Taboo (3) - The Wise Star's Forbidden Doll
Behind a test tube where an unidentified liquid bubbled and boiled, Wise Star Abraham Nobwells was quietly crafting something. Using human skin and wigs for high-grade doll-making, along with stellis, he was creating a doll. But it looked less like a doll and more like a real person, so exquisitely detailed.
With this incredibly intricate doll right before him, Abraham used stellis to form its core. Yet even that core seemed off. Ordinary doll cores were typically perfect spheres, but the one Abraham was making was uneven and bumpy. Not only that, large tube-like structures protruded from the top. Its shape eerily resembled a human heart. Seen that way, those tubes looked strikingly like the aorta and vena cava connected to the heart.
As he worked on this peculiar core, Abraham glanced at the box holding his materials and clicked his tongue.
"Oh dear, I'm all out."
Spotting that his stellis—the key material for core creation—had run dry, Abraham straightened his back and turned his head slightly.
He's a bit late.
The door, which should have been knocked on impatiently by now, remained utterly silent, not making a single sound. The materials he'd requested from the finance department were overdue, and puzzled by the lack of any sign, Abraham rose from his seat. Just as he was about to head out and check himself—
Thud thud thud.
Instead of the usual irritable knocking, a more subdued sound came. Perhaps the finance staff was in a good mood today. Thinking it odd, Abraham opened the door.
"You're late today. I was just about to come looking for you..."
Assuming it was the usual finance department clerk, Abraham froze in surprise. Standing there wasn't the familiar woman, but a male student he'd never seen before in his life. With hair and eyes reminiscent of a half-elf—perhaps elven blood ran in his veins—his appearance was striking enough to immediately think, what a handsome young man. The problem was, beyond all that, this student was a complete stranger to Abraham.
Unable to fathom why this boy was at his lab, Abraham asked in bewilderment,
"Who might you be?"
"Hello, Wise Star Abraham Nobwells."
He bowed politely and introduced himself.
"I'm Seong Hyun-jin, first-year Combat Department at Terastial Academy."
"Terastial Academy?"
Abraham knew they were at Celestial Academy for the exchange event. He knew that much, but not why a Terastial student would seek him out. Abraham glanced puzzled at the girl beside Seong Hyun-jin. Her face was familiar, and she seemed like she could clear up his confusion.
"Miss Elena, what brings you here?"
"It's an honor that the Wise Star recognizes me. Elena Apocalipse, pleased to make your formal acquaintance."
Elena lightly pinched her skirt like a noble lady and curtsied gracefully. Abraham nodded in return.
"So, what brings you to my lab?"
"We came to deliver this."
Elena pointed to the box in Seong Hyun-jin's hands. Shifting his gaze, Abraham realized it was the materials he'd ordered and said,
"That's what I requested from finance. Why is it in students' hands?"
"We stopped by finance just now, and the staff asked us to pass it along to you."
Only then did Abraham understand why they were here.
"I see."
"Here you go."
Grateful, Abraham took the box from Seong Hyun-jin. He addressed the two who'd brought the materials all this way.
"I'm grateful enough to offer you some tea, but my current work is urgent. If it's alright, could we do it another time?"
"Of course. We'll be at Celestial Academy until the exchange event ends anyway."
Seong Hyun-jin nodded, subtly shifting his gaze.
...Can't see a thing.
Not making it obvious, but Abraham was desperately blocking their view of the lab interior. He was physically shielding the doorway with his body. Surprisingly robust for his build—Seong Hyun-jin had expected a frail scholar type from a Wise Star, but he had the solid frame of someone who trained diligently. Plus, the lab inside was pitch dark, revealing nothing.
It made him wonder just what kind of research went on in such a place. Judging it impossible to peek over his shoulder, Seong Hyun-jin switched tactics.
"If it's not too rude, I have one request—instead of treating us later."
"Hm? What is it?"
"I'm curious about the research you're doing."
Seong Hyun-jin asked bluntly. So direct it even flustered Elena a bit. Abraham paused without reaction, then asked in a subdued tone,
"...Interested in my research? But you're not a spirit studies major, I just heard."
"Ah, it's not that I'm into spirit studies. I was just wondering what kind of research has a Palstar Hero so engrossed."
Seong Hyun-jin explained his curiosity.
"My master rarely gets absorbed in anything, so it piques my interest even more."
"Your master?"
When Abraham asked dubiously about a master who was a Palstar Hero, Seong Hyun-jin stated it plainly as fact.
"My master is Sword StarHakodate Karin."
"......"
Abraham didn't reply immediately, but it didn't seem deliberate. He looked genuinely shocked. He'd never anticipated hearing the Sword Star's name here. Abraham let out a dry chuckle.
"You don't strike me as the type to lie so poorly."
"It's not a lie."
Seeing Elena beside him not denying it, Abraham was convinced. Astonished that Karin had raised such a fine disciple after holing up in the mountains for twenty years, he said,
"Twenty years secluded in the mountains, and she produced a disciple like you there."
"Thank you for saying so. My master would be thrilled to hear it."
Seong Hyun-jin replied.
"She cherishes this disciple greatly."
"Is that so? That's unexpected too."
Abraham chuckled lowly, heh heh. Sensing the mood lighten, Seong Hyun-jin pressed once more.
"So, could I see what kind of research you're doing? If it's not too much trouble?"
"Hm."
Abraham smiled kindly.
"You've helped me out, and meeting an old acquaintance's disciple makes me want to grant it... but that request is difficult. I don't plan to show it to anyone until it's complete."
"Ah, I see..."
Seong Hyun-jin showed his disappointment plainly. But Abraham didn't budge an inch.
"Sorry."
"...No, it's me being pushy."
Realizing he couldn't sway Abraham, Seong Hyun-jin backed off.
"Then, could you answer one question?"
"What is it?"
"Your current research will surely open new horizons in spirit studies, right?"
Abraham pondered Seong Hyun-jin's question, then nodded cautiously.
"...It should. It will definitely open new horizons."
"I see. Thank you for answering."
Seong Hyun-jin bowed.
"We'll be off then!"
"Good luck achieving your goals at the exchange event and making good memories."
"Yes, sir!"
As Seong Hyun-jin turned, Elena bowed politely and followed. Abraham watched their retreating figures until they vanished from sight before turning back to his lab.
"The Sword Star's disciple..."
Abraham let out a light, hollow laugh.
"Dad, I want to be a cool swordmaster like Lady Karin too!"
The voice he'd heard long ago seemed to echo in his ears.
#
"You backed off surprisingly easily?"
Elena remarked, sounding surprised. Seong Hyun-jin replied simply,
"I actually tried to sneak a peek, but the Wise Star didn't give an opening. He's pretty built—no gaps at all."
Shaking his head, Seong Hyun-jin prompted Elena's light laugh.
"I don't know you that well, junior, but I figured you'd push harder in a situation like that."
"......"
Elena understood him better than expected. Briefly flustered, Seong Hyun-jin shook his head.
"Pushing there would've just raised suspicions."
"True enough."
Acknowledging his wise choice, Elena asked if he was heading back.
"So you're giving up and going back? Doesn't seem like you."
"If I hadn't felt anything during that talk, I'd have chalked it up to imagination and left."
Elena's eyes widened at his meaningful words.
"...So you did sense something?"
"Got a weird vibe."
Seong Hyun-jin recalled what he'd felt talking to Abraham.
"Especially when I asked if it would open new horizons in spirit studies—his reaction was super odd."
"...Ah, I felt that too. Like he was hesitating."
Elena said.
"But like you said, maybe he wasn't sure it would actually open new horizons?"
"Not that vibe. More like he was conflicted precisely because it wouldn't."
"Conflicted because it wouldn't...? Then..."
"I get not wanting to show research to others, but his later reaction was fishy... makes hiding it seem suspicious."
Seong Hyun-jin trusted his instincts, not baseless confidence, but Karin's endorsement of his senses as blessed talent. With conviction, he declared,
"The Wise Star's hiding something."
"And it's not something good?"
"Yeah."
Seong Hyun-jin felt he needed to verify Abraham's research to shake off that eerie feeling from their talk.
"Somehow, we have to check what he's researching."
"How?"
"Couldn't see much inside the lab earlier, but one thing caught my eye."
Seong Hyun-jin said.
"A faint sliver of light coming in. So dim I couldn't make out what's inside."
"...You mean there's a window?"
"Yep."
"So you're thinking..."
As Elena trailed off, realizing his intent, Seong Hyun-jin nodded affirmatively.
"We'll sneak in through the window."