Odexes listens with serene patience, his clawed hands folding before him as Vark speaks. The echoes of flickering memories still play along the chamber walls.

"It is wise to know one’s limits," the dragonborn rumbles. "An unsteady anchor leads to a broken bridge. Your insight serves your friend better than blind bravery would."

He gestures and luminous script unfurls in the air. Scrolling diagrams and shifting glyphs manifest, as the codex whispers its secrets in harmonic pulses of thought.

"The Mirror Rite requires a space where both literal and metaphorical reflection is possible," Odexes explains. "Perhaps a circle of mirrors or polished surfaces surrounding the participants. It must be a controlled environment free from distraction or outside interference. An ambient source of arcane resonance, such as a ley line, magical font, or warding stone can also be helpful. Some perform the rite in temples, some in ruins. Wherever it happens, the place must be honest."

"This cannot be forced," Odexes warns, tone firm. “If either half resists entry into the rite, the mirror will crack and souls do not mend cleanly after that."

He pauses, letting that settle before continuing.

"You might also consider providing a 'catalyst'. An offering of significance to each fragment. Something symbolic of the life that they shared before the split and what they wish to become after. A memento from their childhood, a token of a decision that they regret or would take back, or a piece of writing or music that both recall could all suffice. The catalyst binds the mirror to who they are, acting as a compass of sorts for the soul."

Odexes lowers his arms and the runes dim slightly.

"If you do choose to be the anchor, remember, even unstable bridges may carry weight, if they are willing to bend without breaking."