Lilac
“Rei Wang was looking for you, Yoon Si-hu? You should probably stay off the hallways for a while.”
“Yeah? Thanks for the heads-up.”
The rumor that I Ha-ru and Seo Yu-na had fought after midterms spread through the academy like wildfire. The dissatisfaction among the first-year Class C students toward Yu-na only grew day by day. Eventually, pushed by the kids' complaints, Ha-ru—as class rep—had met with her privately to give her a warning, but she never said what happened there.
It was clear a fistfight had broken out, but if that were the case, both sides' parents would be called in immediately. That was probably why Ha-ru feared it.
Si-hu wasn't one to take rumors at face value, but where there's smoke, there's fire. Deep down, he just wanted to avoid Yu-na as much as possible.
“You're Yoon Si-hu, right?”
But in the tug-of-war of patience, Yu-na came out on top. Si-hu tried to play it cool to hide that he'd been dodging her on purpose.
“Yeah, and?”
“You got first place this time, huh?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah.”
“Let's go over the Magic Records exam together. From the start.”
What came out of Yu-na's mouth was completely unexpected. She wasn't teasing him. She genuinely wanted to review the test problems with him.
So Si-hu opted for a white lie: he'd left his test paper at home. Discussing midterms with a total stranger was ridiculous anyway.
“No problem. I memorized all the questions. You did too, right?”
But she left him no escape. This was Si-hu and Yu-na's first meeting.
“Already the last one. Multiple choice number 18.”
“The one where you pick the magic circle with mana cost greater than 110/3 but less than 290/7, right?”
“I ran out of time and skipped it. What'd you pick?”
“Number 1.”
“That's the answer! How'd you get it?”
Yu-na grabbed Si-hu's shoulders from both sides, making a huge fuss. Every time Si-hu had gotten right what she'd missed, she'd react like this, waiting for his explanation. Their week-long routine during every break—her showing up without fail in front of Class A—was coming to an end today. He hadn't been able to dampen her enthusiasm once.
“Normally, you'd want a circle with mana cost in the low 40s. Anything in the high 30s isn't worth considering.”
“Why? It could be 37, 38, 39.”
“Prime factorization makes the numbers too big. None of the options from 1 to 5 would be that simple.”
“Prime factorization? What's that?”
“Well, uh...”
Ding-dong-dang-dong. The bell rang, signaling the start of Friday's final class. But today, Yu-na couldn't head back to her room. She couldn't put off learning about “prime factorization” until next week. On the other hand, she had to leave before the teacher arrived, stamping her feet like an anxious puppy—it was almost pitiful.
“Wanna come to my place later? I'll teach you after school.”
“Huh...?”
His casual suggestion froze her in place.
“Si-hu, what brings you home with a friend? Studying, huh?”
“Yeah, I didn't do great on midterms, so we're reviewing. Gotta stay number one for finals too...”
“Seo Yu-na? Where's your place?”
“Um... I...”
“We're starting right now—mind stepping out?”
“Such a fuss. Study hard, then.”
The door closed, and Si-hu let out a sigh of relief. It wasn't exactly a lie to his mom, but something still pricked at him. Inviting a friend over—or being invited—was a first for both Si-hu and Yu-na. At their age, quintessential first-graders, admitting a friend of the opposite sex felt embarrassing. The situation was awkward.
“Thanks... for not telling her where I live.”
“My mom's the weird one for asking outright.”
“...”
“You uncomfortable?”
“No! Not that.”
Yu-na waved her hands frantically. There was nothing wrong with the cushion she sat on. Stepping into Si-hu's room for the first time, she finally understood a bit of what Ha-ru had said. This single room was bigger than her whole house. No need to fold blankets, clear clutter, or set up a tray for studying here. There was a bed and a desk big enough for one person to sprawl out on.
“Shall we start?”
“Yeah...”
“Prime factorization first?”
Prime factorization was middle-school level in other schools. Si-hu handled such concepts with ease—different from Ha-ru or Kim Han-gyeol. The knowledge Yoon Si-hu had built was like an impossibly tall mountain. Yu-na's head spun; there was no room left for his explanations.
“You listening?”
“So, Si-hu, you think all this through during exams?”
It wasn't an entirely innocent question. Her brain couldn't execute what he described. Every time she felt the gap between them, her mind grew hazy.
“Nah?”
His answer was unexpectedly negative.
“Truth is, I guessed number 18 right.”
“What?!”
“Why?”
“You've been explaining like you solved everything perfectly!”
“You guessed 16 and 17 right too. I can get one by luck.”
“I didn't even know that...!”
Tears welled up in Yu-na's eyes. But she wasn't sad. The absurdity made her shake off the tears and let out a small, bubbly laugh.
“I almost thought you were a machine, not human!”
From crying to laughing. Si-hu was baffled by her sudden shift, but it felt human—his lips curved up naturally. In his eyes, her smile was pretty, and her red hair was charming. The type popular with boys and girls alike. He couldn't understand why the class shunned her. If anything, he felt a twinge of regret that today might be their last chat.
“Thanks to you, I think I'll ace finals too.”
He wanted to talk more. Si-hu probed gently.
“We finished the tests—heading home?”
“What're you talking about?”
Yu-na pulled two books and a stack of test papers from her bag.
Basics of Runes! Our turn now, right? Please take good care of me.”
She nagged him innocently to hurry up—plenty more to do. What a relief.
“Yeah, same here.”
“Ugh...”
“Awake? If you're dizzy, rest more. Or go home early without a note—the homeroom teacher approved.”
Yu-na's vision showed translucent bugs wriggling on the stark white ceiling. She rubbed her eyes again; they vanished. She realized she was in the nurse's office.
It felt like a mix of bad and good dreams, but the details escaped her.
“Just go?”
“Yes, thank you for watching over me.”
She grabbed her bag and jacket, thanked the nurse properly, and checked the clock.
Most kids had long gone home. It was late afternoon.
“Cough, cough.”
Sudden coughing made her heart sink, fearing a potion nightmare replay. But no bitter aftertaste beyond a pill. As she moistened her dry lips with her tongue, memories of collapsing flooded back—her face burned.
[Seo Yu-na. Can you hear me?]
[I'm putting my finger in your mouth now. Don't bite even if it hurts.]
Something had invaded her mouth—she'd panicked first. Like dental tools sneaking in while her eyes were shut. But soon a mystical energy spread through her body, easing the pain.
It felt like the pain was all a dream.
[Hang in there. It'll be okay.]
What was that...?
The hand stroking her face was so warm, like her mother's... and missed. She shook off the silly thought.
I've been skipping meals lately—must be dizziness. Gotta eat more lunch from now on.
Crossing the school garden, Yu-na stopped blankly before a lilac bed someone had planted with care along the building. Flowers first-years had planted with their parents at entrance ceremony. Right there, the one she'd planted last year with her brother, wishing to graduate safely.
But lilacs bloom intensely in spring, then fade by summer's end and winter. The spot gets replaced by next year's new first-years' wishes.
Get used to routine, settle in, and you forget the original purpose. That's why Yu-na now hated the lilacs' piercing scent.
“@%$# &&@ %@# you! Are you insane?!”
The sudden shout snapped her from her reverie. Faint light leaked from the building opposite the bed. Drawn like by a spell—maybe the lilac scent—she entered. Curiosity and a small rebellion. Already skipped class once; no hesitation in her steps.
She caught a secretary-like sister storming out, face twisted.
Chewed out by some academy bigwig?
But presences lingered inside.
[It's been a while since a standout talent entered the academy. Heh.]
Room within a room. Yu-na pressed against one wall, ear tuned. Poorly soundproofed partition from a single room let voices reach her clearly.
[Student, what drug did your friend take to need anesthetic magic?]
[She didn't know it was a potion.]
“...!”
NoName's voice.
Why's NoName here?
[Potion...? Like what combat mages drink?]
[Professor Cheon said the same. Yes.]
[Ah...]
Combat mage? What's that?
Yu-na's head couldn't parse every word. The talk cut off. Thinking she'd been caught, she calmed her pounding heart.
[NoName, you too... Enjoy school life.]
If I stay, she'll spot me! Somewhere to hide...?
Yu-na squeezed her small body between stacked empty tangerine boxes for recycling. Soon the door opened; a scary-faced middle-aged man emerged, fumbling for a cigarette.
She finally breathed easy.
“Terminal illness—how tragic.”
But the man's musing word...
“Terminal...?”
Stirred the trauma buried deep in her abyss.