The next morning, precisely at 8 AM, An's phone vibrated. An unknown number. It was Thanh Lam. He quickly answered, unsure whether to feel happy or anxious. "Hello?"
"Have you thought it through?" Thanh Lam's voice was as steady as ever. "Meet me at the café from yesterday. 9 AM. Don't be late."
An nodded, though he knew she couldn't see him. "Yes, I'll be there."
The distance from the dorm to "Forgotten Corner" wasn't far, but every step An took felt heavy. He had spent the entire night pondering Thanh Lam's words, and especially haunted by the white chrysanthemum "mirror stain." He felt a strange urge, a compulsion to delve deeper, even knowing how dangerous it was.
Upon arriving at the café, Thanh Lam was already waiting. Before her was a small, old vanity mirror, its glass yellowed with age. An shivered when he saw it.
"Good, you're on time," Thanh Lam said, gesturing for An to sit down. "You seem curious about that chrysanthemum 'mirror stain,' don't you?"
An flinched. "You... you knew?"
"Of course. That's why I chose that spot to meet you," she replied, taking a sip of tea. "You've read about the meaning of white chrysanthemums, haven't you?"
An nodded, recounting what he had found in the book. Thanh Lam listened, her eyes half-closed.
"Exactly. That mirror stain belongs to a young soul, likely one who died tragically, or with an unresolved grievance. The black tear you saw... that wasn't the soul's tear. That's a mark of a Shadow Demon. They've begun to 'feed' on that soul's pain and memories, transforming it into a stronger bait. That soul is very close to being completely possessed."
An's stomach churned. "So... what do I do? You said I could help?"
Thanh Lam put down her teacup. "This is your first lesson. Learn to control the Inverse Eye. You think it's a gift, but it's also a vulnerability. When you stare too long at a mirror stain, especially those laden with negative emotions, you open the door for Shadow Demons to approach. They can't cross over freely, but they can whisper, tempt, and weaken your will."
Thanh Lam pushed the old mirror towards An. "Look into it. I will guide you. The most important thing is your willpower. The Inverse Eye operates based on your concentration and intention. You must visualize a barrier between yourself and the Mirror World, a barrier only you can control."
An hesitated, then took a deep breath. He looked into the mirror. At first, he only saw his own reflection, pale and tired. Then, like a thin mist, a blurry figure appeared. It was a young girl, her face contorted in pain, her eyes pleading. She clutched a white chrysanthemum, her lips moving silently. A pitch-black Shadow Demon, indistinct like a living inkblot, began to emerge from behind her, its dark tendrils reaching out as if to grasp her soul.
"Focus!" Thanh Lam's voice cut through An's rising fear. "Don't look at the Shadow Demon! Focus on the soul. And visualize, visualize a protective circle around that soul, a barrier of light separating it from the Shadow Demon. Then, visualize a door slamming shut, an invisible wall separating you from the sight. Try, An!"
An squeezed his eyes shut, sweat pouring down his forehead. He tried to visualize as Thanh Lam instructed. A circle of light around the girl. A door slamming shut. He felt a surge of hot energy rise from his chest, then abruptly tear outwards.
An opened his eyes. The mirror was still there, but the mirror stain had vanished. He only saw his own reflection, normal.
"Well done!" Thanh Lam said, nodding. "You succeeded. You protected yourself from being lured by the Shadow Demon, and at the same time, you created a temporary shield for that soul. It will be safer for a while. But it's not permanent. The soul is still trapped, and the Shadow Demon will still try. You must become stronger."
An felt exhausted, but also a hint of pride and hope. He could really do it!
"So... why did you leave the Reflective Layer?" An asked, recalling the unresolved question from last night.
Thanh Lam looked at An for a long moment, a rare look of melancholy appearing in her eyes. "The Reflective Layer... they believe they are the only ones with the right to control the Mirror World. They gather people with the Inverse Eye like you, training them to become 'mirror hunters' or 'reflection mages.' But they are not perfect saviors."
She paused, then continued. "They are powerful, with technology and resources. They have ancient artifacts to seal Shadow Demons, to manipulate mirror stains. But they are also extremely secretive and ruthless. They believe every trapped soul is a potential danger, needing to be 'purified' – which means completely destroyed, leaving no trace. They don't care about freeing souls, only about eliminating threats."
An's eyes widened. "Destroy souls?"
"Yes. And they are also very afraid of people with potential like you. They fear you becoming too strong, beyond their control. They want to keep all information and power in their hands. I witnessed too many innocent souls being 'purified,' simply because they didn't want to expend the effort to 'free' them, or because those souls were accidentally used by Shadow Demons. I also witnessed too many people with the Inverse Eye being imprisoned, forced to do things against their conscience. That's why I fled."
"You're a good person," An blurted out.
Thanh Lam shook her head slightly, a sad smile on her lips. "No one is entirely good in this world, Duy An. There are only choices. I just chose the less ruthless path. I'm helping you because I see a genuine sincerity in you. And because I believe not every soul needs to be obliterated. There are souls that need to be understood, to be freed, to find peace."
"So... what should I do about that chrysanthemum mirror stain?" An asked, his mind now overwhelmed by the complexity of this new world.
Thanh Lam looked directly into An's eyes, her voice serious. "That girl's soul is a special case. She died in this very hospital, under very tragic circumstances. A very strong Shadow Demon is targeting her; it has already absorbed many of her memories and emotions. If you want to help, you need to uncover her story, find the reason she's trapped. Only then can her soul truly find permanent peace."
"But... how do I find out?" An felt overwhelmed.
"You have The Inverse Eye. You can see fragments of memories. Next time, when you face her, try to focus on her strongest emotions. You might see her final memories." Thanh Lam paused, looking out the window, where the sun had risen high. "I can't help you with everything. You must learn on your own. This is your path."
An looked at the old vanity mirror on the table, then out the window, where the normal world continued as if nothing had happened. But for him, everything had changed. He was no longer an ordinary architecture student. He was a wielder of The Inverse Eye, carrying an unexpected burden.