The Golden Reflection

The morning began like any other, with sunlight streaming through the windows and the faint hum of activity in the house. Roseline sat by the hearth, her silver hair catching the light as she hummed softly to herself. Fren was outside, sharpening his sword with the focused intensity that seemed to be his default state these days.

Celine bustled about the room, her blonde braids bouncing as she adjusted her glasses and sorted through a pile of herbs and vials. Her usual cheerful demeanor filled the space, though there was an air of anticipation she couldn’t quite hide.

“We’re expecting someone,” Fren remarked, stepping inside briefly.

Celine froze for a moment, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose.

Fren arched an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “Your sister might know more about Raizen’s condition than anyone else. You don’t have to start pouting.”

“I’m not pouting!” Celine snapped, sending Fren a death glare.

I blinked up at her from my spot on the blanket, vaguely puzzled by her shift in demeanor. Sister? This was news to me. And it made me wonder what her character would be like, knowing she was related to the midwife of doom.

A knock at the door broke the quiet rhythm of the morning. Fren moved to answer it, his sword resting against his shoulder.

Standing on the threshold was a girl who bore an uncanny resemblance to Celine. Her features were nearly identical, from the shape of her face to the glasses perched on her nose. The difference was her hair—a rich, chestnut brown that framed her face in soft waves. Another difference was that she was far younger.

“Reine!” Fren greeted her with a nod, stepping aside to let her in.

Celine’s reaction was less enthusiastic. She turned away from her sister, muttering something under her breath about “perfect timing.”

Reine smiled warmly, her brown eyes sparkling despite Celine’s obvious attitude. “Good morning, Celine,” she said, her voice carrying the calm confidence of someone who had seen more of the world than most. Celine was likely in her early twenties, but her sister looked closer to a teenager.

“Good morning,” Celine grumbled, barely meeting her gaze.

Reine turned her attention to Roseline, bowing her head slightly in greeting. “Fren told me there’s been an unusual occurrence—but I’ll never forgive myself for not coming to visit this little one sooner!” she said, her tone letting her childish demeanor slip through.

Roseline smiled. “Still clinging to the status I left behind. Bowing isn’t necessary. But yes—it’s Raizen’s left eye. After an incident in the prairie, something changed.”

Reine adjusted her glasses, her expression thoughtful. “Let me take a look.”

She knelt down beside me, her movements precise and deliberate. Roseline was concerned about the flame, but the change she spoke of was one I wasn’t aware of. As Reine leaned closer, I caught sight of my reflection in the glass of her lenses.

For the first time, I saw it—the golden hue of my left eye, glowing faintly in stark contrast to the deep blue of my right. The sight was both mesmerizing and unsettling, a stark reminder of the strange events that had unfolded in the prairie.

I blinked, my tiny hands reaching instinctively toward her glasses. The golden eye stared back at me, its glow dimming slightly as I moved.

Reine’s glasses flickered faintly with light as she murmured an incantation, her voice steady but soft. “Appraisal.”

Her emerald eyes widened slightly, their color shifting into a rainbow shimmer as the results appeared before her, invisible to anyone else. “It’s a manifestation,” she said finally, her voice carrying both curiosity and concern.

Manifestation? The word sent a jolt of panic through me. What was that? Some sort of fancy name for cancer in this world?

My distress must have been evident, because Reine reached out a calming hand, her tone shifting to reassurance. “Don’t worry, Raizen. It’s not harmful in that sense.”

Her words did little to soothe me as she continued her analysis. My mind spiraled. This was a different world, but if the same scenario repeated itself, what was the point? My emotions overpowered me, and in that instant I found myself screaming.

Golden flames burst forth, burning brighter, powerful waves flowing from me. Reine was pushed back slightly, while the furniture scattered and smashed against the walls.

Roseline’s warm embrace neutralized the panic in a way I couldn’t explain. Celine grinned as the flames died down. Reine was slightly disoriented, but Fren stood as if nothing had happened.

“He’s a powerful one,” Reine stated, composing herself.

“Just goes to show how amazing he’ll be. So what is it exactly?” Roseline asked.

“All I’m getting is that it is Shingen’s Eye. It’s extremely rare—something never recorded before. In its current state, it’s emitting excessive mana, as witnessed by his outburst. If left unchecked, it could overwhelm his system.”

Celine’s demeanor shifted abruptly. “That’s…that’s actually dangerous!”

Reine nodded solemnly. “I’ll prepare a solution immediately.”

She reached into her bag, pulling out a small white eyepatch. The material shimmered faintly with magic as she held it up. “This eyepatch will absorb the excess mana and stabilize his system. He’ll need to wear it until his body adapts to the Eye’s presence. He’ll also have to work to expand his core.”

Roseline accepted the eyepatch with a nod of gratitude, carefully fitting it over my left eye. The moment it settled into place, I felt an odd sense of relief, as though a weight had been lifted.

“There,” Reine said softly, adjusting her glasses. “That should keep him stable for now.”

The room fell into a quiet hush, the weight of the revelation settling over us. Though I couldn’t fully comprehend the significance of the Eye or its potential, one thing was clear: my journey in this world was far from ordinary.