Chapter 15: Summoned to Court

Runo and Arturo found themselves quickly responding to a knock at the door. Two men from the 'Gifted Association' stood there, donning luxurious suits and black-tinted sunglasses, their demeanour stern and unemotional. Another knock reverberated through the house, heightening the tension in the room.

Anxious but curious about this unexpected visit, Runo stepped forward and opened the door. "Runo Devrin, I presume... and Arturo Lyon," the taller of the two men stated.

"Runo, you have been summoned to court; you are being sued," the man continued, his tone devoid of emotion. "Billetford Road, Tuesday, the 5th of October, ten o'clock. You will need a lawyer, and luckily, the Stormdeath Guild wants to help you with your case. It appears they have an interest in recruiting you as a guild member."

"Wait a second, this is happening too fast. Who exactly is taking me to court?" Runo inquired, the knot in his stomach growing tighter.

"Lola Devrin... Your mother," the man replied, delivering a bombshell that sent shockwaves through Runo. His life was now forever altered.

"I see... But why?" Runo asked, his voice trembling with sorrow.

"Mrs. Devrin and her lawyer are claiming you have stolen her 'gift,' so they are charging you with theft and emotional distress. As I mentioned, the vice-leader of the Stormdeath Guild wants to meet you. He will arrive in a few hours," the man explained.

"And what does he want?" Runo probed, his skepticism evident.

"I don't have that information; my job was to inform you of your situation," the man responded before signaling to his partner. "If that's all, we'll be taking our leave now."

The two men from the 'Gifted Association' departed, leaving behind a horde of reporters who had swarmed outside the house.

"Gifted Reports here! How does it feel to be the first person in the country, no, the world to be sued over a 'gifted' related issue?" one reporter inquired.

"Soralia News, why did you do this to your mother? Shouldn't you be grateful for what she's done for you?" chimed in another reporter.

"NQS, how do you feel about your mother's serious allegations?"

"Do you believe the Stormdeath Guild sees potential in your 'gift'?"

The relentless barrage of questions overwhelmed Runo. With no room to breathe, he hastily closed the door.

Runo collapsed, his back pressed against the door, tears streaming from his eyes as he sat in despair. Arturo could do nothing but hug him, hoping to provide some comfort in his friend's time of suffering.

Two hours later.

The vice-leader of the Stormdeath Guild finally arrived, accompanied by two imposing guards who shielded him from the relentless camera flashes. They entered the house. The vice-leader was a slender figure, dressed in a shirt without a tie, his hair slicked back. There was nothing particularly domineering about his appearance; he seemed like an ordinary person.

"Nice to meet you, Runo!" he greeted, extending his hand with a friendly smile. Runo shook the proffered hand and the two settled at a table where Arturo's mother served them tea.

"We've heard about your situation, and we want to help. We'll provide you with a lawyer and a place to stay. It wouldn't be fair for these lovely people to have reporters bothering them every day," the vice-leader said, sending a knowing wink toward Arturo's mother.

"Why? What do you gain from this?" Runo asked, still wary of their intentions. "Not much, really. We just need some of your time after the case. Did I mention that we will cover all fees, including fines if we lose the case?" the vice-leader announced.

"Come with us. We'll take you to Brynon Hotel and leave all these reporters behind." Runo nodded, standing up and ready to depart, not wanting to impose on Arturo's family any further.

"Thank you, Mrs. Lyon, and Arturo!" he said before turning to the vice-leader. "And thank you. I didn't ask for your name."

"Acco Swilen," he replied, handing Runo his business card. "I look forward to our future."