Time.
So slow.
I felt like the drip of my dread had permeated from my core through my skin, then through the hourglass, to solidify its sand and make time grind to a halt. I felt like the centuries old mechanism of the giant clock in the office finally broke down and its hands refused to move. I felt like I was trapped in a novel where not even two days had passed at chapter 9.
Thankfully - or not - Luc was there to restart the flow of time.
"Miss Lang, we will begin our training now," she said.
I blinked up from the couch. I was holding a coffee cup that I hadn't even realized I was holding.
"Training," I echoed.
"Yes."
"Yes." I echoed.
"Miss?"
"Miss?"
"Please stop doing that."
"Please stop - what the heck am I doing… I'm sorry."
Luc tilted her head and stared at me.
"That was very interesting."
…What did she mean by that?
"…" No answer from her.
"…eh?"
"My apologies. I didn't mean to say that out loud."
That was odd.
"So what is this training for?"
"For the inevitable."
"…A war?"
"That's the right idea."
She didn't laugh, but I sensed something like amusement emit from her shoulders.
"You will follow me," she said, turning, heading toward my bedroom.
"What...kind of training?"
"I see you have not fully explored your suite yet."
She was right.
I followed her from behind and noticed that if I were a dog, she would have been the perfect owner who walked me at the exact pace that I was most comfortable with.
Once we got into the bedroom, she headed to the dressing room, and ventured deeper into it than I had before. I saw that there was a full-length mirror, but only realized it was a sliding door when Luc opened it..
"This is the mirror room."
I heard a soft yet reassuringly solid click as Luc turned on the light and walked in, and once I stepped in too it became clear why this was called the mirror room. There were three mirrors on one side of the wall, their full length running from the floor to the ceiling. They were deliberately angled and spaced so that they did not reflect each other. When I followed Luc's lead and stood on the spot she pointed, there were three of me, visible from different angles.
What really freaked me out for a second was that I could not see Luc in the mirror. I spun around to check if she was there, and yes, she was there, standing still as if this was no miracle.
"How…"
"This is the spot that does not reflect. It's specifically designed for that" She knew what I wanted to ask and I was trying to figure out the geometry of the whole thing, but quickly gave up. Luc just had that eery precision in everything she did. At this point I wouldn't be surprised if it was her who designed this room.
"So what should I do now?"
"We will do image training. You will speak and see yourself speak. We will analyze your posture, gestures, expressions - every slight movement of your body, you will be able to see for yourself. And reflect."
Reflect upon myself by looking at my reflection.
This was an absolute torture.
"We'll begin with the walk-in."
"Walk in?"
"Yes. Miss Lang, your presence must enter a room before you do. Please take a few steps away and walk toward the center spot"
I took a few steps back, and shuffled awkwardly toward the spot.
"Can't my shoes enter first?"
"Was that a joke?"
"I'm sorry…"
"Please try again, Miss."
Following her command, I tried a few times, but I just couldn't make out how my 'presence' should walk ahead of me. It was almost like that whole 'gaze into future' thing. Then I remembered.
"Luc, could you please demonstrate for me?"
"I'd rather not."
"Please. Just so I can get an idea of how it should look. I'm at a complete loss here."
She stood still for a moment, seemingly hesitant.
"Please…?"
"Very well."
As I stepped aside, Luc walked out of the room, and spoke on her way out.
"I will walk in at random moment. See if you can feel me enter before I actually do."
With that, I was left alone in the mirror room, my nervous eyes darting back and forth between the mirrors and the door.
Then I felt it.
There was something.
Something that I had no way of explaining. An anxious anticipation, an excitement, an inexplicable feeling of looming destiny. The closest thing I could think of was when the stage light goes out before a concert and you can 'feel' that the star of the show is going to walk into the stage any moment.
And perhaps because of this anticipation, I could not see Luc's shoes first when she entered. My eyes were already fixed at the level where I'd see her face, the first thing I saw was her pale face with those piercing eyes.
With each step her presence grew as she approached the 'mirror spot' I was in before. I didn't take the position that Luc was in before, so I could see all three reflections of her from where I stood - including myself just behind her.
It felt like the mirrors were screaming. They were wilting under pressure, as if they couldn't keep up with the daunting task of reflecting Luc. The silver hair, the eyes, the infinitely black suit, the perfect knot of her tie.
"S…stop," I involuntarily let out.
As if nothing happened, Luc stepped aside, returning back to her invisible spot.
"It will take time and practice, Miss. But you are young. Time is on your side."
"How… how many years did it take you?"
"Hah-"
It was the first time I saw Luc laugh, albeit for less than a second, as a single syllable of laughter burst out.
"I'm sorry." She bowed her head slightly.
I wasn't quite sure what was so funny, but I laughed too.