𝑴𝒖𝒕𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆 (𝑺𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒖 𝑮𝒐𝒋𝒐 𝒙 𝑶𝑪)

2.2 Mute Heart

The Council's chamber was an austere and imposing room, where coldness and authority reigned. The walls were made of dark stone, adorned with ancient tapestries and sacred calligraphy that seemed to vibrate under the weight of centuries of tradition. The high ceiling gave an oppressive feeling, as if the room itself bore down on those who dared enter. At the center stood a large, massive wooden table, marked by time, surrounded by chairs where the members of the Council sat—old conservatives, dressed in dark robes, their stern, accusatory gazes fixed on Satoru Gojo.

Gojo stood tall, his hands in his pockets, his black outfit contrasting with the solemn atmosphere of the room. His eyes were hidden behind his blindfold, but even so, he exuded a quiet arrogance, a presence so strong it seemed to disturb the old men entrenched in their obsolete traditions. They discussed, as always, trying to pass off their words as absolute truths, divine laws.

"Gojo Satoru, you've gotten attached to her, haven't you?" said one of the Council members, his voice breaking the heavy silence. He spoke with a barely disguised tone of contempt. "That... apprentice. Sen, as you call her."

Other murmurs arose around the table, all a mix of disapproval and suspicion. "She's become more than just a protege to you. Don't forget, your primary duty remains to the Gojo clan. You are our leader, and it's imperative that you find a concubine, someone to continue the lineage after you. The Gojo clan must endure."

Gojo didn't move. He stood there, motionless, his face impassive. Yet, under his calm exterior, tension was rising. The mere thought of hearing these old fools dictate his life, his obligations, brought him to the edge of explosion. But it wasn't just that. It was also their obsession with Chihiro... or Sen, as he called her. The way they talked about her.

"Let's talk about your apprentice instead," continued another member, his voice trembling with the same condescending tone. "We have doubts. Her condition... is alarming. Some here believe she might be a curse." The old man crossed his arms, as if expecting a reaction from Gojo. "If she is a curse, she must be exorcised, in accordance with Council law."

Gojo remained silent for a moment, his lips twisting into a thin, cold smile. He knew where they were going. He had guessed their intentions long ago, but hearing it so openly made him want to silence each of them with his fists.

"A curse, huh?" he finally replied, his voice sarcastic. "It's easy to slap that label on someone, isn't it? After all, she survived atrocities that would have destroyed anyone else. So naturally, she must be a curse, right?"

One of the Council members, the oldest, placed his hands on the table and leaned forward. "It doesn't matter what she's been through, Gojo Satoru. What matters is what she's become. And if she's a threat, she must be eliminated."

The words "eliminated" and "threat" echoed in Satoru's head like insults, like blows. He tightened his fists slightly in his pockets, but his smile didn't waver. Deep inside, the rage was simmering.

"You talk about her like she's an animal," he murmured, his tone becoming sharper, colder. "Like you've already decided her fate without even trying to understand her."

"Because she is an animal!" exclaimed another, bolder member, his lips twisted in a sneer of disdain. "That girl... She's wild. You've seen her, haven't you? Her impulses, her silences. As if she's hiding something terrible. She can't even speak to defend herself. She's not human. She's nothing anymore."

Gojo burst out laughing, a short, dry, almost cruel laugh. "You're talking about yourselves, aren't you?" His voice lowered, almost a whisper. "You cling to your old values, your shitty laws, hoping everything will stay the same. But that's not how it works anymore. You talk about humanity, but you treat people like toys to be broken when they don't meet your expectations."