"Wake up, sleepyhead."
Jisung shifted on the bed, grumbling nonsense under his breath. Sam laughed and gave his shoulder a gentle tap. "Jisung, wake up. You have a big day today."
"Give me one minu..." The rest dissolved into sleepy mumbling.
Last night, after coming down from the mountain, the group had talked until nearly three in the morning.
"You guys are such a bad influence," Jisung had joked as he waved them off. The second he hit the mattress he was out. The next thing he knew,
"Bring the ropes!" Sam suddenly yelled.
’Ropes?’
Jisung gasped as the memory slammed back. His eyes snapped open. He sat up immediately, only to find Sam grinning down at him.
"Good morning!" He said with a warm smile.
"Yahhhhh!"
Jisung yelled, flopped back down to the bed and yanked the sheets over his head. Sam peeled them off without mercy. "Hey, wake up. It’s your big day today."
"I hate you."
"Whatever... Go get dressed."
Thirty minutes later, the two stepped out of the infirmary. Jisung glanced back through the open doorway. Every bed that had been empty the day before was now occupied with new participants. A small, genuine smile tugged at his lips.
’Welcome to Paradise.’
The moment he crossed the threshold, a quiet whisper escaped him. "Woah..."
Sunlight fell in even, lighting the view before. The view from last night couldn’t compare to what stood before him now, in daylight.
Flowers bloomed everywhere in riotous colors of vibrant reds, sunny yellows, deep purples and others Jisung didn’t recognise. The high walls around the city stood out sharply in the daylight, their pale stone gleaming as if they were freshly polished overnight. The gardens bloomed under the morning sun and Buildings on the opposite side stretched as far as he could see, the neat streets before him packed with people like it did on a Monday morning back home. Vendors called out, groups chatted animatedly among themselves, children weaved through the crowd. Everyone was happy and full of life.
Jisung smiled. ’It’s... Beautiful.’
He stood there quietly, watching people go about their morning. Everyone seemed to know where they were going. Everyone... seemed to have a purpose.
Somehow... It reminded him of another morning. Back when he’d first moved to the nation’s capital for college.
Every day had felt exciting back then. He’d wake up wondering what the day would bring, rushing between lectures before spending the afternoon at his part-time job as a graphic designer. He’d been living with purpose.
A faint smile lingered on his lips. He hadn’t realized how much he’d missed that feeling.
"Jisung!" A hand landed on his shoulder. He looked up to find two worried eyes staring back at him.
"...Huh?"
Sam smiled. "Are you that nervous?"
"Me? ...Nope."
"You seemed frozen for a minute." He sighed and started walking again. "Alright. C’mon!" Sam called, and Jisung hurried after him.
"Where are we headed?"
"The heart of Paradise."
"Ooh, fancy. Where’s that?’
"The heart of Paradise."
Jisung grinned. Today was his big debut, as Sam explained, the start of his official integration into Paradise.
"We call it... The Procedures. I know it doesn’t sound like much, but when you start, you’ll understand."
Jisung nodded and they kept walking.
"Are we meeting with Maxwell?"
"Nope."
Jisung frowned. "Why not?"
"There’s no need."
"Huh? Isn’t he supposed to assign someone to me?"
Sam stopped and smiled. "Luckily for you Jisung, the person Maxwell assigned as your guide... is standing right in front of you."
Jisung’s eyes widened. "Really?"
"Yup. I’m your guardian angel for the day. You’re in good hands."
"You mean," he gestured. "...Jazz hands!" Jisung teased, and they both laughed.
"First, we break some rules. I’ll show you around the city." He grabbed Jisung’s arm and whispered. "Tell... no one."
Jisung giggled and nodded.
"Let’s go!"
****
Sam led Jisung through the quieter parts of the city first. As they walked, he showed him around with easy enthusiasm.
They passed the town halls. They were a set of elegant buildings built with pale stone and tall windows where people came and went with quietly and orderly.
Next they were to the market square. Stalls overflowed with fruit and fresh produce Jisung didn’t recognize, handmade crafts, mysterious glowing artifacts and fabrics in colors so rich they seemed to glow.
Merchants waved cheerfully at Sam when he passed by.
"Hmm, I see you’re popular around here."
Sam gloated, boastfully. "You know... It’s nothing."
"I meant with the mums," Jisung teased.
"How dare you."
Teasing Sam was so fun.
When Sam introduced Jisung as a new arrival starting his debut and beginning his Procedures today, vendors smiled easily and a few offered small samples "for good luck."
The library was next. It was a serene, multi-story building with towering shelves visible through arched windows. Sam led him inside to show him a surprise.
"What’s the surprise?"
Sam grinned. "Just follow me."
As they stepped inside, he grabbed Jisung’s arm and warned. "Hold on and don’t look down."
Sam mouthed something and the large tile they were standing on, detached from the floor and floated in the air.
Jisung’s eyes went wide. "Oh my god! We’re f-flying!"
They drifted off to a section of a very tall shelf labelled, ’Books for new arrivals.’
"How’s this possible?"
Jisung’s mind was running wild as he stared down. They were ten to fifteen meters off the ground.
"Jisung, don’t look down." Sam grinned, yanking him to his feet.
Sam explained that the library was just for reading. "You can find books of magic spells," he said.
Later on, Sam introduced him to a quiet scholar inside the library who offered encouraging words to Jisung.
"Knowledge is power here. Come back anytime once you’re settled."
Everywhere they went, people were welcoming. The news of a new debut was met with happiness and soft words of encouragement, as if the arrival of another citizen was something the whole city quietly celebrated. It made Paradise feel both magical and deeply communal.
Sam explained during the tour that nobody was useless in Paradise. "Everyone has a purpose, Jisung."
The Procedures were designed in a way that perfectly tailor themselves to a person’s strengths and assign them to the perfect duty.
"Think of it like a tailor." Sam said. "The Procedures measure who you are, then stitch together the role that fits you best."
When Jisung asked about the others, Sam smiled.
"Angela is a Paradise Warden."
"No wonder she’s got her ears on everything," Jisung teased. Sam answered with a light giggle.
"Ashley is a Council Administrator, and Zhang Wu..."
"Let me guess... Hunter?"
"Yes! How’d you know?" Sam asked, surprised.
"Have you ’seen’ those muscles?" Jisung gestured, earning another laugh. "He kept tapping me and flexing throughout last night. Hard not to notice."
"There are countless other roles too," Sam said as they walked. "...Gardeners, Builders, Tutors, Researchers, Information Specialists, Medics, Librarians, Community Leaders, Peacekeepers and more. So you have a variety of options."
Then his tone shifted.
"Like Angela explained last night, your unique ability decides whether you get a big role or a quieter one."
Jisung stopped him for a second. "Sam, being a Medic is a big deal," he encouraged.
But Sam only offered a weak smile.
"We’re here!" he exclaimed, changing the subject. "The heart... of paradise..."
Jisung stood staring, mouth slightly open.
It was nothing like the quiet countryside they’d left behind. Towering buildings rose gracefully, their architecture blending sleek modern lines with ethereal, almost organic details of vines and crystal accents weaving through stone and glass. Buildings of pale stone and glass caught the light in soft, shifting colors, their heights irregular yet somehow harmonious. The roads were wider, smoother, and cleaner than anything Jisung had seen so far.
There was a large statue of seemingly identical beings in a circle, wearing a large cloak that covered their faces with arms stretched out in every direction. The fountain below it sparkled at intersections. Balconies overflowed with living greenery. Everything gleamed.
He looked over to Sam.
Sam was already watching him, clearly enjoying his reaction. The morning sun rested gently against his warm brown skin, giving it a soft golden glow. He chuckled, folding his arms.
"Cool, right?"
Jisung let out a quiet laugh and nodded.
"Yeah!"
It really was beautiful. After a few minutes, Sam yanked his arm, pulling him out of the awe. "Alright, let’s go! If you’re one minute late, I’d be the one to be blamed."
"But, you’re the one to blame, Sam." Jisung giggled, being dragged along the way.
"I know. And... You’re welcome."
Jisung giggled.
They walked another twenty meters until they stopped at the foot of a massive building, that stood behind the big statue.
"The Central District Council," Sam said, smiling. "This is where your journey begins."
It looked like one of the big corporations back home. "In there...? I can’t wait." Jisung almost bolted forward, but Sam pulled him back.
"Not here. There." He pointed to a smaller building sitting at the foot of the Council.
"Oh." Jisung looked faintly disappointed.
The building was solid and well-kept, it also had clean lines and tall windows. Across the front, a clear lettering read: "Paradise Administrative Council."
As they approached, Sam explained it functioned like an administrative block at college. New participants came here after awakening.
At the front steps Sam suddenly stopped and pulled Jisung aside.
"I can’t go in with you," he said.
"Why?"
"Uhm... how do South Koreans say it? I’m your ’hung’ in this regard."
"It’s ’hyung’," Jisung corrected with a little laugh. Sam smiled.
"It’s time for your debut." He said. "And I didn’t tell you before now. Remember, the Procedures will be divided into three stages, but the first is very important. If you mess it up, it affects every other stage. Be one hundred percent honest when you answer questions. Honestly, you’re cooler than I was."
"I doubt that. What was it like for you?"
"I was freaking scared. Sweating in places that sweat shouldn’t be."
Jisung giggled.
Sam placed a hand on his shoulder. "I know you’ll do good. I believe in you and I can’t wait for you to be a full citizen just like the rest of us."
"Thanks, Sam."
He winked and waved him goodbye.
Standing alone in front of the tall door, it felt like the Awakening Trial all over again, except this time the fear was quieter, edged with a strange, almost hopeful curiosity.
Jisung let out a slow exhale and pushed the door open. The knob felt cool under his palm, and the hinges gave a little squeak that echoed louder than it should have in his mind.
Inside, the air was cool. The space stretched far larger than the exterior of the building suggested, with high ceilings, polished floors, long empty corridors branching off in several directions. Soft light filtered through tall windows onto neat rows of desks and empty chairs.
Everything looked lavish and clean. Yet it was strangely empty and almost hushed.
He sighed. ’Here goes nothing...’
The moment he released the doorknob, a message rang out.
Ding!
[You Have Entered A New Location]
The door slammed shut behind him with a resounding ’Baam!’
Jisung whirled around and gasped.
The door had vanished completely. In its place, the walls and room began to shift and transform.
He gasped again. Where the exit had been now stood a solid brick wall, identical to the protective barriers that surrounded the city.
Silence.
He stepped one foot closer and pressed his palm to the wall where the entrance had been. Cold stone met his skin.
"...What is this?" A whisper escaped his lips.
Suddenly the lights began to dim, the bright daylight faded into a softer, cooler glow. A low vibration ran through the floor beneath his feet. The ceiling seemed to stretch higher. The walls slid outward with a slow, grinding grace. Stone rippled like water, glowing faintly to a soft, mystical twilight. Elegant runes flickered across surfaces that now resembled ancient, fortified masonry. Furniture at the edges of the room dissolved into drifting particles of light that scattered and vanished. Brickwork rose where plaster had been, the pale administrative walls transforming into the same weathered stone that surrounded the city outside. The air grew heavier.
Just then, a calm voice called out.
"Right this way, participant."
Jisung turned. A decent-looking woman with a calm smile stood a short distance away, as if she had always been there.
"I’ll take you to your tour guide," she said, walking toward him. "Don’t be scared. Your journey in Paradise is about to begin."
Jisung stared, completely confused. He didn’t know which to react to first. The building rewriting itself around him, or the woman who hadn’t been there a moment ago.
She smiled and started walking away.
"Follow me. There are others like you in the waiting room."
’Others... like me?’
Jisung swallowed hard and fell into step behind her.
’’’
Author’s Note: If you’re enjoying the novel, don’t forget to add it to your library and show some support. It really helps!
’’’