A simple world is an ignorant one.
You may have grown accustomed to its ignorance, so much so that you don't see it anymore, like how your brain filters the nose from your sight.
Stretch your arms and legs. Roll your neck. Feel your blood flowing and your heart beating, and follow the passion within.
At first, all you have are your primitive instincts. Your senses are overwhelmed by the vastness of the world. There's so much information to be absorbed. It's scary, but also intriguing. Ripples collide and rebound, overlap, and intertwine.
You can't ignore them anymore. You must find a way to communicate with them.
But to where do they flow?
Windsong: vomit
She opens her eyes to find herself kneeling on the marble floor. She hears people's voices and knows that she has come back to reality.
Old Nikola: Don't move! Stay where you are!
Windsong: vomiting continues Wh-what?
Old Nikola: No! What have you done?!
Windsong: Nothing!
Old Nikola: Nothing?! The experiment's ruined thanks to you! And what did I say about the electron ground-state line? Why don't you just go to the admissions office and re-enroll as a novice? Perhaps if you do your studies again, you'll actually learn a thing or two!
"Bang!"
Windsong: Mm?
Although muffled, his roaring continues on the other side of the door.
???: Go! We're running this again!
She stares at the door.
Windsong: He really does have a booming voice. I can still hear him as clear as day.
Windsong: breathing uncomfortably
She's still not used to the side effects of tracing ley lines.
Professor Ivanov: Haha, don't take it to heart, comrade Ekaterina. It's not personal. He's always been the loudest one in the room.
Windsong: Ah, Professor.
Professor Ivanov walks over and gives her a gentle pat on the shoulder.
Professor Ivanov: Are you okay?
A janitor quickly arrives to clean up the mess on the floor. This is clearly not the first time this has happened.
Windsong shakes her head, trying to clear her mind.
Windsong: Sorry, Professor. I was a bit lost in there.
Professor Ivanov: Don't worry, it wasn't easy for any of us on our first try. A good experience, though, wouldn't you agree?
Windsong: Yes. I, I saw lines, each in different shapes and colors. Some were straight—in rigid patterns—while others looked like a jumble of fibers. Were those the ley lines?
She extends a tentative finger into the air, tracing what she just saw.
Professor Ivanov: Don't run before you can walk, Comrade Ekaterina. Remember, there could be serious consequences if we tamper with ley lines without knowing their sources.
Windsong: Yes, Professor Ivanov.
She withdraws her hand, but she can still feel the energy of the lines swirling around her.
Professor Ivanov: Once you know every ley line by heart, you'll be able to play them like a heptachord. Do you remember what I said in class?
Windsong: Yes. We can briefly transform one thing into another by changing the attributes of their ley lines, but the object's nature remains unchanged. The study of ley lines is the discipline of observation, and the ley hunters' job is to observe, not to create, intervene, or impose our will on nature.
Professor Ivanov: Exactly. Never intervene. But we might find the way out for others. By revealing the hidden clues in nature, we can lead them to the right path.
Windsong: Lead them to the right path.
She repeats his words under her breath.
How many days and nights has she spent studying to become a ley hunter at this institute? All her efforts are finally paying off.
Old Nikola: I told you before! This is our last sample! The last one!
Junior Researcher I: Ah. Could you give me a hand, sir? My fingers seem to be stuck.
Old Nikola: The lab report! The lab report!! The lab report!!! What are those ears on the sides of your head for, decoration?!
Junior Researcher II: Yes, the white board. Bring it to Room 302A.
Windsong: ...
Professor Ivanov: Still feeling strange, huh? Everyone in this place is caught up with their own hectic schedules. You'll find your place in this institution once you've decided on your research topic.
Windsong: And when will that be, Professor?
Professor Ivanov: Haha.
He shakes his head, still smiling.
Professor Ivanov: Take it easy; there's no need to rush. Besides, it seems your colleagues are still struggling to catch up with you, Comrade Ekaterina.
He gestures behind her.
A number of junior researchers are sprawled out in the hallway, lying or leaning in recovery from what they just experienced.
At one end of the hallway, two medical staff quietly wheel one of them out on a stretcher.
Professor Ivanov: Are there any projects you find particularly interesting? The one on the Kolaria Superdeep Borehole? Or maybe the Sverdlovsk rescue group?
Professor Ivanov: Those two are quite prominent. They're making good progress, and the higher-ups are fairly supportive of them. I think they'd suit you well.
Windsong: No ... I ...
Windsong: I'm quite interested in that one. Are they still taking new members?
Old Nikola: Has it ever occurred to you that we have safety regulations to follow here?!
Professor Ivanov: Ah. Old Nik's project. Do you know what he's working on?
Windsong: Not really. But the pile of papers on his desk is impressive. Looks like the old guy's trying to build his own tower of Babel.
Professor Ivanov: Don't you want to join one of the more high-profile projects?
Windsong looks over at the researchers sitting in the opposite corner, each fully absorbed in their work.
It's the most comfortable corner in the building, and the people sitting there are the true elites of the establishment.
Windsong: That one looks more fun.
Professor Ivanov: Alright.
Professor Ivanov: There'll be a staff restructuring in six months. If you end up regretting your decision, there's still a chance we could put you in a different group. Not many people can put up with Old Nik, you know.
Windsong: Why?
Old Nikola: Group meeting, Room 105, 8 p.m.!
Professor Ivanov: Haha, well ...
Old Nikola: Who "ley-lined" my coffee into this thing?!
No one wants to admit to such a basic mistake. The room falls into a deadly silence.
Old Nikola: Come on! Which one of you rookies just messed with the ley lines in the room?!
Windsong: Hmm?
She tucks her hands behind her back.
Professor Ivanov: Perfect timing, Old Nik! Meet Comrade Ekaterina. She's going to fill the vacancy in your group.
Old Nikola: Hmph.
His sharp gaze locks onto her. Windsong feels as though nothing can escape his sight.
Windsong: Urh. That wasn't me. I mean the coffee, I think.
Old Nikola: Hmph.
Windsong senses a smirk lurking behind his beard.
Old Nikola: Follow me, rookie.
He turns on his heels and starts marching away.
Windsong hastens to follow him, but Professor Ivanov calls out to her.
Professor Ivanov: Comrade Ekaterina?
Windsong: Yes, Professor?
She turns back to face him.
The professor stands beneath a huge portrait on the wall. It is the portrait of the founding father of their discipline, Tristan Lisov.
In the portrait, Lisov casts a calm and confident gaze to the left, like he can already see the promise of the future.
Windsong: ...
Windsong: "The 21st century belongs to the study of ley lines!"
The motto is placed right beneath his portrait.
It's the first thing anyone sees when they enter the building.
Professor Ivanov: Welcome to the new world. Our new world.
Windsong: ...!
Windsong: Thank you, sir.
Snapping back to the moment, Windsong's eyes turn to her professor again.
Windsong: Our new world. Finally, I can make a difference. Broaden our understanding of ley lines. Lead us into a new future.
She gives a solemn nod.
She swiftly turns around and rushes to catch up with Old Nik.
