Admission (1)
The girl and the frog sat side by side on a low hill. A pleasant breeze blew gently, lightly tousling the girl’s long hair. She chattered away without pause, her topic always the world beyond the well. Towering buildings that reached toward the sky, city lights that never went out even at dawn, and the endless, solid barrier stretching beyond the horizon. The frog listened to her words in silence, taking them all in. The long ramble eventually drew to a close. When she finished, the girl turned to the frog. Her lips, as red and luscious as hawthorn berries, finally parted.
"…Young master?"
The driver’s voice calling me from somewhere pulled me back. My eyes, which had been closed without me realizing, snapped open. It seemed I had dozed off while leaning into the rattling vibrations. I was sure I had been dreaming about something, but the details refused to surface. The lingering haze of the dream left my head feeling fuzzy.
The driver, noticing my state, spoke again.
"…Young master? Are you all right? If you’re feeling unwell anywhere…?"
"…I’m fine. More importantly, have we arrived?"
"Yes. The capital’s gate is right ahead. We must pass through there to enter. However, external vehicles are not permitted inside… I apologize, but…"
The driver spoke with a slightly troubled expression. It wasn’t as if I couldn’t go alone. My only luggage was a small travel bag.
"It’s all right. I’ll manage from here. Thank you for driving me all this way."
"Oh dear, you don’t have to say that…"
When I bowed my head, the driver hurriedly removed his cap in a show of excessive deference. The over-the-top courtesy still felt unfamiliar, leaving me slightly uncomfortable.
"Ah…"
The moment I stepped out of the car, a towering, solid barrier—just like the one I had only heard about—stretched out before my eyes. The majestic sight left me momentarily speechless. The capital’s wall continued endlessly beyond the horizon, its end nowhere in sight. It felt almost embarrassing to even compare it to the shabby barrier of some rural village.
I took in the impressive view, yet for some reason my mood continued to sink. I quickened my steps for no particular reason. After walking along the road for about ten minutes, the capital’s main gate finally came into view.
There were two entrances. One had a long line stretching out, while the other was nearly deserted, creating a stark contrast. At the crowded entrance, a strict and thorough inspection was underway. That was probably why the line moved so slowly.
After some deliberation, I decided to join the longer queue. The quiet entrance didn’t seem meant for someone like me. I could feel the people around me stealing glances in my direction. It was probably because of the mask I wore. It was simply another inconvenience I would have to endure.
It took several hours in line before I finally stood face-to-face with the guard on duty.
"Identification… Huh, look at this guy. Wearing some weird thing on your face? What the hell are you?"
The guard addressed me in a crude manner. It didn’t feel pleasant, but I supposed such wariness was natural for someone protecting the city. Instead of answering, I simply took out my identification from my pocket and handed it over.
"Name… Eugene Hyun… and…"
It was a new identity the leader had prepared by combining my name with a suitable character from my mother’s surname. The guard looked back and forth between me and the ID with extreme suspicion. By now, his colleagues nearby were also watching closely.
After a cursory check, the guard pressed his finger against the identification. A faint particle emitted from his fingertip, and in response, a purple seal bloomed across the card. The moment he saw it, the guard’s face turned deathly pale.
"Oh my… I failed to recognize such an esteemed person… Why didn’t you use the mages-only gate…"
The guard suddenly bowed and scraped, his attitude doing a complete one-eighty from moments before. So there really was a separate gate for mages. That explained why no one had been using the other entrance.
"…It just sort of happened. Is the verification complete?"
"Um… If I may ask, that thing on your face…?"
The guard asked cautiously, reading my expression.
"It’s for medical purposes. I have some scars on my face. If you need to verify…"
"Ah, no, no. I could never commit such rudeness."
The guard waved his hands frantically.
"I apologize for the discourtesy. Please, go right in. We sincerely welcome you to the final fortress, Masada."
The guard returned my identification with a much friendlier greeting. My bag wasn’t even inspected, which left me feeling strangely empty. I gave a slight nod and passed through the gate.
After walking through a brief dark tunnel, bright light poured in from ahead. The moment I stepped out of the exit, the true form of the capital I had only heard about unfolded before me.
Layer upon layer of towering buildings. Wide, straight avenues stretching in every direction. A clean river cutting through the city center, lined with neatly planted trees. Countless people walking about with bright, unburdened faces.
I had spent my entire life in a shabby village and had only briefly visited a small satellite city at most. After that, I had followed the leader and my sisters, wandering through underdeveloped frontier regions. To someone like me, the refined scenery of the capital delivered an overwhelming shock.
For a moment, it felt as if someone’s voice echoed in my head. I shook my head, trying to shake off the melancholy.
According to what the leader had told me, someone was supposed to meet me at the main gate.
"Child. If you keep wandering around wearing such a suspicious mask, the security forces will come to arrest you soon, won’t they?"
I had been looking around when a young woman’s voice suddenly rang out. I turned my head, but the only thing behind me was a gray-feathered crow that looked quite old. There wasn’t a single human shadow in sight.
I thought I must have misheard, but when the crow opened its beak, the same woman’s voice rang out once more.
"You heard correctly. I am the one who came to greet you."
"Uh… huh?"
I had seen the leader and my sisters handle crows many times, but this was my first time seeing one that could speak. The bizarre sight left me momentarily stunned.
"I have been waiting here for two whole days. Really, that Jaehyuk fellow didn’t even tell me your arrival time properly."
The crow suddenly began to complain. The way it even clicked its tongue was strangely impressive.
"I-I’m sorry…"
"It’s fine. It’s not your fault. Anyway, let’s move somewhere else first."
With those words, the crow spread its wings and took flight. I followed after it in a daze. The crow led me behind the large buildings along the avenue. Past the café street, down a brick path lined with taverns, through several alleyways it flew.
After flying for quite some time, the crow finally landed in front of a shabby-looking glass greenhouse at the end of an alley.
-Caw!
The crow let out a single light cry while looking at me. It seemed almost like it was urging me on.
-Clank!
After some hesitation, I had just cautiously stepped in front of the greenhouse door when the iron door swung open by itself without warning. It almost looked like it was gesturing for me to come inside. In the end, I stepped through.
The crow, which had been watching the entire time, finally flapped away into the sky.
The interior of the greenhouse was filled with warm air. A faint, characteristic scent of leaf mold lingered gently. All around, tropical plants of every color bloomed in lush abundance. I continued walking along the narrow gravel path between the plants.
Before long, I reached a space that resembled a lounge, furnished with a sofa and table. In the corner, I could see the back of a woman rummaging through a cabinet, making clinking sounds.
"Excuse me…"
"It’s almost ready. Just sit there and wait a moment, dear."
The instant I tried to speak, an immediate reply came back as if she had eyes in the back of her head. The voice that had just come from the crow’s beak now flowed from the woman’s throat. Following her words, I sat down on the sofa beside the table.
-Clink.
"Huh…?"
A short while later, I heard a sound and turned my head. I saw teacups, coasters, and teaspoons floating gently through the air. Thin wisps of steam rose from the cups. The floating tea set landed precisely in front of me. The teaspoon jumped into the cup on its own and began stirring clockwise by itself. A delicate tea aroma gradually spread throughout the room.
"Is this your first time seeing telekinesis?"
I had been staring at the scene in fascination when a voice suddenly spoke from right beside me. I turned my head. On the adjacent sofa, the owner of the voice was staring straight at me.
She appeared to be a young woman, seemingly younger than the leader. She wore a skirt with a subtle sheen and a dark top, giving her an air of considerable dignity. A clean, refreshing yet somehow mysterious fragrance also wafted from her. Despite her youthful appearance, her eyes carried a deep, seasoned weight.
"…I’ve seen the leader try it a few times. Every time he ended up breaking all the cups and causing a huge mess, though…"
"Puhuhu… That fellow won’t be able to do it even in fifty years. Telekinesis is a magic that requires delicacy rather than explosive power. It’s not easy for young mages to manifest. Especially for powerful mages, it’s even harder."
The woman covered her mouth and laughed lightly.
"…Um, by any chance, was that crow from earlier…?"
"I simply borrowed its body for a while. No matter what, I couldn’t very well wait there in person, could I?"
"Borrowed… its body?"
"Yes. When the bond with its owner deepens, it happens naturally. You’d best get used to it. You’ll be seeing even more surprising things from now on."
The woman kept changing topics and chattered away by herself for a long time. Thanks to her, I learned everything from yesterday’s weather to today’s traffic accidents. Since I was used to listening to someone’s endless chatter, I didn’t feel particularly uncomfortable.
"Oh my, look at me. I’m so sorry. Really, this is just like me…"
The woman, who had been talking nonstop, suddenly made an expression as if she had remembered something. She cleared her throat, straightened her posture, and looked at me.
"Ahem. Nice to meet you. My name is Hae Wolhwa. I currently serve as the principal of Yolam Academy. And… I am also the one who approved your recommended admission."