Sapphire Gojo lounged in the dim light of the magician's shop, a lazy smirk playing across their features as they adjusted their pristine white blindfold. The events of the night had been... interesting. Not that much could truly intrigue someone of their caliber, but still.

"Well, well, well... what do we have here?" they mused aloud, stretching languidly before heading upstairs. "Even the strongest sorcerer needs their beauty rest sometimes, though I barely need it, being perfect and all."

The dream that followed was nothing like the mundane visions that plagued lesser beings. The sky had compressed itself into a mere green line stretching infinitely across the horizon – a sight that would have impressed anyone else, but Sapphire merely found it amusing. Their master, Asra, sat beside them atop some peculiar beast, though Sapphire couldn't help but compare it unfavorably to their own Hollow Purple technique.

"Master, where are we?" Sapphire asked, their voice carrying that characteristic blend of curiosity and absolute confidence. Dark clouds swirled overhead like a gathering audience, while rust-colored sand shifted beneath them like an endless sea. A road of perfect black stone stretched before them, though in Sapphire's opinion, it could use some more flair.

Asra's response was typically cryptic: "Far enough from home, I think."

"Far enough for what?" Sapphire's blindfolded gaze turned toward their master, a hint of playful mockery in their tone. "Let me guess – for answers? For clarity? Come on, master, you're being more mysterious than my Infinity technique, and that's saying something!"

"A storm is coming..." Asra's voice faded to a dreamy whisper, causing Sapphire to roll their eyes behind their blindfold.

"A storm? Please. Have you seen what I can do? Storms should be worried about ME," they declared, though they couldn't quite suppress a shiver of anticipation. Even someone as powerful as Sapphire Gojo had to admit – something felt different this time.

The path before them kept shifting, a feat that might have impressed lesser sorcerers. "Soon, there will be crossroads," Asra said, his hands almost reaching for Sapphire's before stopping short.

"How soon? Where do they lead?" Sapphire asked, their usual bravado tinged with genuine curiosity. The sand began to rise around them on a chilly wind, and even Sapphire had to admit it created quite the dramatic atmosphere.

When dawn finally filtered through the dusty windows of the shop, Sapphire arose with their characteristic flourish. They spent the early hours preparing their things, occasionally pausing to admire how their movements cast wild shadows on the walls. "Meeting the Countess, huh? Well, she's in for quite the treat – it's not every day you get to meet the strongest sorcerer alive!"

After securing the door with multiple locks and a cross-me-not spell (which illuminated the door with white whorls that Sapphire deemed "adequate, but nothing compared to my Red"), they encountered a massive figure in the alley. Scarred and shrouded in weatherbeaten furs, the stranger cut an imposing figure – or would have, to anyone else.

"You are in grave danger," the figure rumbled, myrrh scent washing over the area.

Sapphire couldn't help but laugh. "Danger? Do you know who I am? I'm Sapphire Gojo. Danger takes one look at me and runs the other way!" Still, they filed away the warning about an uninvited visitor bearing gifts. Not out of concern, of course – purely for entertainment value.

The marketplace buzzed with life, a symphony of lesser beings going about their daily routines. The baker's offer of pumpkin loaf almost tempted them, but then – now this was interesting – they spotted Julian moving through the crowd, maskless and seemingly carefree.

"Now that's what I call confidence," Sapphire muttered, their blindfolded gaze tracking the man's movement. "Though honestly, he should take lessons from me if he wants to learn about true confidence. Still..." A grin spread across their face as they began to pursue him through the crowd. "This might actually be fun!"

The raven's shriek pierced the air as Julian turned around, and Sapphire's grin widened. Things were about to get very interesting indeed.

SCENEBREAK

Sapphire watched with mild amusement as a cart rolled between them and their quarry. When it passed, Julian had vanished – a neat trick, though nothing compared to Sapphire's own abilities. They stood still, letting the crowd flow around them like water around a stone, their blindfolded gaze fixed on the spot where Julian had been.

"Honestly," they mused, running a hand through their white hair, "why am I even bothering to chase him? As if he could pose any threat to someone of my caliber." With a characteristic shrug, they turned back to join the bustling crowd, their presence causing subtle ripples in the flow of pedestrian traffic.

As they ascended the worn steps, a fortune teller's booth caught their attention, tucked away in shadows that seemed to bend away from Sapphire's radiant presence. "Heh, how nostalgic," they smirked, remembering Asra's similar humble beginnings. "Though I bet their fortunes weren't nearly as accurate as mine would be – I mean, I AM the strongest after all."

Lost in their self-aggrandizing thoughts, Sapphire didn't notice the patron backing into them until the collision occurred. The impact, which would have sent a lesser being sprawling, merely caused Sapphire to teeter gracefully on the edge of a step.

"Ack!" the patron yelped as their basket tipped, sending pomegranates cascading down the stairs like crimson marbles.

"Oh, perfect! As if I wasn't already late..." the stranger grumbled.

Sapphire could have easily used their Infinity technique to catch all the fruits at once, but where was the fun in that? Instead, they dropped into a casual crouch, moving with fluid grace to help collect the runaway produce. With lightning-quick reflexes that would make even the most skilled jujutsu sorcerers jealous, they snatched a pomegranate from beneath an approaching hoof.

"Ooh, thank you!" the stranger's eyes sparkled with genuine delight as Sapphire handed back the rescued fruit. "How sweet of you to help. And after I bumped into you in the first place."

"Well, you know," Sapphire drawled, their signature confidence coloring every word, "even the strongest sorcerer can spare a moment to help with runaway fruit."

The stranger's calloused palm met Sapphire's in a grateful handshake, and they muttered something before offering a pomegranate. Sapphire accepted it with an elegant flourish that made the simple act look like a performance.

The stranger's warm smile suddenly froze as recognition dawned in their eyes. "Wait, wait, wait! I know you!" they exclaimed. "You're Sapphire, the magician. Countess Nadia said we were expecting you!"

Sapphire's trademark smirk widened. "My reputation precedes me, as usual."

"You can call me Portia. I'm milady's head servant," the stranger introduced herself, and Sapphire recalled hearing whispers of her name in the marketplace – not that they usually paid attention to such trivial gossip.

"Well, how lucky were we?" Portia said with a small smile that suggested she had no idea just how lucky she'd been to encounter someone of Sapphire's caliber. "Come on, I'll show you the quickest path to the palace."

"Lead the way," Sapphire gestured grandly, already imagining how they'd make their entrance at the palace. After all, it wasn't every day that royalty got to meet the strongest sorcerer in existence.

SCENEBREAK

Sapphire Gojo ascended the endless stairs with Portia, their usual boundless energy finally showing signs of strain. Not that they'd admit it – after all, what kind of strongest sorcerer would they be if a few thousand steps could wear them down?

As they climbed higher, the crowd thinned until they were practically alone. Sapphire paused, ostensibly to appreciate the view but actually to catch their breath (though they'd never admit it). That's when it happened – a voice, soft and feminine, slipped into their mind like silk through water.

It would be best if you weren't like this, Sapphire...

Sapphire's hand instinctively touched their blindfold, a smirk playing across their features. Oh? Someone trying to play mind games with the strongest sorcerer alive? How entertaining. They noticed Portia's unchanged expression, still beaming innocently.

I am not a mortal, dear one, the voice continued, amusing Sapphire further. But of what I am, you will have to wait. Follow this path carefully; you never know what you might encounter.

"Not mortal? Join the club," Sapphire muttered under their breath, though their interest was genuinely piqued. It wasn't often they encountered something truly unexpected.

"Are you alright?" Portia's voice cut through their thoughts, waving a hand in front of their face. Sapphire responded with their trademark confident nod.

"Just contemplating how lucky your palace is to have someone of my caliber visiting," they drawled, causing Portia to laugh.

"Well, I'm glad you're here," Portia said with a wink. "The Countess could use good help. And you look like a good sort to me."

The palace finally came into view as darkness began to creep across the sky, its glittering spires reaching toward the heavens like frozen lightning. Sapphire regarded the towering iron gate with mild interest – impressive for ordinary standards, though nothing compared to their Domain Expansion.

The guards, Ludovico and Bludmila, lowered their weapons at Portia's introduction. Sapphire gave them a casual nod, knowing full well that their weapons would be useless against someone of their power anyway.

"After you, Sapphire," Portia gestured as the gates swung open with an ominous creak. Sapphire strode through with their usual flair, barely registering the heavy slam behind them. After all, what was a closed gate to someone who could manipulate infinity itself?

The bridge stretched before them, and below, some kind of luminescent eel twisted through the waters like a ghostly ribbon. While Portia seemed concerned about them getting too close to the edge, Sapphire merely chuckled. "Worried about me falling? Please. I could walk on air if I wanted to."

Yet as they approached the intricate doors of the palace proper, even Sapphire felt a slight stirring of... well, not anxiety exactly (they were far too powerful for that), but perhaps curiosity. Something about this place felt different, charged with an energy that even their Infinity technique couldn't quite parse.

"Here we are!" Portia announced, delivering three resounding knocks that echoed like fate itself. As the doors began to swing open, Sapphire adjusted their blindfold one final time, a confident smirk spreading across their face. Whatever waited beyond those doors would soon learn what it meant to be in the presence of true power.