Chapter 11

The body may perish, but the spirit lives on.

Those were the words that Mr. 44 had spoken to him last night.

So why… are they inscribed upon the back of this mirror?

Garland rubbed a gentle finger over the cold metal surface. A streaky fingermark traced the words engraved into the back of the mirror, etched deep with time and wear.

And the feelin' I get from this thing… Vivi said he didn't know if it was magic. But it feels… just like the Mist Spirits do. It's all too much too similar. There has to be some sort of connection!

The boy jogged through the village, clutching the mirror to his chest just under his over-shirt. It was heavy. Probably made of pure gold, though only decorated moderately in design. And the glassy side reflected better than the surface of the little clear pond at the edge of town.

Anythin' that might even have the slightest chance in relatin' back to Mr. 44… in bringin' him back to stay with me again… anythin'… I have to know more about. I have to find out!

The last golds of sunset were casting low across the sky, a warm sheen through the tops of the trees. Already, Garland could see where the harsh Outlands were wearing away at the greenery, replacing their haven with a dull, muted brown.

The barrier..

That would be the next order of business to concern to.

I still don't have no idea in hell what happened back in the Glade. What caused that stone to break? I don't know what happened, why it happened, or even if it had anything to do with me at all.

It was all so confusing when he looked back on it. So many things happened so quickly. All of them bad.

I don't know what that strange feelin' that came over me when I touched the stone was either. But I know I'm sure as hell not gonna allow this place to turn back into nothing more than wasted lands and dead trees. The Mages and Genomes here might not be all that bright, but they deserve a place to hide away. A place to call home. Even if they don't really want me here…

I'll still protect this Mystik Haven… with my life.

He knew deep down somewhere, he really would. Though what good he would do the people of the Black Mage Village was beyond him.

As Garland drew closer to the Sacred Hill, he had the overwhelming feeling of being watched. The sensation was a cold weight in the pit of his chest, stirring a fear within that was nearly strong enough to send him dashing back to the safety of Vivi's house.

Would Mr. 299's Shadow Beast be waiting there for him?

Why does Mr. 299 want to hurt me so badly? What did I ever do to him to make him hate me so much? If I didn't know better… I'd say he's not at all like any of the other Mages. They don't seem to have the ability to support a single hurtful idea in that pointy head of theirs. Not a single one of them. Except for Mr. 299…

Upon the rising crest of the hill, the boy could make out the wavering outlines of the Mist Spirits. There were about five of them, calmly drifting there, not seeming to move. Not even in the wind. It was as if they did not see him at all. Or they were simply unconcerned about his presence there. After all.. what could a mere Genome child do to beings that had passed beyond the realm of the living?

"Mr. 44?" Garland asked, addressing the strange shifting forms as he pulled himself up the steep hillside. The mirror was heavy in his arms. "Mr. 44… It's me… Garland. I need to talk to you."

The Mist Spirits did not stir. It was as if they did not even notice he was there.

The boy pulled himself up atop of the mound. Tall grave markers towered above him on all sides, weathered hats and robes hung upon them snapped in the evening breeze. There was a deep silence here. Deeper than the night. Deeper than his own sorrow.

The Mist Spirits did not answer.

"Mr. 44?" Garland was beginning to get a bit frantic.

Is he mad at me… for telling Vivi? Does he hate me? Will he not talk to me? Or… did he get in trouble for talking to me like that? What's… going on? Where is he!

"Mr. 44!! Please! Answer me!"

Caught up in a whirl-wind of his own emotions, it was simply too late. Garland didn't hear the approach from behind. A heavy hand, strong grip, fell upon his shoulder, jarring him senseless with terror and surprise. The mirror slipped in his hands, nearly taking a tumble down the rocky hillside.

Mr. 299 followed me! He was just waitin' for this.. when he could catch me alone… now… it'll all look like an accident when they find me tomorrow mornin'… Shiva I'm so stupid for coming here alone!

"What are you doing here?"

The boy realized he had dropped to his knees in the tall grasses, cradling the relic for safety. A soft whimper of fear escaped his parted lips.

"Garland? A-are you crying?"

Wait… that's not… Mr. 299's… voice..

Garland blinked up at the sound of his name, finding himself face to face with a Mage. But it was certainly not Mr. 299. The shimmering lights of the Mage's eyes smiled back at him with a touch of sympathy.

"Mr. 78?" Garland simply stared. Relief mingled with self-scolding clung about him.

Man… I can be so dumb sometimes. Scared shitless all for nothing…

"I saw you walking here. Um… You came out to see M-Mr. 44's grave.. You m-must m-miss him, hun?" The Mage was kneeling at Garland's side, one large hand attempting a comforting hold on the boy's shoulder. Then Mr. 78 tilted his head. "Did I frighten you? I'm sorry."

He sounded sincerely upset.

"It's… okay…" Garland told him, pushing himself to his feet slowly. "When it gets dark outside… sometimes things are a little scary if you're out by yourself…"

"Um… But why? The night is pretty. Shiny stars and big white moon. Us Mages are here.. we wouldn't let anything bad happen to you, you know?" Mr. 78 reassured him. "The village is a safe place."

If only you knew…

"Yeah." The boy nodded instead. "I guess so."

The Mist Spirits still bobbed in their shrouded silence, only feet away. Mr. 78 seemed not to see them. They returned the sentiment without question. Garland shifted the big mirror between his hands. That's when Mr. 78 noticed it.

"What's that? It's sparkly." He rose to his feet in excitement, bouncing slightly on his toes.

"Um… something I borrowed from Vivi." Garland said quickly, attempting to cover in inside his overshirt.

Damn.. the last thing I need is for him to start--

But the larger Mage had already managed to wrestle the mirror from the boy's grip with little trouble. He turned it about looking at every side, strange sounds of fascination bubbling up from under the brim of his hat.

"M-my… this is something really pretty."

"Uh.. yeah… can I have it back?"

"But you said it was Vivi's?"

"Yeah. You mind if I.."

"You can see yourself in the silver side of it! Oh…!" The Mage looked suddenly startled. "Is that… me?"

"Yeah.. it is. How about I.."

"I am… nice-looking… do you think?"

"Um.. for a Black Mage, I suppose…"

Even though you all look alike to me…

"Really?"

"Yeah, whatever you say Mr. 78… I'd really like.."

"Hehehehehe."

"Uh…"

"That's a nice thing to say!"

"Uh…."

"It's really quite a splendid thing Vivi has here!" The Mage began to turn it, inspecting the backside when he froze.

Mr. 78 let out a strangled sound. Like he was afraid.

Garland blinked up at him.

The Mage slowly turned his head, peering out across the hilltop. Then he stared back down at the angled mirror in his hands. Then back across the hilltop.

"Garland…" Mr. 78's voice was strange. An intensity had crept into his tone that the boy had never heard, washing away the cheerful prattle. "I don’t wish to alarm you, but… I think we are not alone here."

The boy nearly choked as the Mage gathered him closer as if for protection.

He wasn't starin' across the hilltop… he was lookin' at them! At the Mist Spirits! Does he see them?

"W-what do you mean?" Garland asked in a tiny little-boy voice.

"There are… um… entities here. Like… ghosts… I think…"

"Where?"

"I-I… see them here… in the m-mirror… but.. not.. there.. when I look on the hill." The Mage took a step back away. He seemed a bit puzzled. Even upset.

"You see them, too then?"

"Only in the m-mirror." Mr. 78 twisted the reflection between his hands. Sure enough, Garland could make out the misty shapes reflected pale against the skyline upon the clear glass.

So somehow.. the mirror can show things that cannot be normally seen…

"It's as if they're not of our world. Like they're on another level of being all together…" Mr. 78 was staring deeply into the glass.

Now I can bring Vivi here and he can see it for himself! Just by looking into the mirror! I can prove that the Mist Spirits DO exist!

"They are the spirits of the Mages who have stopped." Garland told him slowly, all in one quick sound.

It must have been too much for him.

Mr. 78 seemed to freeze, breathless for a passing moment. Then ever so silently, the mirror slipped from between his fingers.

And shattered upon the rocks on the hillside below.

~Chapter 12~