“Only when you look into the mirror, can you see the truth.”

Those were the words that were ringing through Ella’s ears as she came along the path in the woods, almost to her destination to find the Speculum Anima. This “Mirror of the Soul” was just thought to be an old wives tale, Ella remembered hearing about it once as a child. And until now that was all it was to Ella, just a tale.

When Ella first stepped into The Temple of the Oracle, she was looking for answers. Answers to why her family members have all gone missing one by one leaving her all alone. This wasn’t an ordinary case of missing parents either, Ella is youngest daughter to King Rufus V of House Ashenwright, her family has ruled the Vale for over one thousand years. Chaos has ensued in the short year since members of the royal family started to vanish without a trace. Now Ella was the last one left and she needed to know why. Who is behind this? Was this God’s way of punishing me? Am I next? She thought. Once the black sheep of this royal family, now Ella is the last thread holding this thousand year old bloodline together.

But this can’t be the answer I’m seeking? Thought Ella, as she left the House of The Oracle on a cold misty morning. My entire family vanished one by one. Lords who have been loyal to my families divine right to the throne for centuries, now fighting eachother for power like a cluster of feral cats clawing over a lone mouse. I might be extinguished from existence any day now! And this oracle; this all knowing man is telling me that the answer to all of my problems is to hunt down a myth, a fairytale? This has to be some sort of joke! Ella was baffled and frustrated after her encounter with the Oracle but she was all out of options. The only other person that could help her was gone now. Ella’s brother James had gone missing just two days prior, leaving Ella alone as the last remaining Ashenwright. And technically she was now Queen of the Vale. Ella knew she had to find out who, or what was behind these disappearances before she meets the same fate that befell James.

“Only when you look into the mirror, can you see the truth.”

Ella couldn’t get the Oracle’s voice out of her head as she emerged from the treeline, only to see what she came all this way for. There it was, the Speculum Anima. Ella nearly trips as she sprints in excitement to the mirror. I can’t believe it, the bastard was right! Ella thinks to her self as she gets closer to the mirror. I’m going to get my family back, I am going to set things ri-. Ella pauses mid thought. As she see’s what is staring back at her, her knees begin to feel weak. The reflection is not that is not her own face, not the face of her father, her two brothers, or her mother. The face staring back at her is that of a demon. Peering through the mirror her beads of bloody dark sweat dripping down it’s naked red skin. Massive horns protruding from it’s head. Grinning at her. Such a sinister grin, like a child who just learned a dirty secret. For a moment that felt like an eternity, Ella stares in horror and confusion at this being in the mirror. She goes to touch the mirror as the demon mimics her movements, she pulls her hands back as the mirror is hot to the touch.

What does this mean? Is the bloodline cursed?Am I some type of.. of devil? Ella’s mind runs through the possibilities as to what any of this means. She feels as though she has more questions than answers now. Ella didn’t find what she was looking for yet. But she did see the truth, even if she doesn’t know it. The truth being that her journey for answers has only just begun.