll have to join the military."
Syal's eyes widened in surprise.
"What? That's the only way I can find out what happened to my father?"
The Colonel nodded. "Yes. That's the only way."
Syal hesitated for a moment, but his desire to find out what had happened to his father outweighed his reservations. "Okay, I'll do it."
The Colonel nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Good. Now, as for your training..."
Syal's eyes lit up with anticipation.
"Yes? What kind of training will I need to go through?"
But instead of answering, the Colonel reached into his pocket and pulled out a coin. He tossed it into the air, and it spun towards Syal.
"Flip the coin," the Colonel said, his eyes glinting with a serious intensity. "If it lands on heads, you're in."
Syal's eyes widened in confusion. "What? Is this some kind of joke?"
But the Colonel's expression was dead serious. "Flip the coin, Syal. I'll explain later."
Syal hesitated for a moment, but the Colonel's intensity was unnerving. He reached out and caught the coin, flipping it over onto the back of his hand.
Syal lifted his hand, and the coin sparkled in the light. "It's heads," he said, looking up at the Colonel. "So, this means I'm in?"
The Colonel smiled, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Welcome to the military, Syal."
Before Syal could respond, the Colonel continued, "But before we discuss your father, let me explain something to you. Syal, do you believe in the supernatural? Superpowers? That kind of thing?"
Syal raised an eyebrow, taken aback by the question. "Of course not," he said, chuckling. "We're a nation that values science and reason. Our curriculum is designed to teach us that science is everything."
The Colonel leaned forward, his eyes glinting with intensity.
"You should believe, Syal. Your father is one of the strongest in humanity."
Syal's skepticism must have shown on his face, because the Colonel smiled again. "Let me show you," he said, holding out his hand.
And then, in a movement that seemed impossible, the coin that Syal had just flipped suddenly flew off his hand and landed in the Colonel's palm.
Syal's eyes widened in shock. "How...how did you do that?" he stuttered.
The Colonel smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "That's just a small demonstration of what we're capable of, Syal. Your father is much more powerful than I am."
Syal's mind reeled as he tried to process what he had just seen. He had always believed that the world was governed by science and reason, but now he was faced with the possibility that there was more to reality than he had ever imagined.
The Colonel leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers together as he began to explain. "There's a reason why the government keeps this information secret, Syal. It's not just a matter of national security, but also a matter of public perception. If people were to find out that there are individuals with superhuman abilities living among them, it could lead to widespread panic and unrest."
"But now that you're joining the military, you have the right to know," the Colonel continued. "We have a device that can detect whether someone is alive or dead, and according to that device, your father is alive."
Syal's eyes widened in surprise. "But...but you said he didn't come back from his mission. What does that mean?"
The Colonel's expression turned serious. "It means that either your father is missing, sealed, or banished from this continent."
Syal's mind reeled as he tried to process the information. "What do you mean by 'sealed'?" he asked.
The Colonel hesitated before answering. "When someone is 'sealed', it means that they have been imprisoned or confined in some way, often using supernatural means. It's a way of keeping them contained and preventing them from causing harm."
Syal's eyes narrowed. "And what about 'banished'?"
The Colonel's expression turned grim. "When someone is 'banished', it means that they have been forcibly removed from this continent, often as a form of punishment. It's a rare and serious measure, and it's usually only used for those who have committed severe crimes."
Syal's mind was racing with questions and fears, but the Colonel's next words cut through the chaos. "Syal, I know this is a lot to take in, but I need you to understand that your father's situation is complex and sensitive. We need to be careful about how we proceed."
The Colonel leaned forward, his eyes burning with intensity. "Now, Syal, I need to explain the most important part. You see, people with superpowers like your father are known as 'Fated'. And the term 'Fated' comes from the way they acquire their powers."
Syal's curiosity was piqued. "What do you mean?" he asked.
The Colonel took a deep breath. "Long ago, the world was ruled by deities. And among those deities, there was a god known as the God of Fate. He was the patron deity of humanity, and he created a supreme artifact for our benefit."
Syal's eyes widened. "An artifact? What kind of artifact?"
The Colonel's expression turned serious. "The artifact is known as the 'Wheel of Advancement'. It's a kind of roulette that every human can use. When called upon, the Wheel will appear in someone's mind, and it will grant them a chance to acquire a superpower."
Syal's mind reeled as he tried to process the information. "A chance? What do you mean?"
The Colonel's eyes seemed to bore into Syal's soul. "The Wheel is a gamble, Syal. When you use it, you're essentially making a contract with the unknown. You might acquire a powerful ability, or you might...well, that's not important right now."
Syal felt a shiver run down his spine. "And my father...he used the Wheel?"
The Colonel nodded. "Yes, he did. And that's why he's a Fated. Now, Syal, I know this is a lot to take in, but I need to ask you something. Are you ready to follow in your father's footsteps and become a Fated yourself?"