The next morning, right after the sunrise, Aria left the tavern to learn more about the village. She could feel the captivating charm of the village beckoning her to explore its secrets. The air resonated outside with a mesmerizing melody. Upon inquiry, she found that it was emanating from the scattered mirrors that adorned the village. As sunlight danced upon their surfaces, casting ethereal patterns on the ground, Aria found herself both awestruck and intrigued.

Though Serenbrook was modest in size, with perhaps a hundred households, it appeared far grander. A magnificent banyan tree stood at its heart, from which eight roads extended haphazardly, forming smaller alleys as they moved away from the center, like a spider's web. The village entrance lay to the south, while the Village Head's manor occupied the northern side. The open area in front of the manor, which also hosted a fountain and the largest mirror in the village, acted as the public square.

It took her only an hour to traverse the village, taking in its main attractions, shops, and stores. Towards the west, she discovered establishments catering to travelers and visitors, such as the mercenary office, Adventures Guild post, medic office, inns, and eateries. The House of Mirrors stood out as the centerpiece, offering a variety of enchanted mirrors, some capable of evoking sorrow and despair, though they garnered little attention.

Upon leaving the House of Mirrors, Aria felt a familiar sensation, an overpowering motivation that she could achieve anything in that moment. But a reluctance to begin the task followed it. She felt the need to await the opportune moment before setting out. However, this time, the feeling dissipated swiftly, unlike yesterday. Perhaps the initial encounter had a deeper impact, she mused.

Yet, a seed of doubt took root within her as she wandered through the village. The atmosphere teemed with liveliness, a stark contrast to the town haunted by a mischievous Ghost Goblin she had passed through earlier, before arriving here. The sudden change in the environment had possibly made her more susceptible to the uncanny ambiance of Serenbrook.

Troubled by her thoughts, Aria meandered through the streets, oblivious to the silent figure tailing her every step. Unbeknownst to her, the enigmatic individual from the previous day shadowed her, maintaining a safe distance. Their presence blended seamlessly into the village, unnoticed by the locals.

With a sense of unease festering in her heart, Aria approached a group of villagers engrossed in a spirited conversation below the banyan tree. Genuine smiles adorned their faces, yet as Aria listened attentively, she couldn't shake off the disquietude that tugged at her. They recounted peculiar incidents, ones that struck Aria as extraordinary, unaffected as she was by the mirrors' influence.

One villager recounted an episode from the previous day when she found herself uncontrollably laughing before a mirror, devoid of any discernible cause. The laughter felt forced, a mere reflection of the mirror's desires. Nonetheless, the villagers embraced it as a moment of joy, a shared experience to be cherished. The storyteller wore a wide smile, devoid of worry or horror.

Another villager shared a tale of witnessing their own reflection shedding tears of happiness, while their own countenance remained stoic. The villagers regarded these occurrences as signs of the mirrors' ability to evoke emotions, cherishing the perceived magic. However, to Aria, the discomfort and creepiness she had sensed fused into an indistinct horror beyond comprehension.

Aria continued her exploration, her gaze now fixed upon the villagers she encountered. Their expressions bore a peculiar uniformity, as though their emotions were subtly molded by the mirrors' influence. A child skipped joyfully before a mirror, their laughter infused with an otherworldly energy. Aria pondered whether the child genuinely experienced pure joy or if it was an artificial manifestation conjured by the mirror's enchantment.

The villagers warmly greeted Aria, their smiles reaching their eyes. Yet, to her, their happiness carried a faint undertone of emptiness, as though it were an echo rather than a genuine reflection of their souls. Aria couldn't shake the feeling that beneath the veneer of this seemingly idyllic village, a sinister force lurked.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

As the day progressed, Aria's discomfort intensified. She noticed subtle shifts in her own emotions—an inexplicable surge of giddiness followed by fleeting moments of melancholy. The feeling that she was going to drown, sink into the atmosphere here, unable to escape clutched her heart. But she hadn't yet lost herself. It seemed as if the mirrors were testing her, attempting to ensnare her within their enchantment slowly. Nevertheless, Aria resisted, unwavering in her determination to remain vigilant and unaffected.

As evening descended upon Serenbrook, Aria found herself drawn to the village square, where the largest mirror stood, its surface shimmering with an enchanting glow. Villagers gathered around, their faces radiating both serenity and excitement. Aria cautiously approached the mirror, her eyes meeting her own reflection.

In that fleeting moment, Aria detected a whisper in her mind, a seductive invitation to surrender to the mirror's embrace. Yet, she resisted, steadfastly fighting against its magnetic pull. She stared deeply into her own eyes, her resolve unyielding.

With a shudder, Aria stepped back, breaking free from the mirror's grasp. The villagers regarded her with curiosity and bemusement, oblivious to the internal struggle she had just endured.

Leaving the village square, Aria couldn't shake the overwhelming sense of isolation that washed over her. Surrounded by the mirrors' enchantment and the villagers under their sway, she stood as an outsider, untainted by their control. She made up her mind and started walking towards the tavern to gather her luggage and immediately leave this place. The horror that was hidden in this village was something she could not face alone. But she had to warn the world outside, gather help and break the illusion or whatever control the mirror had on the people.

But as her resolve formed within, the feeling of drowning engulfed her, and she questioned if her current distress was genuine or another product of the mirrors' influence. Questions and doubts started erupting inside her mind, making her slow down. Had she already succumbed to their control, playing a character according to their desires? Was she even still Aria? What was happening around her? What was wrong with the villagers?

"Wake up," a commanding voice jolted her from the depths of despair. The mysterious figure stood behind her, concealed by layers of clothing and a hidden face beneath the cloak. Yet, a single glance conveyed their authenticity, their aura unmistakably real. Aria had a moment where she felt that she was no longer alone in the town, and took a deep breath of relief.

"Come with me. You have shown great resilience in resisting the allure of the mirrors," the mysterious figure uttered, beckoning Aria to follow. They offered no further explanation and turned around, as if their presence were enough to quell any doubts. And that was true, at least in that moment, Aria felt she could trust them.

Her heart pounded with a mixture of fear and anticipation as she followed the mysterious figure who had emerged from the shadows. She suppressed the questions that were wanting to spill, deciding to listen to the person before. As she knew they would speak and explain the horror that was taking place in the village.

They walked towards the southern region of the village, where the houses were slightly more worn. They had the same coat of peeling paint from years ago, no one having thought of renovating them. In comparison, the norther region was doing much better, the mirrors especially seemed to brighten up the region.

'The mirrors!'

She noted that the southern region had fewer mirrors displayed outside the houses. Perhaps that meant whatever influence these mirrors had, it was lesser in the southern region?

She glanced around her, attentive to the fact that mirrors were indeed fewer in numbers. And also that it was getting darker as they walked further from the square.

Soon they stood before a house, one that looked like a dying old man. Its dilapidated exterior and weathered wooden planks displayed cracks and splinters. The windows were covered in grime and the door was missing a hinge. The interior differed from outside, as she noticed the walls covered in soot, cracks all over and the burnt furniture. This place had been burnt crisply before, but had managed to survive turning to ashes.

She looked towards the cloaked figure, who did not seem to mind the atmosphere. They turned towards her, noticing her gaze and raised their right hand.

Aria spotted their hand, which was now glowing. A thought flashed through her mind, 'Magic, those are magic circles. They are a ranked mage, oh my god!!'

The hand, now pointed in her direction, glowed with runes. Aria yelped and dodged aside, but immediately realized she had mistaken the action. They did not aim it at her, as the door behind her shut silently, enchanted to remain so.

Then the person once again waved their hands. And the room soon transformed as the burnt facade disappeared and the much cleaner interior surfaced.

"Take a seat miss, we have a lot to discuss."

Jolting up, she took a seat opposite to the person, who had taken off their hood and cloak. A head full of silver long hair and pointy ears. Golden eyes and an elemental rune glowing on her glabella.

Aria immediately recognized her as an elf.