Cleo sat quietly in front of the bookshelf, her tail curled neatly around her paws as she faced the spines of the books. Behind her, the frantic rustling of clothes and Celeste’s anxious huffs filled the room.

Plüe practically shrieked at Celeste to hurry up in a muffled voice, his small, gloved hands flailing as Celeste scrambled to get dressed.

Cleo’s ears twitched at the familiar sounds of morning chaos, and a chuckle rumbled in her throat. The memory of rushing to school as a teenager flickered through her mind—though those days were long gone. 

At least now, as a dog, she never had to worry about being late due to getting dressed again.

"Alright, I’m ready now! Let’s go, Cleo!" Celeste’s voice rang out as she bolted toward the door.

Plüe, still mid-cleanup, folded the discarded clothes with a huff. "See you later, Plüe!" Celeste called over her shoulder, swinging the door open for Cleo, who trotted out ahead of her.

Plüe waved a tiny gloved hand. “Mmff!”—a muffled goodbye—before the door shut behind them.

Celeste barely took a step into the hall before her stomach let out a monstrous growl.

Cleo fought the urge to burst out laughing, but the group of girls nearby had no such restraint, giggling amongst themselves. Celeste groaned, her face turning red. “Ugh! I can't wait for them, let’s just go.” She stormed ahead, trying to ignore the laughter.

But just as they reached the bottom of the grand staircase in the main hall of the dormitory, a familiar voice called out.

"Hey! Forgetting something?"

Celeste flinched. 

Lily’s voice was unmistakable, and sure enough, there she stood, arms crossed with a knowing smirk. Beside her, Ophelia was busy adjusting the white ribbon tying her hair back from her face, her expression calm and focused.

"Uh… no? Of COURSE not!" Celeste said, glancing at Cleo for backup, but she merely blinked. 

What exactly did Celeste expect her to do?

Ophelia tilted her head slightly as she and Lily descended the stairs. "You’re lying," she stated simply. Though she couldn't see Celeste, her tone carried the weight of absolute certainty.

Celeste winced. “Somehow, that hurts more coming from you than if Lily had said it.”

Lily grinned, dramatically throwing her hands over her heart, as if the words physically wounded her. 

"What’s that supposed to mean, huh?" She playfully smacked Celeste’s arm as the group finally moved toward the dining hall.

As they walked, Lily’s curiosity got the better of her. "So, did you two talk last night?" she asked, eyeing Celeste and Cleo with interest.

Celeste hesitated before nodding. "We did. And… let’s just say, she’s definitely not a curse." She smiled down at Cleo, who met her gaze with a knowing look.

Before Cleo could thank her for the kind words, hushed whispers and excited murmurs reached her ears. The air in the hall ahead of them felt charged with anticipation.

‘Hmm?’ Cleo’s ears perked up, and she padded ahead, drawn by the growing commotion.

Celeste opened her mouth to call her back but then heard the girlish squeals herself.

“What’s going on?” Lily asked, her eyes narrowing. “You think someone famous is here?”

Even Ophelia seemed on edge, as if she could sense the shift in the atmosphere. Siren pulsed with soft energy beside her as she allowed Ophelia to briefly borrow her sight. 

“Something feels… off,” Ophelia murmured.

"Only one way to find out," Celeste said. Without hesitation, she gently pushed through the crowd gathered in front of the dining hall.

She wasn’t sure what she expected, but the sight before her was not it.

A young male beastman stood at the center of the hallway, a wolf at his side. His silver hair was cut to his chin, and soft, silvery animal ears twitched atop his head. A gray cloak draped over his shoulders, concealing most of his form, but the way he carried himself—tense, guarded—made him stand out even more.

Celeste’s stomach twisted.

"A beastman…? Here?" Lily muttered. "That’s a rare sight in the Atheron Principality."

Celeste barely heard her. Her eyes were locked on him, though he had yet to notice her.

Meanwhile, Luna sniffed at the ground with sharp focus.

‘Master, tracking is impossible with all these students around. The scent is mixing with theirs—this is pointless,’ Luna relayed to him telepathically, lifting her head in frustration.

Kai exhaled sharply, his foot tapping against the polished floor. He hated delays. But Luna was right.

‘Fine. Let’s find a quiet place and regroup,’ he decided.

Just as he turned to leave, his eyes met Celeste’s.

The moment their gazes locked, pain unlike anything he’d ever known suddenly surged through his body.

It was as if a fire had ignited inside him, his blood turning to molten lava. His knees buckled, and he collapsed onto all fours, gasping for air.

A wave of panic rippled through the crowd as gasps and murmurs spread like wildfire.

‘Master!’ Luna’s frantic voice echoed in his mind. ‘What’s happening to you?!’

Kai couldn’t answer. His throat constricted, his vision blurred, and every nerve in his body screamed in agony. The burning sensation seemed to move, becoming more concentrated on his lower back and quickly growing unbearable.

Then—something changed.

His senses sharpened. The pain lessened, just enough for him to lift his head. His eyes snapped back to Celeste. She stood frozen, a hand covering her mouth, her face pale with shock.

His heart pounded. Something was wrong. He staggered to his feet, his breath still ragged, and beneath his cloak, he felt it—

A tail.

Kai’s blood ran cold.

‘No. No, no, NO!’

His hands clenched into fists as he yanked his hood over his head. Without hesitation, he shoved his way through the crowd, pushing past the gathered students in his urgency to escape.

As he passed Celeste, however, his narrowed golden eyes locked onto hers with pure, seething anger. Celeste recoiled as if she’d been struck.

Then, just as quickly as he’d appeared, Kai disappeared down the hallway, Luna darting after him. Only silence remained in his wake.

Celeste exhaled shakily, her knees nearly giving out beneath her.

“Hey, are you alright?” Lily’s voice was gentle, her hand resting under Celeste’s arm to steady her.

Celeste shook her head, her fingers trembling at her sides. “I… I’ve never been so terrified in my whole life,” she whispered. Lily and Ophelia exchanged worried glances, but Celeste wasn’t looking at them anymore.

Her thoughts were elsewhere.

‘What just happened?’

To be continued…