47: Committee of Mirrors

He was impatient, I mean, it was natural, what he was going to inform the others as soon as they arrived would decide the fate of the city. The word "destruction" crossed his mind, less often than "inhuman."

"Sometimes…" whispered. "I like to imagine that the problems would end with my death."

Padd touched his shoulder, gave the best smile his pale, weak face could.

"That is why we chose you, Mayor."

The Mayor closed his eyes. He was a white man about twenty centimeters smaller than Padd, he was wearing a yellow long-sleeved shirt with silver buttons, pants and black shoes. At first glance you would mistake the lack of hair on his head for old age, however, he is barely on the eve of his thirties, so the shortage of the blonde was due to stress. His jaw was pointed and his green eyes were almost always half open.

They were standing on the third plane of the city of Dingars, a crystalline and pure plane, filled with glass that reflected an infinite sky —or perhaps sea? —, the shadows didn't exist and the people inside were bathed in a light that covers each portion with equity. The only thing apart from the two of them in that place were about nine large mirrors that reflected a black and green void. Those mirrors were positioned in a circle, all pointing to the same place, all turning their backs on that endless world.

Keith emerged from one of the mirrors, wearing his golden armor as usual and with his swords at his belt. Not long after, two mirrors away, another golden guard with a sturdier frame and a thick reddish beard that escaped through the helmet.

They both stood in front of the mirrors, Padd patted the Mayor and went to stand in front of his respective mirror.

As the minutes passed, the other members of the meeting arrived. A dark-haired lady, with huge breasts and full lips in a brown shirt came out of the mirror to Padd's right, she snorted when she saw that he was the real one and adjusted her greaves —the only part of armor that she used apart from the bracers —. On the other side, a much smaller and less voluminous woman dressed in golden armor, crossed the mirror, none of those present was affected by the fact that the young woman's head was a flame with the colors of the rainbow; on the contrary.

"Hi Hiko" Keith waved to her and she waved her hands super happy as the colors and intensity of the flame increased.

Finally, Gregory stepped out of the mirror next to her as Naoru reached for the mirror that was left in the middle of the only two unoccupied mirrors.

"Thank you all for coming," said the Mayor from the center. "Especially you Gregory, is supposed to be your month off."

"No need, Mayor," he scratched his head. "Actually, I apologize for being the only one without armor."

"Bertha didn't bring hers either," Padd muttered and the brunette next to him made him understand that she was not amused by cracking her knuckles.

"Let the Mayor continue," Keith said.

With that comment, everyone's attention was focused on the Mayor, who sighed, straightened his back and took out some letters with the open seal from his pants.

"About six months ago, we received letters from the Archmages" he walked to each of them and handed them more than one letter. "As you can see, the main reason for them is that: We destroy the mirrors of the city forever."

The news was old for Padd and Naoru, so they were the exception to the sudden shock that the others experienced. Hiko's flame faded and became opaque, Bertha began to read the letter in a hurry for an answer, Keith held his head and Gregory —undoubtedly the most affected —paled at those words and looked around fearfully.

"What the fuck are those incompetents asking for now?!" Hector, the guard with the red beard, exploded. "DESTROY THE MIRRORS?! Do they know what they are talking about?! May I know what the reason is?!" the papers in his hands were torn to shreds.

Hiko freaked out and made a lot of gestures to try and calm Hector down.

"It is the legend," replied Bertha regretfully "they say that the story of Archmage Dingars and what she locked up on the other side is true, that is why we must destroy them" she didn't like to say it.

"That is not possible!" Hector said.

"We think so! Or so we did Hector." Padd stepped forward a bit. "When the Mayor showed me the first letter we thought it was fake, that is, they used a common carrier bird and not a creature from Kao'em."

"That is why we decided to send Zui'le with a letter to seek out the Archmages personally," the Mayor continued. "She returned last night, and she confirmed what we most feared: Zugham'ko and Arkgas ordered the destruction of the mirrors."

"Because of a stupid legend…?" Hector muttered.

"They say it's for the safety of the people?" Gregory asked, in low spirits.

"That's right" said the Mayor.

Hiko moved his hands to communicate in signs.

"Hiko wants to know what happens if we refuse" Keith translated.

"Well," The Mayor gulped. "Zughan'ko said that he would not hesitate to take care himself."

Hector clenched his fists, Bertha crossed her arms, and Gregory couldn't cope with the shock and had to sit on the floor. Hiko went to see if he was okay and knelt beside him. Padd and Naoru looked away, Bertha took a deep breath and Keith held the handle of his swords.

"This wouldn't have happened thirty years ago! This generation of archmages is doomed! Can't they take care of whatever is on the other side of the mirror?!" Hector pushed the frustration out of him with more complaints.

"Hector..." said Bertha

"You don't know because you are not my age!" he beckoned himself aggressively. "That this is the first generation of male Archmages is a sign! My grandmother, and her grandmother and her grandmother, did not have these kinds of problems in their time!"

"Hector" Padd said.

"IT WAS DINGARS! IT WAS AN ARCHIMAGA WHO FOUNDED THIS WONDERFUL CITY!"

"Hector!" Naoru silenced him. "Gregory has something to say."

Hiko helped Gregory to his feet.

"I'm sorry" he said and she beckoned him like "no wonder", "I never imagined something like this would happen."

His eyes were about to run into tears, it was the first time that the other Gold Guards saw that face, not that of their friend Greg, or their partner Gregory; They saw the face of an Uncle, the face of a dead man.

"Do they know?" He moved away from Hiko's arms and she moved away a little. "What do you have to do to destroy the mirrors… Do they know we have to kill Samantha?"

The Mayor and Padd shook their heads.

"Heh…" Gregory saw his trembling palms. "I suppose then there is hope, unless…"

Gregory clenched his fists, raised his guard and with a grimace of deep sadness was about to ask the cruelest question in the world and squeeze his own heart until it was as dry as possible.

Hiko's flame exploded in a wave of colors over two meters high. Instead of being scared, Gregory watched the expressions of the others, serious and focused on him.

"Whoever agrees to put the lives of citizens above your own, raise your hand." As soon as the Mayor said that, everyone except Gregory raised their hands. "It is already decided."

Gregory's face twisted in pain, he ran his nose and wiped it as he adjusted his posture. It was the end. Face them all? Impossible. The survival instinct he forged in his teens guided his thoughts to the least risky strategy, fleeing through the mirror and escaping the city.

The dilemma rested on whether that was feasible or not, with Naoru and Hector there… it doesn't seem like it.

"Then we won't let anyone, not even the Archmages or an unknown danger, harm any of them, that includes Samantha of course" the Mayor clarified with a nervous smile.

Gregory's throbbing heartbeat stopped for an instant, he blinked in relief, his shoulders and knees gave out and he fell in relief. The silhouettes of his companions were recorded in his pupils, firm, devoid of fear; they were his saviors.

"I am offended that you thought we would abandon you" Bertha commented with a strange combination of disappointment and affection in her muffled tone of voice.

Hiko waved her little arms at Gregory's side as her flame flailed irritably, yet she and the others noticed Gregory's silent cry and the drops falling to the ground.

"Thank you… thank you very much…" he sobbed in a small voice. "Seriously thank you very much ..."

"You don't have to be grateful Greg!" exclaimed Hector. "I will be the first to plant my fist in Zughan'ko's face!"

"Before that" Keith interrupted Hector's swagger. "I have a feeling the Archmages hired staff to handle this order."

"What?" said Bertha, the Mayor and Gregory at the same time.

Padd and Naoru exchanged glances with Keith.

"I have no evidence beyond my intuition, but I suppose knowing my resonance should be enough."

"Thanks for the information Keith" said the Mayor.

"Thank you for the meeting."

The Mayor unbuttoned the collar, also the sleeves.

"We are going to wrap up the meeting, Padd, Bertha and I will think about how to deal with whatever is in the golden desert and the possible arrival of the Archmages, Hector and Hiko continue with their usual duties."

"I'll have a squad ready" Hector said hitting his chest.

Hiko raised his thumb.

"Keith, you have total freedom, try to prevent what you feel."

Kieth nodded.

"Gregory, enjoy the holidays with your nieces."

"Definitely!" Gregory got up smiling.

"I'll go talk to the fortune teller," Naoru said.

"Perfect!" —Said the Mayor. "As soon as we have any plans, Padd will contact you, until then ... Remember that you are the reflection of our city!" With those final words, each of those present went to their respective mirrors.