Magic Exists (Part One)

A bleak wind suddenly swept through the desolate yard. Waist-high weeds bent in the gusts, and the chill in the air diluted the warmth contained in the pale sunlight. Louise, whose eyes had been stung by drifting grass fluff, shivered and instinctively wrapped her arms around herself.

The urgent knocking from within the white building continued—thud, thud—with a hysterical edge to the sound.

Amosta stepped out of the corridor and headed toward the round building shaped like a tower spire. His billowing robes rustled against the dense grass. For some reason, as Louise watched his suddenly imposing back, she was struck by the illusion that a thick barrier separated this man from his surroundings, as though he had come from another world.

Kingsley glanced at Louise, his right arm still held stiffly at an odd angle, and quickly followed.

"Hey, wait for me—"

Louise snapped back to her senses. Calling out guiltily, she ran after him again and grabbed Amosta's sleeve.

Just as they had expected, the solitary building standing in the middle of the vast yard did indeed appear to be a confinement cell. Its cramped interior and its doors and window openings positioned away from the sunlight preserved its oppressive seclusion to the greatest extent. As their gaze passed from the brightness outside into the dim interior, even Amosta's vision blurred for several seconds.

Thud, thud, thud—

When she saw what the strange noise was, and who was making it, Louise—whose heart had been pounding from the sound—could not help showing bewilderment and confusion.

The cylindrical room was entirely visible at a glance. Most of its floor was covered in withered weeds pulled from the yard. Scattered across the "grass" lay all manner of odds and ends: an overcoat that had been soaked in mud and then dried