image [https://i.imgur.com/yBsIBhQ.jpeg]

Under the glow of the full moon, a lone witch lounged in a beach chair, toes buried in the cool sand. Her wide-brimmed hat shaded her eyes as she gazed out at the endless dark sea, the waves crashing in a lullaby of hisses and whispers. In her lap, her white cat, Nimbus, purred softly, eyes half-closed as he soaked in the moonlight.

She raised her glass—a sparkling, midnight-blue concoction, topped with a sprig of rosemary—and took a long sip, savoring the blend of botanicals and berry. It was her favorite, something special she’d brewed for nights just like this.

Just as she settled back with a contented sigh, a shadow crossed over the beach, blocking out the moonlight for a brief moment. She opened one eye lazily to see her sisters soaring by, riding on their broomsticks, cackling and whooping as they zipped through the sky.

"Off to cause mayhem?" she murmured, a smirk playing at her lips.

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The sisters spotted her below, circling back with grins of their own. "And what are you doing down there, Esme?" one of them called out. "Retiring already?"

Esme chuckled, lifting her cocktail in a casual salute. "Just keeping an eye on the tide," she replied, winking. "Someone has to look after the coastline while you two are off brewing trouble."

Nimbus cracked open an eye, annoyed at the disturbance, then promptly went back to sleep as Esme stroked his fur.

One of her sisters swooped lower, close enough that Esme could see the smirk on her face. "You're getting soft, Esme. What happened to the midnight terror who used to hex the beachcombers?"

Esme shrugged, taking another sip of her drink. "Oh, she’s still around. But tonight? Tonight’s for moonbathing and a quiet cocktail."

Her sisters laughed and, with a final wave, flew off into the night, leaving Esme alone once again under the moon’s watchful eye.

As the sound of their cackles faded, Esme stretched, feeling the night’s magic thrum in her veins. "Let them have their fun," she murmured, scratching Nimbus behind the ears. “Every good witch knows the value of a peaceful night.”

With that, she leaned back, sinking deeper into the comfort of her beach chair, the scent of salt and rosemary filling the air.