章 56: The Prodigious Nim, Part Twenty-Five

{Isabella} 

Isabella stirred, the first rays of morning sun filtering through her bedroom window. As usual, as soon as they hit her eyes, Isabella woke up. 

She blinked, her eyes adjusting to the light as the remnants of her dream slowly faded away.

But the feeling remained.

That heady, intoxicating sense of power, of possibility.

In her dreams, she and Melisa had stood side by side, two mage queens ruling over a world that bowed at their feet.

[Ah~ maybe I'll make that a reality one day.] 

With a stretch and a yawn, she slipped out of bed, padding barefoot across the plush carpet.

As she made her way downstairs, the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee welcomed her.

Kimiko was already seated on the couch, a steaming mug cradled in her hands as she flipped through a stack of papers.

"Good morning, darling," she greeted, her voice like warm honey, as always. "Sleep well?"