(Last Part)

The men all rushed to go for the mirror that fell off the mountain but the old man's son stood rooted on the mountain with shaky legs, trembling with fear.
...
When one of the men got the sack, he found it empty. The mirror was right beside the old man's son on the mountain. On seeing that, the men realised that there was no way any of them could get the mirror except the old man's son.

The old man's son rode on the horse of one of the princes' horsemen to the palace and tendered the mirror to the king. The king and the rest were unaware of his absence. When they checked the mirror, nothing reflected.

The old man's son touched the mirror and cried. "Sister!"
The mirror glistened as it reflected the young woman. She looked frail despite her beauty. Her eyes were dark. Others were taken over by fear.

"You said it's a lie!" The king barked at the old man who was already jittery.

"I...I don't understand this. My wife gave birth to only him."

"My king, something must be wrong. I was delivered of just him. How come this mirror is claiming to be my child?" Said the wife.

"Find me a sorcerer!" The king ordered.

Few hours later, a grizzled haired man stepped in with his aide. He sat down while his aide remained standing.

"May I know of how you got this mirror?" Asked the wizard

"I bought this mirror with my money. It has been with me before I married my wife. It just started to show those strange things after I had my son."

The wizard laughed. "Your daughter's spirit and soul has been trapped in this mirror. She has powers and that was why a witch trapped her inside the mirror immediately she was born without anyone's notice. She feared that she would be greater than her."

"Who is this witch?"

"My wife," the wizard answered.

"Huh?"

"And where's your wife?"

"She's long dead."

"Aargh. How do we free her then?"

"It's simple. One of the princes is capable of freeing her and whoever does so can marry her and become the next king."

"But how are they to do it?"

"I don't know either. They will find a way by themselves."

From that moment, the princes started looking for a way to free the girl.

The princes went in search of sorcerers who could help them free her but all of the sorcerers asked them to bring the mirror which they were not allowed to take.

In the end, the princes came together and decided to find a means together and if they succeed, Prince Ade who had been the best choice since they checked the mirror would be given the woman and throne. With this, they returned to the old man's house and to where the mirror used to stay. There, they searched for what could help and but they found nothing.

Prince Ade concluded that they break the mirror but that scared the rest for that could kill her. He was however ready to take whatever the outcome was. With the help of his brothers, they stole the mirror and he broke it with his fist. Smoke covered the whole room and they could not see. When the smoke vanished, the little girl was lying on the floor with no strength in her.

After a few days, her strength returned and she became popular for her powers and divination. She married Prince Ade who later became the king.

The rest of the princes became kings in other kingdoms where they married princesses.

The old man, his wife and his son lived in opulence ever after.

The End.

Thanks for reading ❤️

I hope you found it worth reading.

© Imole Olusanya