Doggone Academy

The atmosphere grew even tenser.

Damian’s response could be interpreted as disrespectfully trivializing the matter with the Lady. The expressions of the attendants and the guards around her contorted instantly.

Damian was not joking. His eyes, facing the heir to the Duchy, blazed like churning lava. What could be the source of such bravery for a boy who, beyond the label of being Silveryn’s disciple, had nothing?

Vivi expressed her displeasure without reserve.

“Confident yet bordering on arrogant. I expect you to demonstrate skills worthy of your words.”

Even if he were hiding his capabilities, he couldn’t be overwhelmingly superior to the others; he was but a freshman. Even the renowned guards bowed low before Vivi.

Perhaps it was ignorance and immaturity that made him so overly emotional.

Vivi continued.

“I, Vivi Gainax, rightful heir to the throne of Ulyssia and eldest daughter of the Archduke Gainax, hereby employ you, Damian, from this moment. Your body and sword shall serve me, and in turn, I shall entrust my safety to your sword and body. Remember that even as a mercenary, you bear a burden heavier than any knight of the Duchy.”

Vivi stood up.

She walked towards Damian and extended the back of her hand — a part of the contract ritual.

“Press your lips to my hand in a pledge of loyalty and declare your resolve before my eyes.”

Damian looked up at Vivi. A slight, bitter smile formed on his lips as he held her hand and pressed a fervent kiss to it.

Up close, his handsome features were even more pronounced. Silveryn would not have taken him in for pity alone; the witch was no philanthropist.

“Though I am but a lowly and insignificant being, I will fight devotedly for you. Even if fate itself forsakes you, I will be there to rescue you.”

“…”

Her oaths were grandiose, unfitting for her station. As resolute as the last knight of a kingdom. She wanted to test whether he would truly keep his word, but, unfortunately, their journey together was unlikely to face such adversity.

Perhaps Silveryn had seen the boy’s vast potential as a political tool. As this thought crossed her mind, Vivi pulled away her hand somewhat roughly.

“I shall remember your resolve. From today, your body moves for me.”

The contract was sealed.

He would be the one to take on the dirty and thankless tasks in place of his master.

***

“Sit.”

Professor Candinella sat with her legs crossed, pressing her fingertips against her temples as if to soothe a headache.

“…”

“You finally accepted the Lady’s offer after initially declining?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“I still oppose your being dispatched. We’re just at the beginning of the semester, and you, especially, are not in a position to wander off carelessly. Understand?”

“I’m aware.”

“Just the other day, Silveryn was ranting, asking if anything had happened to you. So, I replied that you were ‘doing well’. But how did it escalate to this so quickly?”

So, Silveryn really fell for my careless words.

“I look forward to your continued support.”

“You impudent and ill-mannered fellow. You want me to keep deceiving Silveryn? Have you ever seen her angry?”

“…”

“No, it’s not safe. This mission should never have been agreed upon. The decisions of Eternia take precedence over your wishes. I’ll annul it all, even if it means bringing disgrace upon myself. So, go prepare for your next lesson.”

“It’s okay. I wasn’t safe in Eternia either.”

“Yes, and that’s why the professors left the North and returned here. Eternia is safe now, so just stay put.”

The decision had already been made and could not be reversed.

“I had a prophetic dream.”

“…What?”

“That dream led me to Silveryn and ultimately brought me to Eternia. And recently, my fading prophetic ability seemed to squeeze out its last to show me the future.”

Upon mentioning the prophetic dream, Professor Candinella’s demeanor shifted.

“…But you don’t have any magical abilities. What are you talking about?”

“I must go.”

Professor Candinella’s eyes widened.

“You have nothing to do with magic…no, wait, if it’s about prophetic dreams, then that’s different. Silveryn must know about this. So, just one question. Is it certain? Do you have a concrete plan and future?”

I shook my head.

“There’s nothing I can be sure of.”

Candinella swept her hair back, her face conflicted.

“Honest of you. If you had claimed to have a perfect plan, I would have stopped you. The future always betrays and deceives human expectations. But… I can’t completely ignore it either. That power still has something to say to you, it seems.”

“Are you giving me permission?”

Candinella furrowed her brow and gazed into my eyes. After a moment of silence, she spoke again.

“…Yes, I grant you permission. Sigh, do you need anything or have any requests?”

“There is one thing I need.”

***

Cecil hugged a thick book as she walked through the darkening campus. Classes were over, and all the students should have been in their dormitories by now, so the paths were empty.

Relying on the moonlight to navigate, she noticed a flickering light among the trees, reminiscent of a will-o’-the-wisp. Driven by curiosity, Cecil moved stealthily towards the light.

“…?”

Up close, it turned out to be a bird about the size of a fist.

As it flapped its wings, sparks shot out, indicating it was a spirit. It looked a bit overweight and seemed to struggle with its wingbeats.

The chubby bird worked hard to fly behind a tree to hide.

Cecil cautiously followed and came across Candy hiding behind the tree.

The pudgy spirit had perched on Candy’s hand to catch its breath.

Cecil greeted him with pleasure.

“Let’s make a secret spot just for the two of us. Somewhere quiet, out of sight and soundproof.”

“It would be nice if it were close enough to take you back to the dorm even if you’re drunk.”

Cecil hit Candy’s shoulder with her book.

“I’m never drinking with you again.”

She asserted her point with mild violence and then brushed back her disheveled hair.

“So, why did you suddenly show up?”

“I was just thinking of your he…”

“If you’re about to say you need help, I’m just going to keep going.”

He smoothly changed his tune.

“…The night seems eerie, I’ll walk you to the dorm.”

Cecil laughed lightly.

“Perfect!”

She walked along with Candy, nonchalantly linking arms with him.

He initiated a light conversation.

“You study late.”

“There’s too much to learn for a mage. Especially when a strange friend who asks for difficult favors has been particularly demanding lately.”

“… You’ve befriended a rotten kid. Don’t hang out with that kind.”

“My weakness is my soft heart. If he weren’t so cute, I’d have cut ties already. But what was that sparrow about?”

“My spirit.”

“It looks too fat to fly properly… Are you sure it’s okay? I’ve never seen such a chubby spirit before.”

“I’m planning to make it exercise soon.”

“Just the thought of you training that tiny sparrow is hilarious.”

Before they knew it, they had arrived in front of Witthrush Hall.

“We’re here. Thanks!”

“Go on inside.”

Cecil unlinked their arms and ascended the dorm steps, leaving him behind.

She reached for the doorknob, about to push the door open, but then paused and sighed before turning around.

“Ah, I can’t win. So, what was it that you were asking for?”

“I came to escort you.”

“Are you really going in? Don’t be stubborn, tell me.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Candy spoke.

“… I need the circulatory marestones and the frostwind bombs you’ve been keeping.”

“How many bombs do you need?”

“As many as possible.”

“What are you planning to use them for? Heading to a war or something?”

“They might come in handy when I’m exercising my spirit.”

It was an obvious lie. Cecil narrowed her eyes and glared at him suspiciously, then sighed deeply.

“Candy, do you have any idea how much a single bomb costs? They don’t just magically appear because you want them. And you’re going to waste them on getting your spirit in shape?”

“… Put it on my tab. Charge me interest, too.”

He seemed to be plotting something but had no intention of sharing his plan.

“…Alright. I’ll bring them to you. I don’t know what you’re up to, but don’t get hurt.”

***

I packed up my belongings in Thorns Garden in preparation for the escort mission. Erzebet’s bracelet, a wooden sword, griffin potions, and other recovery potions — anything I could take had to be taken. Being no Master’s class student, merely a combat student, meant I also needed to keep things well-concealed.

I revisited the previous night’s dream for a moment. In it, I had been fleeing with the Lady in my grip, pursued by the very guards of the Lady that I had encountered today.

No matter how much I pondered, it made no sense. Was I kidnapping the Lady? Such a scenario could not possibly arise from the usual flow of events. How twisted had the dream been? Could that scene truly unfold as it did in the dream?

Creak—

While I was deep in thought, the door suddenly opened without a knock. I stopped tidying up and looked towards the door.

Trisha entered, her white hair disheveled, silent as she came in.

She dragged a large pillow along the floor. Had something bad happened? Even her expression was uncharacteristically dark.

“What’s going on?”

“I heard the rumors. You’re going on an escort mission.”

“Yeah, it just turned out that way.”

She approached me and suddenly swung her pillow. The soft cushion struck me.

“…!”

“You! Need! To get scolded! You cause worry like an idiot, don’t listen at all, do strange things alone, leave for afar without a word to your friend, why do you only cause worry in living!”

The pillow was relentlessly striking my body.

After several swings, Trisha dropped the pillow but didn’t stop there. She clenched her fist and began randomly hitting me.

It wasn’t painful due to her lack of strength, but it didn’t sit well with me.

I quickly grabbed her wrists tightly.

Yet, still unappeased, she struggled and flailed.

“Let go! Let go! You need to be hit more!”

“Trisha.”

“I’m the fool for becoming friends with you!”

“Trisha.”

“Let me go! Let go!”

As she realized her efforts were futile, her resistance slowly subsided.

I hurried to soothe her with words.

“…I’ll go learn court cuisine from the Ulyssia Duchy and come back.”

“I don’t want to hang out with you!”

“Okay, just avoid me for about two weeks, and I’ll be back.”

“…”

“I’ll help you practice your script then.”

As her face remained sullen, I made another promise.

“……”

“What do you want to eat?”

Trisha struggled internally before finally speaking.

“……Pumpkin cream cheese pie.”

“I’ll make it in the morning before I go.”

***

The next morning, the Duchy’s attendants waited with a carriage outside the living quarters to meet me. The Lady’s schedule was tight, and I had to rush my preparations in tandem. The longer the delay, the larger the gap in my studies, so it was better to stay busy.

I finished packing my things at Witthrush Hall, including Cecil’s frostwind bombs and circulatory marestones, leaving only one item left.

Descending to the first floor, I stood in front of the central lounge’s fireplace. It was early, and no one else was around.

I held the unopened birthday gift box in one hand. The note with the familiar handwriting saying ‘Happy Birthday’ was still attached.

Memories of the past began to resurface.

These memories no longer brought me any sense of happiness.

Liza and I had been drifting apart for a long time.

We were so distant now that nothing could ever return to the way it was.

Slowly, I tilted my palm towards the fireplace. The little box slid and dropped onto the roaring flames.

It was quickly consumed by fire, contorting in an instant. Soon after, both the box and its contents turned into unrecognizable ash.