Prologue Story

We continued to walk around the school, sneaking peeks at places like the auditorium and the computer room.

We even stopped by the science lab once.

Looking at all the magical potions arranged by type, I thought it was worth coming here.

Though, we couldn’t actually enter the classrooms.

But from the way she kept blocking any possible entrance, it looked like classrooms were really off-limits.

Well, it made sense, I guess.

Classrooms were bound to be filled with students’ personal items.

“Oh, if we go that way, the student council room…”

We kept following her.

But as she pointed down the hallway, she suddenly flinched and stopped.

“…Ack.”

With a strange groan, she stepped back.

Her face scrunched up as if she were flustered.

She started to slowly back away.

“Ugh, that annoying guy’s here… Ugh, we need to run. He’s unbelievably sharp and freakishly smart, so if he sees you two, he’ll immediately notice…”

“What are you doing?”

She froze right in the middle of whispering to us.

When I looked up in confusion, I couldn’t help but be amazed.

“Wow…”

“Senpai. Weren’t you supposed to be on an expedition? You applied for it, didn’t you?”

He was incredibly handsome.

With jet-black hair and eyes, it was a common look, but there was something mysterious and unique about him.

Unlike me, who was busy admiring, the older student suddenly tensed at his voice and shielded us behind her.

She started backing away, her arm clutching mine, so I couldn’t move.

But since things seemed serious, I didn’t try to slip away or complain.

Inha seemed to feel the same, merely raising her eyebrows slightly in silence.

“Uh, yeah…”

She replied awkwardly.

The man’s eyebrow twitched.

“…I can see all the kids behind you.”

“…”

She silently looked away, avoiding his gaze.

In that moment, the man and I locked eyes.

His stare was cold and impassive, almost enough to make my breath catch.

I quickly looked away from him.

Then she let out a sigh.

“Just, you know, giving a tour to some elementary kids…”

“Hm…really? They seem like new faces.”

“Since when do you memorize the faces of all the elementary students?”

“Only the ones close to you.”

I shuddered for a second. …Is this guy a stalker or something?

But her next words clarified that it wasn’t the case.

“Ugh, right. You’re annoyingly sharp like that. You don’t forget a face after seeing it once. Anyway, I brought them here under my authority, so no need to worry. I know you don’t like younger girls.”

“It’s not that I hate them. I just feel uncomfortable around them.”

“Ha…fine, whatever. But Joo Ji-hyun, why are you here?”

At her question, he smiled slightly.

His expression was so gentle that it startled me.

Whoa, I came to see the school, and now I’m getting a feast for my eyes.

“Any reason I shouldn’t be? I came to spar with Seonghu, but there was still some work left to do. So, are you back completely now?”

“Huh? Oh… I think it’ll still take about three more days. Seonghu’s still inside, right?”

“Yeah, since the president suddenly went on an expedition…”

“Oh, right, right. Sorry.”

She took our hands again and led us away.

The distance between her and the guy grew shorter.

“Well then, good luck with the rank exam. I’ll look forward to the results. You know, I won’t lose to you.”

“Always so cheeky!”

She growled, glaring at him.

He grinned mischievously and walked past us without sparing Inha or me a glance.

As we made our way to the student council room, she grumbled.

“Ugh, of all people, we had to run into Ji-hyun. His keen eye is such a nuisance.”

Well, he did give that impression.

But despite his cold demeanor, he seemed to smile easily around people he was close with, so it wasn’t too bad.

Plus, he was good-looking.

But that was all.

I soon stopped thinking about him.

No matter how handsome he was, I wasn’t the type to care much about people I’d just met.

“So, Seonghu must be in the student council room right now. Well, no problem. Come on in. Since it’s late, let’s have some tea and chat for a bit before heading back.”

We had seen enough and had some fun too.

Inha and I exchanged glances and nodded.

She turned the doorknob in front of her.

With a light click, the door to the student council room opened.

Above the door was a sign that read, “Student Council Room.”

We followed her inside.

The room was fairly spacious.

The walls were lined with books from floor to ceiling.

There was a small sofa and table right in front of us, with a larger desk and computer behind them.

Stacks of files and publications sat next to the desk.

And in front of the desk sat a man typing at the computer.

“Hello, Seonghu.”

“Heh.”

I was once again impressed.

This guy was also quite handsome.

His hairstyle was a bit unusual.

It was short, but the sides were long, almost like a bob cut.

And he wore a dangling earring on one ear.

“…Eunhee? I thought your expedition wasn’t over yet.”

“Yeah, but I wanted to talk to these kids.”

She smiled, gently pushing us forward.

“Ta-da! Aren’t they cute?”

I flinched.

Inha frowned slightly.

His gaze, colder than the other guy’s, swept over us.

Then his eyes widened in surprise.

“‘Yoo Eunha’…”

Huh?

He knows my name?

Again?

I looked at her in confusion, and she whispered in my ear.

“He’s the one who helped me stop the attack on the Glass Botanical Garden.”

I looked at the man in shock.

He too?

While her face was all smiles, he sighed as he looked at us.

“Aren’t they supposed to be in Gyeongnam?”

“Well, yes, but I thought I’d try to persuade them to come here. They’re both really talented, and I’m also worried they might get caught up in something strange if they go to another school… In my opinion, our school is the most considerate toward students.”

“…I see.”

After a brief sigh, he looked back at her with a soft expression.

I blinked at the change.

Soon, he stood up from his seat.

“Huh? Where are you going?”

“I have other matters to attend to. A summons from the teacher. What about Baek-han?”

“Oh, he’s, well…sort of on a vacation?”

“…So you left him behind.”

He walked past us, his gaze unexpectedly gentle.

It was a different reaction from the previous guy.

“Send them home early.”

“Aye-aye~.”

She nodded and sat us on the sofa.

The man opened the door and stepped outside.

Click.

I stared at the closed door and asked,

“Who was that?”

“Our school’s vice president. My right-hand man, you could say. His name’s Han Seonghu. Quite a decent guy, huh?”

She blushed slightly, grinning with pride.

I soon sat in the seat she offered.

“So, we’ve toured the school, and your parents said they’d leave the decision up to you. Shall we chat a bit?”

She pulled some items from the desk drawer.

It was unclear where it connected, but out came a teapot, steaming tea, and cookies.

“Help yourselves.”

Inha thanked her and reached for a cookie.

After hesitating, I also gave a slight bow before taking one.

“To be honest, I’d love to get a definite answer from you, especially from you, Eunha. That’s partly why I stayed there longer than planned.”

“…”

“I feel…a bit responsible after seeing your abilities, Eunha, for getting you involved…and maybe even a bit insecure. Ah, I guess you two might not know the term ‘insecure’ yet. Let’s just say responsible. Anyway, after seeing your skills in that context… I’ve felt that way.”

So that was it.

Beyond her dedication to the school, it seemed she had some sense of responsibility.

Though, I wasn’t concerned about it at all.

Despite her firm character, she was actually quite kind.

“That’s why I’d love to bring you to our school.

If I could protect you here, that would be ideal, or, at the very least, I’d find you another good school.”

She gave a faint, slightly bitter smile.

“Well, ultimately, your choice matters most.”

She looked quietly at us for a moment.

Inha, seeing her serious gaze, lowered her head and hesitated before speaking.

For Inha to hesitate was rare.

“To be honest…I don’t think the school is bad.

It seems nice. Daehyun is well-known…but…”

Inha trailed off, looking at me.

I had an idea why, and I lowered my head with a conflicted expression.

Ah, right.

Inha wanted to go to the same school as me.

If I hesitated, it was only natural that she would too.

After a moment, I asked,

“Um, may I ask a question?”

“Hm? Sure, ask away.”

“Well…so, um… Unnie…”

For a moment, I hesitated over how to address her.

President? Senpai?

But in the end, I decided on “Unni.”

“You seem to really like this school.

I was just curious why…”

She gave me a gentle smile in response.

“You remember, don’t you?”

She rested her chin on her hand, her elbows propped on the desk.

Our distance shrank a bit.

“I told you before, right?

I came here from another school.

I went to elementary school somewhere else, but I created a rare magic pretty early on.

I was recommended to Daehyun and enrolled here…”

Oh, right, I remember.

I nodded.

“Daehyun’s Confidentiality Policy… To someone like me who was constantly drawn into trouble, it was essential.

I was tired of adults using me as they pleased and sending me to dangerous places, thinking I was just a kid.

I was sick of people whispering behind my back and of other kids looking up to me just because I had talent.

That’s when I heard about Daehyun.”

“…”

“I was just hoping.

When I heard about the Confidentiality Policy, I realized how much I needed it. But…”

She laughed with an overwhelmed expression.

“It was better than I expected!

Being able to hide my abilities.

You could only share your abilities yourself, you could choose not to talk about them, and even if you did, nothing got out until high school.

If it did leak, the students’ autonomy would be protected!

For someone like me, who was constantly hassled by everything around me, it was such a relief, an immense joy.”

With sincerity, she placed her hand over her heart.

“And you know, concealing our abilities also helps us build friendships.

If everyone’s abilities were known, talented kids would naturally be put on a pedestal.

But we can wait until high school to experience that.

Because by high school, it’s all real practice.”

She nodded firmly with an intense expression.

“I experienced it painfully outside.

But when I came here, where no one knew me, and everyone approached me as just a friend, I was so happy.

That’s how it was for me…”

As she spoke, her eyes sparkled with joy, as if filled with fragments of stars.

Her magic seemed to respond to her emotions, twinkling as it pulsed.

Ah…could it be that her magic reacts to emotions?

I widened my eyes.

“Even after that, I gained so much here at Daehyun that I never had before.

That’s why I love it here.

And that’s why I hope students like you would all come here; it feels like kinship, you know?”

I looked at her honest expression and the way her magic flowed.

I narrowed my eyes and lowered my head in contemplation.

The conversation wasn’t long, lasting just until we finished the last few pieces of cookies.

As the twilight deepened into darkness, she used teleportation to see us home.

“Well then, I’ll be waiting for your answer!”

She waved at us with a shout.

When we waved back, she soon disappeared with a whoosh.

I lowered my hand and walked with my hands behind my back, lost in thought.

What would it be like, I wondered.

By chance, I’d already formed a connection, and my abilities had already been revealed to them.

To enter another school, I’d have to show my abilities anyway.

And the school offering to scout us was one that held a big advantage for us.

So, maybe it would be all right.

“Besides, she seemed to really like the school…”

I was mulling this over when Inha joined me, walking beside me.

I put my hand in my pocket.

Just then, I felt something small and jingling.

“Ah…”

Absentmindedly, I pulled it out.

The thin chain of a necklace dangled, making a soft jingling sound.

Inha looked at it with a curious expression.

“What’s that? A necklace?”

At the end of it hung a navy-blue magic crystal, looking particularly pretty against the evening sky.

I looked at it, then smiled, lifting the corner of my lips.

It felt natural, as if all my previous hesitation had been a lie.

I gently held the necklace in my hand and extended it toward Inha.

“Here.”

“…?”

Inha held out her hand instinctively, and I carefully placed the necklace in her palm.

Jingle.

“This is a gift.”

Inha’s eyes widened at my words as she looked down at the necklace in her hand.

“What?”

“It’s just, you know, nicely made.”

“…”

Inha silently gazed at the necklace in her hand.

Then, her trembling eyes met mine.

“…Did you make this? Yourself?”

“Yeah. With magic.”

“For me…?”

“Yeah.”

I nodded, smiling.

After staring at me for a moment, Inha lifted the necklace with a trembling hand, holding it under the streetlamp.

She looked at me, her eyes filled with deep gratitude, and suddenly hugged me tightly.

Her voice, slightly choked, whispered in my ear.

“Thank you…!”

Surprised for a moment, I then smiled and nodded.

“Yeah.”

That one word made me incredibly happy.

I held her small form close, murmuring again.

“Yeah.”

They say your first close friend is special.

I wasn’t sure how long this friendship would last.

But seeing Inha so happy with my gift made me happy too.

I closed my eyes, feeling her warmth.

A few days later, we sent our application forms to Daehyun Magic School.