Trapped in a mirror

Jaina Proudmoore, the leader of Theramoore, was standing in front of the massive gates. Despite being only 24 years old, she was one of the most powerful mages in the world. She was also one of the few female mages to ever serve Dalaran – a fact she was very proud of.

"My Lady, we have finally reached our destination!" Duke, the captain of her personal guard, said.

"Very well, captain!" Jaina said with a determination on her young face. "I must go alone inside the temple. Thank you for escorting me!"

Jaina turned towards the gigantic structure in front of her. The temple had four walls and the shape of a pyramid. It was at least 800 feet high and each wall was at least 300 feet in length. The whole temple was covered in runes from which a breathtaking power was emanating. The common soldiers were impressed by the sight but Jaina was literally overwhelmed by the sensations. Being a mage, she could feel the powerful magic surrounding the whole place – all the more reason to enter the temple and find out what the source was.

"My Lady, it is too dangerous." The captain said. "We don`t know anything about this place and we cannot risk your life. Me and my men will escort you and ensure your safety."

"Thank you captain but I really have to go alone. My dreams were very specific about this." Jaina retorted.

In the past few days Jaina had been having dreams about that specific place and the temple. In her dreams she was entering the temple alone, leaving her escort outside. At first she had tried to ignore the dreams, but they had been repeating every night. Finally, Jaina had decided to check the place and see it for herself. She had taken her personal guard in case something went wrong. She had also asked Thrall, her friend, to escort her. Thrall had been reluctant to trust mere dreams but he had agreed nonetheless.

"The captain is right, Jaina!" Thrall grumbled and shook his tusked head. "This is too dangerous and it could be some kind of trap. I will accompany you and make sure that nothing bad happens to you."

"Thank you Thrall, but you really shouldn`t come. I appreciate your concern and you are a true friend but my dreams were very specific in that regard – I have to go alone! Besides, I can fend for myself." Jaina said and smiled to her friend. She was glad to have a loyal friend like Thrall but she had to enter alone.

The orc shaman rubbed his chin. Then he sighed.

"I see that I cannot change your mind." He finally spoke. "So be it then! Just promise me that at the first sign of danger you will connect me telepathically so that I can help you."

"Of course Thrall!" Jaina promised. "Now if you excuse me, I must go."

With that Jaina turned and faced the gates. She stretched her hand and cast a simple spell. The massive gates opened before her. Jaina steeled herself and entered. An unpleasant reek assailed her nostrils as she was making the first steps.

Thrall and her guards were watching as she was going away. Then, suddenly, the gates shut close behind Jaina`s back.

"Do you think she will be alright?" The captain asked.

"I hope so! I hope so!" Thrall mumbled.

…

Jaina turned around as the gates closed behind her. She had to admit that at that point she was starting to get a bit nervous. However, the female mage continued. She had to find the source.

There were many halls in the temple, however, the young sorceress could still find her way. After all, Jaina was one of the most powerful mages and she could feel the strong emanations.

There were no windows. Fortunately for Jaina, there was a strange luminescent light the was lightening the otherwise dark paths. Jaina looked at the walls but there was nothing on them – no pictures, no runes, just walls, made from stone. That was really strange.

Finally, Jaina reached a huge chamber. The powerful emanations were coming from it.

Jaina looked around but there was nothing in the huge chamber. Nothing apart from a big mirror at the centre. The young girl frowned and went to it.

She stood in front of it and studied it carefully. The powerful emanations were definitely coming from it. But why?

Jaina closed her eyes and studied the mirror even more carefully. She couldn`t feel anything.

Then she felt it. There was a powerful artifact, a crystal. It was inside the mirror. That crystal was the source of the power Jaina had felt.

The female mage smiled at her success. Indeed, Antonidas had taught her well. The mirror was probably some kind of otherworldly dimension, created specifically to preserve the crystal. Now she had to figure out how to retrieve the crystal.

Jaina cleared her thoughts and touched the artifact with her mind. She was almost stunned by the enormous power the crystal contained. It had to be hers!

Jaina tried to use a very powerful spell to pull the crystal out of the mirror. The crystal reacted. Jaina smiled. She was going to succeed. She clenched her teeth. Just a little longer…

Then, suddenly, Jaina felt a strange sensation. Someone was trying to pull her inside the mirror. The young sorceress screamed and tried to counter the force that was pulling her but it was too strong.

The force continued to pull her inside the mirror. Jaina tried to fight with all her strength but to no avail. She clenched her teeth. Her entire body was sweating.

Then it suddenly stopped.

Jaina looked around surprised but saw nothing interesting. She saw only the roof and the walls of the chamber.

She tried to make a movement but to her horror she couldn`t. Her left cheek and her entire torso were pressed against an invisible barrier.

"That is strange!" Jaina said.

The young mage tried to move backwards but there was another barrier, pressed against her back. Her entire body was practically compressed between the two barriers and there was no space for movements.

This really angered Jaina. She tried to move her arms and legs but she could only wiggle them slightly. In fact the young mage realized that she couldn`t move any of her body parts because they were stuck between the two barriers. She couldn`t move her head, her neck, her torso, her arms and her legs. The young sorceress could only wiggle.

Jaina tried to cast a spell but something was preventing her from doing so.

"What is happening?" Jaina shouted.

Then she realized what had happened and the realization filled her with despair and horror. She was trapped inside the mirror!

Jaina Proudmoore screamed loudly from her prison. Her screams echoed throughout the temple.