Zhao Li sat alone in her room, clutching a worn-out teddy bear. She had always been a calm and collected person, but today, fear gripped her like never before. Her fingers absentmindedly traced the threads on the teddy bear's ear, a habit she had developed since childhood whenever she was anxious.
"Sister," she whispered, tears welling up. She hugged the bear closer, closing her eyes to block out the memories. Standing on the building's edge, the wind whipping around her, she peered over to find her sister's lifeless body below.
"Why did you leave me?" she murmured softly.
Clang!
Suddenly, the sound of metal clattering behind her startled her. She turned around, finding that some of the items in the dress had fallen. She got up and picked up the lamp, placing it back on the dresser. As she started to look at her reflection in the dresser mirror, a strange feeling washed over her.
Something was wrong.
She observed herself in the mirror, noticing an odd discrepancy. Her reflection wasn't aligning with her movement. Feeling confused and uneasy, she began to scrutinize the image before her. Just then, she was shocked to see her reflection, Zhao Li, in the mirror, smirking sinisterly.
Zhao Li's heart began to race as her body tensed. Her mind reeled as she watched the reflection lift its hands towards its neck and then firmly grasp it. Panic surged through her as she glanced down at her own hands, which were still at her side.
Two distinct handprints appeared on her neck, and then she began to struggle to breathe. She chocked, desperately trying to pry off the invisible hands, but came up with nothing. The reflection continued to smile cruelly, intensifying her fear. Zhao Li's body was gradually lifted into the air, her legs kicking frantically. The sensation grew unbearable as tears began to flow from her eyes, slowly edging near unconsciousness.
Adrenaline coursed through her, pushing her to scream with the strength she had left.
"Ahh...!"
Her scream echos in the silent manor. Seconds, or maybe minutes, went by as the grip on her neck tightened.
Boom
Sun Chang burst into the room, shocked by the floating girl. He froze at the scene and, in the next second, smashed the mirror, small cuts forming on his fist. The glass shattered, scattering shards across the room. The pressure on Zhao Li's neck vanished, and she collapsed to the floor, gasping for air.
Sun Chang rushed to her side, his hands shaking as he checked for signs of life. She had a faint pulse and was barely breathing. His expression turned ugly when he saw the handprints on her neck.
Was this caused by the bronze mirror? It can't be right, it should only be targeting the explorers.
The sound of footsteps interrupted his thoughts. Zhao Yin was the first to reach the room, followed by the butler.
"What happened?" Zhao Ming demanded, his voice a mix of confusion and anger.
Sun Chang, still holding Zhao Li, looked up. "It was the mirror. It attacked her."
Zhao Li's eyes fluttered open, tears still streaming down her face. She looked up at the mirror, her fear lingering. Sun Chang gently squeezed her shoulder. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice softening.
Zhao Li nodded weakly, still struggling to catch her breath. "The mirror... It was the mirror..."
Zhao Yin's eyes darted to the shattered glass on the floor. He kneeled beside Zhao Li, his hands hovering protectively. "Are you alright, Zhao Li?" he asked again, worry etched across his face.
Zhao Li could only repeat, "The mirror... the mirror..."
Sun Chang frowned, realizing she was in shock. He turned to Zhao Yin. "Did Zhao Mei mention anything about a bronze mirror?" His words didn't seem to reach the young man, who was entirely focused on Zhao Li.
It was the butler who answered. "The lady never mentioned anything about a bronze mirror."
Sun Chang's brow furrowed. "What about shadows? Did she mention anything about shadows?"
The butler hesitated, then nodded. "Yes, she did, when we first moved in here."
Sun Chang was stunned. "When did you move in?"
"About nine years ago," the butler replied.
Sun Chang's confusion deepened. "So this isn't the bronze mirror. Then what is it?" he muttered to himself.
Suddenly, he recalled something. "She said she saw shadows when you moved into the house," he said, turning back to the butler. "What element was the mage?"
The butler looked taken aback. "It was fire and earth."
Sun Chang's frown deepened. "And the third element? You said he was a high-tier mage, meaning he had three elements, no?"
The butler hesitated again, glancing at Zhao Yin before answering. "It was curse." His element was curse."
Sun Chang's eye widened, and he suddenly wanted to slap Zhao Mei fiercely. Were all his teammates pigs? "But that explains everything the shadows, the mirror, and the curse mage... it's all connected.
He turned back to Zhao Li, who was now sitting up with Zhao Yin's help, her breath still coming in shallow gasps. "We need to figure out how to counter this curse," Sun Chang said urgently. "And fast."
Zhao Ming, still visibly shaken, nodded. "What do we do?"
Sun Chang took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts. "First, we need to get Zhao Li to a safe place. Somewhere away from any mirrors or reflective surfaces."
They carefully helped Zhao Li to her feet, with Zhao Yin supporting her as they moved toward the door. The butler and Zhao Ming followed closely, their expressions tense and worried.
Once outside the room, Sun Chang continued, "Next, we need to find out more about this curse mage and why Zhao Mei only saw shadows, while Zhao Li's experience involved her reflection."
The butler spoke up, his voice measured but concerned. "The mage's curse might have evolved or been activated differently for each person. Shadows could be an earlier manifestation, while reflections represent a more potent stage."
Sun Chang nodded, considering this. "That means the curse is growing stronger. We need to understand its origin and how to break it before it claims another victim."
Zhao Yin glanced at Sun Chang, determination in his eyes. "Where do we start?"
"We start with Zhao Mei," Sun Chang replied. "She might have more information than she realized. And we need to search this house for any objects or symbols connected to the curse mage. Anything that could give us a clue."
They reached a safer part of the house, away from mirrors and windows. Sun Chang turned to the group. "We'll split up. Zhao Yin, stay with Zhao Li. Zhao Ming, you and the butler come with me. We need to gather every piece of information we can find."