Fable and Serina were riding along the beaten path of the Red Timber Forest. Serina looked down at the mirror she was given and decided to test it out in the moonlight. Serina held it up to the moon and angled the mirror to allow the moonlight to reflect off of it and cast a light onto the shadowed area of the trees beside them. Serina then went to test it with her own magic. Serina held the mirror out, angled it, and then cast an orb of ruby magic at it; it bounced off of it and hit something hiding in the trees.
As Serina went to try out her mirror on something else, she saw the reflection of a large monster in the mirror; that's the thing she hit with her magic. Frightened, Serina swiftly turned around and held the mirror out at the monster, who would roar at it and start to back away; I suppose it didn't like its own reflection, or perhaps it knew of the power Serina possessed. Serina let out a sigh of relief once the monster backed off.
"Fable, did you see that?" Serina asked, sounding a little nervous.
"No, Serina," Fable replied, not looking away from the path before her. "As you can see, I'm trying to focus on riding here." Fable sighed. "Whatever you saw was probably just a chipmunk or something. Relax."
"No, Serina. It was very large. It had white eyes and-and-"
"Shush," Fable hissed. "I'm sure it was nothing."
Serina sighed heavily and put the mirror back into her satchel. When Serina picked up the reins, she heard something behind them. Serina looked over at Fable but held her tongue in fear of getting yelled at. Serina held an orb of ruby magic in her hand, bracing for a possible fight. Serina was right to brace herself because, within an instant, the monster from before pounced from the bushes with its claws outstretched. Serina's entire body froze in response, only to move once she heard Fable cry out, "Diamond rain! I summon you!"
It began to rain diamonds from the sky; sharp, dagger-like diamonds that cut the flesh of the deplorable monster very easily. The monster retreated back into the bushes where it came from. Fable sighed heavily, then look back toward the trail. Serina looked at the diamonds all over the ground before looking back toward the trail and following Fable. Serina was about to say something to Fable, but she held her tongue once again.
"Serina?" Fable said, trying to spark up a conversation. "Why didn't you tell me that was going to happen?"
"Because I-I thought you were going to snap at me!" Serina replied, her voice shaking. Serina then sighed. "I'm sorry for yelling." Fable frowned a little.
"It's...alright, I suppose." Fable looked at Serina with soft eyes. "I mean, I thought you were lying." Fable shook her head subtly. "I guess my hissing prior caused this. I'm sorry, Serina." Fable faced the trail again. Serina glanced at the stars before looking toward the trail. The shape of the Roost came into view; the gleam of the silvery feathers that lined the edges acted as a beacon under the moonlight.
It didn't take long for Fable and Serina to reach the Roost. Fable and Serina dismounted from their wolves and quietly went inside. The two were greeted by a sleeping Axel, who's staff was laying dormant on the ivory and marble floor. Fable did away with her robes and she would fold them, then she set them on the couch, ready to be washed in the morning. Fable slowly crept over to Axel and gently picked him up, then carried him into the bedroom; she struggled somewhat, as Axel was bigger than her. Fable laid Axel on his bed, then started to pull the covers over him.
"Mmm, Fable? Is that you?" Axel mumbled. Fable smiled and got into bed with him, and then she would gently grab one of his hands.
"Yes, it's me." Fable started to rub the back of Axel's hand with her thumb. "How are you feeling?"
"Better," Axel mumbled bluntly and flatly. Fable giggled.
"You don't sound like it," Fable rolled onto her side. Well, I'm going to let you sleep. Hopefully, in the morning, you'll be more energized because I have a lot to tell you about." Fable waited for Axel to respond, but he didn't; it seemed like he just went straight to sleep. Fable rolled to her other side and stared at the blank wall for a moment before her eyes sunk to a close.
Meanwhile, Serina was out in the living room, investigating the mirror the Grand Witch gave her. Using her hands and her eyes, she analyzed its shape, color, and texture. Then, she turned the mirror over and noticed some writing etched into the wooden backing, but it was in a language that she didn't understand. She resorted to Fable's book of languages.
"Hmm...." Serina flipped through the pages of the book and found nothing. "Damn it." Serina aggressively slammed the book closed and set it aside. Serina looked back at the strange language; what could it mean? Who wrote it? Only Xenia knows; Xenia! That's right! Serina's mind generated the idea to take the mirror to Xenia to get the language decoded. Serina rose to her feet, went outside, mounted Akari, and brought the wolf into a gallop toward Xenia's temple.
The ground shook as Akari's massive paws collided with the forest floor. A white vapor erupted from her snout as the cold air collided with her warm, moist breath. Akari's claws ripped up the ground as she made a sharp turn to the left, then to the right, then finally left once more to reach the bridge to Xenia's temple. Serina guided Akari slowly across the bridge with heavy, plodding steps. As Serina rode across the bridge, she looked at the mirror once again. As Serina was about to get lost in thought, she was interrupted by the sound of the temple gates rumbling open. Serina ducked her head under the entrance as she rode through the open gates.
"Madam Serina. Do you seek the council of Xenia?" asked one of the guards, glancing up at Serina with a sword in his clutches.
"Yes. I want to ask about a strange, new language I discovered." Serina held the mirror down toward the guard and showed them the language. "It's on the back of this mirror. I want to know what it means."
The guard would nod. "Very well." The guard turned to the giant, silver gate. "Open the shield gate! A White Dove comes for an answer!"
Suddenly, the floor shook as the silver gate slowly opened, then, seated upon her throne of gold was Xenia, with her wolf, Felicity, laying at her feet, her golden fur shimmering under the massive, gold chandelier mounted on the ceiling. Xenia opened her arms upon seeing Serina.
"Ah! Serina! Please come in, my dear!" Xenia's booming voice shook the very walls that encompassed the pair. Serina dismounted from Akari and approached Xenia's throne, and then she bowed at her sandaled feet.
"It's a Pleasure to be in your presence, your greatness," Serina said before rising to her feet and glancing up at the giant goddess that was Xenia. So...uh. I have this mirror here." Serina gingerly held the mirror up to Xenia, who leaned forward to look at it. Sensing its black magic, Xenia raised an eyebrow and pulled her head back slightly.
"Why do you have something infused with black magic?" Xenia inquired. "You know that thing could harm you, right?"
"Yes. I am aware of the dangers, but it could be used to stop Caldrufini." Serina put the mirror away. "I spoke with the witches at the Cauldron, and they informed me of its power."
"Caldrufini? I struck him down into the Cauldron! What do you mean to stop him?" Xenia inquired.
"Well, there is an attack coming." Serina glanced back at the silver gate. "Those gates can only hold so much until they break, your greatness. I know these mirrors can deflect the curses he throws." Serina looked back up at Xenia. "What do you say?"
"Well, if what you're saying is true, then collect as many as you can get." Xenia shuffled in her throne. "Anyway, about the language on the mirror?"
"Yes, your greatness. What does it say?" Serina showed Xenia the mirror again. Xenia looked at it, and within seconds, she decoded it.
"Black magic repellent. That's what it says," Xenia said before leaning back on her throne. "Do you have anything else you need help with?"
"Nothing more, your greatness." Serina bowed at Xenia's feet before exiting the throne room. Xenia placed her hand on her heart as Serina left to express her love toward her and the rest of the White Doves. Serina mounted Akari and rode back to the Roost. Serina glanced up at the moon; it seemed to smile back at her. A cold wind barreled through Serina's hair as she continued to ride through the Red Timber Forest. Serina looked at the mirror again before setting it in Akari's thick, plush fur.
Serina stepped inside the Roost and took off her robes. Then, she went straight to bed, hoping to discuss her findings with the other two in the morning.