Alas, there are some stakeholders who possess the power to stop her

Inside a quiet cave, where the only sounds that can be heard are of the distant waterfall, Mary uses basic cantrip magic to stir a boiling pot of stew.

Reigns of terror are fun and all, but even villains need to rest and eat.

Mary reflects on what she wants to achieve from here on out. She feels like she is getting sufficient **** on the pathetic commoners for the ways that they gawk and stare at her chest, and she's making a name for herself as a fearsome, powerful woman deserving of respect... But what next?

Does she want power? Should she take a village for herself, subjugate its inhabitants, and begin amassing power until she can take on the emperor? Or does she just want fame, glory and fortune? It feels like the world is her oyster, and she just needs to choose a fun, challenging goal that will truly satisfy her upon her completion.

And then, she has a moment of clarity, and realizes what she wants most of all - ****. Not **** on this silly little kingdom, but **** on all of Illustris, for treating her so poorly and exiling her.

She stares at the stew as it boils, her back to the entrance of the cave, musing on how she can grow her power to the point where she could challenge all the other powerful mages of this land at the same time.

And then, as one of her wards is triggered, Mary is **** to quietly chuckle to herself. Of course, she doesn't even need to travel back to Illustris, to defeat its mages. With what she's been doing, they will send people after her.

"I didn't think it would be you." Mary says loudly to the figure standing behind her, at the entrance to the cave.

"Long time no see, sister." A beautiful, tall, scantily-clad red-haired mage replies.

"To what do I owe this pleasure?" Mary asks with a sickly sweet tone.

"You know exactly why. Your cruel antics are bringing the whole society of mages into disrepute. I have been sent to stop you."

"You mean to kill me, Penelope? Your own sister?"

The mage shakes her head with a wry smile. "No, that will not be necessary. The council have authorized for me to give a much more poetic end to your evil deeds."

Mary scoffs. "And they sent you? When was the last time you beat me in a duel? When you were 9 and I was 6, I think?"

The mage smiles, and tilts her head, cracking her neck muscles.

"A lot can change in a few years, Mary. When was the last time you had any formal training?"

"I have been training myself." Mary replies haughtily. "Your hubris will be your downfall, sister."

"That's my line." Penelope replies. "You think you are all powerful, as you have been frolicking with these commoners and low-rank mercenaries for too long. But too much time in exile has made you weak and unwise."

"I'll show you unwise!" Mary snarls, and uses her magic to rise into the air, twirling at last to face her sibling, and begins to cast her first powerful offensive spell. "Felicitara..."