Mirror Mirror

Chapter 10

✲꘏ ꘏ ꘏ ꘏✲_________________________________________✲꘏ ꘏ ꘏ ꘏✲

It's late afternoon and Asta and the others continue their hunt to the next treasure, they look back on how many they collected and count six artifacts. Asta and luck fist bumps with each other, conversing about their adventure.

Asta: (excitedly) Can you believe it, Luck? We've already collected six artifacts! These dungeons were a piece of cake!

Luck: (grinning) Yeah, Asta! We're getting stronger with each one. I can't wait to see what awaits us in the next dungeon!

Finral: (checking the map) Hold on a second... Guys, there's something strange about the last dungeon.

Vanessa (noticing Finrals distress) Whats up Finny boy?

Finral at looks at the map a bit more and he realizes that it's the same dungeon he got lost with Gauche in.

Finral: It's the same one where I got lost with Gauche before. But I remember clearing it, and there were no artifacts when we were there.

As the others talk and discuss with each other, Noelle looks at the back of the scry mirror, tracing her finger over the sigil ingrained in the gold metal. She remembers the vision revealed to her before. She hadn't received any new visions since then. She remembers seeing the artifacts in her vision but it was foggy and Noelle couldn't organize all the events shown as they were so random.

"GUYS!"

Then from the sky, they heard their teammate Grey calling them.

Asta: "WOAH! GREY? What are you doing here?"

Grey descends on her broom a little too quickly and loses balance.

Grey"You need to see this- AH! Wowowoah!"

Vannessa quickly sends strings to catch Greys fall, sighing at the transformation mages clumsiness.

Vanessa: (smiling gently) There you go, safe and sound-

Grey hurriedly tries to get off the strings and manages to face plant on the ground with a thud.

Grey: OOF!

Vanessa: Oh, spoke a bit too soon.

Noelle: Grey, why have you come here?

Grey: I-Its about Gauche!

She shows them the book and tells them about the treasure hunt, the artifacts being seals, and the odd behavior of Gauche.

Vanessa: (joining Grey with the book) Look at this book. It explains the situation. (scans the book) And the artifacts mentioned here... they match the ones we've collected!

Asta: (angry) So, this was all a setup? We were tricked into doing someone else's dirty work, thinking it was just a fun treasure hunt? That's messed up! But what's worse is that Gauche and Marie could be in danger because of this!

Noelle joins Vanessa in looking in the book and sees a sigil that catches her attention.

Noelle: (joining Vanessa with the book) Wait, Vanessa, look at this sigil in the book. (flips her scrying mirror, showing the same sigil) It's the same!

(suddenly the mirror glows and shoots light onto the book)

This catches everyone's attention as they all look at the book. Writing suddenly appears and reveals a note reading:

"If you manage to read this note, that means you probably have found out what's going to happen. At least you think you do. I assure you that we have a common enemy, and if you want what's best for your world, then you won't stop me. Finally, condolences from me to your friends Gauche Adali and his sister Marie. I promise it will be for the best. - Simone"