With the cryomancer’s compatriots either dead or incapacitated, Kamille brought the conflict to an end by imprisoning the mage in a casing of stone. Unable to move, the leader of the bandits yielded, smart enough to realize that his chance of surviving any more attacks was close to nil.

Once he yielded and gave them his name, Kamille released Norrix the cryomancer from his confinement in the stone prison she had summoned with the stipulation that he would lead them to the location of the mirror. Bellighul made it clear that the cryomancer was not free of the Dark Lord’s wrath, and promised Norrix’s doom when they next met.

Bellighul stayed close to Norrix as they traversed even more treacherous ground than the caverns they had ventured through before. Loose rocks littered the ground, and fell from the walls threatening rock slides as they climbed the steep path Norrix led them down.

Norrix announced their arrival at the mirror’s location as they came upon a crevasse with a natural stone bridge leading across it. Up ahead, a large framed mirror stood tall among the shadows. Bellighul forced Norrix to move forward with him. When they reached the mirror, the Dark Lord reverently ran his hand along the edges of the looking glass. Zak stilled, concerned that touching the mirror would bring about some kind of arcane reaction. When nothing happened at Bellighul’s touch, Zak sighed in relief. However, his relief was short-lived because Bellighul’s horrified expression as he read off the names of previous owners gave Zak quite a chill. What had he seen?

Preoccupied with dealing with the bandits, Zak hadn’t really given much thought to the actual artifact itself. Zak knew of the Obsidian Mirror’s importance to the Mage’s Guild as an important clue to the workings of the Mystical Archive, and one could only hope that that would take precedence over any personal agenda Bellighul might have. Did anyone have a clear understanding of the possible ramifications of actually possessing such a powerful artifact? Was it as dangerous as it seemed? How would they transport it?

One of those questions was quickly answered as Bellighul made it clear that Norrix would be responsible for carrying it to the Oasis where the scholar from the Guild was awaiting for its arrival.

“...Let us make haste.”

Definitely ready to get moving, Zak replied, “Ah yes, let’s be on our way quickly. Should we cover the mirror? Not sure I want to chance an inadvertent glance into its depths.”

Kamille seemed happy that the confrontations had ended, but there was still no time to relax. Before following along, she went to fetch her two rooks, now back to the size of normal chess pieces. The Pyromancer assumed Norrix would keep his end of the deal, being surrounded by three mages.

The quick journey to the mirror's resting place was short and difficult, but in her mind lasted only the blink of an eye. Once she spotted the mirror, her eyes showed a renewed glint of enthusiasm. She would've stepped forward herself if Bellighul hadn't - it was Bellighul who first told her stories of the mirror, so it was clear it meant more to him than to her, and yet....

Kamille glanced over to Mischief, perched up in her shoulder. They weren't so much different, after all... Kamille also had a taste for shinnies, even if of a different nature.

But the Lord of Ghouls reaction was not what she expected at all, wrought with despair they could hear in his voice and read in his body language. Once again, her curiosity assaulted her, but instead of prying right there and then, her mind already went over to plans in the future to gain access to the Mystical Archive, so she could see and study the mirror under different, more controled conditions. And, more importantly, alone.

The Witch took the veil she had been using to protect her face, carefully wrapping it around the mirror, taking care in not glancing into it for now. There would be time for that. The Witch was patient, and had the resources for that endeavour. Her companions didn't need to know it. Once properly wrapped, she gave the mirror for Norrix to carry, touching his hand briefly to get an insight into his story without him taking notice.

"If there ever comes the time you had your fill of the banditry life, there's always time to start a new one, Norrix."

She seemed to be unaware of the threat issued to him by Bellighul in their native tongue. With no further issue, they were once again set on the path back to the oasis, with Norrix carrying the mirror between them. Kamille tried to make small talk to the Cryomancer, but the looming presence of Zak, with his wolf, and Bellighul, seemed to make him shy. The journey to the oasis was much longer than the one to the mirror, and when they arrived, it was already night, but Kamille insisted on finding the Scholar of the Mystical Archive so he could take the mirror out of their hands for the time being. This led to Kamille banging on the man's door without relent in the middle of the night, without relent.

As Kamille thundered on the door in the dead of a desert night, Bellighul was much more silent than usual. He seemed to loom further back from the others, resting his back on the stone wall of the home. It was indeed his connection, yet, he felt an intense mourning. Not for the Obsidian Mirror but for himself. He had seen a name etched in the reverse that haunted him with memories long forgotten. His name. Bellighul being merely a title, one he used in place of his given. This was a fact he did not reveal as they crossed the treacherous desert. It reminded him of Ahriman. Its great fountains, canals and gardens...before his ascent into the Dark Arts. 

His chest wound bare, now his upper torso wrapped in linen and wound tight. A red stain against the white cloth. 

His mask hung on his belt, a beautiful pallid face in the dark as long locks danced in the light wind. Kamille continued to sound the wooden door, before it was pulled open by an elderly man. 

"Who dares..." The older gentleman belted before his dull blue eyes looked upon the mirror in Norrix's hands. "Oh, OH! The Obsidian Mirror! Of all the wonders..." the scholar pulled the object into his grasp, yelling to others inside to awaken and gaze upon the artifact. Suddenly, several scholars of all ages and lineages huddled around the mirror. 

"Thank you!" He said to the party, as Norrix made his way off quickly, gazing back at Bellighul a final time. His ruby eyes upon the cryomancer as he spoke to the others. 

"Surely, you are off to the Archive?" He spoke from his place on the wall.

"Yes! We are to gather our belongings and join the caravan at dawn. A ship is to sail in three days for Sol City."

"Good...the Mage's Guild then?" He asked, almost blankly as he began to walk away from his comrades and the home.

"Welcome to the Guild!" He went to shake the hands of Zak and Kamille, with Bellighul far out of range. 

Bellighul bowed according to his customs, first to Zak and then the Pyromancer. He had planned to dine with them, stories and tales of old over wine and ale. But not tonight. This night, he would be alone. 

"Have a safe and pleasant evening you two....I'll find you both tomorrow. There is an inn within the market of more than suitable standards, The Desert Rose, I've paid for your stay there and a fine meal. May Lunala guide you." The Necromancer wandered into the dark streets, torchlight illuminating his way into the outskirts of the settlements. He would sleep as a nomad, far away from the mirth and warmth of firelight and company. To rest amongst the stars and his new recollections.