Stars Fall, Mages Rise
Isara beamed brightly upon spotting Seong Jiho after so long.
"You've been doing great lately, huh, Junior~? Winning every month from January to February?"
"...Shut up. Focus on the broadcast prep."
"Shu~t up and focus on the broad~cast prep~?"
As Isara twisted her face mockingly to tease him, Seong Jiho bit his lip.
"Aren't you worried about this Ranking War?"
At Seong Jiho's retort, Isara pretended to be genuinely hit.
"Ugh...."
"You know there hasn't been a single next-gen star like you who aced their first Ranking War, right?"
Isara's expression fell at his words. Just as he said, none of the hyped next-gen stars had done well in their debut Ranking War. Most only showed up in the top ranks after 3 to 5 years of pro experience—if at all. The exception was her half-brother, Lee Han.
Isara knew that saying all too well. She'd heard it countless times over the past decade. Of course, it usually came with prefixes like "bubble," "flash in the pan," "trend," or "fad"—even harsher nicknames.
"Yeah, even seniors like Yeon Chae-ah and Park Seongjun bombed their Ranking Wars last year...."
"Exactly. You and Yu Eunha really need to watch out."
"Yeah...."
If she and Yu Eunha flopped the Ranking War, the Magic Tower Alliance's promising rookie selection would basically be a curse.
Seong Jiho narrowed his eyes and glared at Isara.
"And here you are, with time to tease a junior?"
"Tch.... I was just trying to loosen up before the broadcast."
Isara turned away like she was truly sulking. Having backfired hard on her tease, she quietly sorted her script.
Sensing something off, Seong Jiho glanced at the script.
"Oh, right—today's about the Ranking War?"
Today's shoot for Dingdongdaeng Magic Classroom was set to cover the pro Ranking War. Realizing that might be why Isara was tense, Seong Jiho eyed her stiff expression.
"Mad?"
"Yup."
Seeing her pout, Seong Jiho sighed.
"Haa.... Sorry. Didn't know you were that nervous. I only said it 'cause I'm worried."
"I know~"
As Isara giggled, Seong Jiho bit his lip again. He'd realized her sulk was all an act.
"You little—!"
"Ahaha! Got a good look at clueless Seong Jiho's face."
Isara's giggling faded into a weary expression. Her eye smile softened, her upturned lips drooped, and she stared blankly at the camera, expressionless.
"But y'know...."
"Huh?"
"I kinda get why all those promising stars bombed the Ranking War."
"What?!"
"Maybe there's a reason they all called 'em bubbles or 'Junior Kings' or whatever."
Ignoring Seong Jiho's shocked face, Isara kept staring vacantly at the camera.
"I just kinda get it. Not totally sure."
"......"
Caught off guard, Seong Jiho blinked before replying.
"But you're Isara. A star on a whole other level from the rest—the highest-flying one yet."
"...Yeah. Thanks."
With an inscrutable look, Isara caught the cue sign and flashed the purest, innocent smile of an 11-year-old. It was unmistakably the smile she wore when sad, stirring unease in Seong Jiho.
*
The kids on TV looked bright and cheery. Their mentality unshaken even on the eve of the Ranking War. I snorted as I watched Isara and Seong Jiho on Dingdongdaeng Magic Classroom.
I snuck my hand into Monica's snack bowl while watching TV.
"The Korean league's a two-power system, right?"
Taehyun's Sky Tower and the Dragon King's Spiral Tower dominated as the overwhelming top two, or so I'd heard.
"Ahah. Kinda, but you don't need to worry about it."
"Why not?"
Monica shook her head at my question.
"That two-power talk is just for the 1st Army. The 2nd and 3rd are distributed differently."
"Oh...."
"Plus, the 1st Army doesn't even compete in the Ranking War."
"...Hmph, special treatment?"
Monica replied flatly to my grumble.
"If 1st Army mages joined, 3rd Army folks could straight-up die."
"......"
"They're staying out to protect the 3rd Army."
"Fair enough...."
I nodded at the solid reasoning. Monica stuffed her mouth with banana-shaped snacks and mumbled.
"Excludin' the 1st Army's 12, the 2nd an' 3rd total 120. Outta them, the 2nd Army's got the Three Heads runnin' it."
"...Finish chewing first. Got it, 2nd and 3rd Army make 120 total—but Three Heads?"
As if answering for her, Isara's voice rang from the TV.
As Isara spoke, three faces appeared on the TV monitor.
A massive stadium appeared on the data screen—120 individual sim pods installed, looking enormous and solemn.
"Ooh, takes me back—no, that was the year before last. Missed it last year 'cause I was busy picking you up and training you hard."
"...Picked up."
True, so nothing to say.
"Changed a ton in a year. From stray cat to pro mage."
"...Yeah. If that got out, the fallout would be huge."
"......"
"They all think you've trained 5 or 10 years. Ahaha!"
Monica crammed more banana snacks and giggled.
"Wonder if kids like Jiyeon or Sera have figured it out from my schedule."
She shoveled in the crumbs.
"So, little stray kitten? What's your take right now?"
I smirked and clenched my fist at Monica's words.
"I shall smash them all to bits."
"Good. That's the confidence my disciple needs."
Monica rose from the sofa, fetching two glasses of milk.
"Cheers to tomorrow's Ranking War."
"Hehe, cheers to Ranking #1."
Her eyes narrowed at my toast.
"Think you can take #1?"
"Obviously. Who trained me?"
I shuddered recalling the past month's hellish training.
"Three Heads, Four Heavenly Kings—whatever. This Ranking War's my solo stage. Leagues are a whole other beast."
With my bold declaration, the eve of the Ranking War began.
*
Hong Jiyeon snorted and shut off the TV airing Dingdongdaeng Magic Classroom.
"Day-before hype broadcast? That gas-brat's havin' a field day, huh."
Hong Baekrim shrugged at her words.
"Ain't that all pre-recorded?"
Her cheeks flushed.
"Th-the fact they filmed it matters, Gramps! Should be busy preppin' for the Ranking War."
"Heh heh. Grindin' practice to death don't guarantee growth."
"No way! 'Practice makes me,' ya always said, Gramps."
She crossed her arms. Hong Baekrim smiled kindly at the sight.
"Right, my granddaughter. All set for your real debut stage?"
She scoffed.
"Isara or Yu Eunha ain't my match. Ya know that, Gramps."
"Yeah."
Hong Baekrim rose his massive frame, resting a hand on her head.
"Time for the hasty overachievers to trip."
He gazed at his beloved granddaughter with shining eyes. He'd raised her with utmost care, training her magic in the most efficient way possible. Talent let her start lessons. Obsession and grit let her push intensity to the max.
At 66, Hong Baekrim would stake his name: unless they had superhuman talent, no mage could surpass her.
'If they do, they walked the demonic path.'
Exactly at 12 or 11. After pouring everything into the promotion leagues, demonic-path kids dropped like flies. And that was why the shiny stars always crashed in the Ranking War and leagues.
"Jiyeon, you're the most talented mage in Korea—bar none."
"......"
"Go show 'em. How high a tower built brick by basics can climb."
Hong Baekrim ruffled her hair playfully.
The day fake bubbles burst and true stars rose was just one day away.