Third wish: Volume One

episode 17: Thursday

Early in the morning Leon walked into Mystical Medallions, the familiar scent of incense and herbs filling his nostrils. Miranda looked up from behind the counter and gave him a warm smile.

"Leon! Good to see you again," she said, her eyes sparkling. "How have you been?"

"I'm doing good, thanks," replied Leon, returning her smile. "You asked me to come back in a few days. Is everything alright?"

Miranda nodded. "Yes, everything is going as planned. The official guild badges will be finished by Saturday."

"That's great news," Leon said, relieved. "I was worried we wouldn't have them in time for the guild's next mission."

Miranda grinned. "Don't worry, Leon. I always deliver on my promises."

Leon couldn't help but notice the large book sitting on the counter next to her. It was old and worn, with a thick leather cover that looked like it had seen better days. He was sure this book contained information on the five fingers guild.

"What's that?" he asked, pointing to the book.

Miranda looked at the book affectionately. "This? Oh, it's just a family heirloom. It's filled with information on every guild my family has ever worked on."

Leon raised an eyebrow. "Really? That sounds interesting. Can I take a look?"

Miranda hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. "Sure, why not? But be careful with it. It's very old and delicate."

Leon nodded and carefully picked up the book. As he flipped through the pages, he saw that Miranda was right - it contained detailed information on every guild imaginable. There were notes on their history, their members, their strengths and weaknesses, and even their secret rituals.

The guilds were organized in alphabetical order and Leon wasted no time flipping to the section with the letter F. He eventually stop exactly on the page containing information on the five finger guild but something was wrong, The page had been glamored.

What exactly was Miranda hiding that she would need to glamor an entire page, if Leon was to get any more information on them, he was going to need Romeo.

"This is amazing," Leon said, his eyes wide with wonder. "How did your family gather all of this information?"

Miranda smiled enigmatically. "Let's just say we have our ways. But some things are better left unsaid, Leon. The less you know, the safer you'll be."

Leon nodded slowly, feeling a chill run down his spine. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this book than met the eye. But for now, he decided to let it go and focus on the task at hand - getting the guild badges ready.

As Leon turned to leave the shop, he caught sight of the magical mirror he had played with a few days earlier. It was still hanging on the wall, its surface shimmering with an otherworldly light.

Without thinking, Leon stepped in front of the mirror, expecting to see his parents and himself as a child as he had seen before. But this time, something was different.

As he looked into the mirror, he saw the image of a middle-aged black man with broad shoulders an a face shaped like a cheetah, his eyes fueled with hate. He was wearing a tight black suit with an orange time. Leon's heart skipped a beat as he stared at the familiar face, his mind reeling with confusion.

"Miranda, what is this?" he asked, turning to face the shopkeeper. "Why am I seeing THAT MAN in the mirror?"

Miranda walked over to him, her expression serious. "That mirror is called The Mystic Mirror of Longings and Dread," she said quietly. "One side shows you your greatest desire, and the other side shows you your absolute worst fear."