Morning arrived quietly.
Eunwoo noticed mornings mostly because the temple became noisy again.
Doors opening.
Priests talking.
Footsteps everywhere.
From inside the Mirror world, he sat beside the lake and watched the reflections ripple across the water.
A priest nearly tripped over his robe.
A guard yawned loudly near the doorway.
Someone dropped a metal bowl.
Clang.
Eunwoo sighed.
"Excellent start to the day."
For a sacred temple, the place was surprisingly clumsy.
He tossed a pebble into the lake.
Plop.
The reflection changed.
And right on schedule—
Constance entered the hall.
Her walking stick tapped gently against the floor.
Step.
Tap.
Step.
Tap.
Eunwoo leaned forward.
"Ah, the responsible one has arrived."
Constance carried a small basket today, probably filled with cleaning cloths. She set it down beside the pedestal and began dusting the base of the Mirror.
Her movements were familiar now.
Careful.
Patient.
She didn't rush anything.
Eunwoo watched quietly.
At this point, her routine was one of the few interesting parts of his day.
After cleaning the pedestal, she ran her fingers lightly along the edge of the stone base.
Checking.
Making sure everything was where it should be.
Then she paused.
Her head tilted slightly.
Listening.
Eunwoo smiled.
"Here we go again."
Her hearing was impressive.
Even small sounds didn't escape her.
Somewhere outside the hall, a guard's spear lightly tapped against a wall.
Constance turned toward the direction immediately.
Then she relaxed.
"Just the guards," she murmured.
Eunwoo rested his chin in his hand.
It really was like watching a guard at work.
Not with weapons.
But with attention.
She listened to everything.
Every step.
Every whisper.
Every door.
If something strange happened inside the temple, Constance would probably notice before anyone else.
Which was ironic.
Because she was the only one who couldn't see the Mirror.
Constance finished dusting and sat down beside the pedestal.
She folded her hands neatly in her lap.
"You must be very tired of all this noise," she said softly to the Mirror.
Eunwoo blinked.
"Well… yes."
Correct.
He absolutely was.
She smiled faintly.
"Sometimes I wish people spoke less."
Eunwoo nodded.
"Agreed."
Very wise opinion.
For a moment the hall was peaceful.
Just quiet breathing.
And distant temple sounds.
Then Constance frowned slightly.
Her head tilted again.
Eunwoo straightened.
"Oh?"
This time the sound was different.
Very faint.
Almost hidden beneath other noises.
Footsteps.
But not temple guards.
Guards walked heavily.
These were lighter.
Careful.
Moving through the outer corridor.
Constance slowly stood up.
Her grip tightened slightly around her walking stick.
Eunwoo followed the reflection through the Mirror surface.
Two unfamiliar men had entered the outer hall.
Their clothes were plain.
Travelers, perhaps.
But their movements were cautious.
Observing everything.
"Visitors?" Eunwoo murmured.
Constance walked toward the doorway slowly.
Step.
Tap.
Step.
Tap.
She stopped just before the entrance to the hall.
Listening.
The two men spoke quietly to one of the priests outside.
"Pilgrims," one of them said.
"We came to see the sacred Mirror."
Eunwoo raised an eyebrow.
Convenient.
Very convenient.
Constance remained silent for a moment.
Then she turned slightly toward the priest.
"Father?"
Her voice was gentle.
The priest looked at her.
"Yes, child?"
"There are two of them," she said softly.
The priest blinked.
"…yes."
"They came together," she continued.
The two men exchanged a glance.
Eunwoo noticed immediately.
Constance couldn't see their faces.
But she had already noticed something strange.
The priest nodded.
"They are pilgrims."
Constance smiled politely.
Then she added quietly,
"Their boots sound like soldiers."
The hall went silent.
Eunwoo sat up straight.
"Oh."
That was clever.
Very clever.
The two men stiffened.
Soldiers trained for travel often wore different boots than civilians.
Heavier.
Stronger.
Made for marching.
Most people would never notice.
But Constance had.
The priest cleared his throat awkwardly.
The two visitors looked slightly uncomfortable.
Then one of them laughed.
"Old habits," he said.
"We used to serve in the army."
The priest relaxed.
But Constance remained still.
Listening.
After a moment she nodded.
"Ah."
Her smile returned.
"Welcome to the temple."
The tension faded.
The two men were allowed inside.
They walked carefully toward the main hall.
Eunwoo watched them closely.
Pilgrims.
Former soldiers.
Or something else.
Hard to say.
But one thing was clear.
Constance had noticed something before anyone else did.
Inside the Mirror world, Eunwoo chuckled softly.
"Well."
He leaned back beside the lake again.
"The Mirror really does have a guard."
Not a warrior.
Not a knight.
Just a quiet girl with very sharp ears.
Outside the temple walls, the world continued moving.
Messengers rode across the countryside.
Armies marched slowly in the distance.
And somewhere beyond the borders—
The Kingdom of Dermouth kept preparing.
The storm wasn't here yet.
But it was getting closer.