Reunion (2)
The first thing reflected in the full-length mirror was a pristine white mask covering the upper half of my face. Below it, the Cradle's uniform—a white jacket embroidered with gold thread and a navy tie. A badge bearing the first-year emblem adorned the right lapel, paired with matching trousers and polished black shoes.
"…"
The outfit felt strangely ill-fitting, each piece awkward and unnatural. The commander had commissioned a new mask to replace the crude one I'd worn in the unit, but against the uniform it looked grotesque. If anyone saw me at night, they'd have every reason to mistake me for a black mage or a criminal.
"Haa…"
A sigh escaped me at the ridiculous sight, but there was nothing to be done. Resigned, I checked the time, grabbed my suitcase, and left the room.
Time had flown. Monday had arrived—the day of the Cradle's entrance ceremony. The hotel, having been notified in advance by the headmaster, had arranged a private car. I used it to head toward the academy.
The vehicle sped along the western outskirts of the capital. Tall buildings gradually vanished from view, replaced by an endless expanse of green fields and, in the distance, the blue sea. After some time, the number of cars and pedestrians on the road noticeably increased. Far ahead, another barrier began to rise above the horizon. At first I thought it was just another city, but the massive sign at the front gate read First Mage Specialization Academy, revealing that the entire district functioned as a single academy. The Cradle was merely a nickname; the official name was far too long and stiff for everyday use.
I sent the car away and walked toward the gate. Guards in black particle suits conducted strict inspections. Every one of them wore a particle array device on their wrist—mages, all of them. Only after presenting my ID and admission certificate was I allowed through.
Strangely, none of them paid much attention to my mask. Perhaps, as the headmaster had said, unusual students passed through here often. I hoped the other students would be just as indifferent.
Beyond the gate stretched an open landscape. A wide lawn, a lake, and a plaza came into view first. Students in the same uniform as mine gathered in small groups, chatting. Only then did the reality that I was truly at the Cradle sink in.
Buildings of varying heights and widths lined the lawn and plaza. Some gleamed with floor-to-ceiling glass that reflected sunlight; others had no windows at all, their interiors impossible to guess. Signs stood everywhere, indicating each building's name and purpose.
Since outsiders were not permitted inside the Cradle, scenes of students saying goodbye to family and relatives were common nearby. Some parents patted shoulders with pride; others, overcome with joy, burst into tears.
"…"
Standing alone amid such happy scenes left me feeling strangely hollow. In this place filled with joy, I was the only one floating adrift. I regretted not letting my sisters come to the ceremony after all. If I stayed here any longer, the gloom would swallow me whole, so I decided to leave the area.
I'd heard the entrance ceremony would be held at Hwayang-gwan. There was still plenty of time, so arriving early shouldn't be a problem. I looked around for a sign pointing the way.
The campus was so densely packed with buildings that finding it wasn't easy.
"Um… excuse me…!"
Just as I finally spotted the direction I needed, a woman's voice called out from behind. It sounded oddly familiar—something I'd heard before, though not from anyone I knew. Where had I…?
"…?"
I turned around. A female student stood there, panting. From her uniform and the same first-year badge I wore, she appeared to be a new student as well.
"Huff… huff… I was calling you for a while… really…"
After catching her breath, she looked up at me. Light brown hair, matching eyes, delicate features that gave her a harmless impression. Her eyes slanted gently downward, and faint freckles dotted her cheeks, which were tinged with a light blush.
I realized who she was almost immediately. We had met last Friday.
"That mask…! I thought it might be… it is…! You…! You're the person from before!! The one who helped me…!"
"…"
"Oh my gosh, we were both new students at the Cradle… I never imagined we'd meet again here…!"
She chattered on excitedly. I hadn't imagined it either. Who would have guessed that a prospective student at a prestigious academy would be chased by thugs in a back alley?
"Hehe, it's really amazing. How do coincidences like this even happen? Ah, I'm Yena. Ha Yena. You can just call me Yena. What's your name? What's your major? Emission? Circulation? I think you look like Circulation type. Why do you wear a mask? Is it because it makes you stand out?"
"…"
"Hello?"
"…"
"Heeey~?"
She waved her hand in front of my face. Her odd behavior drew stares from passersby, and more than a few looked startled by my mask.
"…Uh, um… you can talk, right…? Now that I think about it, you didn't say anything last time either…"
"I can."
"Kyaaah! Oh my gosh!!"
At the sound of my voice, she jumped and plopped down on the spot. Everything about her—her appearance, her actions—reminded me of a harmless little rabbit. I'd missed the timing to answer, and now she kept leaning in close, so I couldn't hold back any longer. Did girls always like sticking their faces right up to people? The headmaster had done the same…
"Hehe, sorry… I got startled when you suddenly spoke. But your voice is really nice…!"
She stood up, brushing off her clothes, and smiled awkwardly.
"Hey, what's your name? You don't mind telling me, right…?"
"…Yu Jin-hyun."
"I see! Nice to meet you…! Then can I call you Jin-hyun…?"
"…Just call me Hyun."
It had been nearly two years since I'd received the new name, yet it still felt uncomfortable and unfamiliar. Back in the unit, my sisters had always called me Hyun. Since the new name already contained "Hyun," it didn't seem like a big issue.
"Hee, got it…! You can call me whatever you like too…! I already told you my name, right?"
"…"
"Thank you so much for last time…! If it weren't for you, something terrible would've happened. My heart's still racing. And I'm sorry I couldn't thank you properly. I was so shocked I couldn't speak. By the time I came to my senses, you were already gone… I really didn't expect to meet you again like this…!"
"Don't worry about it. You don't have to make such a big deal out of it either."
"Hehe, you really are a kind person…? I was a little scared before I talked to you… I guess you really can't judge people by appearances…!"
She smiled brightly. But it seemed her reason for approaching wasn't just gratitude. After twisting a strand of hair around her finger for a long moment, she finally spoke.
"Um… you know… would you like to go together…? My family couldn't come because they live far away. I don't have any friends yet either… How about it…? We could keep each other company…"
"…"
Her sudden suggestion left me in unexpected contemplation. What should I do? I'd planned to head straight to Hwayang-gwan alone.
"Hm…?"
When I didn't answer, she asked again. There was a hint of earnestness in her voice. But I hesitated. The truth was, ever since I'd recognized her, a strange sensation had been nagging at me.
I felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity toward her. It definitely wasn't romantic attraction—I knew that much from past experience. If anything, it felt as though I'd known her for decades, even centuries. Like the bond of shared blood, or a powerful mutual pull born from similarity.
Yet it was physically impossible for us to have known each other that long. I hadn't even lived twenty years, and we'd only met last Friday in that back alley.
I thought it over again and again, but in the end I failed to define the bizarre feeling. Was I simply glad to be talking to a girl my age after so long? No, that didn't seem right either…
"Sorry. I prefer going alone. We should each go our own way—"
"Hic… hiccup…"
But her reaction was nothing like what I'd expected. Tears welled up in her round eyes and began to fall.
"S-sorry… It really was too much to ask, wasn't it…?"
"…"
"Sorry… for bothering you… I just thought it would be nice to go together… hic…"
This was far too awkward. Was the situation really so disappointing that she had to cry? I'd tried to avoid her because that strangely familiar feeling had turned into discomfort and displeasure for me. That discomfort stemmed from my own past experiences. But that was my problem, not hers. And when I thought about it, she hadn't been the one approaching me—I'd been the one who approached her first…
…Maybe this time, I needed to change my way of thinking.
"…Sorry. I misspoke. Let's go together, like you said."
"…No, it's okay… You don't have to force yourself…"
"I don't dislike the idea. It just felt awkward. It's been a while since I've talked to someone my age…"
"Then… really…?"
"Really. Let's go together."
Only after hearing my firm confirmation did she wipe the tears from her eyes. Then, as if nothing had happened, she beamed and held out her hand.
"Hehe… Then please take care of me again…?"
"…Yeah."
With no other choice, I took her hand. A faint discomfort spread from my fingertips, but it was manageable. …I'd get used to it. The commander had told me to actively socialize and raise my own and my family's influence. Perhaps this was the first step…
"…Hey, can I ask you something?"
"What?"
"You're… not a girl, right?"
"What?"
"Hehe, never mind…! More importantly, come this way…! I'll show you around…!"
After her tears had dried, Yena suddenly asked a strange question. I tried to question her, but she just laughed and led me deeper into the Cradle's campus.