Sky Bloom Village
Olivia rolled, tossing back and forth on the bed.
"Mmm…"
She muttered softly, pushing her covers aside as her left foot kicked a pillow to the ground.
Keira opened the wooden door with her foot, balancing a clay pot carefully on her head. Her frown deepened the moment she saw her sister still fast asleep.
"Olivia."
She came closer after setting the pot down, then shook her lightly.
"Get up, it's morning already," she said, fatigue evident on her face.
But Olivia wouldn't budge.
Suddenly, an idea crept into Keira's mischievous mind. A sly smile spread across her lips. Quietly, she fetched some water into a small bowl and sprinkled a handful onto her sister.
Olivia's frown deepened as she felt the dampness.
"No… no, no!" she screamed, jolting upright, her eyes wide as she looked around in confusion. She quickly checked herself.
"No, I can't possibly have wet the bed…" she muttered, scrambling to inspect the sheets again.
They were soaked.
"Hahaha!"
Keira burst into laughter, clearly enjoying the scene.
"What's funny?" Olivia shot her a stormy glare.
"The whole village is going to hear about this…" Keira teased, already backing away.
"My big sister wet the bed!"
She darted off into their small garden.
Olivia, now fully enraged, chased after her.
"What's with you two today? You know we don't have all day!" Betty scolded sharply.
"Mom, it's her fault!" Keira rushed to defend herself.
"Well, look at that—what a liar you are! Mom, she started it!" Olivia snapped.
"I was still asleep when she poured water on me! She drenched my clothes and the bed!" Olivia complained, exposing her sister's petty act.
"But—"
"Hold it right there, young lady!"
Robb's voice cut in, firm and laced with anger.
"What were you thinking? That was no way to act. You disrespected your elder sister."
"Robb, come on, don't you think you're being too harsh?" Betty intervened gently.
"It's just water. Do you have to make a mountain out of a molehill?"
But Robb brushed her off.
"How would you feel if it were you, drenched in your sleep? Tell me—would you take it lightly?" he challenged, shifting his gaze to her.
Betty sighed.
"Fine. Let this end here. We've got a lot to catch up on."
She turned to Keira.
"As for you—you'll be punished for what you did."
"But Mom, it was just a prank!" Keira pleaded.
"Well, next time you play, be wise about it. Take the mattress, bed linens, and covers—wash and dry them. Fail to do so, and your punishment will be doubled."
With that, she walked off. Olivia followed closely, while their parents headed toward the stream to fetch water for the day.
"Shit," Keira muttered under her breath, kicking a small rock in frustration.
She had successfully given herself extra work.
"And they didn't even think it fit to punish my sister… I mean, look at the time she woke up!"
At the Stream — Sky Bloom Village
Olivia waited until her father was out of sight before approaching her mother.
"You've got something to say to me," Betty said calmly, placing a pot on Olivia's head with a cloth beneath it.
"I—I… well…" Olivia stuttered, hesitating. Should she confide in her mother?
The elderly woman had been clear—tell no one.
Betty began walking. She was a good listener and never forced things. She believed her children would speak when ready.
"Mom… I dreamt about the wishing fairy. Maybe it's because I'm so fascinated with the story," Olivia lied.
"Are you sure about what you're saying?" Betty stopped in her tracks.
"The wishing fairy only visits those who do good—to reward their deeds," she continued.
"She can appear in different forms… like a disguise."
She paused thoughtfully.
"In such a way, one would never suspect."
"Yeah, Mom, I remember you saying all that," Olivia replied quickly.
"But why hasn't she appeared to you and Dad? I mean, you're both kind and generous. You help people all the time—so why not you?"
"But you just said she appeared to you," Betty reminded her.
Olivia froze.
"Ah… that's true," she muttered, nearly forgetting her own lie.
"But Mom… do you believe it?" she asked.
Betty simply shrugged.
"Hey! What's with you two?"
Robb appeared suddenly, his expression displeased.
"Let's head back first," Betty said quickly, picking up her pace.
Olivia followed immediately, not wanting to provoke her father.
Back at Home
After a long day's work, the family ate and retired for an afternoon nap. Betty had prepared a pot of potato stew with game Robb had hunted early that morning. The meal was satisfying, leaving them all heavy with sleep.
Soon, the house fell silent.
Olivia waited.
Once she was certain everyone was asleep, she quietly slipped out of bed and crept into a dark room—the basement.
It was her hiding place.
Among broken utensils and discarded items lay the mirror.
"Thank goodness… you're still here," she whispered, picking it up with one arm while holding a torch in the other.
"For a second, I thought you were just a dream…"
She stared at her reflection.
Then—
Something impossible happened.
Her reflection smirked.
Olivia's breath hitched.
"I see you're curious to know how I work," the reflection said, laughing softly.
"Do you mind trying? I could help… if you want."
Olivia shrieked and threw the mirror aside in terror.
"The mirror speaks—"
"No," the voice corrected smoothly.
"It's the reflection."
"Ah… that granny never told me this…" Olivia whispered, overwhelmed.
Her hands trembled as she hurriedly wrapped the mirror in cloth, just as she had been instructed.
"Hahaha…"
The laughter echoed, unnatural and chilling.
"I wonder what's so amusing…" Olivia muttered, backing away before someone could find her.
"How do I even explain this…?"
"This is crazy," she breathed, her body drenched in sweat.
"I must return this. This is no ordinary mirror. Why was I so drawn to it in the first place?"
"Because I looked ordinary," the voice echoed inside her head.
"And ordinary you… are drawn to ordinary things."
"Oh no… please stop!"
She ran to her bed and hid under the covers—though deep down, she knew how foolish that was.
A low hum of amusement filled the air.
How silly…
The mirror watched.