[September 1st, 2003.]
[The Clock Tower, outskirts of London.]
[Rayshift... successful.]
[Human Order Security Organization Chaldea: Artificial Intelligence Auxiliary System loading...]
[Warning! System breach detected by unknown virus!]
[Warn--... System loaded successfully.]
Through the suffocating darkness, Wayland heard a voice speaking.
"Your name?"
'What's all the noise? The college entrance exams are over... can't a guy get some sleep?'
A sudden breeze drifted through the room, its touch light and gentle. Seconds later, a strange, rhythmic sound resonated in the air.
"Light Source."
It was as if someone had thrown open the curtains on a bright summer morning. Intense, white light surged into the room, flooding the cramped space with a blinding glare.
"Ah! My eyes!"
Caught completely off-guard, Wayland let out a pained cry and threw his hands over his face.
'What the hell is going on? Is this some kind of prank?'
His last memory was lying on his sofa, absorbed in a mobile game.
"You're awake?" The man in front of him clapped his hands, and the blinding light vanished. He studied the teenager with a thin, knowing smile. "Falling asleep during your entrance exam... that isn't the best way to impress your examiner."
'Entrance exam? I just graduated high school. Where did an entrance exam come from?'
Wayland finally forced his eyes open.
In front of him stood a man holding a cane, a pipe in one hand and a top hat resting on his head. Dressed in a gentleman's suit from the previous century, he looked like Sherlock Holmes stepped right out of a classic film.
A sense of discord washed over Wayland. It was the year 2020--who still dressed like that?
"Now that you're awake, let's continue the exam."
The middle-aged man directing the session glanced at Wayland, who was standing frozen in confusion. He picked up an A4-sized sheet of paper and repeated his earlier question. "Your name?"
'Your Name? I'm not Taki, and you're certainly not Mitsuha.'
'Am I dreaming?'
'Or did my parents finally stop hiding the truth and send someone to tell me I'm actually a trust-fund kid?'
'Maybe some billionaire took a liking to me and if I pass this test, I'll inherit a fortune?'
Wayland's mind raced with wild theories as he gave a subconscious reply. "Wayland."
"An Easterner? How rare." The examiner tapped his pipe, his tone turning serious. "For the following questions, you must speak the absolute truth. Not a single lie. Your admission depends on it."
Affected by the sudden shift in atmosphere, Wayland gave a solemn nod.
"Gender?"
"?"
"Young people these days... boys can be prettier than girls, and girls can be more rugged than men. Establishing gender is quite important."
'You sound like a man with a lot of stories.'
"Male."
"Age?"
"Eighteen."
"What are your thoughts on celestial bodies?"
'What kind of weird question is that?'
Images of the sun and moon immediately flashed through Wayland's mind. He took a moment to consider his answer. "Celestial bodies follow fixed trajectories. They influence our world to some degree, I suppose, but they feel too distant to be something I'd truly worry about."
"A conventional answer." The examiner's expression remained neutral, giving away nothing. "Do you believe in the existence of life or gods beyond the Earth?"
'Has this guy been reading too much Lovecraft?'
Wayland hesitated for a moment before answering. "Life? Probably. The universe is infinite, after all. As for gods... Outer Gods? Great Old Ones? Those feel like things you'd only find in a novel."
"Then, for the sixth question: do you believe the future predicted by astrology is a future that truly exists, or merely a future born from human imagination?"
"Wait, what?"
Wayland looked up in shock. Now he was certain he was dreaming.
The examiner tapped the table with his pipe. "Do not let your mind wander."
Watching the man's movements, Wayland suddenly pinched his left wrist as hard as he could with his right thumb and forefinger.
Hiss!
'It hurts!'
The examiner watched with a bewildered expression as Wayland winced in pain. 'This child... perhaps there is something wrong with his head.'
He tapped the table again. "Student Wayland, please maintain your composure."
Wayland let out a slow, steady breath. He had just realized something that seemed impossible, yet was the only logical explanation.
[Translated and Rewritten by Shika_Kagura]