The mirror shattered.
But the pieces did not fall.
They remained suspended in the air, thousands of tiny fragments reflecting different versions of the same face.
Sebastian.
The stranger.
The child.
And faces Aliena didn't recognize.
Then one by one, the fragments began falling.
Not toward the ground.
Toward the figure that had stepped out of the mirror.
He landed silently.
Bare feet touched the ancient stone.
Black hair fell over his forehead.
His eyes were red.
Not golden-red like Sebastian's.
Not crimson like Aliena's.
Pure red.
His face was almost identical to Sebastian's, yet somehow different enough to make Aliena's heart twist.
He looked younger.
But his presence felt older than the kingdom.
Older than the thrones.
Older than the first king.
He looked around.
Then his eyes found Aliena.
He smiled.
"There you are."
Aliena couldn't move.
Sebastian stepped in front of her.
"Don't come any closer."
The stranger inside the mirror laughed softly.
