(A/N) Now Updated/Rewritten!
This story takes place after the destruction of the Third Period, and the creation of the Fourth Period; also known as "Aernas", in my crossover universe. Reflected in the mirror, the Demon took the appearence of Riliane Lucifen d'Autriche (mostly Waiter). Also, the narrator and characters will refer to it in female pronouns throughout the story.
Erudon Mansion, EC. 1447. October 17th (Ronan's 7th Birthday).
It was a lively afternoon at the mansion of the legendary family of Spell Knights, the Erudon Family. The servants were in a rush, preparing everything for a special event. Why, such special event was an important someone's birthday – none other than the young heir, Ronan Erudon's, seventh birthday.
All the servants cared deeply for the young boy, for his mother, Aurora, died giving birth to him; and his father, Cyrus, had no time to spend with him, as a matter of fact, he was out in a business trip in this special day. Ronan's aunt and Cyrus' sister, Karina, was sent to Serdin along with the princess Anyu for exchange training, and so had no conditions to come for his birthday. Ronan loved his aunt deeply, and looked up to her as his inspiration of an ideal swordswoman - although they had merely 8 years of age difference - and so understood her situation. His father was the problem, as he didn't seem to care for the young boy at all.
Ronan's best friend and servant, Harpe Noir, was the one who was looking forward to this date more than anyone. He ran about, helping the other servants with the preparatives. His mother had to call his attention once in a while, afraid he would hurt himself whilst running like that. The servant was normally a quiet, behaved child, but he could easily become unquiet by the simple mention of Ronan. Such devotion he had for his young master, despite being 4 years older than him!
It seemed everything was ready for the birthday. The cake, sweets, presents, decorations; everything was put thoroughly in order for this joyful date.
However, there was still one thing missing in the party – the birthday person.
-x—x—x-
Light steps could be heard slightly echoing through one of the hallways of the house, but there was no one to notice them. A door was opened and then closed cautiously, as a small indigo figure entered the room he has always been prohibited of entering – the basement of the mansion. The boy, who was in fact the young Ronan Erudon, carefully went down the wooden stairs, which were damaged by time and termites.
The room was dark, save for a small beam of light coming from a small window illuminating the place enough for Ronan to see what was there. There were old weapons and other equipment, old furniture, and boxes. Lots and lots of boxes, Ronan noticed.
The young Erudon sat down by a corner and buried his head in his knees, crying.
"Papa is an idiot." He sobbed. "It's my birthday and he had to go on a business trip." After a few minutes, he looked up to glance once again at his surroundings. "If it IS really a business trip. I bet he just wanted to get away from me… Like every year." Ronan said harshly, snuffling and wiping his tears. He got up and looked around.
"Come to think about it, I've never been in the basement before." Ronan started walking around, examining the place. "Papa and the servants forbid me of coming down here. I wonder why…?"
He stopped in front of a pile of boxes. He grabbed a small box next to it, and upon noticing his hands got dirty with dust, he immediately put it back in its place. Ronan wiped his hands on his pants.
"Eww. What a mess. I bet no one has come down here for years." He spotted an old feather duster in one the open boxes that where in top of the pile. "…Makes me want to clean everything." The young Erudon started collecting nearby boxes, and placed them in a way he could climb up and grab the duster. However, the box was heavier than he expected, which caused him to lose balance and fall back, kicking one of the boxes of the pile in process, which resulted in them all falling down.
Ronan fell on his bum, the boxes surrounding him with their contents scattered around; as some had opened when they fell down. Thankfully, there was nothing breakable inside them.
"Ow, ow, ow… Stupid boxes…" Ronan grumbled, but then realized the mess he made. "Uh-oh. I'm going to get in trouble for this…huh?" The boy noticed a small, worn-out black box - different from all the others - and it caught his attention. He took the box and examined it, somehow scared of opening it. "I wonder what's inside?" He started shaking the box as if doing that would give him an answer somehow.
"Ouch! Cut it out! CUT IT OUT!" A voice demanded. Ronan looked around, confused and afraid.
"Eh? W-who said that? I-is anyone there?"
"Of course there is! Me!"
"W-where are you?"
"Inside the box! Moron!"
Surprised, Ronan curiously opened the box. Inside it was a old handheld mirror with a golden frame. Judging by the state of the box, the mirror should have been kept in there for centuries, but surprisingly, its glass was perfectly clean and its golden frame was shiny and didn't look worn out at all. It looked like the box preserved it. Although the object in Ronan's hands was indeed stunning, his interest for it quickly faded away. Maybe an adult would be more interested.
"Oh." He sighed. "It's simply a handheld mirror. I must be going crazy. Hearing things."
"Simply a mirror? How rude! You have no idea who you're addressing to as simply a mirror, commoner!" The same voice from before complained. Ronan noticed the voice was coming from the mirror in his hands. Oh, so that who it was.
Wait... what?
"The mirror speaks?" He had a confused expression on his face.
"Excuse you, I'm not a mirror. Look closely, moron!"
Ronan looked closely at the handheld object, and quickly noticed the mirror strangely didn't reflect his image; In the contrary, reflected in the mirror was a blonde girl with blue eyes, who had a short hair with a white ribbon in the back of her head. She wore what seemed to be some sort of white suit with some yellow details and a ribbon in it.
"Huh?" Ronan tilted his head in confusion. "You're not my reflection…"
"Of course I'm not." The figure pouted. "…But I'm glad a mortal found me after all these years. Tell me, human, what do you call yourself?"
"Ronan… Ronan Erudon."
"Right."
"And you are…?"
"I'm the amazing and great Pride. Or Vanity, or Lucifer, or Waiter… whatever."
"Oh." Ronan's face lightened a bit. "Nice to meet you. May I call you Vanity?"
"Do as you wish." Pride snorted. "You should feel honored I even bothered to present myself to you, mortal."
"I see. But tell me, Vanity, why are you trapped inside this mirror?"
Pride raised an eyebrow and smirked, crossing her arms in a prideful way. "Eeeeh? You must be dying of curiosity, isn't that right!" She laughed exaggeratedly, and Ronan just nodded in an innocent way. "Very well! Since you want to know of my story this much, I will tell you."
"I got attacked. I could've easily defeated the person, obviously, but she caught me distracted. She sealed me in this mirror, and cast a spell to drain my powers, and I'm unable to undo it. And here I am, left in this state, trapped in this damned mirror." Ronan could swear she muttered something that sounded like 'again' after saying that.
"I see… Poor thing." The boy frowned, showing genuine concern for the entity. Pride, in the other hand, felt irritated by the boy's reaction.
"I don't need your pity." She simply said.
"But you've been trapped in there - alone - for a long time, weren't you?" He asked. "It must hurt, doesn't it?"
Pride was surprised by his sudden change of attitude. "Excuse you?"
"It's the same for me. I've been alone too… Alone against the world. Isn't that how you feel?"
After a moment of silence, staring at the indigo boy's sad pout with a puzzled expression, Pride looked away, trying not to show weakness. "It may be."
"Do you think…Perhaps, we could be friends?" Ronan asked all of sudden.
"What?" Pride was once again taken aback.
Ronan shook his head and a smile formed on his lips. "I mean! You're probably alone against the world too, right? So we could become friends!"
"…Why are you saying that? I don't need the pity of a mortal such as yours—"
"I can even help you get out of the mirror, if that's possible!" Ronan interrupted her, which annoyed Pride, but she didn't bother to protest. "Since I've found you in this basement, I can't just put you back in that box, right?"
"Getting out of the mirror…" Pride muttered.
"That's right, Vanity! You've been abandoned and forgotten down here for a long time, and everyone in this household despises me – so perhaps we can become each other's support!" His smile suddenly vanished from his face as he muttered some more words. "Maybe run away from here…" He quickly shook his head, as if trying to make these dark thoughts go away, and smiled once again. "I can help you."
Pride blinked at him, confused. Nobody has ever been this kind to her, especially with her personality. Why was this obnoxious boy offering his help? Pride has never been good with understanding humans.
Nevertheless, what he said - about freeing her. Once again, finding herself out of that mirror, free to do whatever she pleased… Cause whatever trouble she wanted... Pride had to admit she enjoyed that idea. Freedom.
"When…" She started, and the young Erudon listened attentively. "When you beg like that, I have no choice but accept. I guess I can make you my gardener." Suddenly, at hearing the word she had just said, she felt like an arrow had pierced her heart.
"Gardener?" Ronan repeated that word. "There are no gardens here, Vanity… Except for the mansion gardens of course, but.." He put a hand on his chin, trying to understand what she said.
Before she could say anything in response, they both heard some footsteps echoing. Soon, a voice called "Young Master!". Ronan smiled, recognizing it as Harpe. "Young Master! Where are you?" The voice was coming from the hallway; thankfully he didn't notice Ronan was in the basement, the so-called off limits area of the mansion.
"Oh. It's Harpe." Ronan commented with a low voice, scared he would be found out. "He's my best friend."
"Best friend?" Pride crossed her arms in an annoyed way. "I thought you said everyone here despised you."
Ronan chuckled awkwardly, blushing a bit. "Hehe… Well, not everybody. Maybe just my papa and the twin maids…" He lowered his head, feeling embarrassed. "My bad."
"Moron." The blondie said bitterly.
"I think I should go now. I've heard they've prepared my birthday party." Ronan said, getting up and still holding the mirror with one hand. "Oh, I had an idea! I should introduce you to them, Vanity! I'm sure they'll all like you – especially Harpe!"
"I have serious doubts…" Pride sighed. "I don't want to meet them."
"What?" Ronan looked disappointed. "Why?"
"Bad things might happen if the others were to find me. I think it's best if you leave the mirror here."
"I don't understand what you mean by bad things… I would've loved to introduce you to Harpe, Vanity, but if you think it's for the best, that's alright for me." He placed the mirror back in the black box he had previously found it. "I'll come back tomorrow. You'll wait for me, right?"
"Right. It's not like the mirror will grow legs and walk away." Pride rolled her eyes, smiling a bit at Ronan's stupid question. The young indigo-haired boy laughed as well.
"Right. Then I'll see you tomorrow, Vanity. I'm glad to have met you!"
"You better be, servant!" Pride smirked.
Ronan then closed the box and placed it in a corner of the basement, partly hidden; as if afraid someone would find the mirror and take it away. He climbed up the stairs and peeked out the door, to make sure the hallway was empty – so nobody knew he was in the basement all this time and he wouldn't get in trouble – and quietly closed it behind him. He then started looking for Harpe, so that the young Erudon's birthday party could finally get started.
-x—x—x-
Back in the black box, Pride was pondering inside her vessel. "Weird, he didn't seem afraid of me. Could it be that he never heard of us, the Demons of Sin…? It's probably the case." A pause. Pride remembered when she said Ronan could become her gardener. That word, gardener, reminded her of a certain someone, and the young boy did so too.
"Why does this Ronan Erudon looks so much like him? My Gardener… Gammon… Ugh! It's no use thinking too much about it. I may even grow stupid. I just need to find a way to possess that young indigo and get out of this damned mirror."
