Albedo's Mirror

It was possible to see the burning illusion of people as I looked into the flames, with colors oscillating between several spectrums, revealing illusions fueled by trivial motivations. It was also incredible, because I could concentrate to an extraordinary level when it seemed like I was in a trance, as if I could see beyond normal reality by defocusing my vision. As soon as I focused on something, I stopped seeing all of that.

But people saw me on a divine scale, which is why they idolized me. They thought I was more capable than I really was: an unnecessary lie for my people, but necessary for my enemies. I contemplated these thoughts as I looked into the fire, which reminded me that I was not a normal living being. No matter how capable a living being was, there was always a point of balance for everything, like the ideal lighting conditions for a human to see at their maximum efficiency. But I didn't have this balance, I saw better the more light there was, and reaching certain levels, my vision interfered with my other senses. I could hear people's thoughts when I looked at the sun.

But in those moments, I was looking at the fire that was destroying the homes of many families who were part of my people. Through the fire, I could see the anger they felt for being attacked and the trust they had because I was by their side. I could hear their screams, drowning out the sounds of destruction, and I could also see that no one was stepping forward to extinguish the fire.

“The Goddess won't extinguish the fire?” My most faithful advisor, Kékériagod, approached me.

“They can handle it without me.”

“But it's an attack on Your people. They want You to solve it to show that You still protect them.”

“They have no doubts that I protect them. What they have is indulgence; they are spoiled.”

Annoyed, I moved away from the window and sat on my bed.

My room was a metaphor for how my people saw me. A reverence to me. I was the Goddess of Light, and the Palace built for me was considered a religious temple. The walls and floors were adorned with the gemstones found in my own body, so the temple was bright, moderately lit, and beatified. The floor was made of white alexandrites, with strategically placed mosaics of black opals spelling out the first letter of my name. The walls of the Palace were made of various materials, but those in my room were made of marble with a diamond powder coating, and the ceiling was black beryl with abstract patterns of emeralds and rubies.

It was the epitome of geological representation. And I remembered the time when I walked through each of the Palace's rooms, feeling immeasurable fulfillment that I was part of something greater, that I was part of this people. That I was the People, and the People were the Goddess. The Palace used to be a metaphor for how my people saw me. A reverence to me. But not anymore. Because I felt it had become a symbol of flattery.

Kékériagod said to me, “And if they are spoiled, Goddess? Will You let people die because of that?”

“I won't. They will.”

“I’m sure You know what I'm going to say next. And it would be terrible for Your enemies to see that they can attack You whenever they want.”

“They're not attacking me, just attacking my people.”

“Would it really be that Your people don’t have doubts about whether You truly protect them?”

I looked at her. “They have no doubts, Kéké. That doesn't mean they're always right.”

Kékériagod sat down with me on the bed and took my hand. “I… I don't know how it feels to always have to protect Your people. And I do know that as Your advisor, it is my duty to understand You, but, my Lady… Few understand the concerns of a Deity. And that's what I am trying to do. But for now, Goddess… please… look into the Mirror. Transform into Albedo and save Your people.”

I sighed and decided to look into the Mirror. There was a large mirror next to my bed, where I could see my appearance so different from my usual self, when I transformed into Albedo. As an albino woman, my hair was long and blonde, shining in the sun like my skin, as if it had solar flares. I had blue eyes set in a face with typical Caucasian features, and my lips were reddish.

I stood up and approached the Mirror, looking into my eyes with complete dedication, and uttered the words, “In the midst of darkness, light persists.”

My skin gradually changed, like a wave spreading across the surface of a sea, and that wave originated on my brow. I became white, not Caucasian, but truly white. My blonde hair began to radiate and grew longer as my height increased, until I reached the height of 230 centimeters, and my hair reached my heels. The casual clothing I had worn instantly disappeared, replaced by a long, bright white dress adorned with precious crystals and rare stones. The ethereal minerals moved across my dress like rocks carried by, by the flow of a river. Looking into my eyes, my irises disappeared, leaving only that vibrant and lively white color.

I opened the palm of my hand, and my Mirror shrank. A diamond handle pierced through its interior and emerged on the other side, giving it the appearance of a double bit axe with a mirror on each side. It flew into my right hand as I had commanded to do.

I didn't need to look at Kékériagod to see that she was smiling. And I could also see everything happening at the site of the fire.

“Goddess Albedo!” After she stood up, she had to lift her head to look at my face. The light emanating from me was too much for her, causing her eyes to hurt when she tried to look directly at me. And my beauty… she surrendered and knelt before me, limiting her gaze to my dress where my feet would be. “Save everyone!”

I crouched down and held her face with my perfect hands and divine delicacy. “Kékériagod, listen to this as advice coming directly from a Goddess. Never kneel before anyone.”

She reflected for a few seconds, and when she decided to stand up, I was no longer in my Palace.