Chapter 13 Summary

Anodos proposes to retell, as best as he can, one of the stories that he read. The story is of Cosmo von Wehrstahl, who is a university student. Cosmo happens upon a mirror one day in an antique shop and strikes a bargain for it with the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper knows there is something special about the mirror but does not reveal any information to Cosmo.

Cosmo hangs the mirror on the wall above his hearth. He studies it for sometime before realizing that the mirror has the ability to turn his stark room into a familiar and almost comfortable space. He feels as if the mirror is a known character in a favorite book. All the objects in his room appear to come to life as Cosmo gazes at them in the mirror. Cosmo wishes that he could find a way to...