Inside the broken house, the mysterious figure raised their hand, dispelling the illusion that had concealed the true nature of their surroundings. Aria gasped in awe, watching the charred exterior dissolve, revealing the hidden elegance within. The walls, once crumbling and blackened, now stood tall and pristine. Ornate pieces that spoke of a forgotten grandeur replaced the tattered furniture.

But Aria's astonishment turned into shock as the figure removed their cloak and revealed her true form. Her silver hair cascading down her shoulders, her ears pointed and regal. On her glabella, a rune symbol glowed softly, a feature unique to individuals that was recognized by laws of magic itself.

"Wh-who are you?" Aria stammered, standing up. Her voice was filled with a mix of surprise and apprehension. "And what is happening in this village? What are these mirrors?"

Thalia remained calm, her eyes filled with understanding as she approached her. She recognized the chaos that was going through Aria's mind right now, being hit by multiple surprises and events. She pressed her palm to Aria's head, magic circles glowing once again.

"I am Thalia, The Guardian of the forest and rivers of Aranya. I arrived here almost six months ago, attracted by the influx and amalgamation of weird energies in the village. It was only after staying here for a while did I notice the anomaly here. Six months ago, it was still very much hidden and I could only point it out because of my affinity with magic, but I fear that whatever that is affecting the mirrors and villagers, it is close to reaching a point of no return. Lady Aria, I require your help in this matter to find a hope of saving the village and its residents from an evil that hides deeply within this village."

As the Guardian explained, her glowing hand seemed to work some magic, as Aria seemed to calm down and listen carefully, no longer panicking. She took the explanation quite well, as in her experience this type of situation was encountered quite frequently. Ghosts, Spirits, Wraiths, Devils and Infernals. Aria had experienced and faced quite a number of evil and malevolent entities in her adventures, often times these creatures being connected to some old legend or myth in the region where it appeared.

By now her mind had settled, as the cogs in her brain started working, analyzing the information that she was aware of. Putting the pieces of puzzles together, she looked at Thalia. What is wrong with the people? And why do the mirrors hold such power over them? What is the origin of these mirrors?"

Thalia nodded and sat back in her place, a complicated expression on her face.

"Long ago, there was a pandemic that swept through Serenbrook, bringing despair and suffering, but also wild laughter and joy. It was a situation never seen before, a hysteria that caused everyone to have bouts of uncontrollable emotions. The feeling was overwhelming for the large majority of commoners, exhausting and draining them magically. It would not hurt physically the villagers, but it seemed to affect their souls itself. It gave upon the residents excessive emotions from an external source and took away something else in return.

The chief mage in the village, Mage Sylas, devised the mirrors as a means to guide the villagers towards healing. He used the mirrors to absorb the emotions that might affect anyone, pretty much removing the symptoms from the people the moment they appeared. It was very affective, and the cases stopped appearing. The Unraveling, as the incident was called, passed, becoming a part of the history of the village. But the mirrors remained.

They became a part of the villagers' life. After absorbing the excessive emotions that had been harvested from the infected people, Sylas modified the mirrors to collect the remnant emotions in the village and use them as blessings that could be granted upon the residents.

And thus, the mirrors of Serenbrook originated."

Aria listened to the tale with rapt attention. The history that was buried deep in the village seemed to form a picture in her mind. She waited for Thalia to continue, finish the tale.

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"I am not sure when, but sometime in the past, the mirrors became corrupted. Some entity, an ancient evil took over the enchanted mirrors, subtly affecting the emotions and souls of the residents. It was a very slow process, and the effects were not visible for many years. By the time I could identify something was wrong, it must have already been decades since the entity took root here.

The aura that engulfed this village was like a burning inferno to my eyes. The people were already completely under the control of mirrors. The reason why this went unnoticed for so long was also because the entity was very cautious. The visitors who come to the village never realized the weird happenings, purposely blind to their surroundings. In the last six months I have been here, I tried all the methods at my disposal to pinpoint the source and eradicate it. But I have had no luck so far. In fact, there is so much that I still am not aware of."

As Thalia spoke, her voice carried the weight of a deep longing for answers, a desire to unravel the mystery that gripped the village and put an end to it. "I have been fighting against this darkness, trying to uncover its source, but it has proven elusive. That is why I need your help, Aria."

Aria's eyes widened with a mixture of fear and determination. "Me? Why me?"

Thalia's gaze held steady, her voice unwavering. "You possess a willpower that surpasses many. When I first saw you in the village, I sensed that you were not under the influence of the mirrors. You have the potential to resist their enchantment, to see through the illusion."

"But you don't seem to be under its influence either, so how am I different?"

"I have to actively fight the influence of the mirrors. It's like drowning in quicksand, constantly dragging you the longer I resist and remain here. But you, on the other hand, are special. There is something about you, something magical that helps you resist it subconsciously. With you here, there is finally hope."

She looked at Aria, the meaning in her words clear. The Guardian had been waiting for her to arrive.

However, Aria hesitated, her mind filled with conflicting emotions. "Just... what can I do? I'm just an ordinary researcher. And what about you?"

"I am trapped here, Aria," Thalia began, her voice heavy with both urgency and frustration. "Since the last full moon, the entity's influence over the villagers has intensified. It's as if it's preparing for some sort of ritual, using their manipulated minds as pawns. I've been using my magic to resist its control and protect the villagers from harm, but in doing so, I've become invisible to them. I can't leave either, as I have no idea what will the consequences be."

Aria's eyes widened in disbelief. "Invisible? You mean they can't even see you?"

Thalia nodded, her silver hair shimmering in the dim light of the hidden house. "Yes, the entity has twisted their perception to such an extent that they can no longer perceive my presence. I am but a shadow, existing on the fringes of their awareness. This is why I need your help, Aria. With your resistance to the entity's influence, we can turn the tide and bring an end to its reign. In fact, this is the first time in almost three weeks I have talked to anyone."

Her face looked exhausted in that moment, but she hid that.

Aria's heart pounded in her chest as she realized the magnitude of the situation. "But how long can you hold on, Thalia? If the entity is becoming more powerful, won't it eventually break through your defenses?"

Thalia's expression grew somber. "That is a fear that haunts me, Aria. I don't know how much longer I can resist its control and subversion. That's why we need to act swiftly and bring reinforcements from outside the village. Together, we can face this darkness head-on.

I need you to leave the village and call for reinforcement. Send a message to the Silver Tribe situated in the center of Aranya. With their help, we can surely turn this around and save everyone from the fate of being puppets, of turning empty husks with no emotions."

Reluctance filled Aria's voice as she spoke. "But... I don't want to leave you here alone. I want to help, to fight alongside you."

Thalia's eyes softened with compassion, her voice gentle yet firm. "Aria, you must not let your emotions cloud your judgment. If you stay, there is a risk that the entity will discover our plans and hide even deeper. By leaving, you can keep hope alive and ensure that the evil residing here does not go unchecked until it's too late. Please, Aria, for the sake of Serenbrook and all its innocent souls, agree to this plan."

Aria's shoulders slumped in reluctant acceptance. She knew Thalia was right, but it didn't ease the ache in her heart. "Alright, I will go. But promise me that you will stay safe and wait for me to return."

Thalia nodded solemnly, her silver eyes filled with determination. "I promise, Aria. I will do everything in my power to keep this village safe until you return. Now go, and may the light guide your steps."

With a heavy heart, Aria took a deep breath and embraced the weight of her newfound responsibility. Reluctantly, she agreed to leave, carrying a flicker of hope within her as she prepared to venture beyond the veils of Serenbrook.