Doggone Academy

Silveryn took me to a storage room.

There, many of her personal possessions were stored—clothing and shoes of a unique style that bore no national identity, furniture pieces of varying shapes, and old magic staffs.

In the corner of a showcase, numerous trophies and medals had been stashed. There were so many that some trophies were just piled atop one another like stacked dishes.

Looking at the engravings on the trophies, there was nothing missing—emblems of the empire, duchies, magical assemblies, knight orders, and trading companies. Just what had Silveryn been doing all her life?

The past of Silveryn lay dormant in that storage room—a significant past it was.

I didn’t know Silveryn’s exact age. All I could tell by appearance was that she looked very young, perhaps in her mid-twenties at best.

Could someone of such young age really have such a list of achievements?

It’s not like she’s using alchemy to suppress aging and is actually a grandmother on the inside, right?

I was absently admiring the storage when Silveryn called me over.

“Come here.”

She was quietly standing, her back to me, holding a sword in a leather scabbard.

As I approached her, she turned around slowly and handed the sword to me.

“Take it.”

I took the sword, turning it this way and that to inspect it. The design was simple and unadorned. It was the size of a one-handed sword and light enough to wield without strain.

By the looks of it, the scabbard and handle showed signs of being used for a long time.

“Did someone use this?”

“Yes. But now, it’s a sword without an owner.”

“Who was the previous owner?”

“My brother.”

“…”

“It’s yours now.”

I gazed silently into Silveryn’s eyes. She, maintaining an impassive face.

Then this would be a keepsake of her brother. Was it really alright for me to use it?

As if reading my mind, Silveryn said,

“It was going to be discarded. Swing it until it breaks without holding back.”

Although Silveryn didn’t seem concerned by it, I felt that it shouldn’t just be carelessly used.

How could one possibly wield such a sword frivolously.

***

Clad in a grey robe, Silveryn stepped out of the manor. A servant waited outside with a horse ready.

As I had suspected, there was only one horse. That meant I would have to ride with Silveryn.

She gestured to me.

“Climb on first.”

“…”

My goal was to acquire enough skill not to be ridiculed at the academy. Looks like I’ll need to learn riding before swordsmanship.

After I mounted the horse, Silveryn followed suit.

She instructed the servant,

“Cancel all outdoor activities today and stay within the protective barrier of the manor.”

“Understood, miss.”

With a shake of the reins, the horse began to move.

We swiftly left the estate grounds. After about thirty minutes of riding, the village became visible. We dismounted near the outskirts of the village. It was my first time seeing this nearby settlement.

Passing through the village entrance, there were too many people for horseback and the road was busy with merchants.

I had imagined the village as a small hamlet, but it was much larger than expected. It seemed to be evolving into a small town.

Leading the horse along, we made our way toward the central path of the village. Peddlers gripping their bundles and the villagers glanced at Silveryn, whispering among themselves.

They didn’t seem to recognize her as a sorceress. It was her unique appearance that garnered such attention.

Silveryn’s above-average height and refined features stood out, and her unusually pale complexion drew the eye from afar.

Due to Silveryn’s arresting presence, I was merely perceived by onlookers as a lackey following a noble lady.

I glanced at Silveryn’s face. Even capturing the gaze of many men, she seemed completely unaware of it.

Her attention was fixed in one direction.

A group of dozens of knights in the center of the village. Only the lord could command such a number of knights.

It appeared the lord had assembled a force here in response to the ghoul sightings.

Silveryn moved towards the knights.

As we approached them, their gazes locked onto Silveryn.

One knight on horseback drew his sword, pointing it towards Silveryn and demanded,

“Who are you? State your identity and affiliation.”

Suddenly, a voice from afar shouted,

“How insolent! What are you doing?”

Everyone’s gaze turned in that direction. There stood a knight with a healthy beard, holding his back straight. He was their commanding officer.

The commander immediately restrained his subordinate and dismounted. He approached Silveryn, kneeled before her with one knee.

“Archmage Silveryn, I am honored to meet you.”

Silveryn extended her hand toward him.

“It’s been a while, Popper.”

Popper kissed the back of her hand, showing his respect.

“I apologize on behalf of my subordinate for his impudence.”

“Do not mind it.”

Hearing Silveryn’s name, all the knights dismounted in unison and knelt on one knee, bowing their heads.

What?

The most surprised here must have been me. I was dumbfounded by the knights’ actions. They were likely nobility themselves, so to see them so abashed before Silveryn felt quite alien.

It was largely because Silveryn had always treated me so informally. An archmage—a person of such high standing was she…?

“Please rise. I would like to leisurely exchange pleasantries, but given the pressing situation, I cannot afford such luxury.”

As the commander stood up, the rest of the knights did likewise.

Silveryn pointed at me and said,

“Oh, this is my apprentice.”

Commander Popper looked at me with a face full of questions.

Simultaneously, the knights’ gazes shifted to me.

I greeted them according to etiquette. I never imagined that the manners I learned at Loreile Hall would come in handy like this.

“I am Damian. I followed my teacher here hoping to be of at least some help against the ghouls.”

This was intimidating. They were nobles, after all. The mention of me being Silveryn’s apprentice had everyone focusing on me—enough to make one’s back break out into a sweat.

Popper then spoke,

“Given that you are the archmage’s apprentice, I expect we could look forward to something, right?”

Expectations? I’m just a teenage boy of little significance.

Silveryn responded,

“Ha, not yet. He doesn’t know much, so do not expect. He’s here to witness and learn from the elders’ actions.”

“He’s about the same age as our youngest here. We brought our junior along too, thinking to give him some experience, but before even starting he’s gotten into trouble, tsk tsk…”

Popper turned his gaze towards the knight who had first drawn his sword and challenged Silveryn. That knight had the youngest-looking face among the group, his expression tensed with nervousness.

The young knight approached Silveryn, kneeling down in front of her.

“My name is Joyce Carol. I sincerely apologize for my behavior.”

“It’s fine. You acted according to protocol. Rise.”

As Joyce stood up shakily, Popper patted his shoulder and said,

“This lad’s planning on entering the academy next year. He’s young, but gifted and excellent at swordsmanship. This subjugation mission will be a valuable experience for him.”

The mention of the academy perked up my ears.

That meant he could become my peer.

“Then Damian is the same age. This young man also comes recommended by me to the academy. It seems you may become peers in the future.”

The words ‘academy recommendation’ triggered a brief exchange of glances between Joyce and me.

Joyce scrutinized me from head to toe, as if assessing a rival. I felt somewhat uncomfortable; his gaze seemed tinged with envy at the mention of a recommendation letter.

Popper went on,

“I see there is much to discuss regarding your apprentice. Let’s postpone that until after the subjugation and start discussing the ghouls.”

The conversation shifted to talk of ghouls.

“Have you located the ghouls?”

Popper stroked his beard before answering,

“Hmmm, not yet. We’ve sent scouts near the southwest windmill and the eastern potato field. The ground in the potato field is soft and there are fewer rocks, which makes it conducive for ghouls to dig and nest, so we’re focusing our search around there.”

One of his subordinates discreetly approached, unfolding a map to show Silveryn. That’s some friendly cooperation.

“Then there’s time until the scouts return. Could we take a look at the initial invasion site?”

“Of course, I shall guide you myself.”

Popper, accompanied by two knights, lead the way.

Following him for about ten minutes, we arrived at a small house made of terracotta.

Two knights who were on guard saluted us upon arrival.

The house was located in the center of the village. It was puzzling how the ghouls managed to not draw attention on their way here given the limited pathways.

As Popper opened the door to the house, the smell of blood hit me even from behind. I covered my nose.

“Ugh.”

Inside, we were welcomed by the corpse of an elderly woman.

“This was the home of a grandmother and her granddaughter. It seems the ghouls broke through the window and attacked.”

Grandmother and granddaughter. That made me think of the bloodied girl brought to Silveryn’s home. Could she be the granddaughter?

If so, that girl might have become an orphan, having lost her sole kin. The thought weighed on me, as it didn’t feel like someone else’s business.

Silveryn commented,

“It seems the ghoul has fled.”

“Right. The villagers came running over when they heard screams, and it ran off,” Popper said.

“Did you pursue it?”

“We did, but the creature was so elusive it disappeared in no time.”

“It might still be hiding in the central village. We need to find it quickly before it rejoins the group.”

I was haunted by the thought of a full swarm of ghouls.

Popper declared,

“We’ll search the village immediately. Hmmm, if the one that fled calls for the rest, it would be a huge problem.”

His face set into a firm, serious expression.

Shortly thereafter, he issued an order to gather his men.

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