ZELLA’S POV :

“Who else? Your reflection of course."

On hearing these words I tilted my head in confusion. 

“Go on ask your reflection,” said Grey said trying to suppress his laughter.

“Uh okay? T-Take us to uh… World Zero?” I muttered awkwardly.

“Pfft” 

Did he just laugh at me? I turned around and glared at Grey, who had his poker face on. What a jerk.

“You need to be nice,” replied Grey.

“I am being nice!” I said defending myself.

“You call that being nice?” Grey asked in disbelief.

“Fine,” I said, rolling my eyes.

“Please take us to World Zero,” I said with my eyes shut.

I felt my heart beating in anticipation. What is it going to be? Will it be a black hole like in space? Or will it be a mana circle as described in novels? Or… will it be a rift as drawn in comics?

I slowly opened my eyes a little and to my surprise, everything was still the same as before. Just great.

 “Be nicer. Look, even your reflection is disappointed.” Grey said, shaking his head.

Ugh! This is so annoying. Fine, I’ll be as nice as I can now. Once I’m done my reflection will never ask for compliments again. Hmph!

“Oh my dear heavenly, beautiful lady, you look like an angel today. Your beauty is definitely the eighth wonder of the world. Will you be so kind as to get me and my ‘friend’ to World Zero?” I said sarcastically.

“That was amazing! Show them how it’s done! But did you really need to say 'friend' so sarcastically?” said Grey.

“I knew you had it in you.” said my reflection.

“Thank you-?” I stopped as the colour drained from my face.

Did my reflection just talk to me? What the-?

“You can talk?” I asked in disbelief.

“Of course she can, she’s a part of you,” Grey said as if it was nothing unusual.

“So why didn’t she until now?” I asked.

“Because you never asked me to. Do you have any idea how boring and tiring it was to copy your every move in the mirror? Also, not to be rude but you really need to be more...fun.” said my reflection, pouting.

"I-I am fun," I replied, dumbfounded.

"You're not very self- aware are you?" the reflection said, cheekily.

What even is going on? My reflection just pouted? At me? And indirectly called me boring? And also insulted me? How rude. I turned away from the mirror and faced Grey who had his back towards me.

“Grey! I have a question.” I said.

“I’m listening," he said still facing the other way.

"You're laughing aren't you?" I said, pissed.

"No. I'm not!"

"I can see you trembling from trying to keep your laughter supressed."

"I'm not laughing," he said turning around with a poker face.

"Sure, I believe you," I said, sarcastically.

"Ahem. You wanted to ask a question?"

“Yes. Can everyone talk to their reflections?”

“Nope.” 

“Then, how can I?”

“Oh wow! Look at the time, we need to get going.” Grey replied, looking at his non-existent watch. It was quite obvious that he was avoiding my question.

“Don’t change the topic.”

“You will come to know at the orientation. Don’t worry about it.” Said Grey in a tone that made me sure that I should, in fact, be worried about it.

Nevermind. I’ll come to know about it in the orientation anyways so I’ll let this slide just once.

“Are you guys leaving or not?” asked my reflection.

“Yes, we are,” Grey replied, moving towards the mirror.

"Goodbye Zella! I'll meet you in the other world," said my reflection, cheerfully.

"Sure," I said, trying very hard to smile.

I’m never going to get used to this.

“Let’s go then,” I said, hopping into the mirror. 

Surprisingly the mirror was not rock-solid anymore. Instead, it was like water? Not the salty and cold kind but instead warm, sweet and welcoming.

I don’t know why but Dan’s words from eight years ago came back to me. 

“Water moves from higher to lower concentration.” 

As I entered the mirror, my fatigue melted away and warmth filled my body, as if I was being hugged. But in contrast, my surroundings are...how do I explain it? 

There is only one word that I can think of to describe this place... nothing.

There is nothing in this place. It was an endless white space where nothing exists, except for the mirror behind me, through which I had entered. The feeling of water flowing was still there but, there was no water in sight. 

This must be magic too.

“Wait.”

I heard Grey’s voice as he gripped my hand that was still on the other side.

“What’s wrong?” I asked as I saw Grey entering the white place from the mirror, holding my hand. As I looked up to face Grey I was surprised.

What was that expression on his face? I can't quite understand it.

“Why?” he muttered.

“Sorry?” I asked.

“Why…?” he said, raising my hand which he was holding.

“Why do you have this ring?”