The snow crunched softly beneath Noel's boots as he returned to their small camp.
"I'm back," he called quietly.
Ahead, Noir was lying curled up near Selene, her small body half-sunken into the snow. The girl sat nearby, hood drawn up, her breath misting faintly in the cold air.
At the sound of his voice, Noir's ears perked up. In an instant, she bounded toward him, tail swaying.
A faint smile tugged at Noel's lips as he crouched to meet her.
"You missed me already?"
Noir leapt up, licking his face in greeting. Then, without warning, her form shimmered—and in the next moment, she vanished, slipping into the shadow beneath him.
A soft chime echoed in his mind.
[Familiar Noir is evolving. Congratulations.]
Noel blinked.
