1925
"Do you believe in magic?"
—
1925
Bibury Village, Gloucestershire,
England.
The village was divided by a narrow river. On its bank sat a bright young man, his green eyes irritated by the persistent glare of the sun as its rays fell upon his golden locks. Meanwhile, his fingers worked steadily on a drawing, depicting a beauty inspired by the visions of his imagination. The brush, dipped in paint, moved skillfully between his hands.
He had chosen art as the vault of his thoughts, the means by which he could set them free. Between a brush and a sheet of paper, he found a peace he never tired of. Not a single moment spent with his sketches and ideas, far from life's concerns and troubles, ever felt wasted. Those worries occupied him only for a few short hours each morning.
This was Jared.
Jared had been born and raised in an environment that never truly appreciated the talent and artistry he possessed. His community valued the making of a man capable of working more than seventeen hours a day—even if such a life bordered on madness. A man who could provide for his family, marry, have children, and watch them grow into the very same life. An endless cycle. To them, art was nothing more than a waste of time, an unsuitable pursuit for a man.
All Jared had ever wanted was to leave this village at the first opportunity. Who could blame him? Life here was confined within a handful of rigid expectations, and stepping beyond them was considered a deviation from the accepted order. Traditions, customs, and every rule that existed within the village's boundaries formed invisible walls around its people.
Since childhood, his parents had envisioned him as a doctor. They had invested everything they owned in his education. Much of that determination came from his eldest sister, Agnes, who firmly believed that educating both Jared and their younger sister, Adeline, was essential in a changing world. Since both children had excelled during primary school, she saw them as the family's hope for a better future.
The sea of thoughts that nearly drowned him was interrupted by the voice of a woman in her late forties.
It was his mother.
The resemblance between them was unmistakable. The same green eyes, the same golden hair, and the same faint freckles scattered across their features. Her cheeks, however, were flushed from years of demanding work in the fields that had slowly worn her down.
"Jared, dear, come here for a moment."
He lifted his head toward the source of the voice and nodded in acknowledgment without replying. He began gathering his papers, brushes, and paints into his wooden box—a container that served as Jared's private treasury of ideas and secrets. Carrying it in his arms, he made his way toward their home.
It was a modest cottage, one that everyone in the village immediately recognized. Their family had always been known for their kindness and generosity among the townsfolk.
Mr. Jonathan, his father, was a merchant who sold the fruits of his harvest in the city and nearby markets. Meanwhile, Mrs. Sarah, his wife and the children's mother, worked as a seamstress, providing simple services to the villagers. Their livelihoods were humble, but sufficient to ensure that every night ended with full stomachs and peaceful sleep.
"What is it now? I thought I'd already finished everything Father asked me to do," Jared said, unable to hide a hint of dissatisfaction at being interrupted during the best part of his day.
Even so, there was not the slightest trace of disrespect in his voice toward his mother.
"That's true," she replied.
She took the box from his hands, causing a small crease to form between his brows. He disliked anyone touching his belongings. In its place, she handed him a small basket filled with bread, fruit, and several other items Jared had no interest in examining.
"Take this basket to your sister's house. She has something she wants to tell you."
The walk to his sister's home took no more than two minutes. The houses in the village stood remarkably close to one another, and the home of his recently married sister was no exception. As he walked, questions crowded his mind, wondering what it was that Agnes needed from him.
He knocked several times before the door opened.
A tall, broad-shouldered man stood before him, with brown eyes, brown hair, and a light beard lining his sharp jaw.
It was Michael, Agnes's husband.
A welcoming smile lifted the corners of his lips as he greeted the younger man.
"Ah, there he is! We've been waiting for you for quite some time, little man. Come on in."
Michael stepped aside, allowing his brother-in-law to cross the threshold of their home.
The moment Jared stepped inside, his sister hurried toward him. She wrapped her arms around him in a warm embrace, gently rubbing his back before lifting her hands to rest around his neck beneath his chin.
"You're finally here. Come, sit with us for a while. There are two very important matters we need to discuss, and you're a part of both of them."
Jared took a seat on the wooden sofa opposite Agnes, who sat beside her husband.
He wasn't exactly nervous, but he knew one thing for certain: if Agnes said something was important, then it truly was. There was no room for jokes when it came to her serious tone.
"So, what are these important matters you wanted to discuss with me?"
He watched as his sister reached toward the table in the center of the room and picked up an ivory-colored envelope sealed with dark red wax.
Jared immediately recognized it.
It was from the university he had applied to for a scholarship.
He shot Agnes an anxious glance, but she answered it with a reassuring smile. Before she could speak, Michael addressed him instead, looking at his young brother-in-law.
"Whatever the result is—whether they accepted you or not—you've already done everything you could. And don't forget, you still have opportunities at other universities. We'll take you to London if that's what you want. Go on, open it."
Jared carefully slipped a finger beneath the wax seal and withdrew the folded letter inside.
He cleared his throat before letting his eyes travel across every line.
The letter began with greetings and appreciation for choosing the university. Then came praise for his academic achievements and outstanding performance throughout his previous years of study.
By the time he reached the end, he had his answer.
He had been accepted.
His secondary-school grades had been far more than merely good—they had been exceptional. He had excelled throughout his education, and now he was officially a medical student at the university.
Yet a strange turmoil settled inside him.
Should he be happy because he had been accepted?
Or should he mourn the fact that this was never the path he had truly wished to follow?
He looked up at his sister with a small smile, and she understood it instantly.
She had always been certain he would succeed.
Certain he would be accepted.
Certain of her little brother.
Jared folded the letter once more and slipped it back into the envelope before looking at them both.
"Thank God," he said. "You mentioned there was a second matter. What is it?"
Agnes nodded, the same warm smile still gracing her face. She slipped her arm through Michael's and leaned closer to him.
"We didn't want you to be the last to know, but you woke up early and disappeared among the trees with your drawings as usual."
She paused, her eyes shining with excitement.
"The truth is, my dear... you're finally going to be an uncle."
Jared would never deny that the news of his sister's pregnancy brought him far more joy than his acceptance into the university.
His love for his sisters was deep and unwavering. He would have sacrificed anything for their comfort and happiness.
And now, the thought of a child—Agnes's child—was impossible not to celebrate.
A broad smile spread across his face, lifting the corners of his mouth high enough to reveal his teeth. He made no effort to hide it.
If there was one thing that had truly captivated Jared's eyes that day, it was the vastness of the university campus stretching before him.
He was finally studying at a university he had only ever seen in newspapers.
Students were gathered everywhere. Some sat beneath the shade of trees with books in their hands, while others stood in small groups, chatting and laughing together.
At first, he had no idea where he was supposed to go or whom he should ask for directions.
However, the moment he stepped onto the campus grounds, a young woman approached him.
She had dark skin, black eyes, and long brown hair.
Tilting her head slightly to one side, she looked at him and asked,
"First-year student?"
Jared gave a small nod.
The young woman glanced down at a sheet of paper in her hands. Several names were listed there, many of them already marked with checkmarks.
"You must be Jared Haverd."
He shifted slightly in discomfort at how quickly she seemed to know who he was, but he reminded himself that this was probably part of her responsibility with the incoming students.
"I'm sure that's correct. You're the only first-year student who's late for the first lecture."
She turned and began walking.
"Follow me."
Jared said nothing and simply followed behind her through the bustling campus. Around them, the noise of students filled the air, yet the two of them moved through it in noticeable silence.
After a moment, her voice softened into something friendlier than before.
"I'm Yurin, by the way. I study medicine too. Third year."
Jared quickened his pace until he was walking beside her.
"I don't suppose I need to introduce myself," he said with a faint smile. "But it's nice to meet you."
The conversation nearly died there.
He wasn't particularly skilled at keeping one alive.
After a brief pause, he took a steady breath and spoke again.
"Since you're already in your third year... is studying medicine difficult? I worked very hard to get into this university specifically for medicine. I don't want to waste my chance to stay here."
Yurin laughed warmly.
"Oh, goodness. Don't worry so much. You'll spend the first couple of months adjusting, and after that things become easier."
She lifted her hands in a small gesture.
"But I won't promise comfort during examination season."
Jared couldn't help but smile faintly at that.
A moment later, Yurin came to a stop and pointed toward a nearby door.
"Your first lecture is in there. You'll also receive the rest of your schedule inside."
She stepped back and offered him a friendly smile.
"My job ends here. It was nice meeting you, Jared."
He watched her walk away before turning toward the door.
Taking a breath, he stepped forward and knocked.
A voice from inside granted permission to enter.
When he walked in, he found no more than twenty students seated throughout the lecture hall. At the front stood the lecturer.
The moment Jared entered, every pair of eyes turned toward him.
Instantly, he felt uncomfortable.
Being the center of attention was something he had never enjoyed.
The lecturer looked at him and smiled as Jared offered an apologetic expression.
"Ah, Mr. Haverd, is it?"
The man folded his hands behind his back.
"We'll overlook it since it's your first day, but I do not appreciate lateness in my lectures."
His gaze swept across the room.
"And a piece of advice for all first-year students: no lecturer here appreciates tardiness."
A brief pause followed.
"More importantly, it is not a trait any skilled physician should possess. Every moment you waste may belong to a different life, and the responsibility for that life may rest upon your shoulders."
The lecturer gestured toward an empty seat.
Jared quickly moved to take it.
There was only one available chair, positioned beside another student.
The young man had black hair that reached his shoulders and striking blue eyes. Judging by the way his legs nearly extended beyond the desk, he was clearly very tall.
The student didn't even glance at Jared as he sat down beside him.
