Opening the door was none other than Lucy, Elaris' teacher.

She stood there framed by the dim light of the hallway, a figure both familiar and startling.

Her violet robe flowed down elegantly, shimmering faintly as if woven from strands of starlight, each fold catching what little light the room offered.

The robe was cinched at her waist with a silver cord, from which small, tinkling charms hung, catching the air like soft whispers.

Atop her head rested a tall, pointed hat that seemed almost alive, stitched with golden runes and topped with a tiny bell that jingled softly with every subtle tilt.

The brim shadowed her eyes, but her sharp gaze still shone through, brimming with that characteristic sparkle of mischief and wisdom that had defined her in the classroom.

Elaris' eyes widened in disbelief. "Teacher? No way, you live here?" The words burst from him before his mind could catch up.

His heart thumped in a rhythm almost too fast to comprehend, and his whole body seemed frozen mid-motion.

His arms twitched at his sides, almost like he wanted to reach out and touch her to make sure she was real.

His mouth hung open for a beat too long, jaw slack in utter shock.

Even his legs felt like lead, unwilling to carry him forward, as if gravity itself had paused to share in his astonishment.

His pulse raced, and a flush crept up his neck, painting his cheeks with disbelief.

He blinked rapidly, trying to reconcile the image of his mentor.

His teacher who had once lectured him tirelessly about potion theory and magical ethics.

Now, standing casually in a place like this, so ordinary yet somehow mysterious.

Lucy only smiled at him, calm and knowing, as though she had been expecting this reaction all along.

"I moved here now and sell the shop," she said casually, her tone carrying a mix of pride and nonchalance.

"Honestly, no one was buying from me anyway." Her words hung in the air, seemingly simple.

Yet, there was a subtle weight to them, a suggestion of a decision made carefully and without regret.

Sarah, who had been quietly observing the room and the dim, gloomy surroundings, tilted her head and murmured.

"So… from all places, you choose this place?" Her voice carried a note of incredulity and curiosity.

It was tinged with a hint of worry, as she gestured to the sparse almost desolate room that seemed far removed from the bustling streets and cozy shops she might have imagined for someone like Lucy.

Lucy nodded, a slow, deliberate motion that radiated satisfaction.

"I wanted a private space to hold my experiments," she explained, her voice softening just slightly.

"And the love potion… it's mostly ready."

At her words, she reached into a hidden pocket of her violet robe, pulling out a small container that glimmered faintly in the light.

It was delicate, shaped like a teardrop with faint golden filigree wrapping around the neck.

The pink potion inside seemed almost to pulse with its own light, casting faint rosy reflections on her fingers.

She dangled it gently between her thumb and forefinger, letting it sway like a pendulum.

The soft clinking of the tiny charms on her robe accompanied its motion.

The movement was hypnotic, drawing the eyes of everyone in the room.

Which made the pink liquid seem almost alive, shimmering with promise and mystery.

For a moment, the room fell silent. Everyone's gaze was fixed on the potion.

Each person caught in their own swirl of curiosity, apprehension, and fascination.

Even the shadows seemed to lean closer, eager to glimpse what this masterful teacher had crafted.

I decided to shake off the spell her antics had cast over us.

Stepping forward, I said, "Did you find a shiny jewel? The trails led us here."

My voice was steadier than I felt, but there was an edge of urgency in it.

The kind that comes from following clues that could change everything.

Lucy shrugged, the motion casual yet enigmatic. "I didn't see any jewel," she said lightly, almost as if it were a minor detail.

"but my cat… she may have it. You should check on her."

Her eyes twinkled with mischief as she gestured vaguely towards the backyard.

"She's there."

The backyard? I followed her gaze and stepped cautiously towards the open door at the back of the house.

Then I stopped dead in my tracks.

My mouth fell open again, and for a moment I was rooted in place, unable to speak.

The cat was not what I had expected. It was massive. Absolutely massive. A sabertooth tiger stood there.

Its white fur glowing faintly under the dim sunlight that filtered through the trees.

Its blue eyes were striking, sharp, intelligent, and impossibly deep, like pools of frozen sky.

The air seemed to hum around it, heavy with the power of a creature that commanded both fear and awe.

Lucy came walking slowly, her presence almost magnetic as she approached the enormous feline.

She reached out and rubbed its head gently. "Meet my sister, Luna," she said in a calm, even tone.

"She's female, and she understands human language. But beware, do not mock her, or she will eat you."

Her words were matter-of-fact, leaving no room for doubt.

Everyone around us gulped audibly, the weight of her warning sinking in immediately.

For a heartbeat, the tiger simply regarded us, its expression inscrutable.

Then, tentatively, I stepped forward.

The ground beneath me felt slightly softer, almost reverent, as if even it recognized the gravity of this moment.

My hand reached out slowly and brushed the tiger's fur, and to my relief, and astonishment.

Luna melted under my touch. Her enormous body shifted slightly to press closer.

She kept purring softly, the sound vibrating through the air like a deep, gentle drum.

Time seemed to stretch as I continued to rub her fur, feeling the warmth and strength of the massive creature beneath my hands.

Ten minutes passed in what felt like a suspended bubble of quiet awe.

Each second marked by the soft rustle of her white fur and the rhythmic purring that filled the backyard.

The sunlight glinted off the tips of her fangs occasionally, reminding me that this was not a domesticated kitten but a creature of immense power and grace.

Then, with a sudden, unexpected motion, Luna coughed.

My heart skipped a beat as I watched a small, glittering object fall from her mouth and land on the ground with a soft clink.

I crouched down immediately, careful not to disturb her further.

The jewel glimmered faintly, streaked with a trace of saliva, which I wiped away gently before lifting it.

Its shine reflected in my eyes, and for a moment I held it up to the light, letting its brilliance speak for itself.

Then I looked at the group, feeling a sense of triumph mixed with relief. "Let's go back,"

I said, tucking the jewel safely away. There was no need for further words.

The mission had reached a small but critical victory, and the sense of accomplishment hung in the air.

It mingled with the faint scent of the tiger's fur and the lingering magic that Lucy carried like a second skin.

Sarah let out a quiet breath and approached me cautiously, her eyes still wide.

"I… I can't believe it," she murmured, stepping closer to Luna, who now sat back on her haunches, Watching us with calm, measured intelligence.

"It's… beautiful. And terrifying."

She shivered slightly but reached out to tentatively stroke the tiger's flank.

She kept marveling at the softness of her fur despite her size.

Lucy's laughter, light and melodic, floated over us.

"Yes, she's terrifying if you disrespect her, but she's loyal and clever.

Luna has a sharp mind, and I trust her more than most humans I know."

She moved closer, gently tugging at the hem of her robe.

"She even helps me with my experiments sometimes.

You might think it's impossible, but she has a very precise sense of smell and intuition."

I glanced down at the jewel in my hand.

"So the jewel was with her all this time?" I asked, still processing the strangeness of it all.

Lucy nodded, tilting her head slightly.

"She loves shiny things," she said simply, as if that explained everything.

"I can leave a golden apple on the porch and she'll ignore it. But a jewel like that… she can't resist."

For a moment, the group fell silent, the soft hum of the backyard and Luna's purring the only sounds.

Even the wind seemed to pause in respect, rustling the leaves quietly.

Then Sarah whispered, "So… what now? Do we just go back?"

"Yes," I said, tucking the jewel carefully into a secure pouch.

"We go back and figure out what it opens.

But… I'll admit, I never expected our path to lead through a sabertooth tiger."

My voice carried a nervous chuckle, the tension of the moment breaking slightly.

Lucy gave a faint, knowing smile.

"Adventure always comes with surprises," she said, her tone light but full of authority.

"And sometimes, the most unlikely allies are the most powerful."

She gestured to Luna, who stretched gracefully before lying down.

Her massive body folding neatly despite her size.

"Remember that."

We turned to leave the backyard, our footsteps crunching on the gravel.

And we made our way back to the road, resuming our trip to the beach.

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