Cleo stepped out from the barrier, her heart still pounding from the flurry of emotions she'd just experienced. She had barely taken a step down the hill before nearly colliding with Celeste, who stood there looking for her.

"There you are!" Celeste exclaimed, her voice tinged with concern. "I got worried when I heard you ran off with the unicorns but didn’t come back with them. What were you doing over there?"

Cleo paused, caught off guard by the question. Celeste’s gaze shifted away, as if lost in thought. Cleo's mind began to race as she watched her look over the hill where Cleo came from. 

‘Can she see through the barrier? It’d be a pain to explain if she can,’ Cleo thought nervously. Contrary to her worries, Celeste seemed unaware, or at least uninterested.

Celeste sighed and gave Cleo an understanding half-smile. "I get it, you just wanted to play by yourself and not with the unicorns, right? I don’t blame you; they do seem a little too excitable for anyone to handle." 

She turned and began to descend the hill, her robe flowing around her as she moved, and Cleo followed closely behind her.

They made their way down the grassy incline, Celeste leading the way with a slight, almost unnoticeable exhaustion in her step. "Ah, goodie! You found her safe and sound, excellent news!" Notham's voice cut through the air, bright and cheery. He stood next to Spud, holding a golden pocket watch in his hand, its surface glinting in the light. "Now, shall we return to the Tower? I believe we should make it back just in time for dinner to start."

Cleo heard the distinct sound of the unicorns from the barn, their excited chatter indistinct. ‘Or maybe I just don’t want to hear them,’ she thought, a touch of irritation flaring up. 

She had had enough of them for one day.

Just as she had hoped they could leave them without notice, Notham raised his hand and called out to the barn. "Girls! We’re leaving for the day, okay?!"

Cleo's claws dug into the soft grass at the sudden exclamation. Her ears flattened in frustration as the unicorns burst from the barn, their hooves pounding against the earth. 

"No, don’t leave!” 

“He can’t go now!” 

“We haven’t gotten to play nearly enough today!" 

Their cries were filled with childish disappointment, and Cleo whined.

Notham gave them a half-hearted smile, brushing his hand affectionately along Violet's leg, though his smile was tinged with bitterness. "I do apologize, my dears. I promise to come back as soon as dinner is over," he said, his tone warm.

The unicorns sighed dramatically, their eyes filled with longing as they looked down at Notham. 

One of them, however, kept its gaze trained not on Notham, but on Celeste. The look was almost hostile. "Will she continue coming back as well?" the unicorn spat, its tone venomous.

Celeste flinched, the sting of the words biting into her. She knew the unicorns didn’t like her—she could feel it every time they spoke about her. But she said nothing, simply lowering her head, her lips pressed tight.

The silence was only broken when Cleo, without hesitation, moved between Celeste and the unicorns, her body low to the ground in a protective stance. 

She growled viciously, her voice low and threatening. The unicorns recoiled, startled by the sudden shift in her demeanor.

"So mean!” 

“So scaryyyy!" The unicorns squealed in fright, turning tail and dashing back into the barn.

Cleo stood firm, her eyes glaring at the barn's entrance as if daring them to come out again. Notham sighed deeply, running a hand through his long beard. 

"While I can’t condone bullying the unicorns," he began, his voice full of regret, "I must apologize for their rude behavior toward you, Miss Rathmore. I do hope you can find it in your heart to forgive them." He said, bending at the waist in an apologetic stance.

Celeste hurriedly shook her head, flustered. "Oh, n-no sir! I’m okay, really! You don’t need to do that!" Her voice was quick, almost frantic. She hated that he was apologizing with such a grand gesture—it made her feel more awkward than when the unicorns openly insulted her.

Notham stood straight again, his shoulders slumping slightly. "Very well then," he said with a resigned sigh. "Anyway, let’s return, shall we?"

He turned toward the portal to leave, and Cleo followed behind him, casting one last glance at Celeste to ensure she was doing alright. The two of them trailed after Notham, their feet heavy as they approached the shimmering portal.

As they stepped through, the pouring rain on the other side hit them instantly, the downpour soaking through their bodies.  "Well, this is poor luck, indeed," Notham muttered under his breath, clearly displeased, his voice barely audible over the rain’s steady pitter-patter.

Reaching for the wand strapped to his leg, he murmured “Falivahz” under his breath, swinging the wand above their heads. 

A soft, golden glow appeared, wrapping around them, making the rain evaporate almost instantly. The warmth of the spell enveloped Cleo and Celeste, and Cleo let out a soft exhale, her eyes drooping as she basked in the comfort of the magic. 

‘I could almost fall asleep standing up,’ she thought lazily.

But while Cleo and Celeste stood in their stupor of warmth, Notham had already rushed ahead, talking animatedly about something. Cleo barely registered his words as she stood, eyes half-lidded, in the calming warmth. 

It wasn’t until Notham glanced back and noticed they weren’t following that he sighed and raised his hand.

A snap of his fingers shattered the warmth like glass, the cool rain immediately soaking them through. Cleo jumped, startled by the sudden downpour, and bolted toward the boat with Celeste hot on her heels. As they climbed in, Notham recast the spell, and they found themselves once more warm and dry.

The boat glided over the water toward the school’s dock, and Cleo, lying on her belly between Notham and Celeste, let out a contented exhale. “Ahhh," Celeste sighed happily, sinking into her seat with a lazy smile on her face. 

"I understand it’s nice to feel the warmth of the spell, you two," Notham said, his voice a little stern but lighthearted, "but try not to forget next time that we have a schedule to keep!"

Before either Celeste or Cleo could respond, Notham’s stomach rumbled loudly.

‘Guess he’s really just saying that because he’s starving,’ Cleo thought, a smile tugging at her lips.

Her thoughts were followed by another stomach growl, this time coming from Celeste. She placed a hand over her stomach, an awkward chuckle escaping her lips as she met Notham's gaze. The two burst into laughter just as the boat finally arrived at the dock.

The trio made their way to the school, with Notham dispelling the spell just as they stepped inside. But as they approached the dining hall, something felt off. The hall was eerily quiet, the usual hum of chatter and clattering silverware absent.

When Celeste pushed open the door, her eyes immediately locked onto Helion. He stood from his usual seat, tall and commanding, holding a glass in one hand and a golden knife in the other, as if he were preparing to make a speech.

‘Something must be seriously wrong here…’ Cleo thought, her heart racing with anxiety.

Notham and Helion exchanged a short but weighted glance, and it was clear Helion had been waiting for them.

"I have an announcement to make!" Helion’s voice rang out, making Cleo’s stomach churn with unease.

To be continued...