I lounged on the plush mana-weave rug in my rune-sealed chamber—a cozy prison cell disguised as opulence, with silken walls embroidered in glowing constellations that shifted like real stars, a massive four-poster bed draped in violet velvet, and floor-to-ceiling windows framing the endless cloud-sea beyond.
After being trapped here for another week in this place had worn my patience thin, so I'd smuggled in a handful of crown-garden treasures.
Three fluffy mana-rabbits with rainbow-shifting fur, their tiny spiral horns sparking playful static as they hopped in circles around my crossed legs, nuzzling my fingers for ear-scratches and treats.
I'd brought some lilies too—iridescent blooms singing faint lullabies—and a cluster of innocent-looking star-petaled flowers I'd plucked on a whim, their pollen dusting my golden hair like fairy glitter, loose tunic sleeves rolled up from the 'playtime' mess.
