IF PEPA KNOWS ANYTHING, it's that drama brings readers, and the title is the hook. She has been jotting down catchy titles for the past forty-five minutes. Unfortunately, the white walls of her childhood bedroom aren't providing much inspiration. And to think she's stuck here for the next couple of months. Two months is too long for a young Sagittarius to sit on her hands. So today would be the beginning of the end for Pepa, if only boredom could kill.
The fourteen-year-old enjoys gossip even more than a good book. She's a writer for the school's weekly newspaper and has always been the girl in the know. The music coming through her headphones often helps to get the creative juices flowing. She hopes one of these titles will lead to her breakout article - something people talk about with family and friends. Just maybe the Academy can help turn the daughter of a fisherman into someone known around the world. As the eldest of two from a humble village in Geojin, Korea, she poassesses ambition and thirst for success.
In the distance, Pepa can hear Mother calling her name from the kitchen. She turns up the volume on her headphones, closes her notepad, and lies back on her pillow, wishing the snap of her fingers could take her back to campus. The Academy, located in the beautiful country of Vonkoia, is the first integrated boarding school for humans and the Gifted alike. Every person is led by the stars of the universe, but only a few are gifted with the ability to flex the elements on Earth.
A human girl like Pepa has the privilege of focusing on dreams and aspirations. Gifted children, until recent years, have been deprived of resources and a quality education. Pepa has always been an exceptional student and was recruited to attend the Academy for her ability to communicate with beasts. It has been centuries since the village last saw a beast tamer. Amongst fisherman and farmers, Pepa was always a novelty, at least until her younger sister Kimmi was born.
"You've missed a lot around here," Kimmi says as she sketches, sitting at the wooden desk in their bedroom. "Everyone worries so much about you. I'm kind of tired of hearing about it." She turns and realizes Pepa is lying on her bed, twiddling her thumbs. "Are you even listening to me?"
"Huh?"
"Just forget it."
Even though Kimmi is only eight, they are the ideal Sagittarius-and-Aries duo. Pepa often sparks the flame, but it's Kimmi who blows things up. Adventure is never too when they are together.
Meanwhile, their father and uncle arrive at the dock after a long day at sea. They wear faces of exhaustion and disappointment as they anchor to the wooden piling. Unbeknownst to them, a sea otter pops his head up from beneath a large pile of netting. He has a pouch of tools strapped across his chest. He sniffs the air in search of today's catch, while Pepa's father and uncle finish gathering their things.
"I know it's here somewhere," the otter says, scurrying around the boat and being sure to remain unseen. He makes his way behind a large bucket. "Jackpot!"
He looks inside the bucket and finds four mackerel fish.
"Pepa!" Father shouts from the boat, startling the otter back into hiding.
While in the kitchen, Mother soaks two cleaned fish in a bowl of rice water. She looks to the hallway and sees the girl's bedroom door closed. "Pepa, get up! Go help your father."
Pepa hops off her bed and heads out the front door. After a year of making friends and having spontaneous late-night adventures, she must put her life on hold for the much-dreaded mid-year break. As the oldest child, it has always been her role to lend Father a helping hand. It was that way for her parents when they were children, and their parents as well. Both boys and girls are to learn their family's trade, to fulfill their role in the community.
"I guess they missed the point of a break," she says under her breath. "Why can't I relax like all the other students? Other families don't have to work so hard all the time. I have my own stuff I'm trying to work on, and I never asked to be a fisherman. Why is uncle even -"
"Grab the bucket and meet me inside for dinner," Father says, passing her on the trail.
"I'll be right there!" She perks up and begins to jog.
Once Pepa steps onto the dock, she takes a moment to observe the scenery. The clouds are so low they kiss they sea. She hears only a few birds in the distance, and no children laughing or playing - no real sign of human life. Where is everyone? she wonders. She then closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.
"I can't do this! Why am I even here? You know what? I'm done. I'm not coming back next year. I can't spend another two months in silence. Where is the music? Where is the sun?"
The otter notices Pepa as she grabs hold of the bucket and flings it over her shoulder. He peeks his head out from behind the pile of netting with his brows pulled down. He knows he must react quickly as Pepa makes her way back onto the trail. He scurries from the boat determined to snag a share of the catch, careful not to make a sound as he reaches into his pouch and pulls out rope and a steel climbing claw. He swings it high in the air, understanding that he must make his one throw count. His toss successfully hooks the handle of the bucket, stopping Pepa in her tracks.
"Hey!" she exclaims. "Let go!"
