Mirror Mirror

Unmasking the Impostor

Luck: Who the heck is Simone?

Finral: And what are they planning to do to Gauche and Marie?

Noelle: (gazing into the mirror) Simone...

She sees a man with blue eyes at a woman's bedside holding her hand like she's about to die. The woman had a giant scar starting from the body going up. They both are with a doctor who looks like she's explaining something. Whatever news she told them, it seemed to upset both of them.

A flash transitions to the man in a robe fighting off a storm with a glowing jar in his hands. The man makes it home to a cabin in the woods. He weakly brings it to the woman whose scar seemed to grow larger. He helped her drink the contents of the jar, which made the scar shrink in size. There was a kindle of hope in the man's blue eyes but it was quickly worn out when he saw that the scar slowly crept back up her neck to her face.

There are people in dark hoods surrounding the cabin and one reaches out their hands... like an offer?

The man is shown in a new environment, stone walls and paper thrown about. He was aggressively writing something, like he was trying to achieve something.

She then saw a ritual being performed with an odd black fog in the middle. The hooded figures threw objects into the fog, the objects looked old and withered and had ancient texts floating around them. The man from before came into frame and reached inside the fog and pulled out the object thrown from before except now it was cleaner and it looked free from any ancient text. The man's eyes widened in hope? Maybe in success. But the hooded figures knocked out the man right after. Noelle then sees the man in a cell with the woman, whose scars grew even worse.

Another flash shows the man in a testing room, putting a metal frame around the woman in front of him, her whole body covered in red. She almost looks unrecognizable. The man takes out a jar containing a dark substance and spills it on the woman . He then leaves the room and observes from the window with other mages. The mirror is placed adjacent to the wall in front of the woman.

The mirror suddenly glows absorbing the dark magic as it withers away however the woman was nowhere to be seen. The man runs into the test room but is being held back by the hooded figures. He breaks from the grasp and runs to the mirror trying to break it. The vision made Noelle's heart ache however the next vision Noelle sees makes her hold her breath even tighter. She sees Maries lifeless body on a magic circle with Gauche looming over her with bright blue eyes. But Gauche has brown eyes...

Asta: (shaking Noelle awake) Noelle! Noelle, snap out of it!

Noelle: (voice trembling) Asta... Marie... I saw... I saw something terrible. We have to save them!

Vanessa: (determined) We still have a chance. There are seven artifacts in total, and we should check if the final one is still in its podium to prevent the ritual.

Finral: (agreeing) We need to investigate that dungeon. I've been there once before so I'll go.

Vanessa: alright Finny boy, lets go.

Grey: I-Ill go too!

Asta, Luck, and Noelle exchange determined glances, ready to take on the impostor and save Marie. Their resolve shines through as they set off on their own, their footsteps quickening with each passing moment.

Asta: (determined) Let's get to the bottom of this!

(Gordon and Charmys view:)

Grey has not returned to Gordon or Charmy so they set out looking for her in hopes that she's okay or perhaps found the impostor. INT. FOREST - DAY

Gordon and Charmy are searching through the forest, calling out for Grey.

Gordon: Grey! Where are you? Please, be safe!

Charmy: Grey! Grey! Use this hams scent to come back to us!

As they continue their search, they spot Gauche sitting on a stump, engrossed in his books.

Gordon: Gauche! There you are! We've been looking all over for you!

Charmy: What have you done with the real deal!

Gauche looks up from his book, a curious expression on his face.

Gauche: Oh, it's you two. What brings you here?

Gordon: We know you're not our friend Gauche! We know about the mirror dimension and what you're trying to do!

Charmy: Don't try anything funny or else I'll eat you!

Gordon and Charmy summon their grimoires, ready for confrontation

Gauche: So since you know... then allow me to tell you something I know.

Gordon and Charmy: eh?

"there was once a nobleman.."

The impostor stood up from the stump, closing the book gently.

"...who had everything in life. But one day, he met a commoner who had nothing. They fell in love and ran away together. However, tragedy struck when the commoner was cursed.

Charmy: (whispering) What the heck?

"The nobleman did everything in his power to save the commoner's life, even if it meant putting others in danger. He was desperate, but then, a mirror showed the nobleman a reflection—an unflattering truth that lay beneath his skin."

Gordon: (confused) What does this have to do with our friend Gauche ?

Gauche: Patience, my friends. You see, thanks to Gauche, that nobleman now has a chance to make things right.

The fake Gauche raises his hands, summoning two mirrors in front of the two mages, and begins chanting.

Mirror Magic: Mirrors Gaze!

Before they could react Gordon and Charmy, entranced by the mirrors, stand frozen in place.

The fake Gauche closes his book and approaches Gordon and Charmy.

Fake Gauche: You're right, I'm not your friend. I'm sorry for the confusion.

Gordon and Charmy are too entranced with the mirrors in front of them to respond.

Looking up at the sky he sighs, Nightfall is approaching, and it's the perfect time.

He looks up at the darkening sky, a sense of foreboding in the air.

The Fake Gauche then rides his broom away, leaving the two mages entranced in an endless reflection.