The rain tapped gently against the windowpane, a steady rhythm that matched Elira Vale's exhaustion. She kicked off her shoes and dropped her bag near the door, sighing as she collapsed onto her bed, still wearing her work clothes.
Another long day at the bookstore, another dozen hours of stacking, sorting, and pretending everything was fine.
Her old attic bedroom creaked softly as the wind pushed against the house. It was small, full of second-hand furniture and a massive antique mirror standing in the corner. A gift from her late grandmother. She had never paid it much attention—until tonight.
"I need sleep," she muttered, pulling the blanket over her head.
As soon as her eyes closed, dreams rushed in.
But they weren't normal dreams.
She stood barefoot in a misty forest under a silver sky, wearing a long gown she didn't recognize. Strange symbols glowed in the air around her, and voices whispered words in a language she'd never heard—but somehow understood.
"Mirror-born... she returns..."
A soft breeze touched her cheek, and suddenly she was falling—falling fast, through darkness.
With a sharp gasp, Elira jolted awake.
Her room was dark except for the moonlight spilling through the window. She sat up slowly, her heart still racing.
And then she saw it.
The mirror.
A pale, bluish light pulsed softly inside it—like a heartbeat. She blinked, rubbed her eyes, and looked again. The glow remained.
"What the...?"
She got up and stepped closer, the wooden floor cold under her feet. The light in the mirror flickered, and the surface rippled like water. Her breath caught in her throat.
And then—
A face appeared.
Not hers.
A man.
Young, maybe a little older than her.
Sharp jawline, silver eyes that seemed to look right through her, and a crown resting slightly tilted over tousled dark hair. His expression was unreadable—calm, yet broken, as if he'd seen centuries pass in silence.
Elira stumbled back, knocking over a chair.
The mirror returned to normal.
But she had seen him.
He had seen her.
Her reflection stared back at her now.
But she couldn't forget those eyes.
Then the mirror began to glow again—brighter this time.
And this time, it pulled.