Light poured from every crack in the mirrored world as Lena stood amidst the dissolving fragments. Her breath came in short, trembling bursts, each exhale glittering faintly in the air like dust.
The reflection was gone — or rather, within her now.
What remained was silence, soft and radiant, a calm that felt both sacred and unreal.
Then, from above, a gentle voice echoed through the void.
It was the same serene tone from before — the Arcane Valkyrie.
"You have faced your truth. The mirror no longer hides — it reflects. Take this moment, Lena of the mortal kind, and speak the Oath."
A symbol appeared before her — six wings forming a radiant sigil of light.
Lena hesitated, her voice shaking at first, then growing steadier.
"I… Lena of the mortal realm, vow to see the world not through envy or doubt, but through clarity.
I swear to guard what I see, to reflect strength where it's lost, and compassion where it's forgotten.
By the oath of reflection, I accept the mantle of the Mirror Sentinel."
The sigil shone brilliantly. Light cascaded down, wrapping around her like flowing silk. Her wounds vanished, her armor shifted, becoming sleeker — still retaining her old motif, but with mirrored patterns etched across its surface, faintly glowing with each heartbeat.
The Arcane Valkyrie's voice softened.
"Then you are bound to the Sentinel's truth. Accept your gift — and your tools to shape it."
All around her, shards of glass-like crystal rose from the ground, hovering in formation. They were transparent yet gleaming, every piece humming faintly with divine resonance. When Lena reached toward one, it vibrated — alive with energy.
She frowned, testing it with a light tap of her greatsword.
The blade struck the crystal — but instead of shattering, the sword cracked.
Lena's eyes widened. "Impossible…"
She swung again — harder this time. Sparks burst from the impact point, but the crystal remained unmarked. The weapon in her hand, however, split cleanly in two, the broken edge glimmering faintly as if apologizing for its weakness.
Lena blinked at the shattered greatsword, then looked back at the floating crystals. Her reflection flickered faintly across their surfaces — a calm, resolute version of herself.
"...These materials," she whispered. "They're perfect."
"They are fragments of divine resonance," said the Valkyrie. "Born from the Mirror Realm, where truth and illusion intertwine. They hold the potential to reflect both light and mana."
Lena took a deep breath. "Then I want to bring them with me."
"For what purpose?"
She smiled softly, thinking of Shadow hunched over his forge, face illuminated by sparks.
"To create something new. Something that fits me better — lighter, faster… not just a blade for strength, but for precision and reflection."
The Valkyrie's light shimmered faintly, almost amused.
"A mortal who learns to forge their identity — fitting. Take them, Mirror Sentinel. May your reflection guide you."
The crystals responded, swirling toward her, forming a spiral of glowing shards that condensed into a single orb — a seed of light that hovered over her palm.
[You have obtained: Divine Mirror Fragments (S-Class Material)]
As she held it, a soft chime rang in her ears.
> [Inheritance Complete.]
[New Title Acquired: The Mirror Sentinel.]
[New Skills Unlocked: Mirror Veil (Passive), Body Double (Active).]
The ground beneath her began to dissolve, the mirrored plain fading into countless shards of light.
"Return to your world, child of reflection," the Valkyrie whispered. "And tell your forger to treat those shards with care — they are alive, just as you are."
---
Back in the real world, Lena gasped as she opened her eyes beside the tranquil lake. The moonlight shimmered across the surface, painting ripples of silver across her skin. The divine orb — now a cluster of glowing fragments — floated gently around her, following her like fireflies.
She smiled softly. "Let's go home."
When she arrived at camp, Shadow was outside, working on Aetherion's forge module — sparks flying into the air as Solfang's faint laughter echoed in the background.
Shadow looked up when he saw her, blinking. "You're back."
Rena, Ryn, and Sera turned too, all sensing the calm but radiant aura around her.
Lena stepped forward, holding out the orb. "I need your help."
Shadow tilted his head. "With what?"
She smiled faintly. "A weapon that's mine."
He stared at the glowing fragments for a moment, feeling the mana pulsing through them — alive, resonant, harmonious. Then he smirked slightly, brushing soot from his cheek.
"...Heh. Let's see what kind of reflection we can forge then."
Solfang's voice chimed in playfully. "I like her energy~ let's make something beautiful this time!"
Aetherion hummed in agreement, its childlike tone bright. "New project detected! Forge mode— online!"
Lena chuckled softly, for the first time in a long while feeling… light. Not from her weapon, not from her strength — but from herself.