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But not only the woodcarver and mirror maker’s mastership amazed her – there was another thing. While Koschei was coming behind her back, she saw in the mirror not his reflection, but a young and handsome, like her father in old photocards, man. 

The girl frowned in confusion. Does the mirror lie for some reason or, vice versa, reflects the truth? She wondered, how old was Koschei? Do the immortals get old? Then why do they need immortality?

And why is he so angry with the mirror, if it reflects a handsome man? Or is it unrealizability that irritates him?

Hope remembered how her neighbor, an old woman, was constantly lamenting, if she had been immortal, she would have stayed young forever.  And how much this old woman was scared of every new gray hair.

– Dad, why is our neighbor so scared of grey hair? When I grow older, will I be scared of it too?  – a curious girl once asked, climbing on her father’s lap. Stained with brand-new paints for drawing, the girl cuddled up to the parent, as she knew it is always warm and cozy in his arms. 

The father sighed heavily.

– My little Hope, this woman is not scared of hair, she is scared of time and clock that is ticking in her thatch and paints it grey, just like you do with your brush. This is how clock hands mark their territory.

– But why is she scared of time? Is it so terrible? – the girl huddled up against her father, imagining the time as a living being that wishes to harm.

– It depends, – the father chuckled thoughtfully, running his hand down the daughter’s petite shoulders comforting. – For many, time is not enough. Just like for you when drawing.

– But this woman doesn’t draw! – the baby exclaimed in a fit of anger, since she understood the father’s response in her own way. – She does nothing but sit on a bench and nibble sunflower seeds!

– Nobody has enough time when it comes to some own purposes, don’t be so eager to judge. Better have a look at your mom, she isn’t scared of time at all…

The early childhood memories crossed Hope’s mind and fade away, leaving a strange taste and anxiety.

Chapter 5

– What a miracle! – the girl exclaimed, looking at Koschei’s reflection.  The curiosity got the best of her, leaving the fear behind, and the girl asked bravely. – Is this also a magic mirror?

Koschei stopped, shifting his gaze in astonishment from the mirror, where he saw a freak, at the girl who was peering at him as at something strange and glancing at the mirror occasionally.