CHAPTER FOUR

HAPPILY EVER AFTER

Bernice slammed the door behind her as she pushed him into the room. He laughed as she had to open it again to remove her skirt, then she threw herself into his arms and kissed him deeply.

“I’m so happy for you,” She wept as she held his face. “I want you to know that.”

“I do,” He promised, giddy after passing his test. He kissed her deeply again, his hands pulling her against him.

“Whoa, slow down,” She giggled. “I have a couple of things before we… you know?”

“Before?” He asked, surprised.

“Yes, before,” She giggled again and blushed slightly. “I promise, it is only before, not instead of.” She winked, and it was his time to blush.

“First, I have a confession to make,” She said as she stepped back a little. She looked around furtively, stepped forward, and whispered in his ear, “I know about the mirror.”

He blanched, but she shushed him, “It’s okay, it’s okay. I will never tell a soul. I promise.” She rushed on as he struggled to catch up with the conversation. “I asked my Master back home about it, and he was so angry they took it away. It was perfectly safe… in fact, it has a hidden power!” She beamed.

“What?” Dave asked, completely blindsided. “How did you know?”

“The mirror is special; I would know if it had been destroyed.” She sighed and leaned into his chest, “I thought you had sold it at first. I figured at least someone would get some use of it… but then you were a mage so soon after. I just knew!” She wiped happy tears from her eyes. “I can’t tell you how happy I am you didn’t destroy it.”

They kissed again for a while, his mind still swirling as he tried to catch up with what had happened.

She knew… and she didn’t mind. In fact, she was happy. But would she tell someone? Did it even matter now? He passed the Test. He could get another focus, but he had a feeling he did not have to worry about her telling anyone.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, but I was worried you would get scared or angry and not talk to me.” She sniffled.

“Never,” He whispered in her ear and held her.

“Can you still trust me?” She asked in a quiet voice.

“Yes. Always.” He pulled her against him; she squirmed against him in a lovely way.

“Can I trust you?” She asked breathlessly.

“Yes. Always.” He said again as his breath caught in his throat.

She smiled at him.

“Tonight, I’ll show you just how much that means to me,” She grinned at him.

“Likewise,” He promised.

Lunchtime came, and they went to the dining hall hand in hand. He was stopped at the door.

“Is something wrong?” He asked the Master of Ceremonies.

“Nothing, Master.” The man bowed to him, and Dave nearly choked on his own tongue.

“See? Not much fun, is it?” Bernice whispered to him.

The Master of Ceremonies opened the door and strode ahead of them.

“A new Noble is born this day! Rise and greet your equal!” He bellowed into the Hall.

A flabbergasted Dave walked in as every person there rose to their feet and spoke as one, “Welcome, Brother!”

It was a very different meal this time. He sat at the head of the first-year’s table, and everyone toasted him with each course. Each time they welcomed him as a brother.

Dave barely kept it together through the meal. Only the stares of hatred from the boy he quarreled with kept him from being overwhelmed. It reminded him that he would never be one of them; however they acted.

And he did not need to be now.

He had Bernice.

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Bernice said she would be by soon as she left lunch. He walked back to his room and paused outside the door. A name was now stenciled on the door in ornate script.

Sir David East.

First-Year Mage.

He was still looking at the nameplate fifteen minutes later when Bernice put her arm around his waist.

“Sir East.” She smiled, “I like it.”

“Me too,” Dave smiled.

“Come on. I have presents!” She pulled him inside as he laughed.

They sat together on his bed, and she laid out three bundles.

“This one to start!” She grinned.

Dave opened it, finding a robe inside. It was made of rich fabric in an elegant style, with red and gold designs over a simple but deep black. He held it up and looked in the mirror, trying it against himself.

“Try it on!” She said. “I can’t wait!”

“But,” He started.

“I’m going to see more than that before the night is over,” She laughed.

Dave grinned and lost himself to thinking about what he was going to see.

Pulling his mind back to the present, he shrugged off his other robe and put on the new one. It fit him like a second skin and looked…

“Fantastic!” She gasped. “It is perfect, but next time, do it slower,” She winked.

He laughed despite himself.

The next present seemed to be a medallion of some kind. It was clearly magical, but he could not figure out what it did. He looked at Bernice in confusion.

“It is a personal shield, plus it has another use,” She grinned, “That’s why it is hidden.”

“Really, what does it do?” He asked, fascinated.

“You’ll find out soon, promise.” She grinned wickedly at him.

Dave blushed again, and she laughed.

“And now the best one,” She slid off the bed and brought it over to him.

“Not quite the best,” He smiled at her. “You are the best.” He said awkwardly.

She smiled, a blush creeping up her cheeks, and looked away.

“Tell me if you still think that later,” She said.

“Promise,” He said as he kissed her again.

When they pulled apart, he opened the final parcel. Inside was a spell scroll, but not a normal one. The parchment was a rich, almost leathery, velum. The runes themselves were painted in black and gold; it was striking.

“Wow, what is this?” He asked as he tried to understand the spell.

“Advanced Reflection,” She smiled. “I heard you used a mirror image spell in the Test. This one is a hundred times better.”

“Really?” Dave asked, “I’ve never heard of it before.”

“You wouldn’t” She shook her head, “It is mirror magic.” She smiled. “They don’t use them over here, remember?”

He gaped at her. “There is a whole branch of….” He trailed off.

“Because they are all idiots, as you well know.” Her smile took the heat out of the words. “Learn it; I’ll be right here when you are done. You can cast it for the first time right here, then claim your reward,” Her smile left no room to misinterpret that.

Dave forced his mind back to his new spell.

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It took him an hour to figure out the incantation and internalize it. He felt it settle into his mind. He could cast it, but he still didn’t understand it. Turning to Bernice, he found her going into the bathroom.

“I still can’t figure out how it works, but I can cast it now.” He said in confusion.

“Good, I can’t wait much longer,” She called out the door.

As he watched, she dropped her clothes out the door.

“Cast it yet?” She asked in a playful voice.

“Casting!” He laughed and jumped to his feet.

With the mirror held in his hand, he looked into the mirror, as the spell demanded… and activated it.

The mirror seemed to zoom towards him as he was spun in the air. Once his vision cleared, he saw a ripple, like water closing before his eyes. Thinking back to the bath earlier, he tried to push up, concerned something was wrong.

His face slammed against a hard surface that rapidly got smaller.

In a moment, he looked into the room through a small opening in a roughened glass wall.

He saw what looked like himself through the gap as Bernice came out of the room. Whatever had taken his place took her in his arms as Dave yelled and tried to cast the spell again.

He had to help her.

He had to stop her.

That wasn’t him.

The spell didn’t work.

He roared and beat his fists against the tiny portal-like opening in the glass wall. Nothing.

He wept as they lay together in his bed.

Finally, after way more than he would ever want to see, she approached the mirror with an angelic smile on her face.

“Bernice! That’s not me! Help!” He called as loud as he could.

She picked up the mirror and used it while she brushed her hair.

“Oh, I know, Dave.” She blinked, her eyes replaced with balls or rough glass. “But thanks for being a friend.”

The thing with his face laughed as he came over and joined her, peering into the mirror.

“By the way, you might want to keep it down, Dave. You might find out why you haven’t had nightmares otherwise.” His smile was cruel.

“Please,” Dave wept, “I worked so hard. Let me out of here.”

“I’m sorry, Dave.” Bernice smiled happily, “I can’t do that.”

“Looks like you have company, so we better let you go.” The mirror went black as the two laughed.

Dave whirled around and felt his blood run cold. The shadows ran behind him, pushing up into shapes he knew well. The Matron who beat them in the orphanage chief among them.

He cast a spell and felt it fizzle out. The shadowy monsters closed on him.

None of his spells worked.

His mind spun. No spells, no magic…

He roared and charged the shadows, leaping into the middle of them and swinging with all his might as they closed around him.

His last coherent thoughts before panic claimed his mind was of his words to himself the night he became a mage… ‘Mirrors can’t eat people.’

Maybe they can’t.

But they can be a prison if you let them.