Behavior problems...

Formation

Yuu shook her head, unable to answer. Her fingers gripped the edge of the mirror so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Her mind replayed the events of the night—the lifeless black eyes, the hollow smirk, the way Malleus had attacked her as if he were someone else entirely. It didn't make sense. None of it did.

Leona's voice cut through the room, sharp and commanding. "Whatever it means, it's bad news." He stepped closer to the mirror, glaring at it as though daring it to speak again. "This thing is connected to him, no doubt about it. The question is, what are we gonna do about it?"

Vil crossed his arms, his posture tense but his expression composed. "We can't act recklessly. If Malleus is under some kind of spell or control, then attacking or provoking whatever is behind this could make things worse."

Ruggie let out a nervous chuckle. "Worse? How much worse can it get? We've got a possessed dragon-fae trying to rip hearts out, creepy glowing mirrors talking to us, and now we're supposed to just... wait?"

"No one said anything about waiting," Vil replied coolly. "But we need to proceed carefully. This isn't a problem brute strength can solve." His gaze flicked to Leona as he said this, earning a low growl from the lion beastman.

Before their bickering could escalate, Yuu finally found her voice. "Stop." She turned to face the group, her expression firm despite the fear swirling in her chest. "Arguing won't help. We need to figure out what's really going on—and fast."

Grim peeked out from behind Ace, his tail puffed up like a bottlebrush. "Yeah, well, how are we supposed to do that? That mirror is bad news, and I don't wanna be anywhere near it if it starts glowing again!"

Yuu ignored his complaints and looked at the others, determination settling in her eyes. "The mirror isn't the enemy. It's showing us something—trying to tell us something. We just have to figure out what."

Leona's ears twitched in irritation. "And how exactly do you plan on doing that, oh wise one?"

Yuu opened her mouth to respond but was interrupted by a soft, rhythmic sound. A knock at the door.

Everyone froze.

Grim let out a small yelp, hiding behind Ace again. "Who's knocking at this hour?!"

Leona's eyes narrowed, and he motioned for everyone to stay quiet. He approached the door cautiously, his movements slow and deliberate, before pulling it open with a sharp motion.

The doorway was empty. Only the faint rustle of leaves in the night breeze greeted him.

Ruggie peeked around Leona's shoulder. "No one's there. Creepy..."

Vil, now standing behind them, glanced at the ground and pointed. "Look."

A single white feather rested on the threshold, faintly glowing in the dim light. It was pristine, almost unnaturally so, and seemed to hum with an unspoken energy.

Yuu stepped closer, her heart racing. "What is that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Leona picked up the feather, holding it carefully between his fingers as though it might disintegrate. He examined it closely, his brows furrowing. "It's magic. Strong magic."

Vil's expression darkened. "It's a message."

"From who?" Ace blurted out, his voice shaky.

No one answered. The weight of the silence was unbearable, and Yuu felt an inexplicable pull toward the feather. She couldn't explain it, but she knew it was connected to Malleus. To whatever had happened tonight.

As they stood there, the mirror flickered once more, its surface shimmering faintly. This time, no voice emerged, but the rhythmic hum returned, matching the faint glow of the feather.