Gabrielle and Alex made their way back toward the road.
The laughter that had filled the training ground only a few moments ago slowly faded behind them, replaced by the familiar sounds of the city waking up for another busy day. Alex walked with both hands tucked inside his pockets, occasionally kicking small stones along the pavement while Gabrielle remained unusually quiet, her mind still occupied by everything she had learned.
She had entered a place no ordinary magician could enter.
And somehow...
She could wield another person's magic without them ever realizing it.
However, what frightened her the most was not knowing what else she was capable of and her limit.
Neither of them noticed that they were being watched.
Several metres away, hidden behind the thick trunk of a large oak tree, Joan stood perfectly still. There wasn't the slightest trace of emotion on her face. Her eyes followed Gabrielle's every movement with unnatural concentration, almost as though she wasn't looking at her best friend but at an experiment.
She watched Alex raise a tiny blue flame into the air just to amuse Gabrielle.
She watched Gabrielle laugh.
She watched the distance between them.
Then, in a calm voice that barely rose above a whisper, Joan spoke.
"Thirty-two metres."
Far away inside the Pocket Realm, Kady closed her eyes.
Everything Joan saw...
She saw.
Everything Joan heard...
She heard.
The connection between them was flawless.
Joan continued watching until Gabrielle and Alex disappeared around a corner before quietly speaking again.
"She copies magic... but the owner never notices."
A slow smile spread across Kady's face.
"Very interesting..."
Without another word, Joan turned and walked away, her movements slow, and almost mechanical.
Meanwhile, at the Yungie Mansion, the atmosphere had changed completely.
For the first time since Isabella had been found, hope had replaced despair.
Doctors moved through the corridors while members of the household hurried from one room to another preparing everything needed for the journey ahead. Black vehicles lined the driveway outside the mansion, each one polished reflecting the noon sunlight.
Security officers checked every vehicle while Ashley calmly supervised the entire operation.
Inside the living room, Mr. Yungie stood beside one of the windows with both hands folded behind his back.
Ashley walked toward him holding a brown file.
"I've spoken with the therapist."
Mr. Yungie turned immediately.
"And?"
"She agreed to see Isabella today."
A small breath escaped him.
"I don't care how much it costs."
Ashley smiled faintly.
"I already knew you would say that."
"The woman's name is Dr. Xiang. She specializes in trauma-related memory loss and dissociative disorders. "
Before Mr. Yungie could respond, footsteps echoed from the staircase.
Eadlin descended slowly.
"I to get to school today."
"I know," Mr. Yungie replied gently.
"I wanted to come."
Ashley walked closer.
"The appointment couldn't wait?"
Eadlin nodded, though disappointment was written plainly across his face.
"You are avoiding your mother?" Ashley said whispering into his ear.
Without saying another word, he walked toward Isabella.
She sat quietly beside one of the large windows with both hands resting neatly on her lap. Sunlight poured across her face as she stared absent-mindedly at the gardens outside.
Eadlin knelt beside her.
"I'm going to school."
Isabella slowly turned toward him.
She smiled warmly.
"School?"
He nodded. "You are getting better."
"Yeah, this is my husband's house, though I don't know most people here." She reached forward and gently brushed a strand of hair away from his forehead.
"You must be a teacher that's why you are going to school today."
He forced himself to smile.
"No..."
"I'm still a student."
"Oh."
She smiled apologetically.
"I hope your mother packed your lunch."
Eadlin lowered his head before she could see the tears filling his eyes.
"I hope so too."
"And if you see my son, he is in Grade 5 at the community school, tell him that Mummy is waiting for him at home." She said with a smile.
Tears dropped from Eadlin's eyes when he heard this.
"I will. Also, Have you met your husband?"
"No. Maybe he is on a business trip or his mistress." She replied sadly.
Eadlin hurried to the parking lot, entered his car and then wept.
He wiped his eyes after a while and drove out.
A few minutes later, the convoy finally left the mansion.
Three black SUVs led the procession while two more followed behind. Armed security officers occupied every vehicle, their eyes constantly scanning the roads ahead.
Inside the second vehicle sat Isabella, Mr. Yungie and Ashley.
The city passed slowly outside the window.
Buildings.
Every single thing made Isabella's eyes linger just a little longer.
"I know this place..."
Nobody interrupted her.
She continued staring outside.
"The bridge..."
Her fingers rested gently against the window.
"I've crossed it before."
Mr. Yungie looked at Ashley.
Neither dared speak.
"The bakery..."
She frowned slightly.
"I remember the smell of bread."
Then silence returned.
Several minutes passed before she spoke again.
"I think..."
She swallowed.
"I think I was happy."
Mr. Yungie turned his face toward the window.
His reflection hid the tears that had begun rolling down his cheeks.
"No!" She screamed crying. Mr. Yungie looked at her overcome with pity soaked in helplessness.
"Something bad happened." She cried again.
However, around the same time, Deep inside the Pocket Realm, Serf stood before a floating map covered in glowing symbols.
Behind him, footsteps echoed softly.
Kady entered the chamber dressed entirely in a blue corporate gown.
Without looking back, Serf spoke.
"Leaving already?"
"I have work to do."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"So I've heard."
He finally turned toward her.
"You've become quite the therapist."
Kady adjusted the sleeve of her long coat before placing a pair of glasses into her pocket.
"The role suits me."
"I suppose you'll be seeing Isabella today."
She gave a single nod.
"And Joan?"
"She's progressing exactly as expected."
Serf smiled.
"Good. The woman who got free, Gabrielle set her free. "
"What?" Serf said and the map dropped. "That is not possible."
"Apparently, it is possible. She has the ability to use other people's powers like it is hers."
"What? Neta planned this?" He said with his hand akibon *******
"There is something else."
Serf folded his arms.
"Speak."
"Well, through our spy, she has a limitation of thirty-two metres.."
Serf's eyes narrowed.
"And?"
"She doesn't understand how she does it." Kady said smiling.
"The less she understands her own abilities..."
"...the easier she'll be to manipulate."
***********
The convoy pulled into the private medical facility nearly an hour later.
The rear doors opened almost simultaneously.
Security officers stepped out first, forming a protective circle around Isabella before escorting her toward the building.
She looked around curiously, completely unaware of why so many people surrounded her.
At that exact moment...
A woman wearing a white coat, blue gown, black-framed glasses and a neatly tied ponytail walked through the same entrance carrying a leather briefcase.
She passed directly beside Isabella.
Less than a metre separated them.
Neither woman looked at the other.
Kady continued walking without slowing down.
At the opposite end of the hallway, Joan had just arrived.
Kady stopped beside her without even acknowledging her presence.
A satisfied smile appeared beneath Kady's calm expression.
"Excellent. Keep watching her. I want her weakness before I want her power and when I am not in your head, be a good girl. "
"Yes ma." She responded weakly.
"Also, watch her closely, she is to lead you to a woman she saved from our world." Kady said, tapped Joan on the shoulders. "Now go for Chemo."
Without another word, Kady adjusted her glasses and continued walking toward her office, where the Yungie family was already waiting.