The moment the girls split up, each one found themselves in a dire situation. Rein, completely alone, was focused solely on one goal: finding her sisters.

 

As the oldest, Mom expects me to take care of my sisters. It’s my responsibility to protect them at all costs, and I will never forgive myself if something bad happens to them. Don’t think of anything else and just focus on getting to their side as soon as possible, Rein thought, pushing aside her fear.

 

She was rushing toward the rendezvous point when she noticed something was unnervingly silent. No one was in sight. She decided to peek out a window to check the outside area, but the moment she touched the glass and saw her reflection, all the glass suddenly shattered.

 

“W-what just happened?” Rein asked, confused. She looked around and noticed a sudden, disturbing change: everything was inverted. It was as if she were trapped inside a mirror.

 

Rein struggled to understand how she was sucked into this inverted space, her mind racing. She was deep in thought when she heard footsteps closing in. Several Beastkin warriors, equally lost and confused, approached her.

 

“Little girl! Are you also lost in this place? We can’t seem to find our way out here,” one of the Beastkin warriors said.

 

“I just got here moments ago. I also don’t know what’s going on,” Rein responded, clueless.

 

As they conversed, a random, high-pitched voice suddenly spoke, echoing throughout the room. It sounded like a little boy looking for fun. Rein immediately realized this voice was likely the culprit behind the inverted space.

 

“Yipee! A new playmate! This is going to be exciting!” The mysterious voice cried excitedly.

 

“Who was that?” Rein asked, alarmed.

 

“We don’t know who it is, but it’s probably an enemy we need to defeat so we could escape this place,” one of the Beastkins assumed.

 

“What to do! What to do! I’m too excited!” The mysterious voice added, its echoing presence adding palpable eeriness.

 

“W-who are you, and how did we end up here?” Rein asked, trying to gather information.

 

“I’m Rom, a member of the Featherlight’s elite guards and the King’s Left Wing. If you’re wondering where you are, then you’re inside a space that I created with my magic, my very own playground, the ‘Mirror World,’” he revealed willingly.

 

“Why did you bring us here?” Rein asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

 

“It’s obvious, silly. We’re going to play a game!” Rom answered excitedly.

 

“I’m sorry, but I don’t have time to play games with you. I need to get back to my sisters as soon as possible,” Rein declined firmly.

 

“Oh… but I wanna play so badly! What can I do to make you play with me?” Rom whined. “Oh, I know! Will you finally agree if I end up hurting those people around you?” He added, referring to the trapped Beastkin warriors.

 

Rein felt a chill run down her spine. The playful voice mixed with such an awful threat was horrifying.

 

“We’re not afraid of you! We don’t have to listen to every word you’re saying! We’re gonna get out of here and beat the hell out of you!” One of the Beastkin warriors declared defiantly.

 

“Yeah! Let’s go find the exit in this instant,” another added.

 

“Wait, everyone. Please don’t rush, let’s assess the situation first,” Rein warned, but the warriors didn't listen.

 

“Awh… party poopers are a no-no in my playground,” Rom pouted. He then cast an offensive spell within the Mirror World.

 

[Light Magic: Reflecto Ray]

 

Out of nowhere, a devastating ray of radiant light appeared and targeted the charging Beastkin warriors. They were completely unprepared for the unforeseen attack and were gravely injured, defeated instantly. This caused Rein to panic.

 

“How could you do such a thing!” Rein cried, unable to contain her emotion.

 

“They were being mean! I had no choice but to hurt them so you could finally play with me!” Rom responded like a petulant, spoiled brat.

 

“B-but it’s still wrong to hurt innocent people!” Rein insisted.

 

“It’s your fault. You didn’t agree to play right away,” Rom accused.

 

Rein realized the chilling truth in his words. If she had agreed immediately, the tragedy might have been prevented. Taking a long, shaky breath, she gathered her courage and decided to play along.

 

“Fine, I’ll join your game, and if I win, you’re going to get me and everyone else out of here,” Rein demanded.

 

“But if you lose, you’re going to be my toy forever!” Rom added, his voice chillingly absolute.

 

Rein swallowed hard. “D-deal.”

 

If this is the only way for me to get everyone out of here safely and reach my sisters’ side, then I’ll do anything to achieve it, she thought, steeled by resolve. “So… what are we going to play?” she asked.

 

“It’s very simple! We're going to play hide and seek! You’ll be the one hiding. If I find you three times, then you’re out!” Rom explained excitedly.

 

Rein knew that asking more questions would only feed Rom’s ego and waste time, so she agreed immediately. As soon as Rom started counting, Rein bolted off to find a hiding place. She still needed more information, so she chose a common spot: under a table in the mansion’s inverted kitchen.

 

Rom’s voice echoed throughout the space. “Come out, come out wherever you are,” he teased, his voice getting louder, closer. Rein focused on maintaining her composure, fighting back the fear and anxiety consuming her. The voice was so near that she thought she could finally see her enemy. She peeked out but saw no one, not even a shadow.

 

“Yipee! I found you!” Rom shouted excitedly.

 

H-how did he find me when he’s not even in this room? Rein thought, confused and terrified.

 

As soon as Rom declared he had found her, the same devastating ray of light that had injured the Beastkin warriors appeared out of nowhere.

 

“Oh… I forgot to mention, I’ll be attacking you every time I find you,” Rom added casually.

 

The attack shot directly at her. It was fast, but Rein managed to cast a defensive spell in time. She thought her standard water barrier would be enough, but the light passed right through it like it was air.

 

Fortunately, it only grazed her shoulder, but blood spilled onto the floor, sending Rein into a fresh wave of panic.

 

“That’s one. Two more before you become my toy forever,” Rom said menacingly.

 

How did he find me? There’s no way he could have known where I was when he wasn’t even here. Can he use clairvoyance like Princess Raya? No, his race can only have one type of magic, unlike us humans, so he can’t have multiple types, Rein assessed rapidly.

 

First, he created this Mirror World where everything is inverted. Second, he can bounce off his attacks, meaning his Light Magic is based around reflection. That’s all I managed to gather, so I gotta work with what I have.

 

Rom started counting again. Despite her injury, Rein played along.

 

Think, Rein, think… There must be a trick behind this. I just have to figure it out in time before it’s too late, she thought anxiously while running.

 

As she searched for a new hiding spot, she noticed something: glass shards were scattered everywhere, including near the table where she had first hidden. Rein had a sudden realization after noticing the scattered pieces. Mirrors? That’s it! I think I know what’s happening now!

 

Rom finished counting. Rein had managed to hide just in time.

 

“Time's up! Here I come!” Rom announced.

 

“Hmm… where could you be?” Rom chuckled. “Just kidding, I already know. You’re hiding above the chandelier, aren’t you!” He revealed.

 

He then attacked the chandelier with the same ray of light, causing it to shatter and fall alongside Rein, who had been hiding inside it. She safely cushioned her fall by creating a large water bubble.

 

“That’s two, only one left, and you’re mine,” Rom said triumphantly.

 

Rein wasn't surprised. She was simply confirming her theory. Rom’s actions proved she was on the right track.

 

“Wow, it seems you’re very good at finding people, but don’t you think it’s getting boring already?” Rein said, feigning boredom to gain his attention. She knew how to win, but she needed to pretend she was still playing his game so he wouldn't get suspicious.

 

“Hmm… now that you’ve mentioned it, I think you’re right. Our game is starting to bore me,” Rom agreed.

 

“Then why don’t we spice things up a little bit?” Rein suggested.

 

“Okay, I’m listening,” Rom responded, intrigued.

 

“We only have one round left anyway, so why not switch? This time, you’ll be the one hiding, and I’ll be the one to find you?” Rein proposed.

 

Rom burst into uncontrollable laughter. “Are you sure? What you’re suggesting will cause your doom,” Rom said confidently.

 

“Don’t worry, I’m sure about it,” Rein responded with firm resolve and confidence.

 

“Pfft… I’m telling you that you’ll never find me,” Rom boasted.

 

“We’ll never know until I try,” Rein countered.

 

“Fine by me. This is going to be an easy win! You’re already mine! After this, I’ll play with you until you’re destroyed,” Rom said menacingly, accepting the challenge.

 

After Rom agreed, Rein started counting down. The final round was in motion. Rom was confident that Rein wouldn’t be able to find him because he wasn't physically inside the Mirror World. He could easily spy on her, knowing her every move. “Pfft… give up already, you’re wasting your time,” he assumed confidently.

 

Minutes passed, and Rein continued wandering randomly inside the Mirror World, seemingly still searching. Rom started showing signs of impatience. “This is taking so long! Just accept your fate and be my toy already!”

 

When Rein didn't respond to his tantrum, he noticed her movements becoming suspicious, almost like a completely different person. Rom finally reached his limit.

 

“I can’t take this anymore! If you’re not going to give up, then I’ll just make you!” Rom declared.

 

[Light Magic: Reflecto Ray]

 

Rom cast the same spell. He thought everything was finally over, but when the attack hit Rein, something unexpected happened: her body suddenly dispersed into mist.

 

“W-what was that?!?” Rom stammered, confused.

 

“That was Mist Magic: Mirage. I created a copy of myself to distract you,” Rein explained.

 

Rom was shocked because Rein’s voice came from behind his back, not inside the Mirror World. He spun around and saw Rein standing in the very same room where he had been hiding all along.

 

“Phew, it took a while, but I finally found you. Looks like I win,” Rein said calmly.

 

“I-impossible! I never took my sight off of you! H-how did you get out of my playground?” Rom demanded, panic creeping into his voice.

 

“I was confused at first, but after observing my surroundings, I finally found the answer to your trick. I knew you were spying on me, but I soon realized how. You were looking through the mirror shards scattered all over the Mirror World. They were acting as your eyes this whole time,” Rein answered.

 

Rom was stunned. Rein’s assessment was spot on. “Even if you figured out how I was watching you, you shouldn’t still be able to escape my playground! I made sure no one can ever escape it!” Rom anxiously insisted.

 

“I was assessing the situation while playing our game, and I’m glad it paid off. I looked everywhere and noticed that all the glass inside the mirror world was shattered into pieces. That’s when I realized that the mirrors had something to do with how I got into this mess, and it was the solution I’d been looking for this whole time,” Rein explained.

 

Rein’s ultimate realization came when she noticed there were no blood stains on the mirror shards on the floor after her shoulder was grazed. She theorized that blood must have passed through the shards. She tested this by dropping more blood onto a piece, and to her surprise, the blood disappeared through it. She knew then that the only way out of the mirror world was to pass through a mirror.

 

“Even if you knew that, it’s still impossible for you to escape my playground. I made sure no mirrors were big enough for people to pass through! That’s why I shattered them all!” Rom argued, his confidence crumbling.

 

“I know, and I was about to give up. Thankfully, I realized that the solution to that was pretty easy. I just had to make my own mirror using Ice Magic,” Rein explained casually.

 

Using multiple forms of magic at such a young age is impossible for most humans, but Rein was a prodigy. No one taught her Ice and Mist Magic, but she knew both were variations of water magic. By practicing and teaching herself, and by observing the structure of Keith’s ice spells with her impressive eyesight and knowledge from her magic books, she could copy any magic she studied, a true prodigy.

 

Rom couldn’t believe it. All the toys he had ever set his eyes on became his property and never defied him. This time, he knew he couldn’t make Rein his toy, so he decided to destroy her instead. “This game is no fun. I don't want to play with you anymore!”

 

“That's okay, I feel the same way too. The truth is, I just couldn’t contain my anger anymore after what you did to those warriors you trapped alongside me. It reminded me of the past that I’ve been trying to forget,” Rein responded with chilling seriousness. 

 

The old Rein would have hidden these feelings, but ever since she was freed from the evil head witch, Helen, she was becoming more honest about her emotions.

 

“Fine! I’ll just destroy you and find a new toy!” Rom declared.

 

“Life is not just fun and games, you know. You have to wake up from your delusions and learn that not everything will go your way. I guess I’ll just have to teach you that myself. After all, I pity you for not knowing something that simple,” Rein responded, her voice full of newfound authority.

 

“Stop talking already!” Rom irritably shouted. He attacked first, using the same offensive spell, but this time, it split into multiple light rays. His magic was simple yet difficult to dodge, not only for its speed but because it could bounce off surfaces, making its trajectory unpredictable.

 

Rein, however, knew his magic and how to defend against it. Her water barrier had failed because it was transparent, but she had a new defense ready.

 

[Ice Magic: Wall Frost]

 

She created thick walls of ice to instantly block the rays. After defending against Rom’s attack, it was her turn on offense.

 

[Water Magic: Aqua Bullet]

 

Rein cast multiple water projectiles aimed at Rom. Unfortunately, her attack was casually brushed off. Rom was encased in a barrier that resembled a mirror, causing the attack to fail.

 

“Just give up! Any projectiles aimed toward me will just be deflected,” Rom explained confidently.

 

“I see… I didn’t want to use this, but I guess it’s the only way,” Rein muttered to herself.

 

She still had one trick up her sleeve, one she was hesitant to use because it was the same magic used to hurt her fellow witches back in the Witch’s Isle.

 

“I thought this magic was evil, but I soon realized that the evil ones are those who use it for bad purposes. That’s why this time, I’m going to use it to help the people around me,” Rein said before casting her final spell.

 

[Flame Magic: Rising Inferno]

 

Rein conjured a powerful flaming tornado right beneath Rom. Since Rom was trapped inside his reflective barrier, the overwhelming heat of the flaming tornado was trapped with him, causing him to instantly pass out. Rein had successfully defeated the Featherlight Elite Guard. Rom’s magic was dispelled upon losing consciousness, freeing the Beastkin warriors from the Mirror World.

 

Huff Huff

 

I don’t have time to rest, I need to get to my sisters, Rein thought, but her body was spent.

 

She had used multiple, high-level spells in a short period, and now she couldn't move a single muscle. Thankfully, the Beastkin warriors she had met earlier recovered from their injuries and saw her lying on the ground.

 

“Little Missy, are you okay?” One of the warriors asked.

 

“I’m okay, but can I ask you to carry me to Ms. Nilda’s room? My sisters will be there soon,” Rein requested.

 

“Anything for the person who saved us!” They responded in unison. One of them carried Rein on his back and helped her get to her destination.

 

Now that two of the Featherlight’s strongest forces, the Right Wing and the Left Wing are down, the Beastkin’s chances of winning have been significantly elevated.