The mountain temple had always been quiet.
That was the entire point of building a temple in the mountains.
Peace.
Isolation.
A place far away from the chaos of kingdoms and armies.
Unfortunately, that peace had officially ended.
Inside the mirror realm, Lee Eunwoo floated near the glass surface while watching the temple courtyard through the reflection.
Soldiers.
More soldiers.
Even more soldiers.
They had been arriving steadily for the past three days.
At first it was just patrols.
Then tents appeared outside the temple walls.
Then supply wagons.
Now there were enough soldiers stationed on the mountain path to qualify as a small army.
Eunwoo sighed.
"I really should start charging admission."
One group of soldiers passed the temple entrance carrying crates of weapons.
Another group reinforced the wooden gates.
Even the priests had stopped pretending everything was normal.
They whispered constantly.
Their footsteps were faster now.
Nervous.
Eunwoo leaned back inside the mirror realm.
"This is definitely a war preparation."
Of course, the pilgrims still came.
People were strangely consistent that way.
Even when war rumors spread across the kingdom, someone would still show up hoping a magical mirror could improve their farming skills.
Right on cue, the temple doors opened.
A farmer walked in cautiously, holding his hat in both hands.
He looked around nervously at the soldiers outside.
Then approached the mirror.
"I heard this thing helps people."
Eunwoo nodded.
"Yes hello, I am the national strategic resource."
The farmer stared into his reflection.
DING.
Ability Detected: Advanced Soil Fertility Management
Copy?
"Oh great."
Copied.
A flood of agricultural knowledge filled Eunwoo's mind.
Crop rotation strategies.
Nutrient balancing.
Seasonal irrigation patterns.
"Fantastic," he muttered.
"I could now run an entire farming guild."
The farmer blinked in surprise.
"…My planting patterns suddenly make sense."
He bowed awkwardly to the mirror and left.
Another pilgrim saved.
Another skill acquired.
The temple quieted again shortly afterward.
Eunwoo's gaze drifted toward the empty shelf beside the altar.
Still no frog.
"…It's weird without Frogbert."
He hadn't expected the absence of a badly carved statue to feel noticeable.
But it did.
The room simply looked… incomplete.
Soft footsteps entered the chamber.
Eunwoo didn't even need to look.
One.
Two.
Three.
Careful steps counting the floor.
Constance.
She walked slowly into the room and paused near the doorway.
Her head tilted slightly.
"The soldiers are closer today."
Eunwoo nodded.
"They're basically camping outside."
She moved toward the bench and sat down.
Her fingers brushed lightly across the stone surface before she relaxed against the wall.
For a moment she said nothing.
Just listening.
Eventually she spoke again.
"The wind sounds different."
Eunwoo blinked.
"…How?"
She smiled faintly.
"There are more tents outside."
"The fabric blocks the wind."
Eunwoo stared at her.
"That hearing should be illegal."
She turned her head slightly toward the altar.
"The mirror is quiet today."
Eunwoo crossed his arms.
"I'm thinking."
Of course she couldn't hear him.
But she nodded slowly.
"I think you're worried."
Eunwoo froze.
"…Excuse me?"
That sentence was dangerously close to accurate.
But she wasn't done.
She rested her chin in her hand.
"Everyone is worried."
Outside the temple courtyard, a group of soldiers shouted commands while organizing supplies.
The sound echoed faintly through the chamber.
Constance listened carefully.
"The kingdom is preparing for something."
Eunwoo sighed.
"Yes."
"Yes they are."
She spoke again after a moment.
"The priests said another country might come."
Eunwoo floated closer to the glass.
"That's what it sounds like."
Her expression turned thoughtful.
"They want the mirror."
Eunwoo glanced at himself.
"I feel very popular."
But the situation wasn't funny anymore.
If another kingdom really planned to steal the mirror…
That meant soldiers.
Battles.
Possibly destruction of the temple itself.
Constance shifted slightly on the bench.
"If they take it away…"
She hesitated.
"…will the mirror still help people?"
Eunwoo considered that.
Technically yes.
But it wouldn't be the same place.
Different people.
Different surroundings.
And probably a lot more violence.
He found himself answering out loud again.
"I don't know."
Of course she didn't hear him.
But she smiled faintly anyway.
"I hope it doesn't leave."
Eunwoo stared at her.
"That's oddly specific."
She continued softly.
"The temple would feel empty."
Outside, thunder rumbled faintly in the distance.
Storm clouds were forming over the mountains.
The soldiers in the courtyard began securing equipment before the rain arrived.
Inside the chamber, the air felt heavier.
Eunwoo floated silently for a moment.
Then glanced once more toward the empty shelf.
"…Frogbert left at the right time."
Constance suddenly spoke again.
"I heard someone say the king might visit again."
Eunwoo frowned.
"Oh great."
"That man is definitely trouble."
The first drops of rain began hitting the temple roof.
A slow rhythm filled the chamber.
Constance listened quietly.
"The storm is coming."
Eunwoo looked out through the reflection at the dark clouds gathering over the mountains.
"Yes," he muttered.
"I think it is."