My Hades' Eyes burned brighter. I stepped forward and slammed a perfected conceptual illusion directly into the mirror. Reality and falsehood clashed violently. The mirror cracked, then shattered, sending shards of reflective curse energy exploding outward.
The psychological pressure eased, but not completely.
Lydia was trembling, tears in her eyes. I pulled her into my chest immediately, wrapping her in a warm, protective illusion that smelled of safety and home.
"I'm here," I whispered against her hair. "I'm not abandoning you. Ever."
Vale stood rigid for a moment before exhaling sharply. She moved closer and, surprisingly, placed a hand on Lydia's back as well, offering silent support. "It knows how to hurt. We need to be more careful."
