25 - Recommendation Letter

Phew. What an utterly exhausting day.

The capsule's power cut off, and the auto-cooling and cleaning modes kicked in. I twisted my stiff body this way and that, stretching, but the fatigue built up over the past week wouldn't fade so easily.

I hadn't stepped out of the capsule all day, so there was no way dust could have accumulated in the house, but I still glanced around self-consciously, wondering if the landlord was coming.

"Everything okay?"

"Today's your last day commuting, right? How was it?"

"You make it sound like I'm the one retiring. Nothing special. I finished the report."

"You really think this one report is enough to get into the academy?"

"Who knows? They might find you too much to handle."

Over dinner with Professor Cheon every evening, the only topics we could discuss were transmutation circles. Not surprising, really—our life experiences might overlap in length, but my physical age was still stuck at seven, and his hobbies were basically limited to math and transmutation studies.

The report for the academy required a ton of background knowledge, but it boiled down to the theoretical basics of circle dimension reduction—a concept even young mages could grasp once they got the hang of it.

"This isn't a report; it's a full-blown paper. Our grad students should study it."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"I didn't come up with it alone. I just transcribed our conversations."

"Who else would I discuss modular groups and perfectoid bodies with if not you, Nami?"

"It's weird that universities don't cover basic magic like this. What do they teach?"

"Mostly magic engineering for the Ideaverse. It's the trend."

"Makes sense. Gotta make a living."

Modern kids these days—no romance. It reminded me of my old mage tower colleagues, pulling out all sorts of bizarre rituals just to enlarge their circles. Now everyone was tweaking efficiency within the same old ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠frameworks. Magic had progressed, sure, but modern times weren't all that different from my previous life.

We kept debating these things over dinner tonight, too. He even shared stories about other professors and grad students—like the one who got caught stealing red ginseng extract from the president's office, leaving everyone in an awkward spot. Hilarious and absurd.

"I need to write your recommendation letter for Seferon Academy. Want to help draft it?"

"Can I even look at it?"

"Strictly speaking, no."

"Then I trust you'll handle it perfectly, Professor."

"Slippery little genius, aren't you?"

Instead of the content, Professor Cheon printed out the blank form and showed it to me.

"Simpler than I thought. Not many fields to fill."

"I'm no good at writing. Getting started is the hardest part."

"I think a recommendation should show the real person, not just list virtues. No kid my age could produce a report like this anyway."

"Capture your story, huh? How about a quick interview? It'll help a lot."

"Sure... I'll answer as best I can. What do you want to know?"

Professor Cheon pulled out A4 paper and a pencil, gearing up for a serious interview. The dim house lighting—one bulb total—made it feel like an interrogation. Probably just my imagination.

"Let's start with the first question. When did you first get interested in magic, Nami?"

"Is Her Highness still protesting in her room?"

"Yes, unfortunately..."

"Who'd she get that stubbornness from? Incredible!"

Butler Baro had been tearing his hair out over the princess for days. The trigger? Prince Hiasen, who used to play with her, had left for heir training with Jade and Payran.

Hearing the news, Princess Estasha demanded magic lessons too, launching a hunger strike with her child-sized body. They figured it'd pass in a day, but she was on day three.

"Butler... if Her Highness collapses..."

"Sigh... Fetch Verstaffen. I need an audience with His Majesty."

Oblivious to their woes, the three princes gathered in Estasha's bedroom after training, like clockwork.

"Hey, dummy Shasha! Didn't miss your big bros?"

Payran, the rowdy Second Prince, always pinched her cheeks—until Crown Prince Jade intervened.

"I heard ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠about your hunger strike. You're past the age for tantrums. Mind your Kaizen royal dignity."

Jade wasn't gentle either, chiding her antics. Betrayal hurts more from those who treated you well.

Estasha's eyes welled up, red-rimmed, but she stubbornly stayed silent.

"Don't be too hard on Esha. Estasha? I'll ask Father again. No crying, okay?"

Hiasen, who rarely butted in, took her side for once.

"Ugh, dummies sticking together. Starve all you want—I'm off for roast turkey tonight!"

Payran mocked her with food one last time, dragging Jade away.

"You leave too."

"Huh?"

"Hiasen, you too. Out."

"I don't like turkey ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠anyway. Can I stay a bit?"

"Why do you always come here?"

"Bored. Don't wanna play with me anymore? Forgot all the fun times?"

"..."

Estasha was dumbfounded. Who played with whom?

But Hiasen hummed happily, scanning the room.

"Started magic with my brothers—super hard. Count Dmitri wants runes memorized by next class. Overwhelming. Wanna see?"

He showed her his homework from their teacher.

"Don't play dumb. Everyone knows you're smarter than your bro—er, big brothers."

"You talk like you sat in class. It was really tough!"

"Then teach me. Let's see how hard."

"No way. Count said no sharing outside."

"..."

"But if my little sister asks nicely... maybe."

"I got interested because my brothers were learning."

"Your brothers?"

"Not blood-related."

"Ah, the orphanage taught magic, then."

Half-siblings, technically.

"Any struggles learning magic?"

"It was fun. And amazing."

"Favorite spell?"

"Know 5th Circle Raul-Syst?"

"Describe it?"

I sketched the basic outer magic circle on paper. The professor pondered, then lit up.

"In Korea, it's called Alchemist. Lets you see stars at noon—super romantic. Minor 5th Circle spell, but you know it well."

Discovered by Raul Luminos, an ancestor of the Luminos family. The first spell Hiasen—reluctant to show off—demoed for me. It substituted 128 runes (El, Ras, Mabven, Sutra to Reshaikbvar, Saleantirumone, Harayetraika) with 128 stars. Any mage mastering 4th Circle tried it. Purpose unknown, but undeniable as a 4th Circle showcase map.

"Good job. I'll finish the rest, even if it takes all night."

"Deadline tomorrow?"

"Hahaha."

Students and professors alike cram—human nature.

After showering and brushing, I bid goodnight to the professor wrestling the letter and headed to my room. My damp hair was annoying.

A message from Sia. I activated the capsule's hologram text mode, lay on the bed (towel under to protect the pillow), and messaged her.