Chapter 7: Reflections of Danger
Morning light streamed into the workshop, casting long shadows across the cluttered room. Adam sat at his workbench, staring at the Mirror of Echoes. Its ornate frame gleamed faintly, and the surface rippled as if it were alive, reacting to his gaze. Ethan, sprawled on the couch in the corner, snored softly, the medallion resting on his chest catching glints of light.
Adam hadn't slept. The weight of the previous day's discoveries gnawed at him. Corruption. Monsters. Fragments of knowledge hinting at something ancient and dangerous. He needed answers, and the mirror was his only lead.
The system chimed softly, startling him.
[New Mission: Investigate the Mirror of Echoes.]
[Task: Use the artifact to uncover its hidden truths.]
[Reward: Access to Resonance Tracing.]
Adam's jaw tightened. The system always seemed one step ahead, pulling him deeper into the web of mysteries surrounding these artifacts. He picked up the mirror, turning it over in his hands. The surface shimmered, the light catching faint runes etched into the metal.
"I hope you're worth the trouble," he muttered.
Behind him, Ethan stirred, groaning as he sat up. "You're talking to a mirror now? That's comforting."
Adam didn't look up. "The system wants me to investigate this thing. If it's tied to the corruption, it might show us what we're dealing with."
Ethan rubbed his eyes, his expression skeptical. "You think it'll just... tell you what's going on?"
"Not exactly." Adam frowned, focusing on the mirror. "But artifacts like this aren't passive. They're connected to something bigger—emotions, memories, history. If I can figure out how to use it, maybe it'll give us a clue."
Ethan stood and stretched, muttering under his breath. "Right. Because the last time we used an artifact, everything went so smoothly."
Adam ignored him, activating the system's Appraisal Mode. The runes on the mirror glowed faintly, and new text appeared.
[Artifact: Mirror of Echoes (Stabilized Form)]
Effect: Reflects fragments of the user's memories and hidden truths. Limited ability to reveal corrupted pathways. Corruption Suppressed: 48 hours remaining.
"Corrupted pathways?" Ethan asked, peering over Adam's shoulder.
Adam nodded. "It means the mirror can show us places or things tied to the corruption. But it's only stable for two days, so we need to act fast."
He placed the mirror flat on the workbench, its surface rippling like water. Taking a deep breath, he whispered the activation phrase etched into its frame.
"Revela veritatem."
The mirror flared with light, and an image began to form on its surface. At first, it was nothing but swirling mist, but slowly, shapes began to take form—trees, a crumbling structure, and a dark, ominous void at the center.
Ethan squinted. "Is that... the old church on the edge of town?"
Adam's heart sank. He recognized it immediately. St. Callister's Church had been abandoned for years, its history marred by rumors of strange rituals and unexplained disappearances.
"Looks like we've got a destination," Adam said, his voice grim.
Ethan backed away, shaking his head. "Nope. Not a chance. That place gives me the creeps, Adam. People say it's cursed."
"People say a lot of things," Adam replied, grabbing his jacket. "But if the corruption's tied to the church, we need to check it out."
Ethan hesitated, his face pale. "And what if we run into another one of those things? I'm not exactly a fighter, Adam."
Adam turned to him, his expression serious. "You don't have to fight. Just keep the medallion active and stay close. I'll handle the rest."
Ethan sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm going to regret this, aren't I?"
"Probably," Adam said with a faint smirk.
The drive to St. Callister's was tense. The narrow roads leading to the church were overgrown with weeds, the trees on either side twisting together to form an almost impenetrable canopy. By the time they arrived, the sun was high, but its light seemed to barely penetrate the gloom surrounding the church.
The building was a decaying husk of its former self. The once-grand stone façade was cracked and weathered, ivy climbing up its walls. The windows were shattered, and the heavy wooden doors hung crookedly on their hinges.
Ethan shivered as they stepped out of the car. "I hate this place already."
Adam didn't reply. He held the Mirror of Echoes tightly, its surface glowing faintly. The system chimed softly, a new message appearing in his vision.
[Resonance Detected: Corruption Imminent.]
"Stay close," Adam said, his voice low.
The interior of the church was worse than the outside. Pews were overturned, and the altar was covered in strange, blackened scorch marks. A faint humming noise filled the air, like the low droning of insects.
Adam held up the mirror, whispering the activation phrase again. The surface rippled, and a faint glow illuminated the room. Shadows began to twist and shift, revealing ghostly figures moving silently through the space—priests, parishioners, and something darker.
Ethan's breath hitched. "What are those things?"
"Memories," Adam said. "Fragments of what happened here."
The figures moved in a loop, their actions repetitive. A priest standing at the altar raised his hands, and the congregation knelt. Then, the scene changed—darkness enveloped the room, and a shadowy figure emerged, its form indistinct but radiating malice.
The system chimed again.
[Corruption Nexus Identified: Altar.]
[Mission Update: Dispel the corruption before it spreads.]
Adam stepped toward the altar, the mirror glowing brighter as he approached. The air grew heavier, and the humming noise intensified. Ethan grabbed his arm.
"Adam, I don't like this," he said, his voice trembling.
"Neither do I," Adam admitted. "But we don't have a choice."
As he reached the altar, the darkness in the room coalesced into a single form. A twisted creature emerged, its body writhing with tendrils of shadow. Its glowing eyes locked onto Adam, and it let out a guttural roar.
Adam tightened his grip on the mirror and drew the Dagger of the Wraith with his other hand.
"Get ready," he said, his voice steady.
The creature lunged.
End of Chapter 7.