The next morning, the students of Sanctum of Mirrors returned to their usual routines, oblivious to the danger lurking among them.
Anna and her friends gathered in the dining hall, where the chatter of students echoed against the enchanted ceilings. The room was abuzz with excitement about the upcoming inter-school competition with Obsidian Crescent—a rivalry steeped in both magic and mistrust.
Logan jabbed his fork into his scrambled eggs. “I don’t trust this competition. It feels... off.”
Mia rolled her eyes. “You don’t trust anything. Maybe it’s just a way for the schools to show off their skills.”
Ryan smirked. “Or maybe they’re just trying to spy on us, like we’d do the same if we had the chance.”
Anna, however, was lost in thought, her mind lingering on the book they’d found and the secrets it revealed about the Reflection Game. “What if there’s more to this than just rivalry?” she murmured.
Logan raised an eyebrow. “You mean, like another layer to the game?”
Anna nodded. “Or ma
