After the Spar
“Puppy, are you okay?!”
The moment I detonated her spell with Rush.
Aria startled, called off the spar, and rushed over to me.
“No injuries, right? Hmm?”
She hoisted up the arm I’d used to burst the spell.
Grabbed my cheeks to inspect my face.
Then ran her hands over my body to check my condition…
“He’s fine.”
…As if he’d be hurt.
I’d caught her spells plenty of times during training, hadn’t I?
Sure, this fireball was a bit bigger than usual, but blocking it was no sweat.
“Heavens, you two get along so well.”
Thera teased lightly, watching Aria fret over me.
“My puppy can’t get hurt…”
“It’d take more than that.”
I’m built tough, after all.
Honestly, if I’d layered Guard a little thicker, I could’ve tanked it barehanded.
“Um… are you alright?”
Serina, still stunned from my Rush block, approached with concern.
Her demeanor had grown a touch more cautious.
…Unintentionally jacked up my value here.
This damn talent of mine.
Fleet in that split-second pinch, then flawless Rush on top.
But more than that…
I clenched and unclenched the hand that had burst the spell, reliving the moment.
…That hand feel was killer.
Popping an energy blob like that?
Nothing like bursting a balloon or bubble wrap—on a whole other level.
“Blocked it more perfectly than I expected?”
Thera sauntered over again, tilting my chin up.
Sheesh, I’m the only one actually blocking spells with Aura, and here she is just poking around.
A bit irked, I grumbled inwardly, but then—
A faint, invisible energy flowed from my chin into Thera.
“Wasted mana for nothing?”
“…You shielded me?”
…When did she cast a barrier on me?
So delicately done, I hadn’t even noticed.
“Of course? Imagine the tantrum if Aria’s puppy got hurt.”
“Ah, yes.”
Sneaky witch.
That explained the constant prodding.
She’d been layering it bit by bit, testing my reactions without tipping her hand.
“Anyway, how was sparring each other?”
Setting that aside, Thera asked the two who’d dueled.
“Hmm…”
“Honestly, it was fun.”
Come to think of it, that was their first bout?
Without the interruption midway, it probably would’ve been a fierce clash.
Their skills looked evenly matched to me.
“Right? Sparring folks at your level is the best for fun and growth.”
I got that feeling.
I’d crossed blades endlessly with Aria’s guards, Caiden and Deron.
You sharpen fastest clashing hard against equals.
“Shame, though—both my pupils, so similar affinities.”
“No other-affinity mages in the capital?”
“None your age. The bigshots won’t spar anyway.”
Body all good now.
I sat nearby, eavesdropping as Thera chatted with her students.
Hmm, looks like no other young mage talents around Aria’s age in the kingdom.
And magic’s picky about affinities, apparently.
Back at the estate, I mostly hung with sweaty knights.
Eavesdropping on perfume-scented mages? A rare treat.
“Sparring knights works too… but glad that’s sorted.”
“Any knights who’d spar with us?”
“Not knights, but he’s right here?”
But then.
I’d wanted to stay a fly on the wall, but suddenly I was the topic.
“Oh, right.”
“A well-behaved Aura user your age is rare.”
“…I don’t behave.”
What, do they think I’m some mutt?
Hey, I’m Boyd house’s loyal hound.
I only heed Rowell or the missy.
“Puppy’ll spar?”
“…I’ll do it.”
…But.
If the missy asks, no choice.
“Good. Sparring a mage at your level’ll be great experience for you too, puppy.”
“Yes…”
Frankly.
Dead honestly.
Their realms were high for their age, but against me? Hard to say.
I’m a proper Intermediate Aura user, plus Boyd secrets in my arsenal.
But…
“Please take care of us.”
Thera and Serina wouldn’t know that yet, so I just nodded like it was fine.
“Alright, next time you visit, let’s do it.”
“…Not today?”
That surprised me a bit.
I figured right away.
“Look at ‘em—out of mana by now?”
“Ah.”
“Mages burn through it fast, unlike knights. Inexperienced ones, even more so.”
…Fair point.
Most Aura users enhance their bodies routinely, saving techniques for big moments.
Mages? Every spell guzzles mana hard.
No all-day spars like with knights.
“Sparring’s done, so class dismissed for today.”
“Ended quick?”
“Still, you gained more than most days.”
And with that, time for the guests to head out.
“Bye, Serina.”
“See you next time.”
Aria and Serina seemed to have warmed up a bit.
Finally, a friend for the missy?
She’d always been alone at the estate—must’ve been lonely deep down.
Same mage interests, close in age; perfect match.
“Must be disappointing, though.”
“Huh? Why?”
Just as we shared a heartwarming farewell.
Serina dropped a pitying line to Aria.
“You seem so close with your puppy. Won’t you miss him tons at magic school?”
“Huh? Can’t I bring him?”
“No? Pets aren’t allowed.”
The most shocked by Serina’s words?
Me, not anyone else.
…Magic school?
Is our missy school-age already?
News to me.
**
The Royal Magic Academy.
The kingdom’s sole magic school, founded with Astel backing and royal funds.
Exaggeration to say every key mage in Adel comes from there.
And Aria’s enrollment there was on the horizon.
To me? Sounded like a boon.
Prime no-mark training chance, right?
No, wait.
If Aria goes, do Deron and Caiden tag along as guards?
Then fewer Aura spar partners—could cramp my style.
Mulling how to train sans missy at the estate.
“No way!”
Aria’s voice rang out, arguing with Rowell.
“I’m taking puppy!”
“Miss, the Royal Magic Academy forbids pets.”
Since Serina left, she’d been at it nonstop with Rowell.
Guess she hadn’t fathomed leaving me behind.
“Register him as staff!”
“When you call him ‘puppy,’ now this?”
“Puppy can be staff! Make him a service dog!”
Rowell seemed to think I’m better off here.
Aria? Dead set on dragging me along, logic be damned.
“Hold on, sorry to interrupt.”
As they bickered fiercely.
Thera, who’d been watching Aria’s meltdown, spoke up—escalating past academy to empire.
“Aria needs imperial exchange. I’ve told you repeatedly.”
“The master opposes that strongly.”
“I’ll convince him. The academy can’t nurture her talent.”
“It has fine instructors…”
“Please. If it’s so fine, why’s Serina studying under me? Her family runs the place.”
“…Sigh, true.”
An imperial school too, huh.
The continent’s superpower—education on another level, naturally.
“No studying abroad!”
Well, Aria hated anywhere, it seemed.
Still, empire’d be good for her.
Most advanced metropolis around.
Broaden her horizons there.
“No puppy, I go nowhere!”
But ignoring my deeper thoughts, Aria kept throwing fits before Rowell and Thera.
“P-Puppy’ll be lonely without me too?”
Now dragging me into it.
“R-Right?”
She hugged my neck, looking all pitiful…
Honestly, I felt nothing much.
Not forever, right? She’d return eventually.
Empire aside, the capital academy’s close anyway.
“…I’ll follow your lead, miss.”
But.
Saying that here’d crush her, so I sided mildly.
My take doesn’t matter anyway?
Pick the less-hated side—easier.
“See? Puppy wants to go too!”
“Aria, look at his face. That dog’d be fine anywhere.”
“…Huh? Puppy?”
Oh no.
That crazy mage.
Aria eyed me like really?
…Sadly, no talent for face-acting.
“Even you! Waaah!”
In the end.
Tears we hadn’t seen since puberty hit— she clung tighter, sobbing.
“I fed you! Housed you! Trained you—everything!”
“…Miss, your dress is getting soaked.”
When’d she last bawl like this?
Since early teen moodiness, not once—feeling her tears dampen my fur, nostalgia welled up.
This the parent vibe?
Just a year ago, this was daily.
Lately prickly—kinda missed it.
“Waaah!”
…Shoot, she’s serious, and here I am spacing out.
“Don’t take it too hard, miss.”
“Why? You’ll come?”
“Weekends exist.”
“Waaah!! I’m not going!”
She rampaged all day.
But finally.
“Uwaaah… puppy…”
Eyes puffy from crying nonstop in the doghouse, she accepted it.
“I’ll visit lots… don’t go anywhere…”
“…Understood.”
And so.
Aria’s magic school path was set.
…Laughable, really—the Royal Magic Academy was under twenty minutes by carriage from our capital estate.