“Ma’am it doesn’t just end here, Herman was wrongly accused of treason and heresy. The evidence against him is circumstantial at best,” Enlai spoke, his eyes filled with determination.
The huge screen turned off, a whirl followed and a new
picture emerged.
Each flicker of that screen sent a shiver down the spines of the attendees,
their eyes fixed on the ever-changing pictures.
Professor Galadriel, her silver hair cascading over her
shoulders, regarded Enlai with a raised eyebrow. Her reputation as a
no-nonsense academic preceded her, and her scepticism was legendary.
“Enlai, you are young and eager, but you must understand the gravity of the
accusations against Herman. The monastery’s reputation is at stake, and we
cannot afford to make hasty judgments.”
“The monastery was destroyed years ago,” Enlai’s jaw tightened. “What reputation, ma’am? The stones themselves have crumbled into dust.”
The conference room fell silent. A faint hum of the air conditioning unit provided the only sound in the room, drowning out the rhythmic tapping of restless feet. The fluorescent lights overhead flickered intermittently, casting eerie shadows on the faces of those gathered.
A solitary clock on the wall ticked away the seconds, a constant reminder of the limited time available.
Across him, his colleagues exchanged timid glances; Sejin, Yoshi and Dahyun. They weren’t exactly in awe of what Enlai was doing but to get a chance to reach Podlazice, the present city of Chrast in Czech Republic to work on the 13th century monastery they had to let him speak. He was their speaker. His ways were crude, unconventional yet fruitful.
The stern older woman with a penchant for traditionalism,
sighed heavily.
“Enlai, we’ve been over this already. The evidence against Herman is
overwhelming. The monastery at Podlazice cannot afford to have doubts cast on
its integrity. And to portray it in this angle in this project sounds risky.
Don’ you think so?”
“I feel as Historians we need to be stubborn, very dedicated to what we believe, because without it everything is just as useless as Herman is to us.” Enlai sounded fed up.
“As historians, it is our duty to seek the truth, no matter how inconvenient or uncomfortable it may be. I believe that Herman was framed by those who sought to silence his dissenting voice.”
Galadriel cocked an eyebrow, “Enlai, you are proposing a bold claim. What evidence do you have to support this theory?”
Enlai took a deep breath, steeling himself for the battle of wits that lay ahead. “Ma’am, I appreciate your scepticism, but let me present the evidence that supports my theory. Firstly, the so-called ‘letters of treason’ that were found in Herman’s possession are riddled with inconsistencies and anachronisms. They are written in a dialect that was not spoken in Podlazice during the time of the alleged treason plot. Moreover, the paper they are penned on is of a type that was not introduced to the region until a decade after Herman’s arrest.”
Galadriel nodded thoughtfully, acknowledging the validity of Enlai’s argument. “Interesting, but as you said, circumstantial at best. What else have you got, Enlai?”
Enlai’s eyes brightened as he continued, “Secondly, the accounts that incriminate Herman are highly suspicious. One of the witnesses, a disgraced nobleman seeking redemption, had a history of falsifying testimonies for personal gain during the 13th century. The other witness, a servant with a grudge against Herman, was recorded accepting a significant sum of money from a mysterious figure not long before coming forward with their accusations. It was accepted by their monastery itself.”
Galadriel leaned back in her chair, intently listening to Enlai’s every word. “And what of Herman’s alibi? Does that have any concrete evidence to support his innocence?”
Enlai nodded, a triumphant smile playing on his lips. “Yes, ma’am. Herman’s alibi is corroborated by multiple reliable sources, including a respected merchant from the same era who placed him miles away from Podlazice at the time of the alleged treasonous activities.” Enlai pulled a bunch of papers, handing them to her. “Furthermore, his personal journals, which were conveniently omitted from the evidence, detail his whereabouts and actions during the period in question.”
Galadriel raised an eyebrow, impressed by Enlai’s thorough research and compelling arguments. “I must admit, Enlai, you have presented a compelling case for Herman’s face. And this completely changes the direction of history if proven true. I will convene with my colleagues to review the evidence and determine the best course of action.”
Enlai nodded gratefully, his eyes shining with hope. “Thank you, ma’am. I only seek the truth and justice for Herman, no matter how inconvenient it may be.”
The room exhaled, its collective breath held hostage as Enlai and his colleagues stepped out into the corridor. And Enlai could swear he heard each of those breaths separately. Their footsteps echoed—a sombre cadence—as if the very floor mourned their departure. They were the last, the lingering notes of a symphony that had crescendoed through hours of scholarly discourse.
It was their one and only chance, the fight for achieving the biggest breakthrough of their lives.
Outside, the hallway stretched like a desolate corridor of uncertainty. White lights flickered over the other groups seated in same anticipation as theirs.
Mr. Kim, their senior emerged behind him. His hand found Enlai’s shoulder—a pat both congratulatory and laden with expectation. “Amazing work, Enlai,” he praised, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “You’ve brought us closer to the win.”
The others nodded, their expressions a blend of pride and anticipation. They were sure—their team would secure the coveted opportunity to explore the ruins of Podlazice’s ancient monastery. The stones, once sanctuaries of prayer, now held secrets waiting to be unravelled.
“You were fire Han! Burned them!” Sejin chimed in.
Enlai could only smile. He was already scared of speaking upfront and the heated change of words left him a bit dizzy. But no one else was ready to do it. Lila was the one entrusted with presenting their findings. It was the culmination of years of painstaking research.
But that repair work at her apartment had kept her busy for
the past days and no way she could have made it. But she was supposed to be
here today, at least as a support.
Enlai scanned the hallway, hoping for a glimpse of her familiar face but he
knew better.
“Don’t worry, it will end good!” Mr. Kim smiled at him
He merely nodded, his mind weighing back to the committee.
Crucial. The word echoed in Enlai’s mind, reverberating through the hollows of his determination. The committee held the key—their pronouncement would either unlock the monastery’s secrets or seal them away forever. It wasn’t merely about exploration; it was about vindication, redemption, and rewriting history.
If their team secured the chance to delve into those ruins, they might uncover scrolls, inscriptions, or hidden chambers that would rewrite the history. If they couldn’t, it would be because of him.
Lila’s absence kept gnawing at Enlai. She was the missing piece. She was the person who had questioned his assumptions, challenged his hypotheses. Her arrival would complete the picture. Without her, it didn’t feel like it.
And then, as if summoned by his thoughts, her voice cracked
the shell around Enlai.
“I am sorry I am late!” she said, breathless but triumphant.
Enlai’s eyes widened as he saw Lila stepping into the corridor—the missing piece of their puzzle!
“You came?” Enlai quipped, his voice a tightrope between relief and reproach. “I half-expected you to arrive on the wings of a phoenix, or perhaps riding a comet.”
Lila’s laughter echoed through the corridor, a melody that danced with the dust motes. “Ah, but comets are notoriously unreliable,” she teased. “And phoenixes? Well, they tend to burst into flames at the most inconvenient moments.”
“And you won’t rise from the Ash?”
Before Lila could respond, the central speaker crackled to
life, interrupting their banter. The corridor seemed to hold its breath as the
announcement echoed through the stone walls.
“Your attention, please. The decision for the team raiding the ruins of
Podlazice has been made.”
The hush through the corridor turned to a sudden silence,
all too calm and quiet.
“Han Enlai,” Professor Galadriel’s voice followed through, her tone steady,
“your team has been chosen. Congratulations!”
A crate of appreciation burst through the room; colleagues,
friends and even opponents.
Colleagues erupted in cheers; their relief palpable. Friends slapped him on the
back, and even erstwhile opponents offered nods of acknowledgment.
Enlai stood there, still in shock, unable to move. They had won! His dream, nurtured through countless nights of research and speculation, had finally come true. They had secured the opportunity. The only chance to explore the ancient monastery, its secrets buried beneath layers of time.
“We did it,” Lila shrieked, her breath mingling with the corridor’s stillness. “I can’t wait to reach there! Enlai—”
…
Inside The Lucky Star, the air hummed with laughter, the kind that bubbles up from the soul after a hard-fought victory. Enlai raised his glass, the rim clinking against Sejin’s, and they all leaned in for the toast.
“To new adventures and old friends!”
Enlai raised his glass, a toast to their win. It was the first time he
had spoken since they’d clinched the deal—the kind of win that felt like
destiny had finally cashed in its chips. Not that he doubted their worthiness;
it was more like he’d suddenly won the lottery and was still waiting for the
catch.
The air was filled with the jingle of glasses and the lingering scent of Korean BBQ. The soju flowed freely and shots lined up like soldiers on the bar. Inhibitions melted away, and conversations took on a life of their own, fuelled by liquid courage and shared dreams.
“Here’s to us, the unstoppable dream team!” Sejin declared, his words slightly slurred but filled with genuine enthusiasm.
This idea of celebrating their win at a soju bar was his idea. And this raven hair, puckered lips and the in-charge of artifacts was already dizzy.
Lila chimed in with a playful wink, “Who would’ve thought that our secret weapon was Enlai’s impeccable talent for speaking? Seriously, he could sell ice to an Eskimo—or in our case, history book to a historian.”
Yoshi interjected, “You should have seen him, Lila! This son of a French potato was about to throw hands during the negotiations. I thought he’d summon the ghost of Herman to seal the deal.”
Lila grinned, her cheeks flushed from the soju. “My presence would have flopped the show Yoshi, thank me!”
The group erupted into thank you Lilas, clinking their glasses together in a harmonious symphony of celebration.
Dahyun turned to Enlai with a mischievous glint in her eye. “Speaking of old friends, Enlai, when are we finally going to meet this mysterious Yuhok of yours? We’re all dying to size him up and see if he’s worthy of our fearless leader.”
Enlai’s cheeks flushed slightly at the mention of Yuhok, his boyfriend who was a constant source of support and love in his life. “I promise, you’ll meet him today,” he said, his voice soft. “And trust me, he’s more than worthy. He’s my North Star.”
It was the alcohol speaking, or else this man would never dare spill out anything at all.
And then, as if the universe had orchestrated this moment, the door swung open, and the air shifted—a subtle rearrangement of molecules that signalled his presence. Yuhok stepped into the bar, raindrops clinging to his coat.
“Lai!”
Heads turned and Sejin elbowed Lila. “Is that him?”
Lila nodded. “Guilty as charged.”
Dahyun grinned, her eyes dancing. “I’ve got my checklist ready. Charisma? Check. Mysterious past? Check. Ability to handle Enlai’s quirks? TBD.”
Sejin questioned in his conspiratorial whisper. “And if he’s not worthy? Do we invoke the Dahyun Protocol?”
Yoshi raised an eyebrow. “What’s the Dahyun Protocol?”
Dahyun winked. “I shoot him with my imaginary gun. It’s foolproof.”
Time stretched—a heartbeat suspended in stardust. Yuhok crossed the room, each step deliberate, until he stood before Enlai.
“Lai,” Yuhok said, his voice a velvet caress. “You’ve made me proud!”
Enlai’s mind went blur, and he stumbled over his words. “Yuhok, this is—”
Yuhok silenced him with a kiss on his lips, a congratulatory
prize for sure. The room held its breath, the walls leaning in. Lila, ever the
observer, nodded as she’d seen this play out countless times.
A love filled sigh hummed through the room.
Sejin nudged Dahyun. “Well, did he survive the Dahyun Protocol?”
Dahyun grinned. “For now.”
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