The mirror showed Kai on his knees again. His wrist was bare, and the Oathbreaker mark burned like a black sun under his skin. Lina felt her stomach twist. She hated seeing him like that. She hated that the school could pull his worst moment out like a toy.
The Council voice in the mirror spoke slow and clear.
"By Founder's law, swear obedience."
The words felt heavy in the air, even though they were only in the glass.
Mira shivered. Seren's eyes glowed bright silver, like she was hearing more than they were.
Lina kept her hand on Kai's chest. His heartbeat was fast. It was the only thing that felt safe.
The mirror text appeared again, pale and neat.
SAY IT TWICE.
Kai stared at the mirror. His face went very still. Lina could feel his anger in the way his chest rose and fell.
The corridor used Lina's stolen voice again, soft as silk.
"Kai," it said, "say it."
Lina wanted to scream. She wanted to tell it to stop using her voice. But she knew sound was food here.
Kai did not speak.
He lifted his free hand slowly and covered the mirror panel with his palm, blocking Lina from seeing the words and the memory.
Then he looked at Lina, eyes dark and steady.
He squeezed her fingers against his chest twice.
Thump. Thump.
It matched his heartbeat.
It was a signal. Stay with me. Stay real.
Lina nodded once.
Seren stepped closer to the mirror panel and raised her hand. She did not touch it. She just listened. Her lips pressed tight like she was holding back a scream.
Seren's eyes filled with tears. She mouthed silently, "It's trying to trigger the mark."
Kai's jaw tightened. He nodded once, like he already knew.
The corridor whispered again, still in Lina's voice.
"Swear."
Mira's hands trembled. She shook her head fast. She looked at Lina, then at Kai, like she was scared one wrong word would kill them.
Reyon swallowed hard and pointed down the hallway. He did not speak. He only pointed. His face said, Move. Now.
Kai didn't move yet. He watched the mirror panel like he was waiting for a moment.
Then the mirror did something worse.
It changed.
It stopped showing Kai on his knees.
It showed Lina.
Lina in the mirror, standing alone in a hallway. Lina's eyes were blank like glass. A black quill floated behind her head like a crown.
The mirror-Lina opened her mouth.
And Lina heard her own voice again, not from her mouth, but from the mirror.
"By Founder's law," mirror-Lina said softly.
Lina felt cold spread through her chest.
The mirror wanted her to finish it.
It wanted her to speak the phrase too.
Seren's eyes went wide. She looked at Lina like she was warning her without words.
Kai stepped closer to Lina and turned his body so the mirror was blocked from Lina's view. He kept her hand on his chest and pulled her closer, tight and careful.
He did not kiss her. He did not let their lips meet. He just held her like a wall between her and the mirror.
Kai spoke in a very low voice, just for Lina. "If it gets you to repeat the phrase, it can link your voice to Founder law."
Lina's throat was tight. She nodded.
The corridor whispered again, softer, almost kind.
"Just say it."
Lina felt the urge to speak like a push from inside. It wasn't normal. It felt like the Seventh Flame in her ribs was being pulled by a hook.
Lina tried to breathe through it.
Kai squeezed her hand. "Stay real," he whispered.
Lina's lips barely moved. She did not want the walls to hear. "I'm here," she breathed.
The walls hummed again. Lina's eyes widened. Even that tiny sound fed it.
Kai's face tightened. He leaned in closer and pressed his forehead to hers for one quick second, strong and steady. Touch, not words. Anchor, not sound.
Lina swallowed and stayed quiet.
Then Seren did something brave.
Seren stepped to the mirror panel and lifted her hand high, palm facing it. Her eyes glowed bright silver, and her voice came out for the first time in a clear, full sound.
"No."
The corridor hummed like it liked the sound.
Seren's face twisted in fear because she knew she just fed it.
But she didn't stop.
Seren spoke again, louder.
"Stop."
The mirror panel flickered.
The memory inside it shook.
The Council voice tried to speak again, but it broke like a record skipping.
"By Founder's— By Founder's—"
Seren's eyes filled with tears. "I witness the truth," Seren said, voice shaking. "Not the script."
The mirror went dim.
For a heartbeat, everything felt quiet.
Then the hallway behind them answered with a slow, deep hum, like a giant throat clearing.
The walls wrote new words in silver letters, right above the mirror panel.
TRUTH SPOKEN.TAX REQUIRED.
Lina's head spun at once.
Mirror Tax hit her like a wave.
A memory pulled loose.
She grabbed for it, desperate.
This time it was not a smell.
It was her mother's face.
For one terrible second, Lina could not picture it clearly. The edges blurred like wet ink.
Lina's breath caught. Her eyes filled with tears.
Kai saw it. His face went white with anger.
He moved fast. He grabbed Lina's cheeks gently, making her look at him.
"Say my name," Kai whispered.
Lina fought through the panic. "Kai Rhen."
"Again."
"Kai Rhen."
"Stay real."
"I'm here," Lina whispered, and she hated that even this was sound.
Kai didn't let go. He stayed close, eyes burning, like he was trying to hold her memories in place with his gaze.
Reyon finally spoke, quiet but sharp. "We can't keep paying," he said. "She's running out of herself."
Seren's voice shook. "Then we can't speak truth in this place."
Jax swallowed hard. His hands clenched. He looked at Kai, then at Lina. He took a step forward like he was making a choice.
Then the corridor used Lina's stolen voice again, close and gentle.
"Tell her," it said. "Tell her your true name."
Kai went still.
The air felt colder.
Because Lina felt it too.
The corridor was not only trying to scare them.
It was trying to split them.
If Lina knew the true name, the Quill could take it.
If Kai said it, the mark could trigger.
Either way, the seal listened.
And the mirror panel, dim and quiet, lit up with one last line, written slow like a threat.
SAY IT.SAY IT TWICE.
Kai's grip tightened around Lina's hand like a vow.
And Jax took another step forward, eyes wet, voice ready to break the rule of silence.
To be Continued
© Kishtika., 2025
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