Elara closed her eyes briefly, steadying her breath before speaking.
> "The one I love," she said, her voice low but unwavering. "I fear losing them more than anything."
The words hung in the air, absorbed by the mirrors around her. For a moment, silence reigned—until the chime rang again, softer this time, like the tolling of a distant bell.
Then, the mirrors shattered.
Shards of light spun upward, coiling together until they reshaped into vivid visions.
First, a man appeared—tall, with eyes that seemed to see her completely. He smiled at her the way one might smile after waiting a lifetime. His voice, deep and warm, echoed in her mind though his lips did not move.
Then, in the blink of an eye, he was gone.
In his place stood an old woman, her face lined with years, her eyes filled with sorrow. She cupped Elara's cheek with trembling hands.
> "Don't forget me… my child," the woman whispered, her voice breaking.