The golden glow of the desk lamp was the only thing fighting back the encroaching shadows of the evening. Seongjii sat hunched over his desk, the scratch of his pen against paper echoing in the quiet room. Textbooks were scattered like fallen soldiers across the mahogany surface—calculus, history, and literature competing for the small space that remained of his sanity.
Despite his new physical strength and the magical contract hidden in his bag, some things never changed. Finals were still a monster that no martial arts combo could defeat.
The door creaked open, a sliver of warm light from the hallway spilling onto the floor. Seongjii's mother stepped in, her footsteps muffled by the carpet. In her hands, she balanced a small plate holding a generous slice of cheesecake, its creamy texture glistening under the lamp.
"I brought this for you, son," she said, her voice a soothing balm to his tired mind. "You worked so hard at the journal store today. I wanted to make sure you got a little treat to keep you going."
Seongjii looked up, the tension in his shoulders melting away at the sight of her smile. "Thanks, Mom… you're always so caring. You didn't have to."
His mother didn't leave immediately. She lingered by the door, her eyes searching his face with that innate maternal instinct that could see through any mask. "But son… you still seem a bit tired. Is there anything bothering you? You know you can always talk to me, no matter how big or small it is."
Seongjii felt a pang of guilt. How could he tell her about the golden lamp, the ancient genie-turned-human, or the bullies he had sent sprawling?
Suddenly, a faint, shimmering translucent figure flickered near his ear. Araya—still refusing to stay inside the lamp even when she wasn't in her full human form—floated upside down, her face inches from his.
"Aww… is the little mortal worried again? Hahaha!" she chirped, her voice a melodious chime that only Seongjii could hear.
Seongjii bit back a laugh and shook his head, looking back at his mother to reassure her. "No, Mom. It's nothing serious. Just a lot of studying. Relax, go enjoy your evening. I'll be fine."
As she closed the door with a satisfied smile, Seongjii leaned back in his chair, exhaling a breath he felt he'd been holding for hours. Thanks, Mom… for caring so much, he thought. It was her quiet support that had kept him going even when he was the invisible kid at school.
⸻
The moment the latch clicked, Araya fully materialized, spinning in the air before landing gracefully on the edge of his bed. She wasn't glowing as brightly tonight, opting for a more subdued, ethereal look.
"Ahh… the mortal is growing up, huh?" she teased, swinging her legs. "Being pampered by mommy. How precious."
Seongjii ignored the jab, his attention diverted by the sweet aroma of the cheesecake. He took a small bite, the rich, velvety flavor exploding on his tongue. He noticed Araya's eyes—wide and curious—following the fork.
"Mortal… what exactly is that concoction?" she asked, drifting closer until she was hovering over the plate.
Seongjii smiled, a mischievous spark in his eyes. "It's called cheesecake. It's a legendary human delicacy. Want to try a piece of 'mortal' culture?"
He held out a small piece on the fork. Araya hesitated for a fraction of a second—genies didn't need to eat—but her curiosity won. She took the bite.
For a moment, she stood perfectly still. Then, her eyes widened to the size of saucers. An expression of pure, unadulterated delight washed over her face.
"Wow… this is… this is incredible!" she exclaimed, her usual regal composure crumbling. "The texture, the sweetness… how do humans create such things without magic?"
Seongjii chuckled, enjoying the sight of the powerful genie being defeated by a slice of cake. "Looks like someone is a fan now. Careful, Araya, keep eating like that and you'll end up like I used to be."
Araya grinned, her teeth flashing in the dim light. "Nonsense! My form is eternal. But I might have to demand this as a daily tribute. How can I resist such a treat?"
⸻
As the excitement of the cake settled, Araya's tone shifted. She sat cross-legged in the air, looking at Seongjii with an uncharacteristic seriousness.
"By the way, mortal," she started, "I watched you today with those three friends of yours—Minho, Satoshi, and Hyunwoo. They really shower you with care. It's strange for humans to be so… loyal."
Seongjii's expression softened, nostalgia washing over him like a warm tide. He leaned back, staring at the ceiling as the memories flooded in.
"They've been there for me when no one else was," he said quietly. "A core memory for me is turning fourteen. That's when I first met them. I was the new kid, the easy target. But they didn't care. The universe really smiled on me that day because it happened to be my birthday. Since then, the four of us have forged an incredible bond. We aren't just friends; we're brothers."
He paused, his eyes snapping wide as a sudden realization hit him like a lightning bolt.
"Oh, shit!" he blurted out, nearly knocking over his lamp.
Araya jumped, startled by his sudden outburst. "What? Did the cake turn poisonous? Is there an assassin?"
"No!" Seongjii grabbed his calendar, his finger trembling as he pointed to the date. "Speaking of birthdays… it just hit me. Tomorrow is my birthday!"
Araya stared at him for a beat, then burst into a fit of hysterical laughter, clutching her stomach as she rolled through the air.
"Hahaha! Only you, Seongjii! You actually forgot your own day of birth? You are truly the most distracted mortal I have ever encountered!"
Seongjii scratched the back of his head, his face flushing a deep shade of red. "Ah… I guess I was just too caught up with… you know, the bullying, the wishes, the training, and having a genie living in my room. It kind of slipped my mind."
He smiled despite the embarrassment. There was something comforting about the fact that life was moving so fast he'd forgotten himself.
Araya stopped laughing, though a playful smirk remained fixed on her lips. She floated behind him, her presence cold yet strangely comforting. She leaned over his shoulder, her voice dropping to a whisper that sent a shiver down his spine.
"Well then, mortal… if tomorrow is the day you entered this world, I suppose we should make it… interesting."
Seongjii looked at his reflection in the dark window. Tomorrow was his first birthday since his life had turned upside down. He didn't know what Araya had planned, but for the first time in years, he wasn't dreading the day. He was ready.
— END OF CHAPTER 11