Everything Hinges on Talent

The simple explanation of the 1-level magic exam had barely ended when Park Seongwoong blew his whistle.

Beep—

The moment the exam began, an intensely fierce flow of ether hit us like a shockwave, leaving everyone stunned. Park Seongwoong, the examiner, hurriedly stopped the child.

"Hold on! Stop for a second! Examinee number 52, Yu Eunha? The test spell is the 1-level Ether Shot."

At Park Seongwoong's command, the ether flow cut off abruptly. The examinee named Yu Eunha simply lifted her large eyes, as if asking what the problem was.

"I know that much. That's why I'm going easy on it, no?"

A lump of ether quickly gathered and spun in front of the smiling girl.

"Uh…."

"Did you feel that just now? She pulled in the ether!"

"Yeah, I nearly fell off my chair!"

The examiners weren't the only ones murmuring. The entire training ground's ether had surged toward this one student in an instant. Every student and teacher present was staring at her in awe.

…….

Above the little girl's palm floated an Ether Shot that sparkled like it contained the universe itself. The ether was so densely packed that you couldn't even see inside, and it bobbed there the size of her head.

"Hmm, I tried to shrink it, but…."

Examiner Jeonwin gaped at the amount of ether, which looked like it could power a 2-level spell.

"Whoa~ What's her sync rate?"

"30%? Maybe even late 30s…."

"My god…. I've never seen a kid like this."

"Which academy? Oh, unaffiliated…?"

"Huh? Unaffiliated? Is it a secret?"

"Yeah, probably hiding something."

The flustered examiners chattered on, but Park Seongwoong, equally stunned, heard none of it.

'Ether density this high, with the mental core image perfectly fused in, and flawless control.'

A plain big Ether Shot appeared once or twice a year. The spell scaled directly with ether sync rate, which was why it was the first spell everyone learned and the standard for 1-level certification.

'But this isn't just big….'

Twinkling starlight and rippling waves were infused into the ether, like it embodied her mental image. It was superior in both quantity and quality—transcending her peers to become a generational benchmark.

Goosebumps prickled up Park Seongwoong's arms.

'First one since Isara. Who knew another like her would show up.'

Park Seongwoong stared intently, then sighed.

"Perfect score. Congratulations, Yu Eunha."

"No need for such words."

The child dispelled the spell with a blank expression and bowed politely.

"Thank you for the kind words to Eunbyeol over me. She needed some praise right about now."

The child continued with a pleased smile.

"A teacher with true insight and judgment. Truly a rare talent."

"……."

Her words carried the weight of someone who had seen the world, leaving him speechless. Yet they pierced his heart with sharp intelligence, making it race.

The tiny whirlwind that swept the training ground calmly walked out.

"Next, examinee number 53…."

At Examiner Byungho's words, Park Seongwoong ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠raised a hand.

"Short break before we start."

Park Seongwoong's announcement made Byungho and Examiner Yunjeong check their watches.

"Ah, yeah, break time already."

"Was 52 a bit long?"

"Heh~ Even the great North Sea Mage was mesmerized."

"Even he hasn't seen talent like that before, huh?"

Park Seongwoong watched Yu Eunha's retreating figure, etching her name into his mind.

'Unknown name, unaffiliated, yet at that level….''Yu Eunha the Unaffiliated.'

She would surely bring a massive storm when the time came.

The public training ground after the 1-level exam ended. With the schedule clear, apprentice mages were trickling in.

I sat in the spectator seats, shining a light on my 1-level card. Unlike Monica's, it screamed cheap.

"Plastic card, printer ink—it's so low-class."

I grumbled in disappointment, and Monica giggled.

"Ahaha, of course~ It's just a 1-level card. Almost every mage passes it."

"Even so."

Monica wagged her finger.

"3-level and 5-level are the real deal. 1 and 2 are just teasers."

"…Is that how it works?"

Monica shrugged casually, as if it were obvious.

"Even street magicians get 2-level."

The shock hit me like lightning.

"I knew it! Those tricksters! They were using real magic!"

Monica clutched her stomach laughing.

"Ahahahaha! As if! I'm kidding, kiddo! Ahaha! You're so pure, you fall for it every time!"

Heat rushed to my head. This wasn't the first time she'd tricked me.

"Why do you always lie like that? Why! With that straight face!"

"Ahahahaha! Kiddo's speech is all out—she's mad! Ahaha!"

Monica laughed until tears formed, and I felt my face burning. As I debated kicking her and gathered ether…

"What're you?"

A familiar voice rang out. Black hair in a messy bob. A grubby 10-year-old girl soaked in sweat from training. Eunbyeol, looking as disheveled as her name didn't suggest, stared at me from the aisle. The light highlighted her determined face.

Eunbyeol fidgeted with her fingers, then spoke up hesitantly.

"Y-You… you're an amazing mage, huh? C-Could you… t-tell me ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠how to do magic like that?"

She forced a stiff smile through her awkwardness. The moment I saw it, my head cooled.

'Not honest at all.'

I could feel the boiling frustration inside her. She'd seen the talent gap firsthand. She'd deliberately waited for a later number. She'd felt the overwhelming difference from a girl two years younger.

So she must have felt miserable and heartbroken, like her guts were burning. Yet here she was, smiling stiffly and asking for advice at 10 years old. Impressively gutsy.

'Well done, my Eunbyeol!'

That's why I smiled gently and told her the truth.

"Everything hinges on talent. I have it. You don't."

"Uh…?"

I spotted two adults approaching and shot them a glare. Eunbyeol's parents, I presumed.

'Dumping your dreams on a 10-year-old without even thinking hard about it?'

If no talent, make her quit or find a place to nurture it—do something. Leaving her grit to carry her into a prestigious academy? Shameless parents.

"Sorry, but talent can't be helped. With sync that low, just reaching here is impressive enough."

"What do you…."

"It's hobby-level talent. Parents are careless—personal tutoring suits her better than an academy."

I nodded and kept explaining.

"No, wait—they say 2-level is enough for hobbies. You've come halfway. That's impressive."

"……."

Tears welled up and spilled from Eunbyeol's large eyes as she listened.

"I… I can do it too. I can use magic."

"I saw your barely maintained Ether Shot."

"I will too! I'll be a pro mage like you or Isara! I'm going to the Olympia! At that level, it's just sync rate and mental core differences!"

Eunbyeol approached, still sniffling. Determination poured from her teary black eyes.

"My goal's higher than yours. I'll definitely go farther than you."

My lips curved up. Irresistible pride swelled through ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me.

'Yes, keep banging on the ceiling. Then I might teach you Reverse Flow.'

She stared silently at my leaned-in face, wiped her tears, and said,

"You're Yu Eunha, right?"

"Indeed."

"Just watch. I'll beat you for sure."

"I see. But I won't wait."

"Don't need you to."

Yet her eyes brimmed with sorrow. A mix of resignation, sadness, hatred, and obsession. With her low sync rate and high goals, it'd be a lifelong burden.

'This should do it. Hope she's burning hotter next time.'

As I stood to leave, Eunbyeol grabbed my wrist.

"Tell me before you go."

"Huh?"

"Magic. Ether Shot. Teach me!"

"……."

Didn't see that coming. She pushed me back down and yelled,

"You infused mental image into the Ether Shot! Teach me that! I need at least that to compete!"

"Uh…. You saw?"

"Of course!"

I glanced at Monica, who just grinned. Her smile said it all.

'Your own fault, kiddo.'

"……."

Pushed the button too hard, huh. Sighing, I tied my hair up.

"Never thought you'd beg a two-year younger kid for magic lessons while bawling. And to a rival you wanna beat."

Eunbyeol blushed in embarrassment, so I smiled.

"Quite admirable."

"Huh?"

"True pride means keeping it after you've lost."

I bumped fists with her and grinned.

"But my lessons aren't easy—keep up."

Eunbyeol teared up from the head-splitting pain, like wringing out her brain. Sure, a chill spread through the Ether Shot just like Eunha said, but she was on the verge of collapse.

Adding one step to a basic Ether Shot made her head throb with complexity.

"Think of the mental core like a spool, winding it in is step one. Unraveling those threads through your brain circuits is step two."

"B-But that doubles the casting time, they said?"

The academy forbade it.

"Your control outshines your sync rate. The right path differs for everyone. Yours is quality over quantity."

The threads extending from Eunha's hand froze cold.

"Yes. Gather and fire like that."

The Ether Shot fired far easier than before. Yu Eunha smiled at it.

"Not bad."

Under the strong lights, Eunha's beautiful smile etched clearly into Eunbyeol's pupils.

"……."

"Eunbyeol."

"Y-Yeah…?"

"Academies don't suit you. Standard methods don't fit."

"But this is prestigious…."

"If Olympia’s your dream, shouldn't you surpass a fancy academy?"

Eunbyeol's face lit with realization.

"Ah."

"See you at the tournament then."

"Huh?!"

"It's a promise."

Eunha had vanished from her side, walking off into the distance.

A week later, on the KTX train to Busan. I scratched my cheek sitting next to Eunbyeol.

'Why'd they book seats together!'

I clenched my fist, imagining Monica's giggling face.

"……."

"……."

An awkward silence wrapped around us.