The next day, Duy An tried to live a normal life. He attended classes, listened to lectures, and even attempted to focus on his group project with Hong Anh. But every effort was futile. Whenever his gaze brushed across a reflective surface – his roommate's phone, the cafeteria glass door, or even a friend's spectacle frames – An felt an invisible fear creep in. He constantly checked his watch, awaiting Thanh Lam's next call. He knew only she could help him cope with this crushing burden.
In the afternoon, while working on a group assignment in the library, An felt a sharp pain in his temple. He closed his eyes, trying to ward off the discomfort. When he opened them, a bone-chilling gust of cold air rushed in, and immediately, he saw what he didn't want to see.
On the phone lying on the table right next to him, a "mirror stain" appeared. It was the image of a young man, about An's age, huddled, his face contorted in fear. His eyes were wide and bloodshot, staring directly at An, as if pleading. Around him, instead of the familiar library walls, was a dark, cold space, with grotesque, swirling lines like black tendrils. It was a Shadow Demon!
This time, the Shadow Demon wasn't hiding behind the soul. It seemed to be actively "creating" its own space around the soul, forcing the soul into a corner, and its black tendrils were slowly tightening their grip. Although it was just a "mirror stain" on a phone, An still felt a surge of dark, decaying energy filling the air. Hong Anh was sitting next to An, completely unaware. She was still diligently typing on her keyboard, the steady clicking sound like hammers pounding into An's nerves.
An felt his heart stop. He remembered Thanh Lam's words: "Don't stare too long at a mirror stain... don't let yourself be lured..." What should he do? Run away? Or try to help?
A thought flashed in An's mind: control. He squeezed his eyes shut tightly, trying to visualize the invisible barrier Thanh Lam had taught him. He focused, concentrating all his willpower to "close" The Inverse Eye. A sharp pain shot through his temple, as if something was tearing him apart from within. An bit his lip hard, refusing to back down. Finally, a faint "click" echoed in his mind, like a door softly closing.
An opened his eyes. The mirror stain was gone. He exhaled in relief, drenched in sweat. Hong Anh looked up, giving An a puzzled look.
"What's wrong, An? You're completely pale. Having a daylight nightmare again?" Hong Anh asked worriedly.
"No... nothing. I just felt a bit dizzy," An stammered, trying to hide the truth. He knew he couldn't reveal this secret to Hong Anh. It was too dangerous.
That young man in the "mirror stain"... who was he? An felt a strong urge to find out. An took out his phone, discreetly searching for news of recent disappearances or mysterious deaths in the library area. Nothing unusual.
While An was still pondering, his phone vibrated again. This time, it was a message from Thanh Lam. "Meet me at the old bus stop. 3 PM."
An sighed in relief. Luckily, she had contacted him. He needed advice. He needed guidance.
At the old bus stop, Thanh Lam was already there, leaning against a utility pole. This place was much emptier than the café, and An understood that Thanh Lam wanted a more private location to talk.
"I saw you," Thanh Lam said as soon as An approached. "You succeeded. That was a soul being targeted by a Shadow Demon. They were dragging him into the abyss. But you did the right thing; you closed your eye and created a temporary shield."
"You know everything?" An asked, astonished.
Thanh Lam didn't answer directly. "When you use The Inverse Eye, it creates a small energy fluctuation that people like me can sense. Especially when you try to 'close' it. You did well. But that's just the first step. We can't save everyone. We can only focus on cases where we have the capability."
"So what about that young man's soul?" An asked, a pang of guilt creeping in.
"He'll be alright for a short while. But the Shadow Demon has already noticed him. It won't let go. To help a soul find peace, you need to understand their story, the reason they're trapped. Just like the chrysanthemum girl's soul."
"I saw something... in the chrysanthemum mirror stain," An began to recount. "A hand, a withered white chrysanthemum, and a black tear... I looked up white chrysanthemums, and it's a symbol of remembrance for young deceased people, those with unresolved grievances."
Thanh Lam nodded. "Precisely. That black tear is a mark of a Shadow Demon. They absorb the negative energy of the soul, forming a kind of spiritual matter. When they feed enough, the soul will completely fade, becoming another Shadow Demon, or just a part of the main Shadow Demon's energy."
"So how do I find out their story?" An asked, feeling heavy-hearted.
"You can do that through The Inverse Eye," Thanh Lam explained. "When you face a mirror stain of a soul, don't just 'see' but also 'feel.' Let the soul's emotions seep into you. It will be very painful, very uncomfortable. You will experience their final memories. That's the only way to understand what they want, and how to set them free."
An shivered. Experiencing the memories of the dead, feeling their pain? That sounded horrifying.
"Here's an item," Thanh Lam suddenly handed An a silver necklace with a teardrop-shaped blue-purple crystal pendant. "It's a Memory Crystal. It will help you focus The Inverse Eye's energy, reducing the overwhelm when you try to access a soul's memories. And it will also partially protect you from direct influence by Shadow Demons."
An took the necklace. It was cold and seemed old, but holding it, he felt a gentle energy flow into him, somewhat easing his tension.
"So the chrysanthemum girl... I'll try to learn about her," An said, his gaze more determined.
Thanh Lam nodded. "This is your first task. I will keep an eye on you. If you're in danger, call me. But don't rely too much on me. This path, ultimately, you must walk alone."
An looked at the necklace in his hand, then looked into the distance, where the city's tall buildings stretched towards the evening sky. Beneath that ordinary facade, another world was simmering, full of danger and mystery. He was now a part of it.