Isabella's voice continued to ring out across the square, clear and confident. She'd kept the audience captivated throughout her whole monologue.
Now, it was time for the next part of the event.
"And now, to demonstrate the true potential of these wands, I'd like to call up someone special!" She turned, extending a hand toward where Melisa stood. "Melisa Blackflame, would you join me?"
[Oh boy, here we go,] Melisa thought as she stepped forward. The crowd's reaction was immediate - a wave of whispers and pointed fingers that made her tail curl tighter around her thigh.
"The nim girl?"
"Did you hear what she did at the gala?"
"They say she saved the king..."
[Yeah, yeah, I'm the magical purple girl. Keep staring, why don't you?]
But Melisa kept her face neutral as she climbed the steps to join Isabella on stage. The kitsune's pink tail was swishing with barely contained excitement.
