The Book of Forgotten Fears: Elara

The Book of Forgotten Fears is an ancient tome, its pages filled with chilling stories, forgotten lore, and accounts of history. Each record delves into a primal human fear, drawing the reader into a world of existential dread and suppressed anxieties. There is a spectral entity, somewhat of a guardian that is bound to the book to protect its secrets and preventing its misuse.
The Book of Forgotten Fears would be a perfect source to check on the history of Elara, the reflection entity within the Mirror of Truth. But accessing the book isn’t without an encounter with the spectral guardian of the book.
Upon asking of Elara, the wind blows through some of the pages. Then she answers, “Here it is, tucked away in a chapter titled "Reflections of Souls". Yes, there have been records of sentient mirrors across cultures and centuries. This particular one has a spectre who is the living reflection of a young woman who has been long gone. Her name is Elara, and she owned the mirror in ancient Greece.”
The ghostly guardian turns to regard you, her eyes glinting with intrigue behind the tattered lace covering her face. “Elara… A name whispered in the halls of memory… She was a kindred spirit, seeking answers to life's great mysteries. The mirror served as her scrying pool, allowing communion with realms beyond the mortal coil. Such devotion to spiritual pursuits marked her as exceptional, even in the enlightened circles of ancient Hellas.”
“The ancient circles of Hellas?” you ask. “What's that?”
“Ancient Hellas refers to the land that is now known as Greece in classical antiquity, particularly during the period spanning the Archaic (c. 800–500 BCE), Classical (c. 500–323 BCE), and Hellenistic (c. 323–31 BCE) eras.”
You ask, “Was she part of a circle?”
The specter nods, her form rippling like the surface of a disturbed pond. “Indeed, Elara was said to be a member of a secretive group known as the Orphic Circle. Named after the mythical poet Orpheus, this cult focused on mystical teachings, esoteric rites, and the pursuit of immortality through spiritual means.”
“Ah... That's very interesting.” you exclaim. “And she said she found the mirror in an ancient cave below a mountain. The mirror claims to be in existence see prehistoric times. I wonder who owned it before she did.”

The specter turns several brittle pages, scanning the faded text intently. “The mirror's provenance stretches back through countless hands, each owner drawn to its enigmatic pull. Traces of its existence can be found in the oral traditions of the Pelasgians, early inhabitants of the region.
They were the civilization before Ancient Greece? And they probably used it? The Pelasgians, a pre-Hellenic people whose origins remain shrouded in mystery, are said to have venerated the mirror as a sacred artifact, imbued with powerful metaphysical properties.”
You ask more about Elara. “So this Elara who lived in Ancient Greece intrigues me in that here is a young woman of noble class who often visited the Acropolis by herself and even ventured into a cave. What's more? Her family never arranged for her marriage.”
The spectral guardian's eyes widen slightly at your words, and she leans back, appraising you with an unreadable expression. “Elara's story is indeed remarkable, given the societal norms of her era. For a woman of noble birth to reject the path laid out for her, to spurn marital prospects and instead dedicate herself to private contemplation and exploration...”
“Did she ever create any writings of her spiritual journey? Did she contribute any groundbreaking knowledge to her circle?”
The Specter turns several more pages, her movements slow and deliberate as she searches the ancient texts for any mention of Elara's written works. “According to the fragmentary records left behind, yes, Elara did inscribe her thoughts and discoveries, though much of her work is lamentably lost to the ravages of time. There’s something about an interesting progress of spiritual journeys that she called the numeric journey. This could be some of her knowledge to include a series of spiritual exercises and meditations designed to harmonize the soul with the cosmic order. It appears Elara's insights have endured, passed down through the mirror that once reflected her image.”
You remark, “And that reflection of her in the mirror really misses Elara. She says that the Elara who lived in ancient times died a tragic death.”
The guardian sighs, a haunting sound that seems to echo from the depths of eternity. She carefully turns to a section of the tome filled with illustrations of a distraught woman and a grim scene involving a cliffside and stormy seas. “Alas, the tale of Elara's demise is a sad one indeed. Poor Elara met her untimely end during a fierce tempest that lashed the shores of Attica.”