Anvil (Reflection)

Initially, his eyes were cloudy and hollow, showing no will or intelligence, resembling sleepwalking rather than being truly awake. Jest saw his own pale reflection in those lifeless eyes, which deeply unsettled him. Then, suddenly, some semblance of life returned to his eyes, and he smiled warmly, calling Jest "Uncle Jest." The warmth in his expression was highly uncharacteristic, as Anvil had long been known for his cold indifference. The change in demeanor was so drastic that Jest even considered whether Smile of Heaven's Dormant Ability had been used to take over Anvil's body, though this theory was quickly dismissed.^[1]

Anvil was physically unharmed, but something fundamental about him had changed. His entire personality seemed to have regressed, leaving him in a state that was neither confused nor dazed but unsettlingly blank. It was as though the essence of who he was had either been erased or lost. However, there were fleeting moments where his old self emerged—small details in his speech, posture, and mannerisms that only those closest to him would recognize. These glimpses of familiarity convinced Jest, Madoc, and Gwyn that despite his strange state, he was undeniably Anvil of Valor, the ruler of Bastion.^[2]

Yet, the changes in his demeanor were deeply unsettling. He had shed his usual cold indifference, appearing warm and soft—traits Jest and Madoc had not seen in him since before he became a carrier of the Nightmare Spell. For Gwyn, who had only known him as an Awakened, this was an entirely unfamiliar side of her husband. But there was something else, something subtle and eerie about him that Jest couldn't quite define.^[2]

Despite his altered behavior, the copy possessed Anvil's Aspect, as evidenced by him raising a hand and causing Jest's dagger to float into his palm. He studied the dagger, frowned, and remarked, "Imperfect". This reaction was consistent with Anvil's deep disdain for flawed things, reinforcing the idea that this truly was Anvil.^[1]

Two months after entering the Seed, Anvil reappeared in the throne room, found naked and in a strange, hollow-eyed state, as if sleepwalking. Initially lifeless, he suddenly smiled warmly, a stark contrast to his usual cold demeanor. Jest briefly suspected possession but dismissed the idea when Anvil used his Aspect to lift a dagger and criticized it as "Imperfect," proving his identity. Gwyn had sensed something was wrong, prompting Jest and Madoc to contain the news. The greatest concern, however, was that the other Awakened who had entered the Nightmare with him were nowhere to be found. Anvil's altered personality, unsettling return, and missing companions left a deep sense of unease.^[1]

To contain the situation, Jest assigned Madoc to secure Bastion and ordered Gwyn to keep Anvil hidden. Meanwhile, he returned to the waking world to manage the fallout. However, upon contacting Wake of Ruin, he discovered a shocking truth: the Nightmare Gate C2-167, which should have closed with Anvil's return, remained wide open.^[2]

Jest's investigation led him to a shocking discovery—Anvil was still inside his sleeping pod in the waking world, peacefully asleep. This meant that the Anvil in Bastion was not the real Anvil, but something else entirely. The Nightmare Gate that should have closed remained open, and neither Broken Sword nor the rest of Anvil's cohort had returned or perished. This anomaly suggested that the Nightmare had not been fully conquered, despite Anvil's apparent return. The subtle unease Jest had felt earlier now crystallized into alarm.^[3]

Despite his deep unease, Jest refrained from attacking the anomaly outright. The Anvil in Bastion displayed no immediate signs of hostility and behaved naturally, even sharing a quiet meal with his wife, Gwyn. This uncertainty made the situation even more dangerous. To resolve the mystery, Jest made a critical decision: he would take the copy of Anvil to the waking world.^[4]

The copy of Anvil was an uncanny replica—identical in appearance and behavior but deeply unsettling to Jest. His theory was that Anvil had been expelled from the Seed without conquering his Nightmare, leaving his physical and spiritual bodies separate. However, when the copy was brought to the waking world, he inexplicably retained his Dream Realm attire, something only Ascended could do.^[5]

Now, two versions of Anvil existed: one asleep in an iron sarcophagus, the other awake but suffering from amnesia. The copy was secretly confined in the Valor estate, treated well but still a prisoner. Unlike the real Anvil, he was easygoing and agreeable, gradually lowering their suspicions. Yet, unrest grew within Clan Valor, with power struggles and eerie events unfolding in Bastion and NQSC. For weeks, tensions built—until Nightmare Gate C2-167 vanished, and the original Anvil finally awakened, deepening the mystery.^[5]

The anomaly remained confined in an underground level of the Valor compound, where Gwyn watched over him. Despite the tension above and below his containment floor, the anomaly's behavior was peaceful—almost too perfect. He passed every test for deception; he was neither a Nightmare Creature, an illusion, nor a Dream Realm phantom. He was, for all intents and purposes, Anvil of Valor in the flesh.^[6]

Yet, Jest remained uneasy. The anomaly's awareness was unsettling—he once stared directly into a hidden camera, meeting Jest's gaze with a knowing smile. Then, everything changed. An alarm signaled that Nightmare Gate C2-167 had disappeared, and moments later, Anvil's vital signs spiked. As Jest rushed to his sleeping chamber, the armored door folded like paper, the walls bent inward, and the iron sarcophagus had been crushed into a jagged sphere. Standing at the center of the chaos was the real Anvil, newly Ascended, surrounded by scarlet sparks forming into knightly armor. His piercing gaze was heavy enough to unnerve even Jest.^[6]

Upon learning of its existence, Anvil exhibited fear, an unprecedented reaction, and urgently questioned how many people had interacted with it, showing extreme concern for Gwyn's involvement. His panic triggered an explosive display of power, causing him to tear through multiple reinforced floors of the compound in his rush to reach the anomaly. The force of his reaction led to catastrophic destruction, collapsing floors and walls, with Jest struggling to follow as shockwaves rocked the structure. Eventually, the lowest levels of the compound were obliterated, exposing the underground soil, and in the final moment, the melodious sound of breaking glass resonated, dispelling Jest's lingering sense of unease.^[7]