NOVEL NEXT Chapter 122: Authority of Death
Kael could already guess that the reason Callisto was interested in them was likely tied to the Authority of Death.
As the Tribal Chief of the Ashfall Ogre Tribe, Callisto had surely been exposed to all kinds of arcane rituals and forgotten lore. It was almost certain that he was aware of the infamous Dance of the Dead—something that wasn't just a tribal ritual but a symbolic representation deeply tied to the essence of death itself.
If that was true, then it wasn't a stretch to assume that he was also familiar with the aura of death.
He must have sensed something similar radiating from Kael—something that resonated with that very authority. Kael himself didn't fully understand it, but after everything he had seen in Rias's soul, it wouldn't surprise him if something had leaked into his own being. That cold, heavy pressure… that whisper of oblivion. It wasn't normal.
And Callisto? His curiosity couldn't have been born out of nowhere.
That was the only logical explanation Kael could come up with for the Tribal Chief's sudden and intense interest in them.
"You already have your guesses," Callisto finally spoke after a long pause, his voice calm and composed as he leaned back in a massive stone chair. His presence filled the room, yet his tone didn't feel threatening. "Our Ancestors once had dealings with Death itself, so I am very familiar with its aura. And I sensed that same aura on you... though much stronger than I expected."
His three eyes narrowed slightly, focusing intently on Kael. "I'm wondering why you have such a strong connection to Death. Do you perhaps have an affinity with it?"
"No!" Kael immediately denied, his tone sharper than he intended.
Callisto didn't seem offended. If anything, his expression became more thoughtful. He rubbed his thick chin, the bone rings on his fingers clacking softly as he did so.
"Then it complicates the situation," he murmured, more to himself than anyone else. "But... we can check if my instincts are correct or if my senses are playing tricks on me."
Without saying another word, he reached beside the chair and took out a polished jade stone. It glimmered faintly under the torchlight, unnaturally beautiful and perfectly smooth, as if it had been soaked in moonlight for centuries.
He gently placed the jade on the flat stone table in front of them. "Why don't you try picking it up?"
Kael didn't move immediately. His eyes instinctively drifted toward Rias, silently seeking her opinion. She didn't say anything aloud, but her nod was enough. Only then did he reach out.
The jade looked so ordinary—almost like any other ornament. If he ignored the faint glow and the strange sensation it emitted, it could've passed off as a decorative piece. But the moment Kael's fingers wrapped around it, everything changed.
The jade flared up in his palm, emitting a soft but vivid green glow. It wasn't blinding, but it was undeniably ethereal, casting shimmering shadows along the walls of the chamber and making everything around them feel... alive. Or perhaps dead. He couldn't quite tell.
'Huh? What the hell is this thing?'
[It has a small Rune Formation in a cyclic state.] Alpha's voice came through his mind, calm but focused. [The glow is a result of that Rune reacting to something deep within you. I'm currently attempting to analyze the resonance. It'll take a moment.]
'Then keep working on it,' Kael replied mentally, eyes locked on the stone. 'I need to understand why I'm even remotely connected to the Authority of Death. I'm supposed to be the heir to that old man—not some reaper's pet! Why the hell would death have anything to do with me?'
[I'm working on it.] Alpha repeated dutifully.
Suddenly, before Kael could even react to what was happening, Callisto's entire demeanor changed.
The massive ogre dropped to his knees, lowering his head all the way to the cold stone floor.
Kael blinked.
"What… Wait! Wait, what the hell is this? What's with this sudden change!?" Kael panicked slightly, awkwardly rushing over to make the giant of a man stand back up. "What are you doing?!"
It wasn't just him—both Rias and Kiona were stunned beyond words. They had expected a number of things, from hostility to ancient oaths, maybe even a tribal challenge. But none of them imagined that the proud Tribal Chief of the Ashfall Ogre Tribe would fall to his knees like a devout follower before a deity.
This wasn't some theatrical display—Callisto had dismissed all the other ogres earlier. This moment was real.
Even Rias, always calm and analytical, had a confused look on her face.
As Kael awkwardly pulled the kneeling Chief to his feet, the jade stone dimmed again, its glow fading back into nothingness. Rias picked it up curiously. At first, nothing happened.
Then it began to glow again.
The same bright green light flared from the stone, once more illuminating the room in its surreal beauty.
Kael glanced at her, but Callisto's reaction drew his attention first.
The ogre's lips curled up into a grin—a wide, unfiltered grin that made him look decades younger. For a moment, Kael thought he even saw tears forming in the corners of his three eyes.
'What the hell is wrong with him? Did he go senile all of a sudden?' Kael couldn't help but think, genuinely concerned for the older man's mental stability. 'The hell is happening?'
"The Prophecy... it turned out to be true." Callisto's voice was thick with emotion. He rubbed his eyes with the back of his large hand, composing himself before the tears could fall. "Forgive my outburst... but I have waited a long time for this sign."
Kael exchanged a glance with Rias before sighing.
"Alright, Sir Tribal Chief," he said slowly, guiding Callisto back to his seat. "Please, sit and calm down. We're incredibly confused by your reaction, so... could you please enlighten us?"
"You don't need to be so formal with me, My Lord," Callisto said with a kind smile, though he quickly realized his behavior might have been a bit too dramatic. He coughed lightly, straightened his back, and took his seat again.
"My Lord?" Kael raised a brow, utterly lost now.
"Yes. And to explain why I addressed you that way, I must tell you a bit of our Tribe's history first." Callisto rested his elbows on the table and leaned forward.
"Our Ashfall Ogre Tribe originates from the Fourth Epoch. Back then, our Ancestors held significant prestige—they were close companions and commanders under one of the Generals of the Beast God himself."
Kael resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
'Why is he going into storytime now of all things? I just asked a simple question and this geezer starts rambling like a historian giving a lecture...'
Fortunately, Callisto didn't drag it out too long before getting to the point.
"But our glory didn't last forever. Our Ancestors were deeply connected to a powerful Diviner—someone who served directly under the Beast God. That esteemed one gave us many prophecies. Prophecies that were recorded and passed down from generation to generation."
Kael's expression grew serious. His mind began connecting threads, forming theories, but he didn't speak them aloud yet. He decided to let Callisto finish first.
"And every single one of them came true," the Chief continued, his voice heavy with conviction. "It wasn't just luck or exaggeration. The Diviner's words shaped our path. Some of the prophecies were blessings in disguise, while others were warnings that helped us avoid destruction. We trusted them."
'A Diviner that served a God directly... That's big,' Kael thought, eyes narrowing. 'If he survived the fall of the Beast God and hasn't been hunted down by the other deities, he's probably still out there. And if he really was that accurate... then this might be real trouble.'
Callisto didn't seem to notice Kael's inner thoughts and continued.
"But two prophecies stood out the most—ones etched in the hearts of all our leaders."
"The first warned that our Ashfall Ogre Tribe would fall into ruin the moment a Tribal Chief fails to produce any male heirs. That was me."
He let out a long breath.
"When my wife passed after giving birth to our last daughter... I couldn't sleep for weeks. That prophecy haunted me. Even as my daughters grew strong, I struggled to give them the love they deserved because of my fear. Because I knew what was coming."
"Maybe it won't happen?" Kael offered. "You know, fate isn't absolute. Prophecies can be flawed, right? What if that Diviner made a mistake, or your ancestors misunderstood something?"