8 The Man in the Mirror

"I am not cute," Rowan answered Gale's rhetorical question with a hint of anger raising from his voice. However, this did nothing to deter the man from laughing. In fact, the Duke started to shake from laughing to hard. Rowan could only see his vision violently trembling in rhythm with the dry wheezes of Gale.

King Luken gently took the mirror, or Rowan, from Gale's shaking hands to prevent him from falling.

"I don't see what's so funny, if a mirror likes its name, then it fine. It can keep the name." Luke said seriously and shot a cold look at Gale, causing the Duke to choke back his waves of laughter.

The red-eyed man stared deeply at the mirror.

'So, if it named itself, is it sentient?' King Luken had to consider this seriously. There have been sentient magic tools before, it is not unheard of. But, it is extremely rare due to a few reasons. One reason is the difficulty in making a sentient magical tool. A way to make one is for a person to imbue a soul with intelligence (like humans, goblins, etc) that is simply floating around and imbue them into the tool, but more often than not, those are accidents as a soul does not often linger in the living realm. Another way to have a tool with sentience is that they are extremely old and developed their own spirit after hundreds of years. There was a third way to make it, however it was a type of Lost Magic that was, well, lost in the passage of time. Plus, it was frowned upon to have a magical tool with sentience.

Everyone, well not Olinthus as they had the mirror and hid it, believes that anything with consciousness has the inherent right to be free or stay by their own will. Forcing spirits to do your bidding would be considered slavery and anyone that indulges in such things would be punished.

So, it would have been better if this mirror did not have sentience at all.

Sighing deeply, "Are you a spirit?" King Luken asked.

"No, I am not a spirit." The voice spoke in a gentle voice. Rowan liked how the man had treated him with respect, whereas Duke Gale was clearly still trying to hold back his laughter. However, the escaping giggles stopped and the atmosphere turned serious when King Luken asked his query. It showed how serious the situation was for him, or the mirror, was sentient.

"Are you- no were you a human?" At this moment, the study room was filled with a deafening silence.

Duke Gale's breath immediately hitched. He could not help but remember the last few days where he continuously asked questions to have the mirror help him in his work. Then, also recalling how the mirror happened to sound patient despite its- no his (?) monotone voice. Rowan was also shoved down his jacket and he also tried calling him 'Little Ancestor.'

Rowan isn't the type of person (?) to hold grudges? Right...? Unfortunately, Duke Gale would learn if he was correct or not in the near future.

King Luken waited patiently for the mirror's reply.

"Yes. To be precise, I still consider myself human." Luken rubbed his scrunched up eyebrows as to ease his headache.

'Olinthus, what the hell are you guys doing?' The King could not help but think to himself. The mirror, or the man in the mirror, is most likely the reason why Oltinhus had been prosperous for the last decade, excluding this year. This year, they have been spending money wildly with no concerns for repercussions. And now, the man responsible is in his hand.

"If you're human, where is your body?"

"My body is in the mirror through the use of Lost Magic cast by Empress Juno."

'Figures.' Lost Magic could do wondrous things, but it's hard to learn. If it is Empress Juno, an ice mage that is known for her determination, learning a single spell from Lost Magic is a cinch.

"And do you know how to escape this predicament? Duke Gale and I will do our best to help free you." Luken earnestly promised although a magical tool that could help solve difficulties would be useful, knowing that it is sentient and is human weighs his mind down. Plus, by freeing him, it would curry some favor to this knowledgable man.

"No. I don't know... But thank you." Rowan was somewhat touched, he really felt that King Luken was a great King or just a good person in general. Being surrounded by the hateful people of Olinthus did make him bias towards literally anyone outside of Olinthus, but King Luken seemed more pleasing to the eye now that he offered his help. However, as much as Rowan wanted to roam, he knew he had to wait.

He knew that. He always knew. Everything took time, especially with something as complicated as his matters. It was a little disheartening- well, very disheartening- to the point where he wants to curl up tight and ignore everything. Looking at the man that was holding him up with solemn eyes and giving him a serious promise, even if he knew that King Luken was doing this to benefit his country, he felt warm deep inside as Luken was doing this out of both generosity and care for a human being in need.

While having Rowan in the country for a few days, King Luken realized that the young man, judging from his voice, could only respond to questions and probably cannot freely speak out. Though he is able to display emotion through his voice. Thus, Luken realized that his previous thoughts of the mirror sassing him was most likely not his imagination.

Duke Gale also noticed this fact and hid his goofy grin beneath his hands.

Looking back at the mirror, King Luken only saw his deadpan expression with sharp red eyes and slicked-back platinum hair.

'This is going to be difficult...' Luken was not exactly the talkative type nor friendly. He thought that Rowan already saw him as a strict and domineering King. And felt half-grievance in feeling like he frightened the young man and the other half feeling that he should soon find a way to pull the man out of the mirror. Rowan has already contributed a lot in the country, despite it being a few days, and deserves freedom. Also, maybe a little revenge in the future.

Rowan, on the other hand, did not see King Luken as strict and domineering. He saw him more of a good and awkward altruist.

'Why does Duke Gale say I'm cute, clearly it's the gap of the King that is the cutest!' Rowan wantonly declared in his heart as he watched the view of an awkward King trying to display his dominance in front of him and Gale, despite his concerned eyes.

Even though both men, Luken and Rowan, had hundreds of thoughts running through their minds, they remained silent. One did not like to talk and the other cannot talk unless asked to.

Duke Gale could feel the awkwardness between the two silent people and also felt pity for Rowan. To clear the situation and for them to become friendlier, he initiated a cough to catch their attention.

"Well, since we know you're human, as King Luken said, we will do everything in our power to free you. Time to reintroduce ourselves. You can call me Gale, no need for titles. And King Luken can just be Luken!"

Luken glared at Gale for making his decisions for him but did not deny it.

Instead, he cleared his throat, "Are you okay with that, Rowan?" Luken deadpanned, but his eyes held slight expectations. It would be interesting to have Rowan as a friend.

"Of course, Luken, Gale, I am okay with that." Rowan, if he had a face, was smiling brightly and felt himself become warm.