Dawn eagerly inquired, "Where is it?"
Kitty glanced at the note she held, then looked up with a certain seriousness, "It's in Mr. Lewis's office."
Dawn's expression darkened as she contemplated how to sneak into his office without being discovered. She noticed Kitty's curious gaze and felt the weight of the moment.
"What's so important about the key? What's it for?" Dawn asked, her brows knitted in concern.
Dawn hesitated, wrestling with the decision of whether to trust Kitty. Part of her wanted to believe in Kitty's loyalty, especially since she had been helpful from the start, despite her sharp demeanor. Yet, actions spoke louder than words.
Kitty chuckled, breaking the tension, "You're the most paranoid person I know."
With her arms crossed and a playful glare, she added, "I'm the one helping you here. A little trust would be nice."
Feeling a twinge of guilt, Dawn sighed, her own eyes narrowing. "Fine… I'll tell you. I need to save Iravan, who's been taken by Mr. Lewis. I believe I know where he is, and I need the keys."
Kitty's expression turned serious as she processed this, then she sighed again. "Alright. That boy of yours better be worth it. I'll help you this time because I see you as a friend. We'll sneak into his office at midnight when everyone's asleep."
"Are you sure?" Dawn asked, uncertainty creeping into her voice.
Kitty raised an eyebrow, "Sure about what?"
"About coming with me? If something goes wrong, we could be in serious trouble."
Kitty chuckled and said, "I'm not entirely sure what to make of this, but it's definitely an unexpected twist! I'm feeling a bit thrilled and a touch adventurous, too."
Dawn glanced at her, noticing the spark of excitement in her eyes, and thought, 'At least she's not afraid. Having a witch along could be quite beneficial.'
She nodded in response to Kitty's concerned gaze and asked, "What's on your mind?"
"It's nothing," Kitty replied, "but you look completely worn out. You should take a quick nap before we head out on this rescue mission. We need you at your best; we can't have someone who's only half-awake."
Dawn recognized the truth in her words; every part of her felt heavy with fatigue after the chaos of Iravan's attack. Kitty's voice broke through her thoughts, "Go lie down on the bed, and I'll wake you when it's time to leave."
Dawn stared at the bed, then back at Kitty, incredulous. "How can I possibly sleep with all this clutter everywhere?"
Kitty raised an eyebrow at the mess, a hint of embarrassment creeping in. "Hey, don't judge! I've had a tough week too, alright?"
Dawn raised her eyebrows at her response, but Kitty could sense her unspoken thoughts. With a dramatic sigh, Kitty lifted her hand, and a stream of white mist swirled over the bed, magically tidying up the clothes. Dawn's eyes widened in amazement as she watched the garments fold themselves and the trash find its way into the bin, while everything else returned to its rightful place.
Dawn stared in disbelief at the scene before her, marveling at the fact that she would never truly acclimate to the wonders of magic or the presence of witches. A yawn escaped her as she covered her mouth with her hands. She glanced over at Kitty, who stood with her arms crossed and eyebrows raised. "Well, are you happy now, princess? Time to get some rest."
With a nod, Dawn made her way to bed, kicking off her shoes and tossing them aside before sinking into slumber almost instantly. The world around her fell silent, her mind blissfully empty.
An hour later, a sudden jolt pulled her from her dreams. Groaning, she opened her eyes to find Kitty standing there. "Rise and shine, bestie. We've got places to be."
Dawn nodded, stretching her back and arms to shake off the stiffness. She slipped her shoes back on and followed Kitty out of the room.
Peering through the window, she noticed the moon hanging high in the dark, quiet sky.
Kitty turned to her, handing over a jacket. Dawn raised an eyebrow, curious about where Kitty had found it, but shrugged it off and slipped it on, grateful for the warmth against the chilly air.
As she stepped onto the cold floor of the hall, she asked, "Do you know where we're headed?"
Kitty held a finger to her lips, whispering sharply, "Shh! Keep it down. If you want to get caught, don't drag me into it. And yes, I know the way."
Dawn felt a laugh bubbling up, convinced that no one would hear them since everyone else was asleep. Still, she kept her voice low as she asked, "How do you know where to go? Have you been to his office before?"
Kitty shook her head. "I've never set foot in his office, but remember, I'm a witch. My magic guided me to it."
Dawn nodded, even though her knowledge of magic was limited. They paused in front of a door at the end of the corridor, enveloped by an unsettling silence—no sounds of life, no birds chirping, no footsteps, and the absence of other students echoed around them.
"Here we are," Kitty announced.
With that, she closed her eyes for couple of minutes, prompting a furrowed brow from Dawn. "What are you doing?" she asked, puzzled.
Kitty raised her hands, signaling for silence, then opened her eyes and whispered, "I was just making sure the office is empty."
Dawn remained silent, realizing that Kitty had tapped into her magic once more. She watched as Kitty gently opened the door, the soft creak breaking the stillness of the dark hallway.
They stepped into the dimly lit office, where only a faint glow illuminated the room.