[60] "Delein surrenders"

[In Jiwoo's house]

Delein and Wooin plunged into a silence charged with desolation. Their gazes met, and in that instant, the weight of sadness was palpable in the air.

"Wooin... I will leave," Delein uttered in a low tone that resonated deep in his young disciple's heart.

Wooin's eyes filled with tears as he watched his beloved teacher, feeling an abyss of sadness and loneliness open up in front of him.

"Professor, I'll go with you," Wooin sobbed.

Delein, however, placed a firm hand on Wooin's shoulder and responded with a look of affection. "No, you don't have to live like me, running away for the rest of your life."

A sob escaped Wooin's lips, and tears began to flow down his cheeks.

"I will give myself up...," Delein continued in a defeated tone, his words seeming to drag like anguished whispers. "They've been looking for me for a long time, they want something from me."

Wooin was petrified, his moist eyes widened immeasurably at the devastating news. "What the... But, Professor!" he exclaimed, his voice choked with tears.

Delein extended a reassuringly gesturing hand toward Wooin's trembling shoulder. "Wooin, you'll be safe here. You develop your life and I'll talk to them so you can come see me," Delein pronounced in a muffled voice.

Wooin tried to protest, but his voice cracked once again, his pain palpable in every tremor of his being. "But...Professor," he stammered between sobs broken by weeping.

Delein seemed to sense his disciple's deep pain in the depths of his being, and continued to speak with an expression laden with sadness and remorse etched on his face. "You are like my son, Wooin. If it weren't for you, I would have lost my sanity a long time ago. My daughter's death scarred me, and your presence saved me," he confessed in a voice cracked with grief.

"It's my turn to give you the chance to live a better life. Wooin, enjoy life...," he said as Wooin broke down in a sea of tears and sobs that seemed to have no end.

Delein enveloped Wooin in a loving embrace and, after a few minutes that felt like an eternity, he slowly pulled away and regretfully rose from his seat.

"I have to go..." he uttered in a broken voice, as he left the house carrying on his back the weight of farewell and sadness.

Outside, Delein paused for a moment to contemplate the beautiful sunset, but Wooin, unable to let him leave, followed him closely, his face reflecting the sadness that invaded him.

"Let me join you...", Wooin murmured sadly.

Delein turned slowly and shook his head, his eyes full of pain. "No, you will stay here," he told him with a firmness that hid the deep torment that consumed him.

Wooin looked at him with an expression filled with grief and despair, his trembling voice barely managing to pronounce his name. "Professor..."

"No, Wooin," Delein replied in a voice laden with regret as he walked away, slowly fading into the distance, taking with him the shared dreams and hopes, leaving Wooin plunged into an abyss of sadness and longing.

Jiwoo, with an expression of deep sadness on his face, stepped out into the garden and spoke emotionally charged words. "Wooin, your teacher loved you very much. You can always visit him whenever you wish...".

At that moment, Kayden, adopting his cat form, looked in the direction Dr. Delein had gone.

....

Delein keenly observed the four figures standing in front of him, seemingly calm but emanating a menacing presence.

Despite this, his face remained composed and a smile tugged at his lips as he watched the man who seemed to be leading the group.

"Director Park," Delein said with a smile on his face.

"I've been looking for you for a long time and here you are in front of me, on your own initiative," Park said with a tone of surprise and some disbelief in his voice.

Delein sketched a smile that sought to convey reassurance and determination, as he raised his hands in a gesture that made it clear he harbored no hostile intentions. "I have come here to surrender," he declared in a serene and firm voice.

At Delein's statement, Park Seongha arched a distrustful eyebrow and waved his hand.

In a matter of seconds, the three figures accompanying him pounced on Delein, managing to immobilize him without much difficulty.

The metallic sound of the handcuffs closing around Delein's wrists echoed in the atmosphere, making it clear that his fate was sealed.

"Why do you decide to turn yourself in now? Where is your disciple?" asked Park with a mixture of curiosity and distrust in his voice.

Delein, with the handcuffs on his wrists and surrounded by the three figures, uttered a smile as he replied, "I made a deal with someone of great power and made sure to protect Wooin, that's why I turned myself in.... I want him to have a better life, not like mine, full of running away." His tone reflected a combination of determination and concern for his disciple's welfare.

"You really expect me to believe you?" said Park raising an eyebrow with skepticism in his expression.

Delein let out a sarcastic laugh and challenged Park Seongha's distrust with a menacing attitude and a serious tone of voice. "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, honestly, I don't care whether you believe me or not.... If you decide to cause trouble, you will see the consequences it will bring to your organization," he warned firmly.

Park took a firm stance and, in a voice laden with seriousness. "Are you threatening me..?"

Delein replied with a confident smile as he shared a warning, "No, I'm just warning you. I know your leader isn't in good condition.... Don't you think fighting might put your organization at a disadvantage?"

"Besides, I will be willing to help you in whatever you need, but I want to set certain conditions to ensure that this works optimally," Delein added.

Seongha Park's facial expression changed drastically, and a tense air pervaded the place as he grabbed Delein's shirt angrily and, in an angry voice, exclaimed. "Do you think you are in a position to demand and threaten us?"

Delein, replied. "It's not a threat, I simply want you to understand the reality of your current situation."

....

[The next day, in Shinhwa.]

"President, Delein has surrendered to the union," Inhyuk reported.

Jiyoung, surprised, raised an eyebrow and asked curiously, "He surrendered?"

Inhyuk nodded and continued, "Yes, he was surprisingly cooperative. He claimed to have made a deal with an extremely powerful person to protect Wooin."

"According to my inquiries, Dr. Delein expressed his desire to ensure that Wooin had a dignified life and accordingly requested the union to allow him to visit him, along with other conditions that we have not yet been able to verify. In return, he offered to provide help in any way they needed." Inhyuk continued.

Jiyoung ponders silently for a moment. "A deal, could it be with Kayden?" he asked quietly.

Inhyuk nodded cautiously. "We don't know for sure, but it's a possibility? We're the only ones who know about the supposed fight between the two of them," he admitted.

"Hmm..." Jiyoung mused quietly, deep in thought.

Inhyuk raised a troubling question. "Chairman, what are we going to do about the young man named Jiwoo? There is a possibility that he has some connection with Kayden."

Jiyoung answered with determination. "We are not sure of his relationship. However, as it is our responsibility, we must guide the awakened young man to the right path and prevent the existence of the awakened from being disclosed."

Inhyuk nodded, understanding the importance of the situation, and went on to raise another point. "Wooin and Jiwoo are living together, should we take any action? It's very likely that the union will try to look for Wooin, and if Jiwoo has any ties to Kayden and the union hurts him, it could create a serious problem for the whole country."

Jiyoung sighed, resigned to the situation. "Have the two of them have a conversation with you, and if they need help, we must support them. We can't allow the union to cause a scandal in our territory."

Inhyuk nodded respectfully and replied. "Yes, ma'am. I will come to see them when they come back from their classes," he withdrew from the office bowing.

....

Hours later, Jiwoo and Wooin returned home and suddenly Jiwoo's cell phone rang.

Surprised, they heard a voice on the other end of the line asking them to meet in person as awakened.

Soon after, Inhyuk arrived and introduced himself to Wooin and Jiwoo, startling the two young men.

Kayden, too, was surprised to learn that they were in the territory of Jiyoung Yoo, Korea's number one awakened, known for her good reputation and wind-type awakened abilities.

After a brief conversation, Inhyuk took his leave, assuring them that the meeting was simply to get to know each other and that they could count on his help at any time.

Once Inhyuk left, Kayden transformed into his human form and approached Wooin and Jiwoo from an empty room. "I didn't expect them to be discovered so quickly," Kayden said.

Wooin was silent as Jiwoo asked. "What should we do?"

"They must do nothing. From now on, they must live their lives as awakened," Kayden replied. Then, turning his gaze to Wooin, he asked. "Will you stay and live here or will you leave? The choice is yours. You can live your life as you wish."

Wooin pondered for a moment before answering. "No, I will leave. I am very grateful to have been welcomed here these days, but I will return to live in my old home."

Jiwoo looked surprised and looked at him, "Why? You can live comfortably here."

Wooin smiled and answered him. "Don't worry, we'll see each other every day at school. I'm used to living alone and I can't change that."

....

1671 Words.

Next Chapter "Wooin v/s Jisuk"