Doggone Academy

Damian stood motionless, holding the gift.

Trisha was no fool. She could sense the turmoil brewing within him, a kind of disturbance that she had never seen before. His eyes were fixed on the present in his hand, but his pupils lacked focus. His expression was numb, neither happy nor sad. His face seemed more like that of someone who had passed away, rigidly holding a gift.

What was this gift, and why was Damian reacting so? Trisha, with her intuition, could not fathom what story lay behind it.

Damian is today your birthday?

There was no response from Damian. Trishas face darkened slightly. She spoke again with a hint of anxiety in her voice.

Who did this?

Then, Damian seemed to snap back to his usual self.

No, it looks like someone left it here by mistake. My birthday has already passed.

His voice was no different from usual, but Trisha could tell. He was lying. His tone, his actions were all the same, yet he seemed like a completely different person than just moments before.

Something imperceptible was clearly twisted.

Remembering the advice of her senior in the drama club to not stir things up further, she decided not to probe any deeper. Touching this subject could leave a permanent scar, irreversibly changing things. That thought terrified Trisha.

Someone must have mistaken the room. Ill leave the gift with the maid.

As if trying to change the subject, Damian opened the door and stepped in.

You wanted to see it, right? Come in.

***

Having gathered his things from Witthrush Hall, Damian and Trisha walked through the mist.

Fortunately, their conversation continued without any awkward pauses.

Trisha, hands clasped behind her back, bounced ahead and then spun around to address Damian.

Were still preparing the first years play, but Im getting better at acting. I might soon get a significant supporting role in the main performance.

You seem to be a natural fit.

Right! The god of drama would have been furious had this talent been wasted.

She then scampered ahead with glee.

Trisha was striving to relieve the emotional burden she sensed in Damian.

Funny experiences, daily occurrences, happenings with people around she poured out many stories, and their atmosphere remained light. Yet, it was not enough. Even looking into each others eyes as they spoke, Damian still seemed far away.

I need to practice more before I can take on a lead role.

I know! Thats why I have a favor to ask you today.

As the mist cleared, Thorns Garden came into view. Trisha stopped in front of the thorny fence.

What is it?

Help me practice the script.

Then, she turned her back to Damian and ran ahead again.

But after a few steps, she stopped. Damian had not moved forward; he remained where he was. Trisha immediately sensed his mind was elsewhere.

Her heart sank.

The thought of something else occupying his heart was irksome. It was like a small thorn embedded in her foot, digging deeper with each step.

Trisha looked back.

Damian stood still, not entering Thorns Garden, remaining in place.

I cant today. Ill be back late so go to sleep first.

Why? What are you going to do?

I have more training to do.

As he spoke, Damian pulled out a mask and placed it over his face. Trisha questioned him, almost accusingly.

You dont usually train at this hour. And

Damian cut off Trishas protest and responded indifferently.

Im whimsical at times. Take care, get some good rest.

And with that, he turned and left. It was clear that his purpose had only been to escort Trisha here, not to stay with her.

Trisha felt a sense of helplessness as she watched him walk away.

***

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the world was bathed in a crimson hue.

Lilith, amidst a session of magical training, had gathered remnants of destroyed Plantara to start a bonfire.

The fire was still too small to provide ample warmth. She cupped her hands to her mouth and blew to kindle the flames, warming her chilled fingers.

Suddenly, a slow-moving Plantara approached Lilith and offered her a skinned rabbit.

You want me to eat this?

The Plantara made no affirmation or denial, merely waiting for Lilith to accept the offering.

She took it with both hands and said,

Dont keep doing this. It makes me feel guilty for destroying you.

The Plantara, having achieved its goal, rose and departed into the forest.

Lilith had noticed a change in the Plantaras behavior lately. She wasnt sure if this was a normal pattern or if they were treating her differently. Occasionally, they seemed to heed her words.

She wondered how to cook the large rabbit and eventually decided to roast it, albeit clumsily.

Im not good at eating this sort of thing

While she was roasting it, a loud noise came from the direction of Grace Mountain.

Boom!

Startled, Lilith turned her head. Birds were scattering into the sky, and a noisy flash of white light flickered in the distance.

The meat burned as she watched transfixed by the scene.

Only when the smell of char reached her did she realize the rabbits surface had blackened.

Abandoning the ruined meal, Lilith focused on the flashing light.

That is

As if enchanted, she stood and walked toward the light.

Her intuition told her she would find someone familiar there.

As she delved deeper into the woods, her heart thumped as if tense.

Soon, she began to stumble upon remains of Plantara, not of her doing. Someone skilled with a sword had been here.

The noise grew louder, resonating like a battlefield filled with fierce combat.

The Plantara remnants were large and thick, indicating she had entered the territory of elite Plantara Scouts, designed for killing, not training.

At last, she came upon the scene of battle. Plantara, twice the height of a normal person, were swarming in one place. The clubs they wielded showed no mercy. With a single gesture from a Plantara, the earth cracked, and trees snapped.

In their midst, a masked man single-handedly faced dozens of Plantara, wielding a shining white sword.

The Plantara charged with relentless force, like a herd of boars, but were mercilessly cut down within the mans reach.

It was like watching a madman. If he had no sword, he looked ready to fight with his hands, or if not those, then with his teeth.

The murderous intent and the overpowering magical pressure emanating from him were so strong that it felt like her heart was being squeezed.

After dispatching all the Plantara, the man paused, gasping for breath.

He was far from unscathed. Blood streamed down his head and arms, but he appeared indifferent to his injuries.

Lilith bit her lip, then, with a resolute decision, spoke up.

Youre bleeding heavily. If you dont tend to those wounds, youll collapse.

The man tightly gripped his sword and turned his back to Lilith, acknowledging neither her presence nor her words.

Was he listening? It felt like facing a wild beast that would attack if she stepped any closer. Fear crept into her.

He walked deeper into the woods, as if starved for more combat.

***

The door to Thorns Garden dormitory swung open violently. Trisha, alerted by the sound, cautiously descended the stairs and peeked over the banister to the first floor.

Then, she gasped in shock.

Damian!!

He lay sprawled in front of the entrance, covered in blood.

Trisha rushed down the stairs and hurriedly checked over Damians body.

Damian, Damian, what happened to you?

He was unconscious. His clothes were torn in several places, and wounds covered his body. He had pushed himself to the brink of death under the guise of training.

She knew she had to move him to his room.

Overcome with sudden anger, she shouted,

Damian is the stupidest person in the world!

Trisha tried to lift his upper body but lacked the strength, so she changed tactics and pulled at his arm.

Damian was limp like a corpse, being dragged by one arm, leaving a long trail of blood behind.

His body was as cold as ice. She had to check if he was still breathing.

In a fit of rage, Trisha vented her frustrations at the unconscious Damian.

Damian really needs a scolding!

She managed to move him to his room and quickly gathered emergency potions. She administered them haphazardly, desperate to address his wounds.

***

He was running with someones hand in his, fleeing towards higher ground, pursued and overwhelmed. Fireballs whizzed past, their heat feeling almost tangible, a dizzying sensation.

He looked back while running. Knights in silvery armor, magicians in white robes were chasing them.

Strangely, the pursuers didnt feel like people.

He was fleeing up a hill with someone.

And then they reached the edge of a cliff, with a river flowing far below.

Finding themselves at a dead end, Damian positioned the person behind him and faced the approaching foes, sword drawn.

The knights and magicians formed a semi-circle, steadily closing in with each step.

A cutting wind blew, and the hair of the person behind him brushed against Damian. It was long and fine. A woman.

And then, he realized something was off about the entire situation.

Damian became aware that he was in a scene from a dream.

The hazy dreams he faced every night were now clear and vivid before him.

Knowing it was all a dream, he turned away from the imminent threat to look at the woman behind him.

A beautiful woman stood there.

The sensation was akin to having a prophetic dream.

The problem was, the face before him was one he had never seen in real life.

Suddenly, the dream collapsed.

Reality seeped back in, and Damian awoke with his palms sweaty from tension.

He found himself lying in a bed in the Thorns Garden dormitory, with diffused sunlight streaming through the mist outside the window.

He had no recollection of the previous nights return to the dormitory.

He felt a heavy sensation on his stomach and slightly raised his head to see.

Trisha was asleep beside the bed, her head resting on his stomach.

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