The Legend of the Grimoire

Elma paused for a moment, trying to recall where she had heard that name before. Then, suddenly, a spark of recognition.

— Asher Gold... she murmured.

Miria, intrigued, moved closer.

— Do you know him? she asked curiously.

Elma hesitated for a brief moment before nodding.

— Yes, but don't worry, he's a friend.

Miria sighed in relief, reassured by the answer. However, a thought crossed her mind, and she was about to ask another question when loud bangs echoed at the door of Elma's place.

Elma tensed instantly, a look of suspicion crossing her face. She made a quick gesture to Miria.

— Don't move, she whispered firmly.

She approached the door slowly and peeked through the peephole. Two hooded men stood outside, motionless, but their posture betrayed a hostile intent. Elma's heart raced. She quickly stepped back and reached for a shelf near the door.

— Obstruo porta, obice invictus!

At once, with a deep rumble, the shelf collapsed violently in front of the door, temporarily blocking the entrance.

On the other side, the intruders began forcing the door, banging loudly.

Miria, frozen in place, stared at the scene in shock.

— How… how did you do that? she stammered. And who are these people?

Elma didn't take the time to answer. She grabbed Miria's hand and pulled her towards the stairs.

— We don't have time, come on!

They hurried up the stairs, taking them two at a time, and burst into a room. Elma quickly closed the door behind them, and without wasting a second, traced a circle with her fingers while chanting a new incantation.

— Custodia ostium, murus invisibilis!

A silvery glow ran across the wood of the door, forming an invisible barrier.

Miria, still in shock, stared at her with wide eyes.

— What is this madness?

Elma didn't answer. She walked over to a large mirror at the back of the room, placed her palms against the reflective surface, and recited yet another incantation.

— Speculum apertum, porta inter mundos!

Immediately, the image in the mirror rippled like disturbed water before transforming into a dark, swirling vortex.

Miria instinctively stepped back.

— Wait… what's that?

— A passage, Elma replied. Trust me and jump.

— Jump into that thing?! Are you serious?!

— Now, Miria!

The banging at the door grew louder and more intense. Miria hesitated for a fraction of a second, but, seeing Elma's urgent gaze, she took a deep breath and leaped into the vortex.

Elma followed right after, and as soon as she passed through, the mirror sucked itself back in with a flash of light.

A few moments later, in an alley near Miria's house, a shimmering light appeared in the air before Miria was ejected from the vortex, closely followed by Elma. Once they were out, Elma uttered one last incantation.

— Speculum evanescit, nihil relinquitur!

The mirror vanished in an ethereal breath.

Miria, still breathless from this surreal experience, turned to Elma, her expression filled with confusion.

— Alright… now you're going to explain what just happened?

Elma crossed her arms, adopting a casual stance.

— Magic, she answered in a neutral tone.

Miria blinked.

— Magic?

Elma furrowed her brows, clearly surprised by her reaction.

— Yes, magic… You know what it is, right?

Miria ran a hand through her hair, visibly embarrassed.

— Uh...

Elma's eyes widened in astonishment.

— Wait… you mean… you don't know what magic is?

— Should I?

— Of course you should! Because…

She suddenly stopped, a look of doubt crossing her face.

— No… it's not possible… and what if…

Elma paled slightly, then murmured, almost to herself:

— He must have erased your memory...

Miria froze and stepped closer to Elma.

— Who? Who erased my memory? You mean I already knew all of this? Even the grimoire?

Elma turned her gaze away slightly, uncomfortable.

— It's not important...

But Miria wasn't having it.

— It is to me.