Emma woke up in a chipper mood despite the unfortunate events of the day prior. Rising out of bed, she spent a few minutes battling the heavy books Mr. Peridot had given her as aides to her studies. The brawny books came prepared with tongue-twisting words and long-winded sentences.

Still, Emma fought back with a warrior's patience. She read the words aloud - her voice a careful, precise tone that defeated every valiant word. The battle ended at sunrise and Emma was proud to announce her victory over ten mighty pages.

Beaming like the sun who greeted her through her bedroom window, she dressed herself quickly. She chose a simple beige shirt - the one with the least amount of stains - and a pair of loose, brown trousers. She hopped into her worn, leather boots while tying her wild hair up and away from her face. Emma didn't dare waste time fighting Blu's dreams away before placing him on her shoulder.

To which, the baby Jackalope grumbled before belting out a meager yawn.

Downstairs, Mr. and Mrs. Marsh prepped the diner for their customers. A merry song filled the air while Mr. Marsh cooked and Mrs. Marsh cleaned. When Emma finally arrived to help, both parents couldn't hide their surprise.

"Well, look at you, Miss Early Bird." Mrs. Marsh giggled while her daughter hummed her own merry tune. "Someone certainly woke up on the right side of the bed."

Emma rolled her eyes while snatching a cloth from her mother's apron. Ignoring her mother's teasing, she wiped the counter top while Blu dusted the chairs. The rabbit let out a bitter chitter but went to work anyway.

Mr. Marsh came out of the kitchen to set a tray of fresh sweets on the counter. Today's special treat was a danish filled with blueberry jam. Mr. Marsh's homemade icing melted over the top in perfect, glazed lines.

"Got any special plans, then," her father asked as he opened the tabletop display.

"Not really," Emma shrugged, her eyes fixed on the golden dessert. The sweet scent filled the diner since early morning and taunted her relentlessly. Refusing to fight her craving any longer, she reached over to grab one of the sweet pastries.

"Ah! Ah!"

Emma's shoulders tensed at the quick warning that popped her ears. The firm finger Mrs. Marsh aimed at her back caused her shoulders to tense.

"Don't you dare touch that!" Her mother huffed from across the room. Emma narrowed her gaze before pitifully easing her hand back to her side. "Don't you make that face either, Emma Evangeline," Mrs. Marsh glared. She didn't need to look at her daughter to know that Emma's brows had fallen into a thick, heavy scowl. "You know the first batch always goes out to the customers."

As soon as her mother turned her back, Emma couldn't help but roll her eyes which caused her father to chuckle.

He leaned in closer, presenting Emma with a warm smile. "So," he began, his booming voice trying hard to mimic a whisper. "I take it you're feeling better?"

Emma's eyes widened at the sudden question. She hadn't dared think of the awful news article all night. In fact, every time it invaded her mind, she took a moment to read The Miraculous Adventures of Merlin.

Suppose, that is what inspired her to be in such a wonderful mood.

After rereading Volume 3: A Test Against Time, she remembered that Merlin, too, had his fair share of failures. It was exactly how Professor Atwood had put it, every mage has their day. And, yesterday, Emma decided, was simply a bad day. Nothing more, nothing less.

"Yeah," she said finally, returning her father's warm smile with a shy one. "A lot better."

Mr. Marsh nodded. Then, with a cautious glance at his wife who was busy fighting dust, he grabbed a small danish from the display. The warm pastry plopped into Emma's hands and, with a light whistle, Mr. Marsh returned to his work in the kitchen.

Once the family finished cleaning, Emma and Blu rushed out the door. It wasn't as if they were in a hurry. In fact, the Grand Wizard's home wasn't that far of a walk. It was only a few blocks, at best. Emma, however, always decided to take the longer route.

She began the journey by greeting her neighbors. The elderly couple could be found resting on their porch. Mrs. Finely, an old witch with a sweet smile, waved back with excitement. Meanwhile, her bitter husband buried his nose deeper into the local paper.

She often stopped by the large water fountain that rested in the middle of the city. There, children much younger than her serenaded the city with their laughter. They chased each other, played odd games, and, sometimes, were kind enough to ask Emma to join them.

However, the best part of Emma's journey had to be the shopping district. There, the streets bustled with warm greetings and enticing offers. Merchants bellowed their deals as citizens eagerly gathered - ready to spend a copper coin or two. It was busy, crowded, yet strangely welcoming.

If it wasn't for Mr. Toft, that is.

"FOR THE LOVE OF PIXIE DUST, PERIDOT!"

Everyone in Sonder knew all too well about the tales Mr. Toft came up with to gain a little business. Both, Emma and her father still struggled to forgive him for selling the girl a cursed hairbrush a few years ago. Alas, she couldn't help but feed into his strange ramblings. And, neither could the growing crowd standing outside Toft's Magical Finds.

Nosy people and long-eared Fae gathered in front of the faded, yellow building. Whispers shuffled awkwardly in front of the store's cracked windows.

"What do you think is going on?" asked a curious, young boy.

"Another imp infestation is my guess," huffed a bored dwarf.

"Oh, I hope Toft hasn't set another curse loose," cried a sweaty merchant. "Last time, Peridot had to close the whole shopping district for a week 'cause of him!"

It wasn't hard for Emma to squeeze her way through the crowd. Ducking here and there, she found herself at the very front of the crowd. Through the foggy glass, Mr. Peridot stood tall amongst a crowd of silver knights. Across from him, a bony mage, who took pride in wearing robes that were far too big for him, shook his head in wild anger. The scene caused Emma's brows to wither with worry.

"I wonder what happened..." Emma murmured absently.

"It's quite obvious, isn't it?" a squeaky voice scoffed.

She turned to find Mr. Toft's right and true rival, the Marvelous Maja, standing behind her. The plump witch glistened in the sunlight. Her large amounts of jewelry and flowy skirts danced along with her every move. With her round face painted with makeup, Maja's glittery hazel eyes narrowed at Emma through thick clumps of mascara.

"Toft's gone and made some wise tale about someone breaking into his store," she screeched. "All because he left his door open last night like the blubbering fool he is! That wizard is always causing a scene and what for? So he can swindle one more good man out of their money? I swear, one of these days he is going to put himself out of business!"

Emma couldn't tell if Maja's red cheeks were from anger or if she had put a tad bit more blush on than usual that morning. "Well," she began, gazing back towards the window. "If it's just a story, then why is Mr. Peridot in there?"

"How should I know?" Maja shouted. "The Grand Wizard's been in there all morning. I swear that foolish old wizard has finally lost it this time!" She let out a longing sigh as she continued, "Poor Ozker! He is probably trying to keep that nasty Toft from pressing charges against me. He always blames me, you know!"

Emma and Blu couldn't help but roll their eyes at her wounded tone. As much as Mr. Toft loved spreading terrible rumors about the Marvelous Maja, that's all they were. Never before had he brought Mr. Peridot into the mix of one of his tall tales.

Inside, Toft waved a finger at the mage while Peridot looked to be apologizing profusely. Her gaze inched to Blu who had as much of a curious twinkle in his eyes as she did. Emma smiled at him.

"Think we should let ourselves in?"

Blu turned to her immediately. Long, white ears twitched in response to her question.

"Ha!" Maja hiccupped. "Good luck! Knights have been blocking the door since daybreak. No one is getting in there. Not even you, little Miss Grand A-Aaaahh!"

Maja collapsed in surprise when the two vanished into twinkles of light. Her painted expression cracked into a ghastly one that blinked at the window in disbelief. The townsfolk, too, seemed surprised when the two reappeared inside the shop - and, so were the knights.

Silver Knights swung sharp, shiny swords in her and Blu's direction. The two intruders stiffened into stone, gaping at the horrid welcome.

Breaking his calm demeanor, the Grand Mage dived between her and the bold blade. Ozker sucked in a tight breath - narrowly dodging the sharp, metal tip that grazed his peppy, yellow tie. Tucking his stone-like apprentice behind hi,. even his bouncy curls seemed to furl in surprise at the swift strike.

"Weapons down, men!" He bellowed in a deeply confident tone. The sturdy voice alone caused most of the knights to quiver in their chain links. The Knight standing before the Grand Mage fumbled with his spirited sword before sheathing it at his side. From the shadows of his helmet, dull, blue eyes widened at Peridot's odd order.

Emma also couldn't help but gawk at her teacher's stern tone. The command that came thundering out of Mr. Peridot's throat was enough to break the spell she was under. Gripping onto the tail of his navy coat, she peered around to gaze at the silver that filled Toft's shop.

Mr. Peridot heaved a heavy sigh as a hand plopped on top of Emma's head. "See now?" he chuckled, "It is only Emma. No need to get worked up!"

All at once, the knights backed down as the blue-eyed Knight bowed forward. "A-Apologies, Miss Marsh," he stuttered. "My fellow soldiers and I were unaware that you could make such a, umm... an intriguing entrance."

"Oh, uh, t-that's okay," Emma laughed nervously, trying to hide any signs that her heart was still racing. Blu, however, trembled with fearful periwinkle eyes while cowering behind Emma's frazzled hair.

The knight rose and looked up to Mr. Peridot. A fist hovered over the green S painted on his metal chest. "I assure you, Grand Mage, that the mistake will not happen again."

Mr. Peridot sighed in relief before giving him a polite smile. "It's quite alright, Percy, I understand. Also, for the last time, please, call me Oz."

"It'd be my honor, sir." Percy, then, saluted the wizard and slid back into his rigid stance. The other knights, too, saluted the Grand Mage and his apprentice before clinking their feet together.

Mr. Peridot finally dropped his gaze to his apprentice. He instantly brightened. "Good morning, Emma. Chipper today, are we?"

Emma grinned at his warm greeting. Alas, when she went to speak, a pair of thin, bony arms pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Oh, Ella! My sweet, sweet Ella!"

Emma could barely breathe in Mr. Toft's grasp. Yet, she still managed to choke out a few words.

"Emma...it's E-Emma, Mr. Toft!"

Frail hands grasped the girl by her shoulders, allowing her to gasp for air. The old shopkeep gazed at her with wide, yellow eyes. His chipped dentures nearly fell from his mouth as he spoke, "You know I didn't do it, don't you?"

Wiping his spit from her face, Emma peaked one of her squinched-up eyes at the man. "Do what, Mr. Toft?"

"Stage the crime, of course!" he roared, sounding offended. His arms flew through the air, gesturing to the piles of mysterious treasures lying on the floor. "Honestly! Do you think I could make this big of a mess all on my own?"

Emma gazed around Mr. Toft's store for the first time since she arrived. There was no doubt that the place was a mess. But, Emma knew that Mr. Toft's shop had never been something that you could call clean.

Potions winked mischievously while beaten spellbooks crawled on the floor. She winced as cracked spines begged her to take them home. Meanwhile, on the walls, paintings of less than famous mages dared her to look them in the eye. They all sat in their portraits with upturned noses and fearful gazes.

There was also something rather large hiding beneath a pile of stained robes. Yellow eyes that mimicked the wizard's narrowed on a knight who took pleasure in poking at its behind. Vicious growls rattled the thin, rotting walls and caused Emma to ease closer to Mr. Peridot for protection.

Mr. Toft rolled his eyes at Emma's reaction before pointing an accusing finger at the wizard. "And you call yourself a Grand Mage! Don't think for one moment that I forgot about the wizard before you, Oz. Alphonse was a brilliant Grand Wizard and would be rolling in his grave to find you accusing citizens of staging crimes in their own shops!"

Both, Emma and Blu raised a brow at Mr. Peridot. It wasn't often that they heard the beloved name that preceded the current Grand Mage of Sonder. But when Emma did, it had only been stories of how great he was compared to the rather odd mage from Limerence.

Oz sighed, his face withering apologetically. "I am afraid you misunderstood me, Mr. Toft. I never accused you of staging a crime."

"Is that so?" Mr. Toft huffed. "Well, I know for a fact that you still don't believe me. Yet, the evidence was there wasn't it!" Twirling away from them, Mr. Toft stomped towards the front door, hiking up the skirt of his yellow robe as he went. "Here! When I arrived this morning, my door was wide open and that is when I went to the authorities!"

"The door wasn't 'wide open', sir," Percy huffed (albeit a bit bitterly). "I should know since I was the one walking by Toft's shop when he discovered it. I say it was cracked at best with no damage to the locks. Though, to be sure, I also inspected the store myself, sir. And according to his records, nothing appears to be stolen, much less carry any sign of an intruder."

Nodding at the information, Mr. Peridot turned to shopkeeper once more. Emerald eyes looked over the mage's wrinkled features. "Mr. Toft, are you certain that you didn't happen to leave the door open last night when you left?"

Mr. Toft's face burned.

"For the hundredth time," he seethed, his narrow shoulders quivering as he took a deep, mighty breath.

"I DID NOT LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN!"

Emma winced as the mage's mighty roar tore at her ears. Blu, too, rattled at Toft's screechy tone. Even Percy's armor clanked along to his high-pitch. Mr. Peridot, though, only took hold of his top hat. Perhaps, to keep it from flying off his head as Mr. Toft's breath became that of a billowing wind.

Papers flew around the dusty shop while potions clinked in frustration. Emma's cursed locks slapped her face as she peered up to find the old mage glaring at Mr. Peridot. He stomped and tsked all while huffing and puffing at the Grand Mage's innocent question.

"I will have you know, boy, that I have run this shop for EIGHTY YEARS and not once have I happened to leave the door open! NOT ONCE! NOT ONCE! NOT ONCE, I SAY! Did I happen to leave the door open? BAH! What sort of question is that! Nonsense, is what it is. I-I-I am telling you, Ozker, that I am a man of my word when I say-"

"What would anyone want to steal from this dump anyway?"

The carefree snicker broke through the mage's disasterly winds like a whisper in the trees. Turning, all eyes went to a knight who still poked at Toft's beast with the tip of his sword.

The taller, sturdier knight beside him was quick to smack the back of his helmet. A sharp, metallic thud echoed through the shop. While his armor trembled from the attack, the slouched knight wobbled to attention.

Mr. Toft shot both of them a fiery glare before stomping around the shop once more.

He stepped over various items on the ground and eased past tables covered in jars that held ghastly liquids. Simmering grumbles and blubbering insults rattled the air while Toft rummaged through a chest labeled 'Cursed Objects: Customers Beware!'. Then, the old man finally presented a glass case to Mr. Peridot.

"This," he declared, shoving the case into Mr. Peridot's hands. "This is what that scoundrel was searching for. I'm sure of it!"

Emma peered over Mr. Peridot's arm to catch a glimpse of what Mr. Toft deemed valuable enough to steal. To her disappointment, though, the glass case held nothing more than an old ring inside. Rusted silver encased a cracked, black onyx that gazed up at Mr. Peridot in awe. The blanket of dust that rest atop of it shifted as Emma sighed.

"Aw, man, it's just a boring ring."

"JUST A RING!" Mr. Toft squealed, his shrill voice loud enough to cause Emma to jump. Without a second thought, the old man snatched the glass case from Mr. Peridot before pushing it eagerly towards Emma. His yellow eyes glistened like golden coins. "This is no ordinary ring, Ella-"

"Emma," she corrected.

"This," Toft pressed, "is the Misery Stone. Legend says it holds some of the most fearsome magic this world has ever seen. Many great leaders of the past have worn it, all swearing by its power. One of a kind, it is! Rumors even claim that it was formed from a dragon's flame long ago...uh, b-before they went extinct, of course."

Mr. Toft's words caused Emma's gaze to become filled with a new admiration for the ring. She gaped at the onyx with starry eyes, one detail echoing in her mind.

'This was made by dragons!'

"Oh, please, please Mr. Toft, can I try it on?" Emma's plea came tumbling out of her mouth and before she could get an answer, her hands reached towards the glass case.

Instantly, the ring was snatched away from her.

"No!" Toft squeaked, holding the case high above his head. "Didn't you hear the name? It is deemed the Misery Stone for a reason, girl! Despite its power, this ring is certain to cause utter despair and heartache to whoever dares to wear it. Perhaps even death!"

Emma's smile fell, causing a mischievous one to appear on Mr. Toft's face. "However," he sang, his feathery brows wiggling in delight. "I suppose for the fine price of-"

"Mr. Toft," Mr. Peridot interrupted. A firm hand landed on Emma's shoulder, then, easing her away from the old man's offer. "You had a reason for showing us this, correct?"

Mr. Toft paused as if he had almost forgotten about the problem altogether. "Oh, yes! You see, Peridot, I'm sure you are already aware of the dark magic that resides inside this gem. So, certainly, you could understand why someone would wish to steal it."

Emma noticed Mr. Toft shoot the knight a furious glare before turning back to the Grand Mage with a merry expression. Though, unlike his apprentice, it seemed Mr. Peridot wasn't at all interested in the dull ring.

Waving the item away, he offered the shopkeeper a friendly smile. "I am aware of the rumors, Mr. Toft. This ring has no record of dark magic. However, if it will put your mind at ease, we could have a few knights keep watch over your shop. Isn't that right, Percy?"

Percy put his fist over his heart once more. "Absolutely, Grand Ma- ugh, Mr. Peridot sir."

"Then," Mr. Peridot clapped, "it's settled! Mr. Toft, I will have the finest knights Sonder has to offer to guard your shop. Now, come along, Emma! We have a lot of work that must be done."

Mr. Toft nodded at the news, looking pleased for only a short moment before stuttering. "K-Kn-Knights? Wait a moment! Oz, are you telling me that you aren't going to go after the scoundrel that trespassed into my shop?"

Mr. Peridot gave him a thin smile. His hand led Emma to the door as he spoke. "Not at all, Mr. Toft. Rest assured, I will be on the lookout for your intruder. However, considering that there were no signs of a trespasser and nothing was stolen... Well, it is going to be quite a mystery to solve! So, in the meantime, take care and I will let you know if we get any leads."

Mr. Toft seemed at a loss for words as Mr. Peridot and Emma were escorted out by Percy. The curious crowd began to roar with questions - to which, Mr. Peridot only said, "I apologize, but I cannot answer any questions as of right now. However, do not worry! Mr. Toft's situation is being taken care of."

Soon afterward, Emma and Mr. Peridot returned to his home where they began their lessons. She watched as the Grand Mage continued on with his day like normal. Though the mysterious break-in weighed heavily on her mind.

After all, despite not liking the merchant too well, Emma still liked to say she knew Mr. Toft. Everyone in Sonder did, as a matter of fact. And, no matter how big the scheme was, Toft would never involve the Grand Mage unless it was an emergency...

Or, would he?