I looked around the small apartment, heart still hammering from the sudden voice. No one. Not a single strand of hair out of place. The room was exactly as it had been—faded wallpaper, simple furniture, the faint scent of dried flowers.
"Wh… Where are you?" I asked out loud, anxiety bubbling up again like acid in my throat.
I waited. Seconds stretched into an uncomfortable silence. No reply. My shoulders slowly dropped as the tension eased. 'Maybe… maybe it really was just the voices in my head again.' The hallucinations are getting worse lately. Even without the pills, they sometimes crept in when I least expected them.
I sighed, the sound coming out far too soft and melodic for my liking. I pulled the blanket back over myself and closed my eyes, trying to will the world away. It was rare to hear or see nothing when I hadn't taken any medication. Strangely, this time, the quiet brought a fragile sense of peace. No Noona's voice echoing in my ears. No ringing. No crushing weight on my chest from the guilt that never left.
I rested like that for a few more minutes, letting the unusual calm settle.
When I opened my eyes again, I screamed.
There, right in front of the bed, stood a crane.
It was tall and impossibly graceful, its feathers white as fresh snow, each one edged with a faint jade-green light that shimmered like silk touched by morning mist. Its eyes were a clear, pale green—calm and observant, as if nothing in the world could ever disturb its serenity. Long, delicate legs carried quiet authority with every subtle shift of weight.
"Don't come any closer," I said sharply, voice trembling despite its gentle tone.
The crane obediently stopped mere inches from the edge of the bed.
'How the hell did it even fit in this cramped space?' The thought flashed through my mind, absurd and useless. 'Wait, that's not important right now! Why is there a crane here?'
I scrambled backward, putting as much distance as I could between us. The crane tilted its head, and its feathers shimmered, releasing tiny particles of soft green light that drifted lazily into the air.
Just then, the voice returned—still carrying that strange, soothing peace and serenity.
"It's me, child."
I froze. "Where are you?" I demanded, voice cracking.
"I am right in front of you."
I stared hard at the crane. Hesitantly, I opened my mouth. "You're… the crane?"
It nodded once, releasing another gentle shimmer of green light as if to confirm.
The absurdity of the situation hit me all at once. A crane. In my apartment. Talking to me. I couldn't help it, I let out a shaky laugh and slumped back onto the bed, rubbing my face with these new, soft hands.
"I understand how you feel," the crane said, its voice warm with gentle understanding. "This is a very peculiar situation, after all."
I nodded dumbly. We stayed in silence for a few minutes, the only sound of my own breathing slowly steadying.
"Are you calm now?" it asked.
I nodded again and forced my posture to relax.
The crane mirrored the nod, then slowly spread its wings. Faint particles of light drifted down like healing rain, sparkling softly in the dim room. I couldn't look away. The sight was mesmerizing. Waking up in a new body, surviving a panic attack, and now… whatever this is. My life had become completely unhinged in the span of what felt like less than an hour.
"Nice to meet you, Park Shiwon," the crane said.
I stiffened. 'How does it know my name?' The question burned, but I kept quiet and let it continue.
"I am the Pear Spirit. However, you may call me whatever you like. I oversee the Baekrim Sect."
I nodded, trying to process. 'Spirits? Baekrim Sect?' It sounded like something straight out of the wuxia or xianxia novels I used to read to escape reality. Thoroughly confused, I kept listening.
However, seeing my confusion, the crane kindly explained, "In this world, hidden sects and organizations exist alongside ordinary society. In Korea, there are four major ones: Cheonhwa Orchard, Baekrim Sect, Hoyeom Order, and Geumto Clan. I belong to the Baekrim Sect. Specifically, I am the spirit that handles its affairs and protects the divine pear fruit."
I nodded along, though the name Cheonhwa Orchard tugged faintly at something in the back of my mind. 'A novel I read once, maybe?' I shrugged the thought away. Wuxia stories were popular these days; it wasn't unusual for names to feel familiar.
"Now, I am looking for a Saintess for the sect," the crane continued, watching me with those calm, pale green eyes.
I tilted my head slightly. "Uhm… Crane… wait, can I call you Rin?"
The crane nodded graciously.
"So, Rin," I said, "what does that have to do with me?"
Rin lowered its head and entire body in a deep, respectful bow.
I startled. "Hey—stand up. It's okay."
"No," Rin replied, voice steady and respectful. "I must uphold this much etiquette."
I let out an exasperated laugh. "Really, it's fine. You can stand up."
It didn't move.
"Please, hear me out, Park Shiwon," Rin said, still bowed low.
"I will, I will—so please, stand up," I insisted. However, Rin remained motionless.
I sighed in defeat. "Fine. What is it?"
"Please become the Saintess of the Baekrim Sect, Park Shiwon."
I blinked. Then blinked again. "Sorry?"
Rin looked up at me, eyes filled with quiet hope. "Me and the other spirits of the other sects have lost our divine fruits."
I nodded slowly. "Is that… a bad thing?"
Rin nodded heavily, a hint of anxiety threading through its otherwise serene tone. "Yes. The fruits are what keep the sect safe. They also emit powerful buffs for our disciples. Without them, the situation for the sect will become dire."
I narrowed my eyes. That did sound serious.
Rin continued, "The only ones capable of creating another divine fruit are us, the spirits." It paused.
"And I'm assuming there's a consequence?" I asked.
Rin nodded gravely. "Yes. The price of forging a new one is that we spirits will fall into a deep sleep. The only way to wake us is to gather a large amount of spiritual power. That same power will also keep the sect's protection barriers functioning."
"And you need a Saintess because… they would be the one gathering that spiritual power?" I asked, connecting the pieces.
"Exactly so," Rin confirmed. "A Saintess can gather spiritual power by gaining recognition and fame. It does not matter whether the fame is positive or negative—as long as people recognize her. However, I would prefer the positive path, if possible."
I nodded in agreement. Negative fame would only bring more curses and trouble anyway. Still… this whole setup felt strangely familiar. Didn't something like this happen in that novel I read? The one with the VTuber Saintess? I pushed the thought aside for now.
"That is why," Rin said, bowing even lower, "I beg of you, Park Shiwon—please become the Baekrim Sect's Saintess."
I sighed, rubbing my temple with one delicate hand. "I don't exactly understand why you chose me, honestly. It also seems like you already know basic information about… me."
"The reason is simple," Rin replied. "First, your soul. It is pure and clear. Yet somewhere deep within lies a hint of mysteriousness that aligns perfectly with the Baekrim Sect's traits."
When I heard the word pure, bitterness flooded my chest like poison. Pure and clear, my ass. What kind of pure person averts their eyes while their own sister and others—women and men alike—get harassed and molested by those in power?
I had seen it in the military, the higher-ups preying on female lieutenants, and sometimes on weaker male conscripts too, in the showers or storage rooms. The same ugly cycle of power and silence. I had walked away from all of it.
I snapped out of the dark spiral when Rin continued.
"Secondly, your healing aura. The Baekrim Sect is full of healers and support roles. We bolster the front-liners. Talented individuals in our arts naturally emit that kind of aura. You will be gifted in our techniques."
I nodded, still confused but letting Rin speak.
"And lastly," Rin said, "your face."
"My face?" I echoed. 'What about it? Also, is the new one or the old one?' I thought, but didn't dare to voice it out loud.
"Have you seen yourself in the mirror?" Rin asked gently.
I had. I remembered the serene, anime-like beauty staring back at me. "Yeah…" So it's the new one.
"That is part of the reason," Rin nodded sagely.
I let out a small, amused breath. Visual appeal, huh? Makes sense for a Saintess who needs to gather fame.
"So, what do you say, Park Shiwon?" Rin asked, eyes shining with quiet hope.
"I…"