Round 193 Transcript

The room seems to shrink, the books on the shelves closing in around Seraphine's reflection. She sets her book down, and as she does, the candles on the desk flicker, casting eerie shadows on the walls. The air grows thick with the scent of old parchment and something else... something sweet and decaying. Seraphine's reflection looks up at you, her eyes piercing. "You've come to confront your past, Seraphine," she says, her voice low and husky. "But are you prepared to face the truth? The truth about Elric, about Merrin, about yourself?"

Jeane takes a step back, her wings fluttering anxiously. "What do you mean?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper. Seraphine's reflection smiles, a cold, mirthless smile. "The mirrors will show you the truth," she says. "But be warned, Seraphine... once you see, there is no turning back."

I stare at this... reflection of Seraphine sitting there in her own study, a place that clearly echoes our past but feels completely wrong somehow. Her smile is too knowing, her eyes too cold for it to be just an echo. The sweet decay in the air makes me want to gag—like old flowers and rotting meat mixed together.

She says we have to face the truth about Elric, Merrin, ourselves... but what kind of truth does this place deal in? The real kind that sets us free? Or the poisoned kind that twists everything until nothing makes sense anymore? I glance at Seraphine standing next to me—I can see her hand trembling a little, even if she's trying to hide it. We don't have time for riddles or mind games. The tower could come down any second. My eyes narrow as I look back at the reflection sitting there so smugly in her chair. Fine then, let's get this over with—what truth? Spit it out instead of playing coy like a cheap whore in a tavern brawl! I snap, my patience already fraying from exhaustion and fear. The runes on my skin burn with an agitated energy, wanting to lash out even though I know that's probably what she wants. You want us to face something—so show it or this whole damn thing collapses around our heads! The reflection just smiles wider, if that's possible without her face cracking from the strain of such a cruel expression. The mirrors will show you everything you need to see. But be warned, Seraphine... once you step through and confront what lies beyond, there is no turning back. I grab Seraphine's arm before she can even think about moving towards that mirror—it might as well have "TRAP" written across it in glowing letters. Wait. My voice is low and urgent now, all the fire gone out of it replaced by cold calculation. You heard her. No turning back means this isn't just some vision or memory—it's going to change us somehow. Maybe permanently. I look around the study again, really looking this time instead of just reacting. And why is this place so... perfect? Too perfect. Everything exactly like we remember it but wrong enough that it makes my skin crawl. The books on the shelves shift slightly as if someone breathed on them from inside—empty pages rustling softly.

I turn back to Seraphine, trying to keep my voice steady despite how much I want to just run screaming out of here. If we do this... whatever this is... we stick together no matter what. No getting pulled apart or tricked or left behind. Whatever the mirror shows us, we face it side by side and get the fuck out as soon as we have what we need. Agreed? I don't wait for an answer—I can see the determination in her eyes already. And we trust nothing this place shows us at face value. Memories can be manipulated just as easily as reality here, so we verify everything through logic and evidence—not emotion or temptation. The runes on my skin pulse once with finality as I say it—like a seal being set on those words.

I take a deep breath. Now... if you're ready to step into whatever hell awaits us, then let's go face this truth head-on before the whole damn tower collapses and buries us both. My hand finds hers again, squeezing tight as I lead her towards the mirror where our reflection waits with that infuriating smile still plastered across her face.

I feel the heat of Jeane's body pressing against mine as she speaks, her words cutting through the fog of fear that had begun to cloud my thoughts. Her plan is solid—stay together, trust nothing, get in and out fast. It's exactly what we need right now.
My eyes dart back to the reflection sitting at my desk, her smile never wavering despite Jeane’s harsh tone. She seems almost amused by our hesitation, as if she knows something we don’t. And maybe she does. Maybe this whole damn place is just one big joke at our expense.
I look down at my own hand in Jeane's, feeling the rough calluses on her palm against my skin. It grounds me, reminding me of who I am and what I need to do. This isn't about me—it's about Merrin, about finding out what happened and bringing her home if we can. Whatever lies beyond that mirror, whatever truth it shows us... it's a price I'm willing to pay.
I give Jeane's hand a final squeeze before letting go, stepping forward towards the mirror. The air crackles with energy, making the fine hairs on my arms stand up straight. You're right, I say over my shoulder, not taking my eyes off the shimmering surface. We stay together no matter what. And we get out as soon as we have what we need. No getting lost in memories or dreams. I turn back to the reflection, my voice steady now despite the pounding of my heart. But if you want to show me the truth so badly... then show it. With that, I reach out and place my hand flat against the cold glass of the mirror. It doesn’t feel like glass at all—it feels alive, humming with a power that seems to seep right into my bones. And before I can even process what's happening, the world around me blurs and shifts.