Lucien placed the blockwood box on his table, examining it carefully. Before analyzing it further, he called Sage, as the item was meant for him.
Sage stared at the box with palpable excitement. "Ah, finally!" he exclaimed, urging Lucien to open it and examine the mirror's structure. Lucien complied, carefully untying the knot wrapped around the unique box and removing its cover. There it was, the item Sage had been so eager to obtain.
Lucien gazed at the shard resting quietly inside the box. Framed in silver that curled like twisted vines, the mirror's surface gave off a soft, shifting glow—almost like mist beneath moonlight. It didn't reflect his face, only a faint shimmer that stirred when he looked too long.
As the two of them stared at it in amazement, Lucien finally decided to pick it up. He raised his hand, observing the item clearly. The mirror didn't seem particularly powerful, yet he felt something from it that sent shivers down his spine.
"How does this even work?" Lucien asked.
"Just focus on the mirror, then imagine something you want to become, and channel your mana into it," Sage answered.
Lucien placed it back on the table, pondering what he wanted to transform into. Suddenly, a funny idea clicked in his head.
He let out a chuckle, then lifted the mirror once again, focusing on it as Sage had instructed. There was no reflection on the mirror, likely one of its unique traits.
"Just do it like this, right?" Lucien asked Sage again.
"Yup, just focus on it," Sage confirmed.
Lucien did as he was told, imagining something he wanted to turn into, then focusing on the mirror and channeling his mana.
As Lucien's intent settled and the mirror stirred in his hand, a soft shimmer rippled through the air around him. Thin wisps of silver mist rose from the shard, wrapping around his body like silk in water. It wasn't sudden or violent—just quiet and graceful.
The smoke curled and shifted, reshaping him as if painting over his body with a new form. When it cleared, the person who stood there no longer looked like Lucien at all.
Instead, it was a book with a unique pattern on its cover, falling onto the chair where Lucien had sat. Although he couldn't levitate like Sage, he was still able to move his body. He opened himself, then spoke with the same tone as Sage, trying to annoy him.
Sage stared at him in shock, suddenly irritated by Lucien's action.
"What a great entrance!" Lucien said in Sage's tone, irritating him further.
"Stop!" As Sage said those words, Lucien immediately went back to his original form. It seemed while the item was powerful, it also came with a flaw: the more complicated the form, the harder it was to maintain, as it would rapidly drain mana.
Though it probably wouldn't be much of a problem for Sage, considering he belonged to another realm.
However, it was quite a fun attempt. He laughed as he returned to his original form. At this point, Sage looked like he was about to explode in anger.
The mirror was placed back on the table, this time, it was Sage's turn to try out his new item. He already had something in mind, so he didn't need to ponder what to turn into.
With that, Sage focused on the mirror. Mist began to rise from the shard, coating him and reshaping him. Moments later, the mist had completely disappeared, revealing a sleek cat with soft, silver fur and sharp emerald eyes.
"A cat?"
Sage stood motionlessly for a while, examining his new appearance. He raised his paws, stretched his legs, and moved every part of his body, trying to get familiar with it.
"Amazing, this is amazing!" he exclaimed as if on the verge of tears. Sage wagged his tail as if he truly were a cat, then faced Lucien. He then jumped onto Lucien's chest, hugging him.
"Hey, you're acting like a child now," Lucien said, letting out a soft laugh.
It was Sage's first time having arms and legs, so he was extremely happy.
"Maybe you aren't that bad, Lucien."
Lucien lifted Sage, placing him back on the table. He was about to speak when suddenly, someone knocked on the door.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Lucien's gaze fixed on the door, wondering about the commotion. Then, a sudden realization hit him: he had lessons he needed to attend for the day, which he had completely forgotten, fully immersed as he was with the item he had just obtained for Sage.
'Ah, crap...'
Lucien truly hated receiving his daily lessons; it just felt like he was back in school again, which he didn't enjoy.
Lucien sighed. "Come in."
The door opened, revealing one of his butlers, with whom he was quite familiar.
"Your Highness, Instructor Rowen has arrived," the butler said solemnly.
"Tell him I'll be coming."
The butler bowed respectfully before taking his leave.
Lucien gazed back at the table, where a book with unique patterns on its cover could be seen. Sage had returned to his original form. A cat suddenly appearing in Lucien's room would seem pretty strange, after all.
As soon as the butler left, Sage transformed back into a cat. However, they didn't interact further as Lucien was heading out of his room to meet his instructor.
Instructor Rowen was going to teach him Statecraft and Governance, and he was quite strict, unlike other instructors he had. So, Lucien didn't want to make him wait any longer.
Lucien soon arrived and went through his daily routine. He worked extra hard today, as tomorrow was the day he was going to the Barony of Blackmere to personally analyze their situation.
...
Battered and bruised, a man stumbled toward one of the army tents, his fresh wounds telling tales of a recent battlefield. Behind him, his remaining army of eleven struggled onward, many in far worse condition; one had lost a leg, another an arm.
As they approached the camp, the man at the center—their leader—raised a hand. From it hung a monstrous, vile head, its large fangs capable of piercing bone with a single bite.
The people in the camp, waiting for their return, all turned to look at the man, as if he were a guiding star, a beacon of hope. Their gazes then fell upon the gruesome trophy he carried, and a roar of cheers erupted from the crowd.