The temple was quiet again.
Eunwoo sat beside the lake inside the Mirror world, tossing small pebbles into the water.
Plop.
Plop.
Plop.
Each ripple showed a different reflection of the temple outside.
A priest walking down the hallway.
A guard standing by the door.
A candle flickering beside the altar.
Very exciting.
He sighed.
"Truly the peak of entertainment."
When he died in his previous life, he had not expected the afterlife to involve this much floor cleaning.
Not by him, thankfully.
But he still had to watch it.
Which was somehow worse.
Another pebble dropped into the lake.
Plop.
A new reflection appeared.
And right on schedule—
Constance entered the hall.
Eunwoo leaned forward slightly.
"Oh. There she is."
Constance walked slowly, tapping the floor lightly with the thin wooden stick she carried. Her steps were careful but practiced.
She knew the temple well.
Even without sight.
Her braid rested neatly over her shoulder, and she carried a small cloth basket in one hand.
Eunwoo watched as she reached the pedestal.
Without hesitation, she placed the basket down and began dusting the stone base of the Mirror.
She hummed softly while she worked.
Eunwoo rested his chin in his palm.
"She always hums that same tune."
He still didn't know what it was.
Maybe a village song.
Maybe something she made up.
Maybe she just liked humming.
Humans did strange things when they thought nobody was listening.
After a moment she spoke.
"Good evening."
Eunwoo blinked.
He looked around the Mirror world.
"…Is she greeting me?"
Constance wiped the frame gently.
"I know you can't answer," she continued quietly.
"But it feels rude not to say hello."
Eunwoo stared at her.
Then he laughed.
"Fair point."
Very polite girl.
Even to furniture.
She finished dusting and sat down beside the pedestal.
Her fingers rested lightly on the stone floor.
"You feel colder today," she said to the Mirror.
Eunwoo raised an eyebrow.
That was… interesting.
He leaned closer to the surface.
"How would you know that?"
Of course she couldn't hear him.
But still.
Her head tilted slightly toward the Mirror.
"I suppose the weather is changing."
She smiled faintly.
"Winter will come soon."
Eunwoo leaned back again.
"Winter already?"
Time moved strangely when you lived inside a mirror.
Days blurred.
Weeks disappeared.
Sometimes he only noticed time passing because Constance's conversations changed with the seasons.
Spring meant flowers.
Summer meant heat.
Autumn meant harvest.
Winter meant complaints about cold water.
Very educational system.
The temple doors opened somewhere in the distance.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the halls.
Guards.
More than usual.
Eunwoo glanced toward the reflection.
"Ah. The nervous soldiers again."
For the past week the temple had slowly turned into a fortress.
More guards.
More patrols.
More whispered conversations.
All because another kingdom had started making threats.
Apparently they wanted the Mirror.
Eunwoo rubbed his forehead.
"Yes, yes, everyone wants the mysterious magical artifact."
Very original.
He wondered what they expected.
Did they think touching the Mirror would give them powers?
Or divine wisdom?
Or maybe a cool glowing sword.
Unfortunately for them, the Mirror mostly contained one slightly bored Korean man.
Not exactly a legendary weapon.
Constance seemed to notice the guards too.
Her head turned toward the hallway.
"There are many footsteps today."
She folded her hands quietly in her lap.
"The priests said the kingdom might be in danger."
Eunwoo crossed his arms.
That part was true.
Two kingdoms arguing over one object rarely ended politely.
She tilted her head slightly.
"I hope no one gets hurt."
Her voice was soft.
Simple.
Sincere.
Eunwoo looked at her carefully.
Most people who came to the Mirror wanted something.
Power.
Blessings.
Answers.
Constance never asked for anything.
She just talked.
About weather.
About food.
About temple chores.
Sometimes about childhood memories.
It was… strangely peaceful.
"Humans are weird," Eunwoo muttered.
Outside the temple walls, the capital was not peaceful at all.
Messengers rode through the streets.
Soldiers marched in groups.
Rumors spread faster than truth.
Everyone had heard the same thing.
The Kingdom of Dermouth was preparing for war.
And the reason was simple.
The Mirror of Elarion.
Inside the hall, Constance slowly stood up again.
"I should go now."
She brushed dust from her skirt.
Then she paused.
As she always did before leaving.
Her fingers lightly touched the edge of the pedestal.
"Sleep well," she said softly.
Eunwoo blinked.
"Sleep?"
He looked around the endless Mirror world.
"I wish."
She picked up her basket and walking stick.
Step.
Tap.
Step.
Tap.
Her footsteps slowly disappeared down the hallway.
The hall became quiet again.
Eunwoo stared at the empty doorway.
Then he leaned back on the grass beside the lake.
"Well," he said to the sky.
"That was today's conversation."
Very productive.
Another pebble dropped into the lake.
Plop.
The reflection changed.
Outside the temple gates, far beyond the walls—
Torches moved across the distant hills.
Too many torches.
Too organized.
Eunwoo narrowed his eyes.
"Hmm."
Even from this distance, it was obvious.
An army was gathering.
Slowly.
Patiently.
Waiting.
The Kingdom of Dermouth was coming.
And when armies came looking for a magical mirror…
Peaceful temple evenings usually didn't last very long.
Eunwoo sighed.
"Well."
He folded his arms behind his head again.
"Future me is going to have a problem."