When Huang Kailing lands smack dab in the middle of neon lights and flashing displays, she is a little confused.
Okay, not just a little. Really,
really confused.
She checks the chopstick in her hand, studying the dragon-shaped gold carving entwined around the top. It’s definitely not the wrong warp key—she has heard Professor Xie boast of its intricate craftsmanship many times and knows its details by heart—but why had it brought her
here?
Kailing glances around, studying the area around her. There are several signs advertising butterbrew, and in between stalls selling the drink are what appear to be several…games. It looks remarkably like a carnival, and nothing like the place for a final exam.
Opening the letter tucked in her pocket, she reads:
Your objectives are:
Win 10 carnival prizes
Obtain the Butterbrew Trophy
Gain a friend and their contact information
Failure to do so before the festival’s end in three hours will result in your expulsion.
Professor Xie
There is no mistaking her mentor’s immaculate calligraphy, so Kailing eyes the game directly in front of her: Whac-a-Niffly. She’s quite bad at the game, but there’s nothing magic can’t solve, so she marches forward, and with a wave of her wand, the mallet hovers next to her.
She presses the start button. Immediately, toy Nifflies begin popping out of the holes, but the hammer smacks them on the head the moment they appear. The number in front of Kailing quickly climbs into the thousands, and by the end of the sixty seconds, everyone nearby is staring at her in amazement.
“Is that enough for a prize?” she asks the worker standing nearby.
“Um, ma’am,” the woman stammers. “You’re not supposed to use magic to win. I’m sorry—”
“There is no issue. May I try again?”
“O—of course!”
Kailing is not nearly as successful the second time, only managing to hit ten Nifflies. With a sigh, she rolls up her sleeves, ready to try again.
. . .
Ten-plushies-stuffed-unceremoniously-into-her-bag later, Kailing finds herself at the brewing station, listening to the rules of the competition. Her team, consisting of her and two strangers named Alex and Oscar, will have access to any of the ingredients they can manage to collect in the ten minutes given to preparing the beverage. The best drink will be awarded the Butterbrew Trophy.
With a ring of a bell, the competition begins.
Her teammates put her in charge of mixing the actual drink as they scour the carnival for the necessary ingredients. This turns out to be a mistake because—well, Kailing hasn’t actually ever had butterbrew before. But still, she did not expect things to go this horribly. The final product—at least, according to the judges—tastes nothing like the original drink.
“I am very sorry,” Kailing said after the results were announced. “I have never had the pleasure of tasting butterbrew before, so this is completely my own fault.”
Oscar simply bows and leaves, but Alex stares at her with some amusement and asks, “You participated without trying the drink?”
Kailing flushes. “It is part of my final exam.”
Alex raises a single eyebrow and laughs. “How ‘bout this—I take you to drink butterbrew and you tell me the full story. Deal?”
“Alright.”
. . .
“I take it you don’t like it?” Alex asks, chortling at the look of disgust on her face.
“It is much too sweet,” Kailing says.
They shrug. “Yeah, it’s pretty sugary, but that’s part of the appeal. Obviously not for everyone, though. What would you change?”
After a moment of thought, she says, “I would add cardamom and nutmeg to make it a little more complex. The ice cream is unnecessary, given that the cream soda already provides vanilla flavoring. The whipped cream is quite nice though, and—why are you smiling? Am I saying something incorrect?”
“Oh, no, no. You’re doing great. Do you want to go back to the brewing competition?”
“I—what? Now?”
“Yes! You have a final exam to complete, don’t you?”
“I mean, yes, but don’t I need more preparation? I have barely—”
“Nope! Your idea was fantastic—and besides, you have me with you. This can’t go wrong!”
“I—if you say so,” Kailing stammers, and lets herself be dragged away.
. . .
After the results are announced and the two are given the trophy as their prize, Kailing approaches Alex. “Thank you for your help today.”
They glance up, mindlessly spinning the golden cup in their hands around a finger. “Oh, you’re still here? I thought you would have fled with your trophy already.”
“I’m not quite done yet,” Kailing admits. “I, um…needyouraddress.”
“What was that?”
She flushes, and repeats, with her hands balled at her sides and teeth gritted, “I. Need. Your. Address.”
“Oh my,” they say, placing a hand on their chest. “You actually care about me. Unless…” Their eyes widen comically. “You’re trying to murder me! Oh my god, please don’t do it, Kailing! Please! Have mercy on poor Alex, who dedicated a whole hour of their day to helping you! Please, please, please—”
“Shut up,” Kailing snaps. “This is for my exam. I need the contact information of someone.”
“Someone?” They smirk, waving their wand, materializing a quill and piece of parchment out of thin air. “Or, perhaps…a friend?”
A silent staredown ensures. Eventually, Kailing breaks and groans. “Yes, I need the contact information of a friend. Are you happy now?”
“Quite.” Alex hands her the sheet of parchment, where their address is scribbled. “I hope to hear from you soon. Let me know how your graduation goes, okay?”
She smiles and tucks the page carefully into her bag. “Of course.” Taking the other chopstick—this time with a phoenix pattern—from her pocket, she takes a deep breath and waits. Almost immediately, Kailing is jerked forward, speeding halfway across the world.
. . .
“Welcome back.”
“Professor Xie.” Kailing bows. “I have completed your task.”
“As expected,” the elderly woman says. “Do not believe yourself to be lesser because of the supposed simplicity of your final—there is no one in this school who does not recognize your talent in magic and academia. No, I assigned you this task to see how well you would adapt to life outside these walls, and you have performed wonderfully. Did you enjoy yourself?”
Kailing does not hesitate. “Yes.”