Kakania: This is ...
Kakania: I see.
Kakania: I remember it now. I've seen it before.
Kakania: ...
At that moment, when I took the mirror from Elbert's hand, I was almost burned by the heat of the handle.
I imagined him tightly gripping the mirror with the only hand he had left as he awkwardly stood at the door of my clinic.
That was not an image I wanted to see.
Kakania: Look at this thing! I can see the glue between the cracks, and these pieces don't even go together. You're really bad at this, aren't you?
Kakania: It looks like you've never once worked with your hands, er, hand.
Elbert: Klara!
Kakania: Why didn't you just take it to the factory and ask them to do the work? They're professionals. At least they could've coated the mirror with silver to cover the cracks.
Kakania: In its current state, my reflection is split and shattered, too. It's almost incomprehensible.
Elbert: But ...
Kakania: Pull yourself together and stop fidgeting! Be a gentleman, Elbert!
Kakania: And I will be a lady and keep my promise. Not to apologize, but to reflect myself.
I wasn't only talking to Elbert, but also to myself. It was an announcement.
I took a deep breath and tried to recall the feeling of casting my arcane skill.
But the mirror reflected nothing.
Kakania: Hmm, I don't see anything.
Kakania: That's odd.
Kakania: Or does this mean I have no desires? Interesting. Heinrich would like to know about this.
She studies her reflection between the cracks in the mirror.
Kakania: But it doesn't feel right. Perhaps because it was broken?
Elbert: Be patient, Klara.
Before he could finish his sentence, the image in the mirror twisted, revealing an object within it.
Though the cracks split it into many pieces, I could still recognize it.
Kakania: What is this? A new mirror?
Kakania: What do you mean?
Kakania: Is this my innermost desire?
Kakania: I, I saw it before.
Kakania: In the hand mirror Elbert fixed for me.
Kakania: I saw another hand mirror reflected in the shattered one.
Kakania: I thought my arcane skill didn't work, but upon reflection, maybe it did work. This must be the symbol of my dream, my desire.
Kakania: Back then, I wanted a new mirror.
Kakania: An independent, free kingdom. A new world for arcanists.
Kakania: Hah. A brand new world. I wanted it, and I got it.
Kakania: ...
Kakania: But this was never my intention.
Kakania: I've always tried to do something—to make a change. But what can I do if I can't even undo the hypnosis on my own patient?
She closes her eyes bitterly. When she opens them, her eyes are fixed on the shard in her hand yet again.
Moments before, when she cast her arcane skill, a mirror appeared in it.
The mirror covered in cracks and glue marks.
The mirror Zemfira gave her.
Kakania: Is this because I can't seem to shake the thought of this hand mirror, or is it another illusion of my arcane skill?
Kakania: My innermost desire, revealed by my arcane skill, is still the mirror given to me by Zemfira?
With Zemfira's name in her heart, she decides to try it again.
Kakania: Zemfira, you once prayed for my safety.
Kakania: So could you tell me if it's real? I shouldn't hurt myself to confirm its existence, should I?
Kakania: It's been an illusion so many times. It has to be real just this once, doesn't it?
She rubs the shard, trying to erase the image reflected within it.
No matter how hard she tries, the reflection remains firm.
She casts her arcane skill again, but nothing changes. The hand mirror, given by her friend, broken by herself, and put back together by her brother, still sits in its reflection.
Despite its repair, its cracks are still clearly visible. Like in life, no matter how much you heal, the damage will always be there.
Kakania: The cracked mirror ... How did I not see it?
Kakania: The marks here show it must've been shattered before.
Kakania: I know it's not new.
Kakania: I know it's not perfect.
Kakania: It's not even a very useful mirror.
Kakania: But still ...
Kakania: I wish so dearly for it to be in my hands.
A teardrop falls silently on the shard.
Kakania: I know that civilization is fragile, that life is fragile.
Kakania: But if life is destined to be broken, if society is doomed to be shattered,
Kakania: then we should at least try to repair it.
Kakania: Because we can't—we shouldn't—live in a broken society!
Kakania: This has always been my dream, from the very beginning.
Kakania: I just want everyone to find their happiness, to lead a harmonious life together.
Kakania: Why didn't I realize it sooner?
Kakania: Why didn't I tell Isolde, Elbert, and Zemfira? Why didn't I tell them earlier?!
Kakania: Why did I say those pompous, flowery things to Isolde instead of the simple truth?
Kakania: Why was I so cruel to Elbert when I could have expressed my joy and gratitude to have him as a brother?
Kakania: And, Zemfira. I was too young and naive to give her my encouragement—to express my wishes for her.
Teardrops rain down on the shard, running on its surface,
and gathering in the cracks of the hand mirror within.
Kakania: Why couldn't I fix Vienna?
Kakania: In the way Elbert fixed this mirror for me?
Kakania: ...
She's managed to regain her arcane skill, but it's not enough to fill the hollow in her heart.
Her friend can no longer hear her confession. The only thing left is this reflection of her gift.
Kakania: The prophecy of Zemfira. So then this mirror will not bring us disaster, rather, it has already protected us from one.
Kakania: She gave me this blessing, yet I lost her mirror. I lost the whole of Vienna.
Kakania: ...
Kakania: If only they could be here with me.
Kakania: If only I could touch this mirror again.
Kakania: If only ...
Kakania: I could fix everything.
A knock on the door pulls her back to reality.
Foundation Staff Member I: Ms. Kakania!
Foundation Staff Member I: We've been informed that you applied for an arcane skill experiment. We're here to take you to the field.
Foundation Staff Member I: Are you ready?
Kakania: What?
Kakania: Oh, I completely forgot.
Kakania: I've been spending so much time blaming myself that I ignored the most important thing.
Kakania: The thing that can be done by me, and only me:
Kakania: To bring together the broken pieces, to fix the mistake I made.
Kakania: To undo the hypnosis on Isolde.
She holds up the shard and looks at it through the light from the window. There's nothing in it anymore.
But Kakania knows there was a hand mirror in it, vivid and clear.
Kakania: Thank you, Zemfira. Thank you, Elbert.
Foundation Staff Member I: Ms. Kakania? Are you there?
The staff member opens the door and is startled to see Kakania already standing in the room.
Kakania: Yes! Thank you for coming.
Kakania: I'm almost ready!
Kakania: Is there anything else I need to do?
Foundation Staff Member I: Yes, here are the things to note:
Foundation Staff Member I: First, please remove any items that might damage yourself or the experimentation field, such as jewelry.
