The 13th Sunrise

Chapter 29: The Shattered Mirror

Orchid's eyelids felt heavy, as if they had been weighed down with the weight of a thousand stones.

But she needed to save Iris, like Everbloom had said, it was the right thing to do.

Well, Everbloom didn't say that exactly but she got the hint.

Everbloom destroyed the ring didn't she?

Maybe Orchid should increase her expectations of what Everbloom could do, maybe after years of practise she could compare to her, but now... if everything was fine, then maybe she could sleep... only for a little bit-

"Honestly, I thought I was a deep sleeper, but then I met you." Orchid felt a cold voice whisper in her ear, and it didn't sound like Everbloom.

Orchid shook herself up, startled, not wanting to be caught while she was so hopelessly vulnerable and injured, but regretting it almost immediately as her whole body ached from the energy she had used.

"Note for next time, don't get thrown into a cliff." Orchid winced in pain as she looked up to try to find the source of the voice.

She was stuck what seemed to be a wasteland, surrounded by an endless fury of dark mist, swirling around her in an endless storm.

Allowing her senses to regain themselves, she took a small step forward, the soft yet firm texture of the ground felt through her boots.

'Where am I? How, how did I get here?' A swelling sense of panic flowed through Orchid's mind.

"But then, I suppose you are me." Orchid jumped back in shock as she heard the voice again.

"Where are you, show yourself!" Orchid tried bringing the feeling of light in her hands, maybe a shield, no wait, ditch the shield, fly out of here and then she'll get to ignore the problem all together!

She imagined herself flying above the mist, away from this creepy place, envisioning it as if it were to happen in real-time, but something... felt off.

"Your magic won't work here sweetie, I'm in possession of it for the time being while you're stuck here." The voice chuckled, obviously not caring about Orchid's dismay, as her eyes widened in horror to see that the familiar sparks which floated around her hands with ease ceased to appear.

Orchid looked around hopelessly, but to no avail, she was the only person there in the surrounding area.

"Oh for goodness sake, look behind you." The voice sighed in impatience.

Orchid spun around in fear, she was stuck here with this mysterious voice with no magic to defend herself with, she didn't know what to expect.

Embedded into the ground that lay in front of her was crystalline shards of shattered glass, the sparkling reflection an obvious contrast to the dull and somber surrounding.

Tilting her head in confusion, Orchid knelt down and tentatively stretched out her hand, reaching towards the closest piece of glass in curiosity.

With no warning, the shards of glass flew into the air and swirled dangerously close around Orchid.

With a gasp, Orchid immediately shielded her face with her hands, trying to stay unscathed.

"Honestly, all you do is worry, open your eyes for goodness sake." The unknown voice echoed tauntingly, almost as if it was enjoying Orchid's struggle.

Hesitantly, Orchid opened her eyes to see the view in front of her.

Floating in the air, bound together by a luminescent golden string, the shattered glass had fit together like a jigsaw, forming a small circular mirror.

Orchid looked at her reflection, bringing her hand up, slowly waving.

The mirror didn't budge.

The Orchid in the mirror formed a twisted grin and slowly brought her hand up to the surface of the reflection.

"Finally, fate has allowed me to break through time and space. Pleasure to meet you, Orchid Sunriser."

Authors Note:
Hello :D
If you haven't checked it out yet, I recently made a character guide with pictures and little details about characters, if you wanted to know more about them and their appearance. :)
Have a great day!