The night sky was lit up with stars twinkling and the moon cast a beautiful silvery light onto the Kingdom of Enchancia.
It didn't seem like that long ago when Sofia and her mother came to live at the castle but the time had flown by; she had graduated from Royal Prep Academy last year and spent the following summer trying to decide whether or not she would stay in Enchancia to continue in her studies or leave for adventures abroad. So many things had changed – her animal friends had all been replaced by new ones, her stepsister Amber had become her most valued confidant, and James had joined a renowned flying derby team. All of these changes and Sofia wasn't entirely certain she was ready for more.
Over the years it had become apparent to all who watched Sofia grow and mature that she not only had a wonderful heart, but the patience and skill to become a great Sorceress. She spent hours with the Royal Sorcerer learning to turn rocks into rubies when she was younger and even now it was still one of her favorite tricks to perform for the village children, it was during one of those fateful trips to the village near the end of the summer that Sofia made up her mind – she could offer more than rubies, she could really make a difference.
Cedric, having once been a bumbling Royal Sorcerer, had honed his skills and vastly improved his magical abilities; although he appeared to have gained confidence through the years with Sofia's support and encouragement, he simply claimed he 'finally realized his potential for greatness.' When King Roland asked Cedric to become a Royal Mentor to Sofia and help guide her along her path as a new Sorceress, Cedric seemingly had no other choice but to give a reluctant, "Of course, your majesty."
Sofia lay in her bed staring at her ceiling, restless and wide awake; tomorrow was her first day as an official Sorcerer's Apprentice and her anxiety was getting the best of her. Over the years she had always been fond of sorcery and Cedric had always been a helpful tutor when it came to practicing for school. Tomorrow, however, was different; tomorrow she would be Cedric's official apprentice and all she wanted to do was make him proud.
A cool breeze came in from outside bringing with it a sense of calm. Sofia closed her eyes and fell asleep while in deep thought.