Haneul Yoon:
"H-huh...?"
To his great surprise, his gaze was initially drawn to their chest, making him nervously swallow and lift his eyes to meet the formidable figure before him.
Haneul Yoon(INT):
"O-oh God... I'm so dead..."
Despite the initially intimidating presence, the towering figures menacing stature quickly shifted to charismatic, his eyes flashing a charming smile as he leaned in and gently rubbed the back of his head. While possessed of a tall height, a mildly lean build, and short brown hair, the young man's warm personality shone through, accentuated by his soft but magnetic amber eyes and gentle smile.
???:
"Hey, uh- are you alright?"
Haneul gazed at the towering figure with surprise, anticipating the fellow student might be a bully looking to exploit him for money. Clearing his throat, he nervously responded.
Haneul Yoon:
"U- uh- uhm... y-yeah..."
Despite not fully trusting the fellow student, Haneul shook the tall figure's hand after he extended it with a reassuring smile.
Haneul, though uneasy and distrustful, found a strange comfort in the tall figure walking alongside him.
???:
"Nervous for the first time of school too, huh?"
"Well, atleast I'm not the only one here."
Haneul turn to glance up at him with a raised eyebrow. Haneul, was a moderately tall young man with a slender physique and a hint of muscle, black irises with bright fiery-colored pupils shaped like flames. His light blond hair was tousled, and he wore black round glasses for clear vision.
Haneul Yoon:
"You're nervous too...?"
"You don't seem to be the type."
Mujin Daeho:
*Chuckles*
"Well, just to reassure you, I'm not as confident as the other magic users here."
"Oh! Right, the name's Mujin Daeho. What's yours?"
Haneul Yoon:
"Mujin Daeho? Your name is pretty odd..."
"I'm not saying it's bad though!"
Mujin Daeho:
"No no, it's alright, it's nice meeting you though."
Mujin sees a large crowd forming queues at the academy entrance, making the place quite crowded.
Mujin Daeho:
"This is a pretty large crowd, huh?"
Haneul Yoon:
"Well of course, some of the strongest students came from this school, it's very prestigious."
"And it's because the academy only accepts twenty-five students out of a hundred plus people."
"The twenty-four students then undergo practical entrance exams, where two pairs compete against eachother, and the loser is eliminated."
"After this process, roughly twelve students remain."
Mujin Daeho:
"Sounds like this place is pretty rough."
Haneul Yoon:
"At first it'll kinda suck, because you're fighting to enter the academy. It's either their life, or yours."
"But it'll be worth it, because you're in."
Mujin Daeho:
"Huh... thanks for the heads up-"
Mujin accidentally collides with someone, causing the person to drop their belongings.
Mujin Daeho:
"Hey– uh, sorry dude–"
Just as Mujin is about to apologize, his collar is pulled, and a group of the guy's friends emerges behind him.
Kim Joon-Ho:
"It's Kim Joon-Ho, f##kface."
"Look at what you did, you made me drop my sh##."
Mujin Daeho:
"Listen, I don't have any problem with you–"
Kim Joon-Ho:
"If you don't have any problems with me, then pick my sh## up."
Mujin Daeho:
"W-what? Uh."
Kim Joon-Ho:
"Pick my sh## up."
Mujin Daeho:
"..."
"Alright, fine..."
As the students pass by or stand around, they observe the interaction between Mujin and Joon-Ho. Witnessing Mujin kneeling to collect scattered items, some onlookers chuckle at his embarrassment, while others shake their heads or sigh.
???: Joon-Ho's friend:
"Look at him! He's actually picking it up!"
??? #1:
"Damn."
??? #2:
"What a p##sy."
??? #3:
"I would've kicked a## if that happened to me, just sayin'."
??? #4:
"That guy's gonna get chewed out of the entrance exams."
??? #5:
"You wouldn't see that happening to me."
Despite the mockery and chatter from onlookers and Joon-Ho's friends, Mujin forces a fake smile. However, he notices a spit drop near his hands and swiftly pulls away, prompting laughter from Joon-Ho and his friends at Mujin's humiliation.
Kim Joon-Ho:
"Must've been the rain, huh?"
Uncomfortably, Mujin forces a false chuckle as he returns the items to Joon-Ho, who smirks in response.
Kim Joon-Ho:
"Now, bow low to the ground, just so I know you're sorry."
Mujin Daeho:
"..."
"Is this necessary?"
Kim Joon-Ho:
"Just do it if you want me to leave you alone, idiot."
Joon-Ho shoves Mujin. He wore a forced smile before slowly kneeling to bow.
Kim Joon-Ho:
"Now say sorry."
Mujin Daeho:
"...I'm sorry."
A smug grin appears on Joon-Ho's face, content with the apology and walks away with his friends.
Kim Joon-Ho:
"Good."
"See you later, p##sy."
Watching the scene, students chuckle and gossip about Mujin, who remains kneeling and bowed to the ground.
??? #1:
"He's probably crying."
??? #2:
"Look at him, he's got his head all hung low."
??? #3:
"What a loser."
Mujin remains bowed, concealing his face by staring at the ground. His eyes burn with anger and hatred; he bites his lip, suppressing his fury over the incident.
Mujin Daeho(Kade&INT):
"I will make you bleed."
"And relish in your humiliation while everyone watches."
Haneul Yoon:
"H-hey... are you alright, Mujin?"
Standing upright again, Mujin released a sigh, masking his true feelings behind a forced smile.
Mujin Daeho(Kade&INT):
"And this useless idiot stood there and did nothing."
*Clears throat*
Mujin Daeho(Kade Northwood):
"Yeah, I'm doing fine."
Haneul Yoon:
"Those guys are a##holes."
Mujin Daeho(Kade Northwood):
"...It doesn't matter, I just want this all to hurry up."
The academy bells rang loudly, prompting student candidates to either run or walk toward the entrance.
Haneul Yoon:
"...Well, best we get going now..."
In line, Mujin and Haneul watch the individuals leaving with disappointment or sadness. Upon hearing a voice that rejects or barely accepts candidates. Mujin peers to the side, trying to identify the source of the voice at the entrance gate.
???:
"Rejected."
"Rejected."
"Rejected."
"Hmm... rejected."
Rejected."
"Accepted."
Approaching the entrance and nearing the front of the line, Haneul grows nervous, fidgeting with his fingers. Despite the tension among those waiting, Mujin remains unfazed and calm.
???:
"Rejected."
"Rejected."
"Rejected."
"Accepted."
"...Accepted."
"Rejected."
"Rejected."
The voice approached as the line dwindled, and when Mujin reached the front, he stood and sighed upon entering the room. A talking owl perched on a pole, and guards on both sides of the walls, gazed down at Mujin with a narrowed look. Mujin raised an eyebrow in surprise and confusion.
Mujin Daeho(Kade&INT):
"A talking..."
"Owl?"
???:
"Don't think when I am examining your potential-coo."