Shortly after dinner was concluded and the students began to file out of the dining hall, Celeste and Cleo clambered into the bath, sinking into its warmth. The room was filled with steam and the low hum of conversation, water rippling with every movement.

“Hey, you never answered me earlier,” Celeste said, voice low as she leaned in. “Why do you keep disappearing beyond the hill while I get stuck cleaning unicorn pens?”

Cleo exhaled slowly through her nose, her muscles tensing. She’d been dreading this moment the second Celeste brought up the question—especially here, surrounded by students who already didn’t like that she could speak aloud.

“It’s where she is,” Cleo muttered softly. Celeste gasped, hands pausing mid-lather as she worked soap into Cleo’s fur. “You don’t mean…?”

Cleo nodded, lowering her head just slightly. Around them, several girls whispered indistinctly, casting the occasional disgusted glance their way. The tension in the air was palpable.

“I guess we can talk more about this in our room later,” Celeste grumbled, brushing her soapy hands beneath the water while Cleo dove under to rinse the foam away.

After saying a brief good night to Lily and Ophelia at the room assortment door, the two were finally alone—aside from Plüe, who was curled up asleep on one of the bean bags in the corner, gently rising and falling with each soft snore.

“So every time we go over there,” Celeste said as she curled up on the couch by the fireplace, “you’re talking with a god?”

“Yes,” Cleo replied, sitting nearby with her fur slightly fluffed from the bath. “I tried telling you earlier today, but then we had to go to Professor Giles’ class.”

Celeste squinted, trying to recall. “Oh! I remember now! You said she gave you that collar in exchange for doing a task for her, right?” She let out a sigh, head tilting back in exhaustion. “Today’s just been so crazy I nearly forgot about the whole thing. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I completely understand,” Cleo said with a small smile. “But now, I can finally tell you about it.”

Celeste perked up enough to sit straight. “Do tell, then! I’ve been so curious!”

Cleo chuckled softly. “Do you know how the god Obscyron was sealed away?”

Celeste shook her head. “I thought he was just sleeping. Or just keeping quiet to regain his strength until he rains down disaster on everyone but his worshipers.”

“If only the reason was so simple. The reality is, Lumosa sealed him away after he came into contact with a crown of dark, unknown origins. It corrupted him. Twisted his thoughts. She managed to separate Obscyron from the crown, but the damage to his mind was… irreversible. She tossed the crown far away, but…”

Cleo trailed off, her gaze drawn to the fire dancing beside them.

“But what? Don’t stop there!” Celeste urged.

“Lumosa told me the crown is back. Somewhere in the Empire. And I can only assume who has it,” Cleo finished, her voice low. The room fell into a heavy silence.

“That… does sound like a daunting task,” Celeste said slowly. “But why you? Why does she want you to do it?”

“Because she’s trapped in that hidden area beyond the hill, though I don’t know why. She mentioned in passing that she doesn’t have much power left so…maybe that’s why?” Cleo tilted her head, thinking aloud.

“Maybe…” Celeste murmured before letting out a long yawn. Cleo glanced at the wall clock. Just past eleven.

“I guess we should—” Cleo began, but stopped when Celeste suddenly clutched her head, wincing in pain. Celeste groaned. The pain flared—brief, sharp—and then came the voice.

Go.

A man’s voice. Low, commanding. The same voice Celeste had heard once before. As the pain faded, a soft shimmer glowed around the frame of the dormitory door—then disappeared.

“What just happened?! Are you alright, Celeste?” Cleo asked, concerned.

Celeste didn’t respond. She simply rose, eyes glazed, and walked to the door. She opened it, stepping through into the assortment room without a word.

“Wait—Celeste! Wait for me!” Cleo called, racing after her.

The door shut behind them with a quiet click. Plüe stirred, startled by the noise. It blinked its sleepy eyes, looked at the empty bed, then the clock—and immediately panicked. It began darting back and forth in the air, spinning in frantic circles.

Celeste walked down the dorm stairs in a daze, her bare feet barely making a sound. Cleo trailed behind, her worry growing with each step.

The moment Celeste crossed the threshold separating the dorm from the main school building, she stopped. Her eyes blinked slowly. Awareness returned.

“Cleo…?” she asked softly, voice shaking. “What happened? Why am I here?”

“I don’t know either! You just walked out here without saying a word. Right after grabbing your head like it hurt,” Cleo explained.

“I did…?” Celeste whispered. “I… remember now. I heard the word ‘go’…”

But before she could say more, a low slither reached both their ears. Slow. Heavy. Something dragging. The two froze.

Celeste barely breathed. Cleo stiffened, every muscle ready to bolt. The slithering wasn’t alone. There were other sounds—boots. Paws. Fast.

Celeste motioned to go back to the dorms, but it was already too late.

The shadows down the hall split apart as two figures rounded the corner—Kai and Luna. Their expressions were grim, determined. Kai’s eyes locked on Celeste. His irritation was immediate—but so was his concern.

“Why are you—? Never mind. Just hide!” he barked, rushing to push her back through the dormitory door. Luna followed closely behind, silent but alert. Kai crouched near the cracked door, peering through.

Luna turned briefly toward Cleo. ‘Please keep your human back. We finally caught a glimpse of the creature, but we always somehow lose it somewhere around here.’

The slithering grew louder. Closer.

Then, a shape slid past the door—tall, black and shapeless. A foul scent crept through the air. Coppery. 

Blood.

From somewhere down the hall, a male student groaned, though it didn’t necessarily sound like it was from pain. Kai cracked the door slightly wider, then nodded for Luna to pass through. She did. He turned back, mouth forming silent words to Celeste.

“Go back.”

Then the door closed. Celeste staggered—then grabbed her head again, groaning. Another command pressed into her skull.

Follow.

Her hand found the doorknob once more.

“Celeste?! Let’s go back to bed, please!” Cleo begged. “Whatever’s out there, we don’t want anything to do with it!”

But Celeste was already stepping through the door, gaze hazy but still focused forward. She followed the corridor, her pace slow but certain. Kai and Luna were just ahead, standing just outside a familiar door.

Celeste’s breath caught. ‘Professor Decato’s classroom?’ Her pulse quickened. Her eyes widened.

The missing students… It had taken them there.

To be continued…