Reflection of the Shattered Mirror

The mirror is a bit dirty. I'm pretty sure that I kept it clean, though. I also dusted off the dirt back home. I touch the symbols on the top of the frame.

I set the mirror aside and just get ready for bed. Tomorrow is going to be a rough day. I need to find a way back home.

The next day, I hear someone repeatedly calling out my name. "Alaire... Alaire...! ALAIRE!" I quickly spring up and look around, wondering what's going on.

I'm met with Merle's stern gaze while he holds my shoulders for a bit longer before he lets go, keeping his expression stern and a bit annoyed.

"Wake up, you lazy ass." He says and then walks out of the room, closing the door behind himself. 'How weird he is.' I sigh and get out of bed sleepily.

Today, I need to find out how to get back to Earth. But first of all, let's eat. Perhaps a full belly will help me concentrate. I'm famished.

I sigh once more despite the early morning hour. I change my clothes and head into the lobby to meet with Merle.

I sit down next to him and think about how to strike a conversation. He's a bit difficult to talk to.

"So-" "Do what you want." Before I can even finish barely one word, he already gives me an answer. He doesn't even seem interested in what I want to do... I don't blame him, though. I'm basically still a stranger.

"Alright. Thanks." I nod and start heading back to my rented room. But before that, I grab a fresh sandwich from the lobby diner. It looks delicious... The bread is soft, the vegetables juicy, and the bacon is perfectly crispy.

I head back to the room and close the door, munching on the sandwich. "Now... How do I get back?" I ask myself and take the mirror from the small nightstand next to the bed.

"It obviously acts as a medium in your dimensional travelling!" Hewie says out of nowhere as I almost scream in surprise. "Jeez... don't speak out of nowhere!"

"Wait. Dimensional travelling?" I look at her and give her a confused look before I look at the mirror. I turn it around and examine it.

Let's try to recall what happened before I got here. I remember that I was looking at it and ran my fingers over it. The symbols are indeed fascinating.

'That's it!' I touch the symbols on the mirror frame, which spell H. P. in Elaris, and I wait for a moment.

Nothing.

"Not the letters... Then what?" I mutter quietly before I notice a small crack on the glass. Oh, did it crack while I was travelling?

I wipe off the dirt and touch the crack, trying to see how deep it is and if I can repair it. Ah, I feel dizzy...

I open my eyes and groan. I look around and find myself in my real room. 'So it's the crack? No... It's the glass.' I feel relieved that I'm finally back.

It's good to know that I can return whenever I want. I place the mirror on my bed and go to the kitchen to ask my grandma about the mirror.

I walk into the kitchen and see the familiar view. 'It's really good to be finally back. Although Elarion isn't that bad either.' I look for grandma, ready to shower her with questions, but there's something off.

It's too quiet. Not a single living being in sight. "Grandma...?" I call out and wait for a reply.

Nothing. The only answer is the deafening silence...