(The Contract between Night Eye and Iron Claw)#MEME
Chapter Two: The Secret of the Day and Night Wheel
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Act One: The Past of the Bookstore Owner
Amber nimbly leaped onto the wooden sign of 'Worry-Free Bookstore', her tail elegantly curled around her claw. The street was deserted in the late night, with only the wind chimes ringing softly in the breeze. She squinted her silver-glowing eyes at the owner—**Mr. Lin**—who was busy polishing an antique pocket watch.
"You knew all along, didn't you?" Amber's voice was not as lazy as usual, but carried a hint of questioning.
Mr. Lin paused, sighed. The cover of the pocket watch popped open, and inside was not a pointer, but a moonstone engraved with a cat's paw print.
"Thirty years ago, I also had a 'partner'." His gaze drifted towards the repair shop, and he murmured, "But warriors of the Solarian Hound clan... should not trust easily."
At this moment, the iron claw stepped out from the shadows, ears perked up: "Are you talking about 'Gray Flame'?"
Mr. Lin's pupils slightly contracted, and the pocket watch in his hand almost fell.
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Act Two: The Secret Beneath the Repair Shop
A-Tuo always felt something strange about the storage room in the repair shop—every time he approached the rusty iron door, the iron claw would suddenly appear, dragging him away by his pant leg. Tonight, he finally couldn't hold back his curiosity and secretly pried open the lock while the iron claw and Amber were away.
Behind the door was not a pile of parts, but a spiral staircase leading downward. The walls were engraved with burning claw marks and shimmering cat-eye symbols. At the deepest point, a massive **'Day and Night Wheel'** floated in mid-air—half of it was a blazing golden flame, and the other half was flowing silver moonlight.
"What is this...?" A-Tuo reached out to touch it, suddenly—
"**Don't move!**" Amber sprang out from behind him, her tail fluffed up, and the silver glow surged.
The iron claw directly slammed into A-Tuo, growling: "This wheel is the key to sealing the dark realm! If humans touch it carelessly, the balance will be broken!"
At that moment, the flames on the wheel suddenly shook violently, and the silver moonlight was eroded by some black substance...
"Oh no, the Shadow Shaper has found this place." Amber's whiskers trembled.
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Act Three: The Truth of Gray Flame
Mr. Lin finally arrived, the moonstone in his pocket watch emitting a faint glow. He stared at the wheel and murmured, "Thirty years ago, my guardian partner 'Gray Flame' - a Solarian Hound - chose to sacrifice itself to seal the rift because the wheel went out of control."
The iron claw's ears drooped: "Gray Flame... is my father."
Amber looked at him in shock: "So that's why you came to this repair shop?"
The iron claw was silent for a moment before nodding: "I inherited his flame, but... I never thought I would meet a new moonshadow partner."
The vibrations of the wheel became increasingly intense, and black viscous liquid seeped from the cracks, coalescing into several Shadow Shapers.
"There's no time to reminisce!" Amber jumped onto A-Tuo's shoulder, "Human, this time you have to help!"
The iron claw grinned, its teeth igniting with golden flames: "Are you ready to witness the true 'Guardian'?"
(**Chapter Three Preview: A-Tuo accidentally triggers the power of the wheel, awakening the ability to 'Listen to All Things'; and the true form of the Shadow Shaper leader 'Dream Eater' is surprisingly related to Mr. Lin's past...**)
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Highlights of this Chapter
1. The Grievances Between Cats and Dogs—reveals the tragedy of the previous generation of guardians, hinting at the fate connection between the iron claw and Amber.
2. The Setting of the Day and Night Wheel—symbolizes the power balance between the cat and dog clans and is crucial for sealing the dark realm.
3. The Importance of Human Characters—A-Tuo is not a bystander, but is about to awaken special abilities and become a key figure.