The silence in the library was deafening, broken only by Lin's ragged breathing. She couldn't tear her eyes away from the soul mirror, its surface rippling like disturbed water. Her heart pounded as she fought to suppress the rising sense of dread that clawed at her chest.
"Lin?" a soft voice called.
Startled, Lin looked up to see Jiro standing a few feet away, his usually calm demeanor replaced by unease. His eyes flicked from her pale face to the mirror in her hands.
"Are you okay?" he asked, stepping closer.
Lin swallowed hard, forcing a weak smile. "I... I'm fine."
Jiro didn't look convinced. "That mirror—why do you have it?"
"I…" Lin hesitated, clutching the artifact tighter. She couldn't bring herself to admit what had just happened—or what she feared was happening now. "It's nothing. Just something I found during the search."
