The Archmage in the Basement (1)

“Nnngh-!”

I gave myself a long stretch, still wrapped in my blanket.

I stretched both arms overhead and lengthened my body by tensing my toes.

Each joint in my spine snapped and crackled back into place with pleasant little screams.

The soft, cozy feel of the mattress against my wiggling toes felt wonderful.

“Uuuhhh...”

A pathetic sound slipped out of my mouth on its own.

This was an utterly perfect morning, the first I'd enjoyed in ages.

No, with the sun already high in the sky, should I call it noon instead?

When I glanced at the clock, the hour and minute hands were both pointing at twelve...