“Hey, that’s a sculpture of a cheollima!” I walk over to get a closer look. The stallion is the size of a Chihuahua, and his angel-like wings are spread wide, as if he’s about to take flight.

“What’s a cheollima?”

“They’re winged horses known for being too big, too swift, and too majestic to be mounted by any mortal being. They’re supposed to be the goddesses’ preferred mode of transport in the Godrealm. I even heard all horses on Earth are descendants of a cheollima that lost his wings and fell to Earth.”

Emmett studies the figure and grins. “But this one’s so smol!”

“I know, right?!”

Emmett pats the cheollima’s smooth stone back and coos at him like he’s a cute puppy. “Who’s a good little horsey? And what are you doing here all by your lonesome?”

The statue suddenly splinters and cracks under Emmett’s hand, and little pieces of debris fall on the machine and the ground.

“Shirtballs!” Emmett jumps back in horror. “I think I broke him!”

Little by little, patches of glossy hair are revealed underneath the stone, until a teeny-weeny black winged horse emerges from his shell. He shakes off the last bits with a flutter of his mini wings.

“Who dares disturb my slumber?” He has a high-pitched, nasal voice, and for some reason, he speaks with a British accent. “You have disrupted my rest, and now you will pay with your lives. Say your final good-byes, mortals, and prepare to die.”

Oh no….What have we awoken?

I hiccup and jump back, only to collide with Emmett. He yelps and falls down, and his container of cookies tumbles out of his backpack.

The cheollima clicks his little hooves on the washing machine and holds his head high. He pauses with his wings outstretched as if he’s about to Hulk out at any minute. I quickly glance behind us, wondering if we’ll be able to get back to the elevators before he makes his next move.

Then out of the blue, he grins. It’s a million-dollar smile, revealing every single one of his tiny perfect equine teeth.

“Did I get you? Were you scared?” He neighs with glee. “Oh, I’ve been wanting to try that out for so long. It’s been a while since I’ve had any visitors.”

Emmett and I look at each other and then back at the cheollima, stunned. Is he for real?

“Is this the entrance to the gifted library?” I tentatively ask, taking another step away from the cheollima, just in case.

He nods, and I feel a rush of relief. Auntie Okja was right, after all.