"How is Esso doing?"
At the principal's question, the Fire Professor said nothing. Soon, the vice principal, with sharp eyes and white hair tightly tied up, spoke with evident irritation.
"There are rumors that the students involved in that incident are having trouble keeping up in class. What about reassigning them to another campus?"
Still silent, the Fire Professor did not respond. The principal calmly assessed the situation.
"Given how deeply the Fire Professor was involved in the Park Rain incident, it's understandable that the students are having a hard time focusing. We'll transfer all the students connected to the incident to the Winter Campus."
After Park Rain's death, rumors of evil spirits spread across the Summer Campus, prompting a major restructuring of the entire magic school. The underground advanced magic school was classified as a danger zone due to spectral activity and shut down. Several students close to Park Rain were reassigned to other campuses. Kim Dream, Esso, and Elon were moved to the Winter Campus.
In the Winter Campus auditorium, the three students were quietly preparing for class when loud chatter drew their attention. Venus and her entourage strutted in, dressed in eye-catching outfits that showed off their waistlines despite the cold.
"Shup shu shup superstar!"
The Venus trio burst in with a chant.
"Whoa, new transfers? Hey there!"
Still in shock over Park Rain's death, Esso and his friends showed no emotion.
"What's with them? Total buzzkill," muttered Venus obliviously.
Snow Professor soon entered.
"Three students have transferred from the Summer Campus today. Keep that in mind. Today's class is Animal Sound Translation."
Following her was the White Fox Professor, who had once taught with Elon at the advanced school.
"Everyone, if you have nightmares or see evil spirits in your dreams, the Fox Professor will teach you what to do."
The Fox Professor stood in the center of the auditorium and shouted:
"Kyakek! Kyaek!"
"Anyone know the answer?"
"When an evil spirit appears in your dream, you're supposed to ask its name!"
It was Rocksy, the model student, who answered confidently.
Esso suddenly recalled how Park Rain had always wanted to take this class more than any other, and guilt swelled inside him.
"What if I summon the spirit in my dream?"
A student raised a hand.
"The beings in your dreams are your own creations. You are the god of your dream world—you made everything in it. That means they have no names. They may have roles, but names aren't necessary. If you ask for their name, they'll either go silent or flee. That's your cue to wake up. In dreams, you are the most powerful being. So don't be too scared about the evil spirit rumors going around."
As the topic of spirits came up, vengeance stirred within Esso.
"Kyakek kyak!"
The Fox Professor continued, and the Snow Professor interpreted.
"You all know the underground school was shut down because real spirits were detected there, right? Stay away from it. Now, go to sleep—we'll continue this lesson in your dreams."
"I'm going to the underground school. I have to investigate those spirits."
Esso muttered. Kim Dream and Elon overheard him. As Esso stood and headed out, Kim Dream followed. Elon hesitated, but just as he was about to go after them, Venus stopped him.
"Hey, you're the grandson of that magic flame sponsor, right?"
"Yeah."
"My dream is to be sealed in a magic portrait! Your grandfather bought the ones in the Magic Library, didn't he?"
"Uh… maybe?"
"Aah! I want to be in one too! So I'll be preserved in my most beautiful form until a prince comes to awaken me in the future! Isn't that romantic?"
Elon didn't reply. Instead, he whispered into his sleeve, and a flying squirrel emerged. Venus shrieked in horror.
"Eek! A rat!"
Without a word, Elon left her behind and chased after Kim Dream into the underground school.
The underground facility had long been abandoned—dark, musty, and eerily silent.
"Aren't you scared?" Kim Dream asked.
"I don't know," Esso replied curtly.
Suddenly, the sound of rapid footsteps echoed. Esso and Kim Dream braced themselves—only to see Elon approach, holding a lantern containing a glowing crystal orb.
"This lantern… it lets you see shadows of ghosts or spirits. I wanted to test it."
"What if… what if we see Rain's spirit?" Kim Dream whispered.
"If Park Rain's spirit is here… and we have a spirit-binding magic frame…"
As Elon mumbled to himself, Esso picked up on his words.
"What do you mean?"
Elon's voice dropped, unsure.
"A magic portrait lets you see the unseen… and recall the forgotten."
"So we can bring Rain back!" Esso exclaimed.
"Well… we can make her stay in the portrait, at least."
"Isn't that the same thing?"
Esso frowned at Elon's cold tone.
"Isn't that super expensive?"
Elon whispered into his sleeve again, and the flying squirrel soared off. Kim Dream asked, curious.
"What's with that squirrel?"
"I ordered a magic portrait."
Esso lit up.
"Seriously?"
Kim Dream looked uneasy.
"...Are we really… trying to bring Rain back?"
Elon explained in more detail.
"Technically, it's self-restoration. If we can find her soul, this will be the first successful attempt in the world to fully revive someone's memories, emotions, and identity."
Esso shouted in the deserted corridor:
"That's just an experiment to you?"
"Experiments aren't about emotions, Esso."
"Experiment?!"
Esso, driven by vengeance, flared up at Elon's cold reasoning.
"Yeah. I came down here for the experiment. Risking my life."
As the argument escalated, Kim Dream stepped between them.
"Guys! Stop! Rain would run away if she heard this!"
Esso exhaled deeply.
"Elon… how can you see all this so logically?"
"Because logic shows us the way. A way to bring her back."
Esso had no comeback and clenched his jaw. Kim Dream held her breath. Esso silently took the lantern from Elon's hand and led the way.
Just then, shadows in human form approached, whispering:
"I'm Park Rain. You'll save me with that magic portrait, right?"
Dozens of ghosts pretending to be Park Rain gathered. Kim Dream cried out:
"Wait! A real soul! That could be Rain!"
Elon watched the movement of the ghostly figures. They moved with purpose—as if they could see.
"That's not Rain. Look carefully. They're watching us."
"If it were Rain… how would she move?"
"A spirit can't use magic. She wouldn't be able to find us."
Esso searched for a shadow drifting aimlessly among the rest.
"If only I'd learned soul-separation magic…"
Wind roared through the hall. From afar, a massive bird the size of a baby elephant—with horns—flew in, carrying the magic portrait on its back. Esso and Kim Dream staggered back in shock while Elon calmly gestured.
"Put it down here."
The bird landed and gently set the frame on the ground. The squirrel climbed back into Elon's sleeve. Kim Dream muttered:
"Well… that was fast."
As soon as the frame arrived, ghosts rushed to enter it, pretending to be Park Rain.
One shadow inside the frame took human form and smiled at Esso.
"Rain wouldn't smile at just anyone."
Enraged, Esso used magic to drive the false spirit out. Elon whispered:
"We won't find her like this…"
"Isn't there a place Rain would be?" Kim Dream asked.
Esso suddenly had an idea.
"Rain!"
He began to conjure lily-of-the-valley flowers with magic, looking for a spirit that would linger there. Eventually, in the field of blooming lilies, one shadow drew near and paused quietly.
"Mmm? That smell… Lily of the valley…"
The shadow spoke softly. Esso shouted:
"Rain?! Rain, is that you?"
He placed the frame where the shadow rested. Slowly, Park Rain's form began to appear inside it.
They had succeeded in capturing her spirit in the magic portrait.
Inside the frame, Park Rain slumped to the ground. It felt like time and space had shifted. Time flowed differently within the portrait. Lights sparkled. Her senses changed. It was nothing like being alive.
"...I… I'm here…"
"Rain! Rain!"
Familiar voices. Park Rain raised her head.
"Esso… Kim Dream? Why… why can't I see your light?"
Her voice sounded strange—or maybe it only felt that way after so long. Then, a warm touch held her hand—Kim Dream.
The scent of salt bloomed in the air. Tears ran down Esso and Kim Dream's cheeks. Elon silently checked—still making sure this was truly her.
"Why is it… so noisy in here?" Park Rain covered her ears in the portrait. But the noise wasn't sound—it was the jealous murmurs of the other spirits nearby.
"Quiet…"
Her whole body trembled. She couldn't breathe.
"Elon, what do we do?"
"Let's get out of here."
The giant bird swooped toward them. Esso, Kim Dream, and Elon climbed onto its back and soared up from the underground school into the sunlit skies. They flew to a field full of lily-of-the-valley. There, they carefully placed the magic portrait containing Park Rain.
In that moment, all their emotions burst forth. In colors. In light.
"Rain… You're really alive, right? Please… you remember me, don't you? It's me, Esso."
Their trembling voices seemed to ease her tension.
"...Dream… Esso… Elon… you're all alive…"
Esso and Kim Dream longed to hug her, but they only stared, afraid the portrait might break.
Tears of reunion flowed.
Now, Park Rain was alive.
At least, that's what Esso believed.
"I missed you so much, Rain…"
Tears of joy slowly fell into the blooming field of lilies.