Seojun appeared inside the dean's office without knocking, as usual. The room was quiet and warmly lit by morning sun filtering through the wide glass windows. The scent of tea and old books filled the air. Dean Harin didn't even flinch.
He was used to it by now.
"Did you find it?" Seojun asked,
"Yeah,"The Dean replied, reaching into under his table and placing a slim folder on the desk. "Here it is. Are you sure about her?"
Seojun opened the folder, scanning the student's profile. "Yes."
The Dean turned around, hands behind his back, and gazed out the window. "She enrolled in the academy. But she only shows up twice a month. We tried encouraging her… but nothing worked."
Seojun looked at the profile again and nodded once. Then—blink. He vanished.
The dean turned back to say sothing more, but Seojun was already gone. He sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "…The weather is good today," he muttered, reaching for his cup of tea and taking a slow sip.
Just as he allowed himself one mont of peace— SLAM!
The door burst open. A young staff mber rushed in, nearly out of breath. "Dean! Soone's fighting again!"
Dean slowly closed his eyes. "…Oh Deities," he whispered, clenching his jaw. "Please help control my temper. These kids are really getting on my nerves."
"But Dean!" the staff mber cried, waving their hands. "They're using mana in the courtyard! Professors are still in class, and—"
"Alright," the dean said calmly, setting his teacup down with a soft clink. "I'll handle it."
And whisper, "I still need to figure out what to tell the other students about Sera so they don't panic. I really didn't expect her to turn out to be an enemy."
*******
anwhile, Seojun appeared high above an island, standing on air. Below him, the island was covered in thick fog.
Seojun slowly lowered himself, descending until his feet touched the ground. The mont he landed, the cold fog wrapped around him. He looked left, then walked straight ahead, his eyes calmly scanning the area.
[Ahh, Host! Your notification inbox for the Transcendent ntor function is getting full. You should check it out and unmute it!] System said.
"After this," Seojun said, brushing away a low branch as he walked deeper into the mist.
After a few minutes, he reached what looked like an old wooden gate. It was worn down, with moss growing at the base and vines crawling up the sides.
Then a voice called out behind him.
"Who are you?"
Seojun turned around. There stood an old man with a cane and a small boy carrying firewood on his back. Both stared at him with alert eyes.
Seojun stepped forward and spoke calmly. "I'm a professor from White Moon Academy in Seoul. One of our students hasn't attended for a few months. The dean sent here to check on her."
The old man looked him up and down in silence, then slowly nodded.
"I see… Please co, young man. Welco to Erihya Village. I'm Gabriel, the village chief And this is my grandson, Sam."
The little boy bowed politely.
Seojun gave a small nod. "I'm Professor Jihoon, from the Taming Class. Thank you for welcoming ."
As they walked through the gate, sothing strange happened—the fog suddenly cleared. Inside the gate, the air was bright, warm, and peaceful.
"No one has ever found our village before," Chief Gabriel said with a smile. "Everyone who tries to co here gets lost… and gives up."
"I guess I just got lucky," Seojun replied casually.
The old man looked at him again, this ti with sharper eyes.
"You can't fool , young man. 'Lucky' is not the right word."
Seojun smiled. "I apologize for trying."
Gabriel chuckled softly. "I understand. Strength, too, must sotis stay hidden."
They continued walking. Villagers greeted the chief with warm smiles and waves. Their eyes lingered on Seojun, curious about the stranger in dark robes. So children peeked from behind their mothers.
The houses were simple—made of wood, stone, and straw. No cent, no modern tools. It was like stepping into the past.
Despite that, the village felt peaceful. Birds chirped. A soft breeze blew. And there was sothing… mysterious in the air.
They reached a house that was bigger than the others. Its wooden fra was wide and tall, with vines hanging from the rooftop. The chief opened the door and motioned Seojun to enter.
"Please co in, young man."
Seojun stepped inside. The room was warm and slled like herbs. The floor was made of smooth wood, and there were shelves full of old books, jars, and small glowing stones. It was simple but full of life.
"Make so tea for our guest," the chief said to the boy.
"Yes, Grandpa," the boy answered and hurried to the kitchen.
"You can sit and rest here. I'll be back shortly," the chief said, already turning to go.
"I'm not in a hurry," Seojun replied, still standing.
He looked around quietly, his eyes scanning the place. The walls had hand-carved patterns, and there were dried plants hanging by the windows. A small wind chi made a soft sound when the breeze passed through.
[Didn't know there are still people living like the old days here… But all of them are awakened. They must have chosen to stay away from society.]
Seojun whispered, "They know how dangerous it is to be awakened. To protect each other, they chose to isolate themselves."
A few monts later, the boy returned with a wooden tray. He placed it carefully on the table and smiled.
"Please sit, mister. Here's your tea."
Seojun nodded and sat down. The boy bowed lightly and went back to the kitchen. Seojun took a sip. The tea was slightly bitter but calming. As he drank, he heard footsteps.
The village chief returned—but he looked different.
Earlier, he looked like any ordinary old man: his hair tied ssily, wearing worn clothes, his back slightly bent. But now, he stood straight. His clothes were clean and made from fine fabric. His long silver hair was down, shining faintly, and his presence… had changed.
Stronger. Calm. Noble.
Seojun narrowed his eyes—and then noticed the ears. Long. Pointed.
"So there's another elf… aside from Sani Callista," Seojun said,
The chief smiled and sat across from him. "You know Sani?" he asked with a kind smile. "She is my granddaughter. When I awakened, I received the blessing of the Elf Goddess. Because of that, my family also shares part of that blessing… though not as strong."
"I see."
Seojun looked at the chief for a mont, then said calmly, "Your appearance earlier… it must've been what you looked like before awakening."
The chief smiled as he picked up his cup of tea. "You're sharp, Professor Jihoon."
He took a slow sip and looked at the steam rising from the cup.
"I was already too old," he said. "My bones hurt, my back was bent, and I had only a few days left to live."
Seojun didn't interrupt, just listened.
"But then… five years ago, the blessing ca. The Elf Goddess gave it to ."He looked down at his hand, now smooth and steady. "My body changed. I beca this. I don't know why she chose . Maybe because I kept protecting this village for so long."
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