The Celestial Bridge
In a high school near Gyeongnam, a third-year student was diligently studying even during lunch break. She had long, straight black hair neatly tied back, a perfectly toned body from meticulous self-care, and captivating cat-like features. It was too selfishly alluring for someone dismissed as just a bookworm.
During lunch, a female student pushed open the classroom door and scanned the room before calling out to the girl studying at the front desk.
"Ga-eul~ The homeroom teacher wants to see you?"
Lee Ga-eul glanced at the girl, closed her reference book, and stood up.
"The staff room?"
"Yeah, the staff room."
Relationships in the countryside were narrow but deep. Everyone had known each other since kindergarten, so short exchanges conveyed everything without excess words. Ga-eul had only lived here for six years, but it was plenty of time to become part of the community.
Arriving at the staff room after her friend's message, Ga-eul felt no unease—being a model student with impeccable behavior, a summons like this didn't faze her. Sliding open the door revealed teachers busy with lesson prep, and in one corner sat a thoughtful teacher. He was a kindly middle-aged man whose forehead was steadily expanding upward.
Spotting her homeroom teacher, Ga-eul approached without hesitation.
"Teacher, you wanted to see me?"
Snapping out of his reverie, the man greeted her with a warm smile.
"Oh~ Ga-eul, sorry to call you during lunch. You got time?"
"Yes, it's fine."
"Might take a bit, so have a seat here. Want something to drink?"
"No, I'm good."
Her homeroom teacher glanced at his monitor, typed something, and Ga-eul's personal info popped up alongside the universities she'd applied to. The regular admission section listed several, but early admission had just one. Only one.
Ga-eul could guess why she'd been called.
With a short sigh through his nose, her teacher said,
"Ga-eul... you sure about putting all your eggs in one basket for early admission?"
"Yes."
Her answer was firm, her resolve to aim solely for that one university unyielding. He'd tried persuading her multiple times before, but today was no different. He rubbed his dry face in resignation.
"Ugh... yeah, figured as much."
"Sorry, Teacher."
"No, if anything, it looks like I don't trust you."
"...No. It's just my stubbornness."
As early admission deadlines loomed, the school was getting anxious. Ga-eul, the top student nationwide in mock exams top 10, was gunning for the National Academy—no ordinary school.
The National Academy was one of the world's rare institutions teaching knowledge of other realms. It trained elite hunters, researchers analyzing the otherworld, and developers crafting weapons against magical beasts. Graduates were hot commodities, fought over instantly—a golden pond indeed.
World-renowned, its barriers were sky-high: 700 spots per grade, half reserved for awakeners. For normals, odds were slim. Classified as a university with entrance exams, its cutline beat top Seoul schools—grades alone weren't enough; luck mattered too.
Getting into the National Academy was like plucking stars from the sky.
Even with Ga-eul's stellar scores, nothing was guaranteed. But she'd studied single-mindedly for it. As a non-awakener, she needed those specs to fast-track into the Hunter Management Bureau.
Understanding her situation, her teacher nodded quietly.
"Won't nag anymore. But ask me anything you're unsure about. Not that I should say this, but I'm rooting for you most of all, Ga-eul."
Ga-eul's serious expression softened for the first time.
"Thank you."
"Sorry again for interrupting your break. Oh! And could you grab Ra-yoon? Her advisor said she skipped self-study again yesterday."
"...That idiot... I told her it was risky yesterday..."
"Huh? What'd you say?"
"Nothing. I'll get Ra-yoon."
"Thanks! Appreciate it~"
Ga-eul bowed lightly and left the staff room, heading to the field to find her friend—who'd always been a bit lacking in some ways since childhood.
#
Arriving at the field, Ga-eul spotted Yoon Ra-yoon playing basketball. Most high school girls chatted in class at lunch, but Ra-yoon was the exception. Dunking with boys wasn't new, so it barely surprised anyone.
"Ra-yoon!! Pass!!"
"Nope! I got this!!"
"Bullshit!! Pass already!!!"
Ra-yoon, dribbling amid bigger boys, couldn't break free. She needed to pass but kept bouncing the ball, eyeing an angle. Then she spun back toward her team's court, creating distance for a three-pointer.
Even pros rarely nail threes from midcourt. But Ra-yoon was an awakener—low rank, but her physical specs crushed athletes. As she crouched to shoot,
"Yoon Ra-yoon, backcourt!!"
A boy's shout made her fumble; the ball rolled away.
"Back... what? What's that mean, you weeb?"
"That's a violation!!"
"Why?!! You little shit, lying 'cause you can't score?"
"Lying my ass? Dribble into enemy court then back to yours—violation!!"
"Says who!!"
"...?! That's basketball rules, you moron!!!!"
As voices rose, fed-up Ga-eul stepped in.
"Ra-yoon."
"Huh? Ga-eul! What brings you here?"
Ra-yoon was thrilled and shocked to see her studying friend.
"Homeroom teacher wants you. Staff room."
"Eek...! Staff room? Did I do something?"
"Got caught skipping self-study yesterday."
"...Damn, how?"
"Told you—the advisor was the English teacher yesterday. Be careful."
"Hing..."
The boys snickered.
"Whoa, Ra-yoon, how'd you skip self-study?"
"Huh? Easy. Just roam the mountains."
"Puhahaha! Wild child, you'll get shot one day."
"Pfft! Shotgun outta nowhere?"
"Ra-yoon... they're calling you a wild boar."
"What?!! You bastard!!"
Thanks to Ga-eul's translation, Ra-yoon grabbed the shotgun-joke boy's collar and hoisted him.
"Gah! I meant, wandering mountains, boars might mistake you—be careful...!"
"Same difference!!"
"Ra-yoon, no time. Staff room, now."
Still fuming, Ra-yoon grumbled "Tch!" and dropped him, following Ga-eul inside.
The bell rang, ending 8th period.
"That's it for today. No slacking just 'cause it's Friday—third-years don't get playtime."
"Teacher~ When can we play?"
"College."
Amid boos, the teacher exited to jeers as BGM. Ga-eul shrugged it off, prepping for self-study, when Ra-yoon approached.
"Ga-eul! See you Monday!"
The abrupt farewell startled her.
"What? You skipping again...?"
"Yup! Promised to meet today."
"...? Who?"
"Unnie Na!"
The mysterious woman Ra-yoon bragged about since morning. A young lady who'd moved to the pension between village and school. She'd saved Ra-yoon collapsing in the mountains and fed her dinner—a kind soul. Ra-yoon hadn't known anyone lived there, but Ga-eul did.
Probably the place Uncle mentioned...
Her uncle's side gig spot. She'd thought it was to support her freeloading at first, but he clarified: old boss's favor, temporary maintenance. Simple repairs. But no contact worried him. Ga-eul found it odd but assumed no big deal. And Ra-yoon beat her uncle to meeting the resident.
".........Don't be too much trouble."
"Psh~ I got tact! I'll introduce you next time!"
Ga-eul waved vaguely, and Ra-yoon headed to the back mountain.
'Fell asleep somehow?'
Ga-eul blinked awake, surrounded by studying classmates. Outside, pitch-black night blanketed everything.
Last I remember is dinner... Big temperature swing? Been tired lately...
No time for naps. To edge closer to the Academy, she squeezed study time from sleep.
Three years chasing the National Academy. Started for scholarships to ease burden on aunt and uncle who took her in after gate accident claimed her parents. Learned of the Academy, decided to go all-in. Maybe subconscious trauma-overcoming too.
Drip. Drip.
Warm liquid from her nose. Familiarly, she grabbed tissue from her drawer, plugged it, and headed to the bathroom. Once stopped, she returned.
Rumble. Murmur.
The hallway buzzed—whole class spilling out. No advisor intervention despite the noise.
At the classroom, kids clustered by windows.
"Whoa, what's that?"
"Meteor? Forget self-study—anyone grabbing it??"
"Gate breakout?"
'Gate?'
Ga-eul's nightmare flashed; she rushed to the window.
Beyond: a stunning Milky Way. Clustered lights dispersing in ethereal beauty. Like a bridge linking sky and earth.
No disaster—relief. But one worry: the earth-end pointed where her friend headed hours ago.