More whispers rippled through the crowd. Bonuses? Raises? A hundred days of paid leave?
“That’s all I have to say about your basic working conditions. If no one else has any questions, I’ll move on.”
Kron scanned the room, waiting to see if anyone else would step forward. Not a single former slave moved a muscle; they couldn’t comprehend the answer they had just received, let alone formulate any further questions.
“If you think of any more questions later, come to my room,” the long-haired man said, taking a moment to embrace the quiet. “Now, one last thing—I will tell you all our two most important rules. Listen closely, because I will say them only once, and they take precedence over everything else. If you forget or violate them, we shall strip you of everything—even the clothes on your back—and cast you out into the blazing desert to fend for yourselves.”
A hush descended upon the room as Kron’s sharp tone quashed even the faintest whispers.
“Rule number one!” he announced. “The exceptional conditions you’ve been granted are all thanks to Proprietor Noor’s kindness, as well as his personal protection of the City Forgotten by Time! Never—not for a single moment—should you forget what he has done for you!”
The long-haired man paused, then continued with equal fervor:
“Rule number two! Never take for granted the blessing of being here! Those who neglect to study and work hard, know this: There is no place for you in this city! To receive, you must give! That is the creed by which first-rate professionals live!”
So menacing was the look that Kron gave the crowd that everyone held their breath in unison, his message loud and clear in their minds.
“I will not tolerate ignorance of our rules, not even if our magnanimous owner forgives it,” he concluded. “You can—and will—be kicked out. That is all.”
Kron’s expression remained as severe as before, yet there was a certain satisfaction in his demeanor, as though he was content to have said his piece. Meanwhile, the black-suited woman behind him rubbed her brow with one hand.
“Kron... None of that was untrue, but...” She sighed. “You and I will need to talk about this.”
“Of course, ma’am. I’ll stop by your office once today’s business is concluded.”
The long-haired man bowed, his features devoid of contrition, before departing with a brisk stride. In his absence, the woman in black continued massaging her brow, slowly shaking her head as she watched him go.
“Please let me know which occupations you wish to pursue. I’ll note them down for you.”
The girl turned to see the staff member she had asked for help, now standing right beside her. She thought back to the many options available to her and the others, but her mind was already made up. Even during the long-haired man’s speech, she had known which path called to her.
“I...want to be a doc...”
Despite how certain she felt, her words caught in her throat. How could she say something so absurd? In that dark, cramped room, she’d never have considered entering a profession. She hadn’t even known if she would survive the night. For someone who had never even seen a doctor before her encounter with the man and young woman the day before, the idea of practicing medicine felt like an impossible fantasy.
And yet...
“I want to be a doctor.”
“I’ll put that as your first preference, then. Can you tell me your second and third?”
“I...don’t want to be anything else.”
“You don’t?” the staff member asked, studying the girl with curiosity.
The girl knew that, from a practical standpoint, it was more or less impossible for someone who couldn’t even read to become a doctor. Yet, the idea didn’t seem quite as strange now that she had said it aloud. Yes, she would need a miracle to make it happen, but she had witnessed plenty in the span of a single day. Would one more really be so much to hope for?
In fact, she hadn’t just witnessed those miracles—she had experienced them. She had seen people lost in the darkest depths of despair, their eyes cast downward, raise their heads to behold a brighter future. She had felt her own immovable fate shift in a direction beyond her wildest dreams, all because of the actions of a single man. The world she had once thought so cruel could thrive if only more people embodied his kindness.
Miracles were far from an everyday occurrence—but when they happened, they seemed to come all at once. As long as she put in the hard work...maybe she could even perform one of her own.
“Are you sure you only have one preference?” the female employee pressed. “It’s ideal to have a backup or two, in case things don’t work out.”
“I’m sure,” the girl replied. “I don’t need any other choices.”
The more she thought about it, the more certain she became. She wanted a chance to reunite with her savior—to thank him for rescuing her. What better way could there be to ensure they would meet again than charging down the path he had taken? He was a master in his field—the miracles he had performed made that clear. The girl wanted nothing more than to be like him. Even if she fell short, she would be content simply following in his footsteps.
As someone who’d never had a future before, seeing that man again was her sole, most fervent desire. She didn’t know his name or what he looked like, but she would find him. And when she did, she knew exactly what she would say to him.
“Thank you for healing me.”
If she truly could choose any future she desired, she would devote the rest of her days to showing her savior how she felt. She had never received much of an education, and there was little she knew for certain, but she had never been more sure of anything in her life. It didn’t matter whether her goal was realistic; the vague warmth she had felt in that dark, despair-laden room had since grown into her very reason for existing.
“Are you really, truly sure?” the staff member asked. “There’s no harm in putting down a second or third choice.”
“Yes, I’m sure,” the girl answered, embracing her dream for the very first time. “I want to become a doctor.”