Suzie climbed the stairs, her heart pounding louder with every step. She had to see it with her own eyes.

  When she checked… it was true.

  Without wasting a second, she rushed to Marie's house. She knocked rapidly. Marie's mother opened the door, surprised, but Suzie didn't wait for questions. She hurried upstairs.

  "Where is Knight?" Suzie asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

  "He's having some fun with my dog," Marie replied casually.

  Suzie froze. "Why did you take Knight?"

  "What a strange name," Marie laughed. "The thing is, I have the female variant of that husky. I've been trying to breed her, but I couldn't find the exact same male. So… I borrowed him from you."

  "Where is he?" Suzie asked again.

  "In the second room."

  Suzie asked for a glass of water. Marie nodded and went downstairs to bring it.

  The moment Marie left, Suzie moved quietly toward the second room. Her fingers trembled as she opened the door just slightly.

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  Inside—

  Knight, in his dog form, was mating with the female husky.

  Suzie gently closed the door. No anger. No shouting. Just silence. She stepped away from the room before Marie could return.

  Marie came back with the water. Suzie drank it calmly, though her thoughts were racing.

  "How much time will it take?" Suzie asked.

  "Another hour," Marie replied.

  Suzie nodded. "Okay."

  Before she left, Marie excitedly asked, "Come with me to the amusement park tomorrow!"

  "I've already seen it," Suzie answered softly. "I'm not interested in seeing it again."

  At exactly four o'clock, Marie handed Knight back to her.

  As they walked home, Suzie finally asked in a low voice, "Why did you do that with dog?"

  Knight's voice echoed in her mind. "It's normal for all creatures ."

  Suzie didn't respond.

  They reached home. She locked the door.

  "Tell me about your city," she said firmly. "How did you come here?"

  Knight's expression changed. His voice became distant.

  "Our city is called Nandaline. I am a knight who serves under the king. One day, I went into the forest with him to hunt . Night fell. I slept inside a cave. When I opened my eyes… I was here."

  Suzie listened carefully.

  "I cannot return to my original form," Knight continued. "We drink only water from the Nandaline River. Without it, I cannot fully transform to my original form."

  Suzie wrote everything down in her diary. Every detail. Every clue.

  That night, she finished her dinner. Knight ate his food quietly.

  Both of them fell asleep under the same roof

  ---

  The Next Morning

  Suzie woke up early.

  She was in her final year of school.

  She freshened up, completed her routine, and prepared to leave. Knight was still asleep. She didn't want to disturb him.

  So she stepped outside alone.

  The morning air felt strange.

  As she walked, she suddenly felt it—

  Someone was following her.

  She turned back.

  No one.

  She walked faster. The feeling grew stronger.

  She turned again.

  Still no one.

  Her heartbeat quickened.

  Then suddenly—

  When she turned once more, a handsome young man stood right behind her. Beautiful hair. Sharp eyes. Calm smile.

  "My name is Gill," he said.

  Suzie's breath caught in her throat.

  Where did he come from?

  And why did his presence feel… familiar?

  To be continued…