Noel didn't move. The word still echoed inside his skull—clear, warm, and impossible.
'Hello, Dad.'
He stared down at Noir, whose tail flicked lazily against the wooden floor. Her mouth hadn't moved, but he'd heard it. Not with his ears—inside his head.
He blinked once. Twice. Then whispered, "Did… did you just talk?"
The little wolf tilted her head. Yes.
Noel froze again. His heartbeat stuttered once, then picked up double-time. "Okay… good. Fantastic. I'm going insane."
'You're not,' Noir replied, the voice steady but oddly familiar—low, composed, laced with faint sarcasm.
She sounded like… him.
He rubbed his temples. "Great. Now my familiar's got my tone too."
'I've had it for a while,' she said simply, tail swishing. 'You just never noticed.'
Noel exhaled, half laughing, half dazed. "You can't just drop that like it's normal! How are you even—talking? You didn't have this ability before."
