Celeste and Cleo had finished their baths, but as they made their way into the locker room where Lily and Ophelia were getting dressed for bed, Celeste still seemed dazed.

"Celeste? Did you soak a little too long or something?" Lily asked, peeking through the changing room curtains while pulling up her pajama pants.

"Hmm? Oh! No, it's, uhm… nothing," Celeste muttered, reaching into her locker for her clothes.

Lily's brows knit together in concern, but she chose not to press further. Instead, the girls finished changing, drying their hair, and gathering their belongings before heading toward the dormitory staircase in the main room.

The grand staircase cascaded upwards, and the girls made their way to the single door on the left of the upper floor. As Cleo followed them inside, her expectations shattered instantly.

The room was nothing like she had imagined.

A single large window overlooked the lake outside, the moon casting a silvery glow across the polished wooden floor. At the center of the room stood a tall, metal pole crowned with a star-shaped ruby. 

The moment one of the girls—one who had been in the bath with Celeste—pressed her hand against the gemstone, it began to glow.

Cleo’s eyes widened as the wooden wall opposite the pole shimmered like a mirage, shifting and distorting until a pink door materialized with the name ‘Panila’ elegantly carved into it. 

Without hesitation, the girl yawned, stepped toward the door, and disappeared inside. The moment it shut behind her, the door vanished, the wall returning to its previous state.

Cleo stared in amazement. ‘Will things like this ever be normal to me?’

Ophelia was next. “See you all in the morning,” she said, waving before entering her own pink door marked ‘Steros’.

“Good night!” Lily and Celeste called just before the door disappeared.

Lily’s turn came next. “Sweet dreams, you two,” she said with a backward wave as Kiki leapt through the doorway ahead of her.

Then, it was just Celeste and Cleo.

Celeste sighed and reached out to touch the ruby. “Ready to head to bed, girl?”

As she did, a pink door labeled ‘Rathmore’ emerged, and the two stepped inside.

The sight before Cleo took her breath away.

The room was enormous, easily large enough to fit eight people comfortably. Deep forest-green walls enclosed a space illuminated by a flickering fireplace, in front of which sat a plush red-and-silver couch. 

A massive bed, fit for royalty, dominated one side of the room, and bookshelves lined the walls, filled with countless tomes. In a cozy reading nook opposite the fireplace, three oversized beanbag chairs—one pink, one white, and one blue—invited weary minds to sink into their embrace.

Celeste settled onto the couch, patting the cushion beside her. “Come sit,” she said softly.

Cleo hesitated but eventually leaped onto the couch, curling her tail around herself.

Celeste's piercing green eyes locked onto her. 

“Alright, spill it, Cleo. How can you talk without barking all of a sudden? And why can you talk at all, for that matter? Our link isn’t working the way it should. Are you even really my familiar?” 

Celeste’s voice grew quieter with each question, but the pain behind her words was unmistakable.

Cleo released a deep exhale and lifted a paw to her collar. As the small bell on her collar jingled, Celeste's eyes flickered with surprise.

“What is that?” she asked. “Is that why you can talk normally?”

Cleo nodded. “It was a gift from…” Cleo paused, contemplating if she should mention Lumosa before finishing with, “...Someone important.”

Celeste narrowed her eyes. “Someone important? That’s all you’re giving me?”

Cleo hesitated before nodding again.

Celeste exhaled sharply and ran a hand through her damp hair. “Fine. Then tell me exactly what you are. What don’t I know about you that I should?”

Cleo looked into her master’s eyes, seeing both hurt and longing there.

“My name… was Valerie Morelli.”

Celeste’s breath hitched.

“I was just an ordinary 23-year-old woman working in an office. One day, I fell from a tall building and… died. The next thing I knew, I opened my eyes and saw you. Suddenly, I was in this strange new world filled with magic, and I was a fluffy dog.” Cleo’s voice was steady, but inside, her heart pounded.

Celeste broke eye contact, letting out a bitter laugh. “So I was right… You’re not born from my soul at all. Just your body, I guess.” She drew her legs to her chest, her voice trembling. “That explains why we aren’t connected like we should be. We’re practically strangers.”

Cleo lowered her ears and whimpered. “I don’t want us to be like strangers.”

Celeste turned her head, startled by the raw sincerity in Cleo’s voice.

“I've grown to care for you like a little sister,” Cleo continued. “I’d like to be more than just… some anomaly in your life. And I especially don’t want you to be treated differently because of me.” She hesitated before adding, “Maybe, if we grow closer, we can restore the bond to what it should be.”

For a moment, the only sound was the crackling fire.

Then, Celeste reached out, running her fingers through Cleo’s fur. “I’d like that too,” she admitted with a half-smile. “But… you should know, I’m not getting bullied just because you can talk. It’s more about what you represent.”

Cleo tilted her head. “You mean because of the Mad Emperor?”

Celeste chuckled softly and leaned back against the couch. “Yeah. Him.”

Cleo’s ears perked up. “Can you tell me more about him? Why do people call him that?”

Celeste stretched her legs out, letting out a small sigh. “I guess I can, but history isn’t exactly my strong suit. Don’t blame me if I mess up some details, alright?”

Cleo nodded eagerly.

Celeste stared into the fire for a moment, as if gathering her thoughts. Then, she began.

“I think it all started about twenty years ago—give or take five—when the Emperor was my age…”

To be continued…