Amnesiac Knight (Discontinued)

[Chapter Four] Reflection of Lies

This chapter's author: HarukiSagae

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                 ~The other Teresa’s POV~

               

                My name is not Teresa.

                That was the only thought that passed through my mind as I vanished from the forest where I had faced the knight who shared my face. At least, I had thought it was my face.

                I had been so sure. So certain. I was the real one, of course I was. I had the book after all, and she didn’t. But I was wrong. I appeared in darkness—crushing, blinding darkness that rendered me nearly blind. A pained smirk crossed my face as I sat shivering in the cold darkness. My glass hand had been broken off, there were cracks in my face, and I had no idea where I was—but I smirked.

                So what if I’m not Teresa, I thought. So what if I’m the fake one.

                My name is Mirror.

                I had magic beyond human comprehension. I could make myself the exact replica of anyone or anything I wanted. I could shift the darkness to do my bidding. But more than anything, I had the book. Somehow, sitting there in the darkness, knowledge was flooding into my brain.

                The Legendary Tales book. It was given to me, Mirror, and not that pathetic excuse for a knight. Of course, it’s because only I had the power and courage to go up against the dragon queen… right?

                Hehehe… The chance to end the life of a dragon… Just imagining my sword stuck through the scaled beast’s heart filled me with desire.

                Teresa, poor little Teresa, would never have been able to do something like that… I mean, the book has to be followed at all costs, right?

                “Indeed.” A familiar voice echoed out from behind me.

                “You—!” I spun around, only to see the haunting silhouette of someone I had seen all too recently. “What are you doing here!? Did you just read my mind?” I shouted out.

                The looming shadow gave a tiny laugh. “First, because this is my castle. And second—yes.”

                I stayed silent for a few minutes as I processed their answer, and then looked back at them fearfully. “But… you’re back in the forest, right? How could you be here?”

                Another laugh echoed out, this one more of a giggle. “The version of me you’re seeing here is an illusion. Or am I? Maybe I’m like you, a copy of the one you saw in the forest. You’ll just have to find out for yourself…”

                I quickly realized that this person was not going to supply me with any of the information that I really wanted—so I changed my angle of questioning. “What is the Legendary Tales book… and how do you know of it?”

                “Well,” they started, “the Legendary Tales book is a tome written by the most powerful seer this world has ever known, many years ago. It does not predict the future, for the future is not a tangible thing. What it does is show a set path that, if followed, will bring about a better future than others. I know about it… well…”

                “On with it!” I snarled.

                “Oh? Are you forgetting who’s in control right now? Ha. Well then, I’ll continue, just for you.” Sarcasm filled their tone. “I know all about the Legendary Tales book—because I am the seer who wrote it. And before you say that was long ago, and I shouldn’t be alive, seers live a long, long life…”

                Silence filled the darkness as the figure finished speaking. After a moment, they laughed again.

                “Confused? Oh, I understand perfectly. Very well, I’ll explain the situation plain and simple. I wrote that book years and years ago, but I had no use for it, and no one believed in seers back then anyway. A little while ago I was examining its contents again, and I realized that the chapter with Teresa and the dragon queen Agnea would occur soon. But of course, Teresa is a kind-hearted fool who believes dragons are good. So, for the sake of following the book, I asked you, Mirror, to take Teresa’s place in following the contents of this chapter. Unfortunately for my plan, a certain wizard discovered both you and Teresa as you were attempting to copy her, and you attacked this wizard. In desperation, that wizard let loose a massive memory-loss spell, and both you and Teresa’s memories were destroyed just after you managed to copy her. Even more unfortunate is the fact that in the chaos, Teresa’s memories were thrown into—of all things—her sword. Currently, the wizard—who you saw in the forest—is travelling with Teresa and her talking sword.” The figure giggled at that. “The sword believes that the book should not be followed. Why, I’m not sure—but Teresa must not be allowed to follow its advice.”

                “And…” I spoke up. “That wizard… why does she look exactly like you?”

                The girl before me—with dark blue hair, dark blue eyes, and an elaborate wizard’s cloak—smiled ever so slightly. “Alisa. That’s the wizard’s name. She’s… my younger twin sister. My name is Alice. It’s a pleasure working with you, Mirror.” She offered me her hand, to help me stand up.          

                ~Alice’s POV, 10 minutes later~

                I gazed out my tower window and surveyed the darkness that surrounded my castle. It was a beautiful, starless night. I smirked.

                I wonder how much of that ridiculous made-up story Mirror believed, I thought. Teresa tries to stop the book from being followed, and her copy, Mirror, tries to follow it… Oh, this is going to be entertaining….