Noble had expected a little resistance from Syrce about the others tagging along. As she understood it, the meeting was meant to be an olive branch to break the tension between them.
Was she happy to use the rest of the group as a buffer between them? Noble didn't think so. Perhaps she felt she owed it to them to show them the hand mirror after they had all risked their lives to collect its power.
Either way, Syrce accepted all of them into her confidence without a second thought.
The group made it halfway toward the main keep when the Saint suddenly stopped.
"Oh! I almost forgot." Syrce's cheeks began to flush. "One moment, I will be right back."
She did not wait for an answer, taking off toward the water at a speed not even the Master would be able to copy.
They stood in stunned silence for a moment.
"You know her the best. Any idea what she forgot?" Roan asked Noble.
The floating Master shook her head slowly. "Not a clue. If I didn't know better, I would have thought lunch didn't agree with her and she needed to use the facilities. But since the palace has the best plumbing, I doubt that was her aim."
"Should we go after her, keep heading toward the palace, or wait here?" Aether looked torn about what would be the most polite thing to do.
"I think we should wait here. At the speed she was going..." Helie didn't get a chance to finish her sentence. A rush of air pushed back her hair as Syrce reappeared in their midst.
"Sorry for the delay!" She smiled apologetically.
Tucked under one arm was a bundle that none of the Masters could quite make out. Ignoring their inquisitive glances, Syrce continued to the keep.
"Is there any reason that we are going all the way to the palace to use the mirror?" Noble asked.
"A couple of reasons. It is quiet there, and we won't be disturbed by the hubbub at the gate. And I just like being in the palace. It feels like home." Syrce quickened her pace.
'Feels like home?' Noble's eyes widened.
Syrce had been a noble lady by birth, but surely she hadn't lived in any palace as opulent as this! No king in the history of the waking world had lived so incredibly.
'She said it feels like home, not that it reminds her of home,' Noble corrected her thinking.
Was her home vast and largely empty? Or was there some other quality which Noble couldn't discern that made the Saint look at the palace fondly?
Perhaps she just looked forward to it being her new home with her sisters as soon as everyone was settled.
Under the three men's strong hands, the large front doors of the keep opened to allow the ladies to enter in front of them.
For a moment, Noble felt like she was back in medieval times with knights and chivalry. Was that what Anvil had thought as well when he first entered this hall? Perhaps that was why he had knights of his own. He wanted to be like an ancient king.
Noble did not want any part of that. She had been an ancient queen. It was not all that it was made out to be. No, Noble was much happier following a competent leader. Syrce had her utmost respect, as did Roan.
As for Maelys…
"I think this spot will do nicely, don't you?" Syrce broke Noble's train of thought.
The foyer was large and would give plenty of space for whatever the enigmatic Saint was about to do. It was far enough from the front doors to avoid prying eyes while also being a large distance from the throne room.
Thinking about the mirror ceiling, Noble shivered. It was good they weren't heading there. Noble had no desire to see the place again after her frightening night, at least not so soon.
Thankfully, there was no need. The mirror they sought to use was not fixed to the ceiling of the throne room. It was hidden deep in the folds of Syrce's peach gown.
Pulling at a string looped through her belt, Syrce lifted the hand mirror from her side.
It looked just as luxurious as the last time Noble had seen it in the mirror maze. Actually, it looked even more stunning now. She couldn't quite put her finger on the change, but she could feel the power emanating from it.
Her cloak could sense it too. Mirage's garment fluttered even more than it had when Noble found the cameo piece that now adorned the mirror's back.
The movement, however, was minor, and Noble folded the cape behind her shoulders to stop its restless flapping.
"I am not sure what Bel told you," Syrce began as she unlooped the mirror from the leather strap, "But I am going to show you how the mirror works. You worked hard to help me. Your labor was not in vain."
"You are planning to bring someone through the portal?" Noble had never fully clarified what Syrce had planned.
"I am," the Saint looked at herself in the mirror.
"Who?" Flint's curiosity caused the commander to smirk.
"Wait and see. Oh, you are going to love this!" Syrce bounced up and down with a squeal. "Bel, will you do the honors?"
"Sure," Noble pursed her lips. "What do you mean by that?"
Syrce held out the hand mirror. "Place this on the ground and step back. I will handle the rest."
Noble took the looking glass. Letting it float from her hands, she directed it toward the ground. The other Masters stepped back.
Syrce nodded, her face becoming solemn.
"Alright...Come out...wait!" The woman's face turned a bright shade of crimson. "Titus, would you please hold this right here?"
Pulling at the bundle under her arm, Syrce produced a long piece of fabric.
Under the Saint's instruction, Flint held out the cloth above the mirror.
'It's a cloak?' Noble furrowed her brow. While not as stunning as Mirage's magical garment, this plain brown cape would be enough to keep out a chill.
Was it about to be cold when Syrce worked her magic?
The mossy-haired Saint adjusted her garments, taking extra care to make sure the amulet around her neck was in just the right place.
"Now, come out! Don't be shy!"
The plain words did not seem magical, yet they did their work just the same. A small bead of sweat formed on Syrce's brow as she concentrated.
The mirror glowed with an otherworldly light, opening the gate between two places. The glass, which Noble had seen across the surface of the mirror, now seemed to be less solid, and before her eyes, a wondrous change took place.
A head of hair appeared in the looking glass on the floor. Then, like a person coming up from underneath a deep pool, the head pushed out of the glass and took a spectacular gasp of air.
Then, in defiance of physics and all reason, a body followed, exiting the glass in a way that Noble could not begin to explain or describe.
In a moment, a person stood before them.
Noble could not believe her eyes.