Cleo sat quietly against the cool stone wall, her tail wagging gently as she observed Celeste. 

Her master moved around the room with an air of determination, flipping through her textbook, fetching ingredients for her potion, and pausing occasionally to assist Ophelia and Lily. 

The sight made Cleo’s heart warm.

‘She looks like she’s having fun. I’m glad,’ Cleo thought, shifting her position to avoid being in anyone’s way. Her musings were interrupted by a voice, soft and teasing.

“So, what’s up with you, weird dog?”

Cleo’s ears perked up, her head snapping to the right. There, perched on an empty chair positioned against the wall, was Kiki, Lily’s sleek black cat familiar.

‘Huh?’ Cleo blinked in confusion.

Kiki’s crimson eyes gleamed with mischief, and her mouth curled up in a fanged grin. Laughter echoed in Cleo’s mind, making her fur bristle slightly.

“Your master may not be able to hear you, but I can. In fact, every familiar in this room probably can,” Kiki said lazily, her tail flicking with amusement.

Cleo froze, her eyes darting around the classroom. Sure enough, almost every familiar in the classroom had turned their attention to her. 

Their expressions ranged from mild irritation to open amusement, except for Siren, who remained stoically focused on Ophelia's need to borrow her eyes.

‘I’m that loud? I’m sorry, everyone!’ Cleo thought, her voice laced with guilt.

The familiars collectively groaned, their equivalent of an annoyed scoff, before turning back to their own tasks. Kiki’s laughter rang louder in Cleo’s mind, and she shrank slightly, her ears pinning back as she let out a small whimper.

‘How can I talk like you, Kiki? I don’t want to be a nuisance!’ Cleo pleaded, looking at the black cat with wide, hopeful eyes.

Kiki, now grooming her paw, paused to glance at Cleo with mock seriousness. ‘Oh, it’s easy for me. But for you? That’s just something you'll have to work on, I suppose.’

Before Cleo could respond, a loud pop echoed through the room, startling both familiars. Kiki jumped a good three feet in the air, her fur puffing out comically.

It was a table of boys, who each stood frozen around their cauldron which was now emitting smoke and sparks.

“It seems you three added too much Toadstool Powder. You’ll have to start over completely,” Professor Decato said, her sharp voice cutting through the commotion as she approached the scene. “Not to mention points deducted from your grade for this mishap.”

“Aw, man! I told you two scoops was enough, Derek!” a boy with short black hair and tanned skin exclaimed, throwing up his hands.

“It’s called being creative! How was I supposed to know it would explode?!” the boy named Derek shot back, glaring at the now-empty cauldron.

Meanwhile, their third partner, a boy with short, curly blond hair and square glasses, was silently gathering new ingredients, clearly used to this routine.

“Poor Xavier,” Lily whispered to Celeste as she grated a large talon into their own cauldron. “He’s always having to carry those two.”

“I know, right?” Celeste replied, her voice muffled by her eye goggles and nose pinchers as she wrung out a foul-smelling purple sac into a bowl. “But they’ve been friends forever. He probably feels like he has to help them since they won’t help themselves.”

Lily nodded silently. “I can’t blame him, though,” she said with a grin, throwing an arm around both Celeste and Ophelia. “I’d do anything to help you two out as well.”

As the trio shared a laugh, Kiki began to purr beside Cleo, startling her.

‘Are you… purring?’ Cleo asked hesitantly.

Kiki shot her a smug look. 

‘I’m feeling Lily’s love for her friends, that’s all. Anyway, you never answered my question. Why can’t you talk to your master like a normal familiar?’

Cleo hesitated, her gaze drifting to Celeste, who was now removing her gloves and goggles with a satisfied smile. ‘You wouldn’t believe me,’ she finally said, her voice tinged with sadness.

Kiki narrowed her eyes but didn’t press further.

“Hmm. Good work, Miss Rathmore, Miss Norwood, and Miss Steros,” Professor Decato said after examining the trio’s potion. “Now, bottle your results and leave them by the window to set.”

“Yes, Professor Decato!” Celeste said, grabbing empty bottles from the professor’s desk and passing them to Lily and Ophelia.

The three girls labeled their bottles and carefully placed them behind a protective wooden barrier by the window. Cleo wagged her tail as she watched her master’s joyful expression.

Then the bell rang once more, signaling the end of class.

“Have a good day, students!” Professor Decato called as the class filtered out, except for the three boys who remained to fix their failed potion.

Celeste stretched her arms with a satisfied sigh. “I really needed that after this morning,” she said as they exited the classroom.

Lily grinned, rushing ahead with a spring in her step. “Now it’s time for my favorite school activity!”

Celeste and Ophelia laughed.

“Lunch isn’t a school activity, Lily!” Celeste said, shaking her head.

“It is if it happens at school!” Lily shot back, sticking her tongue out playfully.

The girls continued their banter as they approached the ornate dining hall doors, with the promise of a well-earned break ahead.

To be continued…