Back in his bedroom, Annan had Maid Abby bring him a fresh set of clothes and changed.
After spending so long with the Fire Elemental Elder, he always smelled faintly scorched.
Once he had changed, Annan slipped the piece of gold ore Olmedo had just given him into a drawer.
Clatter—
The Magic Mirror, the Life Casket, and the Crystal appeared in the drawer together.
Looking at the Magic Mirror, which had never once proved useful, Annan remembered that the name Tadel sounded familiar...
When he had asked it, "Who is the most beautiful elf?" the Magic Mirror had answered Tadel Moonchaser.
"Are you there?"
Annan held the World Tree Leaf.
Before long, a soft voice sounded in Annan's mind. "I'm here."
"Are you Moonchaser?"
"My name is indeed Tadel Moonchaser."
"You're the most beautiful elf in the world?"
Tadel Moonchaser fell silent for a moment. "Who said that?"
"A..." Annan glanced at the Magic Mirror in the drawer. "A magic mirror that can answer one question a day."
"I don't know if I'm the most beautiful elf... Maybe it only chose from the elves you know?"
"Back then, I didn't even know you. I only knew the Elf Mentor, Della, and the one we rescued from Betal."
"Why not ask it something you don't know?"
"Good idea. Give me a question."
Tadel Moonchaser thought for a moment. "Who is the wisest person in the Elven Royal Court?"
Annan took out the Magic Mirror and spoke to its cracked surface. "Magic mirror, magic mirror, who is the wisest elf in the Elven Royal Court?"
The Magic Mirror glowed faintly and gave Annan a name: Alger.
"It says Alger. Is that right?"
"I've never heard that name... Is he in the Elven Royal Court?"
"That question will have to wait until