Notham’s face flushed crimson, his fiery red hair nearly blending into the shade of his embarrassment. He hopped out of the boat, waving his hand dismissively as he avoided the gaze of the unicorn named Violet.

“Violet, my dear. Please don't say something like that!” he exclaimed, clearing his throat in an attempt to regain his composure. “My assistant might feel uncomfortable if you display your feelings for me so openly.”

Celeste suppressed a laugh, stepping onto the sand with a hesitant smile. However, the atmosphere shifted the moment the unicorns’ attention turned to her.

“Um, hello?” Celeste said, waving awkwardly as she felt their eyes sizing her up. Their expressions were far from welcoming.

“You brought a child here?!” Violet’s voice carried a sharp edge of disappointment. 

“And here we were, hoping we'd get to play together, just you and us.” Violet’s ears flicked, and Cleo could almost imagine a pout forming on the unicorn’s face.

“Ahaha... haaah...” Celeste stammered, her laughter awkward as she stood beside Notham.

The unicorns ignored her completely, their focus shifting dramatically when Cleo jumped out of the boat and onto the sand. Their eyes went wide, their tails swishing with excitement as their hooves tapped rhythmically against the ground.

“An unfortunate soul has come to play with us?! Come, little dog! Come! You can forget all your troubles with us!” they chorused, their voices filled with strange, unsettling joy.

Cleo’s ears flattened, her expression of one on high alert. “Unfortunate soul?” Celeste muttered under her breath in confusion. 

Suddenly, Cleo bolted away from the group, her paws kicking up sand as she ran.

“Cleo! Don’t run away!” Celeste called after her, frustration lacing her voice. “At least promise me you’ll stay on the island! And don’t go in the lake again, please!”

Notham chuckled, unfazed by the chaos. 

“Don’t you worry, Miss Rathmore! The girls will keep her safe should she find herself in trouble. They’re really quite dependable. Now, let’s head further inland so I can show you what you’ll be doing for the next week!”

Celeste hesitated, her gaze lingering on Cleo and the unicorns before reluctantly following Notham. As they made their way through the forest, her mind churned with questions.

‘What did the unicorns mean by ‘an unfortunate soul’? Is Cleo not born from my soul like she should be?’

Lost in thought, Celeste barely noticed when they stepped through a hidden portal. The landscape abruptly shifted, and she found herself in a breathtaking open field.

“Wow!” Celeste exclaimed, spinning around to take it all in. The portal shimmered faintly behind her, perfectly camouflaged with its surroundings.

Notham spread his arms wide, his chest puffed with pride as he turned to face her. “Welcome to the sanctuary of the unicorns, Miss Rathmore!”

In the distance, a small hut and a larger wooden building with yellow sliding doors sat in a clearing. 

A vibrant vegetable garden stretched out in front of the hut, and the hills were dotted with colorful flowers as far as the eye could see.

“Come, come! I need to check on Spud since he wasn’t on the beach with the girls,” Notham said, practically skipping toward the larger building.

Celeste hurried after him, her energy waning from the day’s whirlwind of events. When Notham slid open the barn doors, a gray donkey suddenly collapsed at his feet.

“Spud?! Are you alright, my boy?!” Notham knelt, concern etched on his face as he examined the exhausted animal.

Spud’s sides heaved as he tried to catch his breath, clearly drained from his duties.

‘I hope the unicorns don’t exhaust Cleo like this,’ Celeste thought, glancing sympathetically at the donkey.

“Ah, I see… Well, get some rest in the field, and I’ll treat you to some carrots later,” Notham said, winking at Spud. The donkey perked up instantly, the promise of carrots giving him newfound energy.

“You feed your familiar, Professor Notham?” Celeste asked as they stepped into the barn. “I thought familiars didn’t need to eat.”

“They don’t require food like you and I do, but denying them the pleasures of food feels unnecessarily cruel,” Notham replied. “After all, food can bring joy, even in the darkest moments.”

He paused, gesturing dramatically toward the rows of pens lining the barn. 

“Moving on, here are the pens! Your tasks are simple: change the hay in each pen, wash the floors with soap and water, and refill the troughs with fresh water from the pond behind the barn. Everything you need is in the storage room to your right. Any questions?”

“No, sir! I’ve got this!” Celeste said, trying to pump herself up.

“Good, good! …Oh! Before I forget!” 

Notham suddenly darted into the storage room, returning moments later with a set of clothes and overalls. “I wouldn’t want you to dirty your robes, so you can borrow these!”

Celeste took the clothes with a nod, disappearing into the storage room to change. The outfit was a little big, but it would do. Rolling up her sleeves, she stepped out with renewed determination.

“I can do this!” she declared, clenching her fists. With that, she dove into her tasks, eager to prove herself and finish in time for dinner.

To be continued…