SML Ch 86

Chapter 86

“I figured since you all could read, of course he could too. Didn’t think I’d be caught so easily.”

The fae, pinned on the floor, spoke with no trace of pain. Its calmness chilled Alex, who paled at once.

“What have you done with Volant?!”

“Replaced him. We fae sent the real one into our world, then took his place here. A common enough trick for us.”

Reynald muttered, scanning the mirrors. Every reflection of himself within them stared blankly back, frozen no matter how he moved.

“My lord…!” Alex cried. He too now saw it—the reflections of himself in those mirrors, all staring outward at him, motionless. Their blank faces resembled the one Volant-shape fae wore now: faint discomfort, an awkward neutrality.

Worse—Volant himself did not appear in the glass at all. Were these even mirrors reflecting reality? Perhaps each was a window, showing fae mimicking the humans here. Reynald’s gut went cold. Still, he steadied himself.

“Keep calm. Panic only pleases the fae.”

He pressed his hand deeper on the fae’s neck. It gave a groan, as though bothered—but not hostile.

“Tell me, Reynald,” it said in Volant’s borrowed voice. “You already knew what I was, didn’t you? Otherwise how catch me so fast?”

“It’s Reynald, not ‘my lord.’ At first, I thought the books themselves were source of the gaze. Readers felt it, non-readers didn’t. But no—it was you, watching readers closely.”

“That’s right. Heide only ever cleaned, never read. But what finally gave me away?”

“You said the doll was perched on Volant’s left shoulder. Yet I recalled it on his right. Small slip, I ignored it then.”

“And why not ignore afterward?”

“Because I thought perhaps Heide too was replaced. The man limped always left—yet after touching the mirror, complained suddenly of pain in right knee. Then I knew.”

The fae smiled wide, gleeful. Too wide—no expression Volant would wear.

No doubt even now, another fae was trying to replace Serna using Heide’s form. Touch a mirror carelessly—and the fae waiting would snatch him through. Arun beside him, though, was less easy prey.

“The doll hasn’t been replaced—why? Because you can’t mimic magical beings?”

“Not exactly. But—close enough, let’s say. Easier to explain that way.”

The grin stretched unnervingly. Likely Volant’s image was now stuck, locked as long as the fae remained in this world.

The fae pouted suddenly.

“…Listen. I mean no harm to you or Alex.”

“So?” Reynald pressed.

“So come with me. To our world. Once you see it, you’ll understand.”

It gestured at the mirror. Alex recoiled in fright:

“That’s the secret passage? But the doll said no secret doors—!”

“Secret? You mean it was one? …Wait, you humans don’t all know?”

“…What?”

“You put these mirrors here yourselves, hundreds of years ago. So our world wouldn’t be cut off. You even left us a storehouse. But—it’s been a century since you last used it. Guess you forgot.”

“Of course we forgot! We weren’t even born then!”

“Oh… I see. You do look different. Those others I knew—they shriveled like dew in sun.”

Reynald pieced it together. The “rules” scrawled on the mirror—meant to preserve the fae passageways. Don’t cover or remove, or the path between worlds sealed.

And yes—the doll’s smug non-answer earlier. To its “logic,” this path wasn’t “secret.” Plain in sight. Yet infuriatingly useless for humans.

The fae wrinkled its nose, sniffing.

“…Wait. You smell different. Like one brushed by fae-king’s blood.”

It stared square at Reynald. Alex stiffened in alarm—but Reynald only shrugged.

“Not your concern.”

“True. Doesn’t matter. We have a new king now anyway.”

“Then no need to dig further. Will you guide us or not? We must recover Volant and Heide.”

“Gladly. They’ll be close.”

“Close for you. For us—your world is peril. One step astray may toss us into nightmare lands.”

Reynald released its collar. The fae dusted itself off and walked to a mirror. Alex’s face twisted tight with fear, but he knew they had no choice.

“I’ll guard you, Alex. Come.”

“…Yes, my lord.”

To be sure, Reynald gripped Alex’s hand tight. Alex trembled—but did not refuse.

“Take a book as key,” the fae instructed. “Any book. The passage needs it.”

Reynald passed one to Alex, held another himself. Together they stepped with the fae into glass. Dizzying vertigo seized them, spinning their vision—then weightless plunge.

Meanwhile, inside the mirror—

“Doll. Are we trapped here?”

[O!]

The doll’s circle-gesture enraged Volant.

“If you answered so quick when I asked before, I wouldn’t have been dragged in!”

Shouting was fruitless.

[Cry]

[O]

“Even if I call Reynald, he won’t hear? And monsters instead?”

[O]

“…You actually find fun in this, don’t you?”

[O!]

“You little—!”

He punched it, hurting himself against the metal innards. Clutching his hand in pain, he glanced around.

The place mimicked the library—shelves, mirrors, books. But beyond every mirror stood people from outside: Reynald, Arun, Serna, Alex, Heide. Even… himself.

The false Volant prowled outside with them, deceiving all.

“I’m here! Reynald! Alex! That’s not me! I’M THE REAL ONE!”

He hammered the mirror. But what had sucked him in like liquid now repelled like steel. Hopeless.

The doll shoved him back, ensuring he didn’t stray.

“…Why?”

[O]

Then fetched a book—purple velvet cover, foreign sigils etched.

“…A book? I can’t read!”

[! !]

“…Doesn’t matter?”

[O]

“…Just hold it? Not open?”

[O]

He lifted it reluctantly. Warm, plush—almost like pelted skin. The moment he touched…

“…Huh?”

Heat filled him. Vision warped, dizziness swept. He shut his eyes tight, then flinched at radiant glow through lids. When he opened them—

The library was gone. Before him lay an utterly different world.