11 Did You Think of A Miracle? 2 (1/2)
”Hm…”
Rubbing her chin in deep thought, An Fei carefully scrutinized an object before her. To be precise, it was a plain mirror, one with a silvered surface and a leather casing.
Propped up at an angle on a table, the mirror was of such mundanity that a single glance could determine that it was of little value. However, what irked An Fei about this mirror the most was:
”What is a mirror doing in a medicine garden? The owner of this place couldn't be that vain, right?”
Casting a sidelong glance around her surroundings, An Fei could only guess the mirror's purpose.
Currently, she stood in a sea of medicinal herbs, each glistering with a multi-colored lustre, quite considerably causing chills to run down her spine. Ginsengs, angelicas, borages, and garlics were only a few of the hundreds she saw scattered over the entire field, most of them unrecognizable in appearance, smell, or texture.
Not to mention, the combination of powerful medicines and their distinct odors created a chaotic storm that assailed her senses, and An Fei was forced into a coughing fit with every deep breath. Fanning her face with her hand, she lifted the collar of the robe to cover her nose and mouth, barely smothering out the smell.
Bending over to inspect the conspicuous mirror at a closer distance, she absentmindedly reached to her right to pluck off a stem of what appeared to be a cluster of wild celery. The green stalk exuded a fresh vitality, with thin streams of green light coiling around the body.
The aroma of freshly cut celery entered her nose, and without much thought, she had already brought it to her small mouth and bit.
Munch.
The clear taste of celery swamped her senses, the slightly bitter and astringent taste causing her to release a sigh of admiration. Aided by her increased appetite, An Fei quickly consumed the stalk in her hand before plucking off two more from the cluster.
As she continued to admire at her reflection in the mirror, she would occasionally bite off a tiny portion to consume.
Picking up the mirror and turning it around, she found absolutely nothing unique about it; everything about it was the common and dull silver mirror anyone could have bought on an online listing site for a bargain price in her previous world. And to top things off, this was not the only mirror she had discovered in the various rooms branching from the corridor.
Sitting down with her back against the short table's leg, she carefully thought back to where she had seen the mirrors. The armory, the boudoir, and the coffers she had glanced by, these were all somewhat acceptable environments to place a mirror.
”But the room with nothing but a large copper bowl? And additionally, in each medicine garden?”
Such a thing didn't exactly make sense. Then again, neither did the mysterious crystal making the walls, floor, and ceiling that revealed a warm glow upon contact. Holding the mirror with both hands as she observed the peerless countenance staring back at her from the reflective surface, An Fei occasionally raised her left hand to fondle a portion of her hair, absentminded.
”This face…it's truly me…? The difference is far too great…agh!”
A searing pain struck her stomach, causing her to drop the mirror. Clutching her stomach, the waves of pain created dark spots to arise in her vision, soft but gradually increasing ringing noises striking her ears.
Her skin seemed to be gently brushed with a searing knife, small but unbearable pinpricks of pain drilling deeply into the marrow.