In a village west of the Star Plateau in the Southern Continent.
Bruna, former princess of the Balam Empire, sat across a stone table from Queen Mystic Bernadette. Each held a different color of stone as they played five-in-a-row.
Bruna was clearly no match for Bernadette and soon conceded.
"Is there some trick to this game?" Bruna asked with a frown. Her usual poise was nowhere to be seen as she stared at Bernadette in bewilderment.
"No," Bernadette said evenly. She wore an old-fashioned veiled hat over her beautiful chestnut hair.
Bruna did not believe her and was about to press the matter when she suddenly looked up. A figure was flying toward them at tremendous speed and reached their courtyard in the blink of an eye.
Bruna studied the woman as she landed. She had black hair and blue eyes, wore a black dress and matching boots, and was beautiful, elegant, and possessed of an intellectual allure.
Bruna raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Isabella, even though you're no longer a princess, you still love putting on airs."
The newcomer was Edwina's mentor, Isabella, the former eldest princess of Lenburg.
"And you're as rude as ever, Bruna." Isabella glanced at her, then turned to Bernadette with a perfectly practiced smile. "It's been a long time, Bernadette."
Bernadette lifted her skirt in return and greeted her. Then she looked at Bruna and said calmly, "Aunt Bruna, now that Aunt Isabella is here, can you tell me why you asked me to come?"
"You were waiting for me? But I came to find Leon..." Isabella sounded somewhat puzzled.
Bruna scoffed. "Why don't you use that reliable intuition of yours to 'foresee' it? Besides, Leon isn't here anymore. He should be in the North Continent by now.
"Do you think he couldn't foresee