Chapter 19: Life’s Inflection Point (1)

After the competition, Marco Dawson, a member of the German Magic Association and a judge, received a message from his association’s president. It said:

“This is a great opportunity. At only 17 years old, this young Wizard can change the form of Magic and has solved the mystery of Double Casting? Kang Min-hyuk has unlimited potential. Rather than sitting by the phone, waiting for him to call, we shall do nothing. Do not pursue him. We will follow where he leads us.”

“Do not pursue him.”

There is a saying in the Magic community: “One Archmage may save a dozen lives on the battlefield, but one academic can make a dozen Archmages.”

Academics were powerful. One academic had the power to change the face of Magic as we know it. No matter how important a battle is, one Archmage can never do that by simply fighting. An academic Wizard could be more powerful than an Archmage, even if the same Wizard is weak on the battlefield.

Advancing Magic was dependent on research.

The Magic community’s major powers had always been the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and France.

And now this kid.

The USA, UK, and France had all consistently won Magic competitions, securing funding and furthering their research. This cycle kept them far ahead of the others: if you can find better research, you can win again, thus funding more research. The others, including the German Magic Association, tried tirelessly to catch up, but it was not easy to bridge this resource gap.

‘If we don’t want to get left behind in our studies and skills, we need Min-Hyuk.’ Marco Dawson knew whoever was successful in recruiting this young Wizard would change the world. But Germany didn’t have the same resources to promise him as the other countries. There had to be another way…

17 years old.

His parents. That was the key. In Korea, parents have the special ability to pressure their children in the direction they think is best. If Marco could convince Min-Hyuk’s parents…

Germany might have a chance.

‘I have to move faster than the UK…I’ll go to Seoul right away. I’ll meet with Min-Hyuk’s parents and persuade them, then wait for Min-Hyuk to contact us on his own. We might have a chance!’

By the time Min-Hyuk returned to school, Marco’s plan was already well underway. But when he arrived at Min-Hyuk’s address, he was embarrassed and confused.

“Is this right?” he said to no one in particular. He rubbed his eyes.

“Suhomun?” He double-checked the address he had copied from the presentation participation form he had found before leaving the competition earlier.

Min-Hyuk lived at the Guardian Gate? Why did he live there? Was this some mistake? Marco was a little embarrassed at the thought.

The Guardian Gate was known all over the world, not just in Korea. Their reputation, particularly of the Guardian Sword, was so great it was impossible not to know who they were. Occasionally, Warriors from the Guardian Gate would be sent to other countries to aid in the collective fight for Men against Monsters. But how did Min-Hyuk fit into all of this? How did a gifted 17-year-old who surely held the future of Magic in his hands fit into this Warrior’s fortress? It was Marco’s understanding that these Warriors didn’t even acknowledge Magic.

The presentation participation paperwork was designed to give only very basic information about the participant. This was purposely done to avoid giving the judges too much personal information that may create a bias before the presenter had a chance to go up on stage and explain their research. Min-Hyuk lived in the Guardian Gate. Marco could see no reason to lie on the form.

He thought he better do what he traveled all this way to do.

After all, even parents who don’t understand what Magic is should be impressed by a$300 million prize from winning a worldwide competition. Right?

He decided to give it a try.

Suhomun’s second disciple greeted Marco Dawson. After listening to why Marco had traveled there, he said, “Wait, what? You mean Min-Hyuk, after deciding to study Magic only three months ago, has won some competition and $300 million? What is this some scam?”

Marco said, “What? Is that true? Min-Hyuk has only been studying Magic for three months?”

“It’s true.”

“I am telling the truth, as well. He will do great things for the advancement of Magic.”

Both men stared at each other.

Marco was shocked at what the man had said. Was it true that Min-Hyuk had only been studying Magic for three months before winning the contest?

Marco had spent his whole life learning and studying Magic.

The thought of Min-Hyuk’s short experience and the magnitude of the research he had presented was terrifying.

***

Rumors spread like wildfire.

News that Min-Hyuk had only been studying Magic for three months was the talk of every Magic Association across the world. They all wanted to recruit him. But they were all a little embarrassed about his status. Was he from the Guardian Gate? Do they even believe in Magic? Had he only been studying for three months? Is he still learning basic Magic?

But in the end, the doubts only made Min-Hyuk more desirable recruitment. If he really had only been studying for three months, imagine what six months or a year would produce! He was a once in a 3333-year talent! And his position as Reader of Suhomun was accepted as well.

Numerous articles about Min-Hyuk’s life resurfaced from his childhood and were circulated across the world.

“Good News for the Guardian Sword!”

“Min-Hyuk, Successor of the Guardian Gate, Won the 12-year-old Fencing Contest.”

“The Future of Suhomun is Bright!”

From the articles, Min-Hyuk was born in the Guardian Gate and was raised to be a Warrior from day one. Even as a child, he had won several fighting contests. Then, without much explanation, the articles changed. They began to say he had given up his position as Suhomun’s successor. They said he had decided to pursue Magic. They said he had gotten a late start in Magic. They did not seem impressed.

John Wesley was reviewing this new information with the head of the British Magic Association.

He said, “It is true. Min-Hyuk took no interest in Magic until he was 17 years old—years after most children have already started mastering basic Magic. The Guardian Gate confirms this as fact. They seem to be rather embarrassed by Min-Hyuk’s sudden success in Magic. They don’t see Magic as an endeavor worthy of devoting any time to. They thought Min-Hyuk’s decision to join the Department of Magic was just another blow to his decision to give up his position as his father’s successor. According to very reliable resources, it is true that Min-Hyuk was about to change the form of Magic and succeed in Double Casting research after just a few months of experience.”

It was absurd.

Even John Wesley himself, an Archmage, could not figure out Double Casting.

The head of the British Magic Association was a man named Wayne Burns. After reflecting on John Wesley’s statement, he said, “If all of this is true, then Min-Hyuk is truly an astounding and invaluable individual. At present, every Magic Organization in the world is seeking to recruit him—and for a good reason. If all of this is true, then Min-Hyuk is destined to change the face of Magic across academia and the world.”

But it was ironic.

This great young Wizard with the potential to change the world was born into the Guardian Gate—Warriors who dismissed Magic.

“John Wesley,” Wayne continued, “I would like you to recruit Min-Hyuk. Other associations may have some celebrities trying to woo him, but you have a reputation and skills that may impress him in another, more academic way.”

John Wesley laughed.

“I hope so, sir,” he said.

John Wesley planned to fly to Seoul right away.

***

Is this true? How can it be? Min-Hyuk won some contest after only studying Magic for three months? Still…it was a pretty prestigious contest. It definitely seemed to be true, based on all of the news covering various Magic Associations scrambling to impress Min-Hyuk…

The Guardian Gate was in chaos.

Min-Hyuk’s achievement was complicated for his people, who didn’t learn Magic and didn’t understand it at all. Besides, Min-Hyuk had rejected his position as the successor to his father. How could they celebrate such an outsider as one of their own? It was uncomfortable for everyone.

When Min-Hyuk was accepted into the Department of Magic, there was a lot of rage among his people. Winning some Magical contest was a great feat outside the Gate, but inside? It didn’t feel like something to be so proud of.

The Warriors inside the Gate thought nothing of it, at best, or blamed him for leaving the Gate. They thought they were better than him. Nothing Magical could ever compare to being a Warrior.

Deok-Cheol Kang quietly sipped his tea, reflecting on the fuss Jeong Pan-Ho had made earlier. He thought about a conversation he had had earlier with his son.

Min-Hyuk had said, “I’m sorry, Father. I cannot be your successor.”

No one had told Min-Hyuk he had to step down.

Sure, he wasn’t a perfect Warrior, but he was a suitable successor. But he had left his place to join the Department of Magic.

Jeong Pan-Ho had no clue what Magic was all about. But Deok-Cheol Kang had some idea. Magic wasn’t something you could just pick up and master in 3 months. A novice Wizard couldn’t revolutionize the foundation that 100 years of Magic had been built on with a knowledge level of 3 months. It was impossible. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Deok-Cheol wasn’t a big fan of Magic, but he acknowledged its existence. He thought it took a lot of time and energy with very little to show for it, but he knew it was out there.

So, what was this contest all about?

He was curious.

“Jeong Pan-Ho,” he said, “contact my son. Tell him to visit me when class is over.”