Keldo had just secured himself a place at the prestigious Royal Research Center of Denov. Meanwhile, in Baringer, the sun was only beginning to rise, its golden rays breaking over the horizon due to the time difference between the two kingdoms.
In a house with ochre stone walls, Yoko was sleeping soundly, wrapped in the warmth of her blankets, until her mother's voice broke the silence.
"Yoko!" Mrs. Belserion called from downstairs, her voice echoing through the narrow staircase.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming," Yoko mumbled sleepily, blinking against the light filtering through the wooden shutters.
She sat up, pushed back her tangled hair, and put on a bathrobe before rushing downstairs, nearly missing a step.
"Morning, Mom!" she called as she burst into the kitchen, where the smell of toasted bread and herbal tea filled the air.
"Morning, sweetheart. How are you?" her mother asked with a warm smile as she poured tea into a steaming cup.
