Jason Weiser

Everyone claims to be different, the old gatekeeper shrugged, but what matters is what you do.

I'm going to my family, Timbertop said, to say sorry for leaving them for years with the cheapest kimchi, and also for leaving them for years.

That's a start.

the gatekeeper acknowledged.

Also, I'm a doctor now, Old Timbertop said with a grin.

The gatekeeper rolled his eyes and waved Old Timbertop through.

Two weeks later, the young scholar, still in mourning clothes, remember him from the beginning, held his brushes, ink, and paper.

The traveler that stopped by had left enough money for him to buy ink, brushes, and paper.

He took a deep breath.

There were two notices on the gate in front of him.

The first was about the king's examination taking place today in the palace.

It had been the talk of the entire kingdom.

that an examination would take place in an off time without any notice was highly irregular, but, well,

Absolute monarchies are going to monarch absolutely.

And so the whole thing was organized as quickly as possible.

The other notice that he saw was a warning.

People were turning into oxen and to know the signs.

The symptoms were turning into an ox.

If someone you love came down with turning into an ox, they needed to isolate.

Probably in a barn because they were now an ox.