Early the next morning, Sonny was hit by the sun through the curtain. The room was blindingly bright with a hint of blue sky.
Sonny looked at his empty room he's staying in, which is bland and lifeless just like the rest of the sect. Everywhere—it's all white with no vivid colors.
In his mind, he remembers the palace was vivid with bright and dark colors. His father wasn't afraid to show off his talent for creativity. His father loves all kinds of colors—blue, purple, black, and white.
Sonny clenched the soft blanket. Don't think about it, or the memories will hurt worse.
A faint knock echoes through the door, nearly startling Sonny. He turned to the door and got up. He hopes it was Killian.
But it wasn't. A young man with long black hair and vivid green eyes like emeralds smiled. "Hey, Chief Disciple told me to come here and take you to him."
A furrow appeared in Sonny's brow. "Who's that?"
He asked in a soft voice.
The young man raised his brow in surprise. "The man who brought you here yesterday."
Sonny realized who he was talking to. "Killian."
The young man revealed a forced smile, "I recommend calling him by his name in front of others. It would be disrespectful. Everyone here calls him Chief Disciple."
Sonny said nothing.
The young man sighed and looked at his clothes. He frowned, "You need to get dressed. He doesn't like waiting."
Sonny nodded and got dressed in less than ten minutes. The young man took him to a courtyard with a beautiful cherry tree. And flowers appeared in the garden.
Sonny turned his head.
There, a young man, Killian, dressed in a white robe, was working out in the yard with his long, gleaming sword under the sun.
The young man bows his head when Killian turns around and sees the two people appearing. Killian glanced at Sonny, who was dressed in new white robes he brought for him yesterday.
Killian raised his hand, "Thank you."
Sonny watched the young man smile silently without saying anything. He bowed his head again and left them. Sonny felt the warm breeze on his skin like cooling heat in the summer.
Killian asked, "Are you ready? It's about time?"
Sonny nodded with his heart gripped in dread.
Killian saw him looking nervous and curved his lips into a half-smile. "Don't be afraid, I'll be by your side."
Sonny felt relieved by his words, and they appeared in the meeting room from yesterday. Killian knocked on the door, and they let them in. Killain's expression remained cold, and Sonny turned to the center of the room.
A large black mirror stands in the middle of the room, and everyone is sitting in chairs watching it with a heavy gaze.
Sonny clutched the bracelet on his wrist and remembered his father's last words. "This will protect you."
Sonny felt exposed if the insides of his skin were flayed open, and his heart pounded with dread.
The elder in the room spoke in a deep, calm voice, "Come forward, child."
Killian pushed Sonny forward, and the elder, who was speaking, looked cold and flat on his face.
Killain speaks, "Elder Zhen. After this, I want to speak to you for a private matter."
Elder Zhen arches his brow and calmly nods. "Alright. Just come to my office and we'll discuss."
He turned to the thin boy near Killian's side, and he spoke in a plain voice, "Stand before the mirror."
Everyone watches in anticipation. Sonny couldn't help feeling like prey under their gazes, and he took a deep breath.
He stepped before the Mirror of Truth. The mirror was pure black like obsidian rock at the bottom of the ocean.
Sonny stared in the mirror with his heart gripped tightly. All of a sudden, he felt the bracelet in his hands turn warm, and Sonny furrowed his brow.
The mirror glowed, but it didn't show his image like all mirrors do. It only glowed for a second.
His reflection appeared—then flickers into static.
Confused murmurs ripple throughout the room, "Soulless?"
Some of the elders showed confusion on their faces. It's rare to have a human to have a blank soul. Most of the time, it means the individual has no cultivation or a weak one.
"Damaged?"
"What's wrong with his soul?"
Voices murmur everywhere, and Sonny can hear them. Not the words but the voices like a nasal sound through his ears, making his back prickle with unease.
Elder Zhen's gaze sharpens but says nothing. Sonny turned to leave and went to Killian's side. He doesn't like the gazes on him, all of it.
~🌕🌙🌝~
Killian
He watches the young boy he took in his care step toward the mirror. The boy looked nervous but calm on the surface.
Killian felt slightly uneasy. He wasn't sure if this was the right choice. Besides, he'd already scanned Sonny's cultivation, and there weren't any demonic powers in his body.
Sonny stepped before the black mirror that seemed to swallow him whole, his small frame appearing weak and vulnerable.
Killain saw the mirror flicker with the boy's image, then go static.
He furrowed his brow.
Just as Sonny turns away from the mirror, a tall figure standing in Sonny's shadow—bleeding, regal, eyes glowing red like embers. The figure had arms stretched out toward Sonny in a protective gesture.
Killian blinked. The image vanished before he breathed.
Killian looked at everyone—all of them looked normal, like they didn't see it. Like they didn't see a mysterious figure behind Sonny's reflection.
He wanted to open his mouth, but for some reason, his mouth remained shut. Somewhere deep in his heart, this can't be said out loud.
Killain can hear everyone whispering with low, audible voices, "That boy has no cultivation."
"He's so weak that the mirror even rejects him."
Killain knew that the elders dismissed Sonny as a weak boy, as spiritually damaged but harmless.
But he's not so sure about it.
Sonny appeared by his side and heard the boy ask in a shy voice. "Did I pass?"
Killian glanced at the bracelet on the boy's wrist.
He replied in a calm voice, but his heart was shaken by the haunting scene, "You weren't rejected."
Sonny smiled, his smile warm and faint.
Killain knew. He didn't know who the man in the mirror was, but he knew one thing—Sonny wasn't what he seemed. Sonny wasn't an ordinary child.