Chapter 21 Good Babies

Sydnia Schwartz had taken it upon herself to make numerous architectural alterations to the original dorm space provided by the academy. Luxurious tapestries adorned the walls, and intricate crystal chandeliers bathed her room in a soft, warm glow.

As she stood amidst the opulent furnishings, a knock on her door interrupted her thoughts. With a swift wave of her hand, the door swung open to reveal her sister, Rosenia Schwartz, a paragon of nobility and grace. Rosenia's presence alone seemed to elevate the room's aura, contrasting sharply with the extravagant decor.

"Sydnia, we need to talk," Rosenia began, her voice measured and composed.

Sydnia, on the other hand, was anything but composed. She met her sister's gaze with a stubborn and petulant expression. "What is it now, Rosenia?"

Rosenia sighed softly, her demeanor unwavering in the face of Sydnia's behavior. "Sydnia, I heard of your behavior in the cafeteria earlier. You have a penchant for dragging our family's name through the mud with these senseless rivalries."

Sydnia huffed in response, her eyes flaring with defiance. "I'm simply exercising the power and influence that comes with being a duke's daughter, Rosenia."

Rosenia remained firm. "And as a duke's daughter, you should know that your place is not in seeking attention or creating petty conflicts. Our family's legacy demands nobility and grace."

Sydnia's frustration bubbled to the surface, her voice taking on a more childlike tone. "You're always so serious, Rosenia! It's like you've forgotten how to have fun!"

Rosenia couldn't help but shake her head at her sister's immaturity. "This isn't about fun, Sydnia. It's about honor and dignity. You're like a child throwing tantrums."

The mention of honor and dignity only seemed to fuel Sydnia's defiance. She crossed her arms and glared at her sister. "Well, I won't back down, Rosenia. I have plans to teach that dog-water mage a lesson. She dared to challenge me in front of everyone!"

Rosenia's expression remained unchanged as she revealed her own actions. "I've already taken matters into my own hands, Sydnia. I've gone to the headmaster and issued a formal duel against the red-haired mage who challenged you first."

Sydnia's eyes widened with surprise and then narrowed with anger. "You did what?"

Rosenia's response was steady and unwavering. "I believe it's time for you to learn a lesson as well, Sydnia, one in humility and responsibility."

"B-but," Sydnia trembled, "I had it under control! You always take the spotlight like this!"

"What are you talking about?" Rosenia's eyes seemed to look down at Sydnia. "Spotlight? You want to be humiliated further in front of the other students? As if your actions weren't enough."

"I'm not trying to–"

"Stop," Rosenia demanded. A grave chill was cast in the entire room with Rosenia's magic spilling from a single spoken word. "Stop giving excuses. You should instead be quiet and learn how to control yourself. I won't be around all the time to answer for your mistakes!"

As Rosenia turned and left the room, her footsteps echoing down the opulent corridor, Sydnia was left alone amidst the luxurious surroundings. A storm of conflicting emotions raged within her, and she couldn't contain the turmoil any longer.

With a furious scream, she sent a vase hurtling across the room. It shattered against the wall, its porcelain pieces scattering like her frayed patience. Sydnia paced back and forth, her steps erratic and angry, as if the very walls of the room had conspired against her.

But it was not the room or its decor that was her true source of frustration; it was the nagging sense that she was being controlled, her actions dictated by the expectations of her noble heritage. Sydnia refused to accept the idea that her every move should be guided by the concept of nobility.

She clenched her fists, her knuckles white with the force of her emotions. "This is my life," she seethed to herself, her voice dripping with stubborn defiance. "I won't let anyone dictate how I should live it."

Mira Voglio woke up with determination in her heart. Her room, unlike some of the opulent dormitories in the academy, was adorned with practicality. A simple wooden bed, a sturdy oak desk cluttered with books and notes, and a small window that allowed a stream of morning light to seep in, casting a warm glow across the room. However, what set her room apart from the rest was the presence of ten dogs peacefully nestled around her. Some sprawled out on the floor, while others shared her bed. Some dogs were small while others were large, as big as Mira herself.

Each morning began the same way for Mira. She would rise with the sun, her movement causing the dogs to stir and wag their tails in greeting. She would groom them, her nimble fingers expertly brushing through fur, and then lead them to the training yard for exercises. Afterward, she would ensure they were well-fed, their tails wagging appreciatively as they devoured their meals.

As an aspiring mage specializing in fauna magic, Mira knew the importance of maintaining a strong bond with her loyal companions. Their trust in her was unwavering, and in return, she could summon their presence when needed, forming a magical connection that transcended the boundaries between mage and animal.

One by one, her canine friends followed her out of the dormitory, trotting beside her as they made their way through the bustling corridors of the academy. Mira's heart swelled with affection for her furry companions, and she couldn't help but smile as she patted each of their heads.

"Good babies!" Mira cooed, "Such strong and good babies, you are!"

In the courtyard, she oversaw their exercises, guiding them through agility training and obedience drills. Her magical affinity with animals allowed her to communicate with them effortlessly, and the dogs responded to her commands with enthusiasm.

After the training session, Mira left her furry companions in the capable hands of the academy's caretakers and headed to her classes. As she walked through the hallowed halls, she couldn't help but notice Rohan Humboldt, who always seemed to be lost in thought. Lately, she had found herself stealing glances at him, her perception of his features slowly changing.

The morning lessons passed as usual, with Mira diligently taking notes and participating in class discussions. She was a studious student, eager to learn and excel in her studies. After all, not every child had a chance to enroll in such a prestigious academy.

Her bond with animals extended beyond her dogs, and she was keen to explore the depths of fauna magic.

During a break between classes, Mira retreated to her dormitory to write a letter to her father, Baron Geoffrey Voglio. In her letters, she shared the happenings of her life at the academy, her progress in magic, and the friendships she was forging. Her father, who had served alongside Marquis Aldric in the military campaign, had always been supportive of her dreams and ambitions along with her older brother.

Then came the afternoon, the designated time for the duel that had been arranged. 

Mira, along with a gathering of students, made her way to the testing grounds. Her heart felt like it would burst from her chest, but she couldn't spot Sydnia Schwartz anywhere among the crowd. Doubt began to creep in, and she wondered if Sydnia would show up at all.

As the minutes ticked by, Mira maintained her composure, her dogs sitting in a neat row beside her. 

"Are you so excited to be defeated, dog water?" She could recognize that awful lilted voice anywhere. "I see you've brought those ghastly beasts," Sydnia spoke, her haughtiness knowing no bounds.

Mira had often questioned her own magic affinity, wondering whether she was a mage or simply a talented dog trainer. However, she knew there was something different about the dogs she had raised. They were faster, stronger, and smarter than ordinary dogs, and they looked to Mira for her commands.

With a resigned sigh, she muttered, "Let's just get this over with."

Rohan, who sat on the outskirts of the training field, observed Mira, who was surrounded by five hounds. He examined the animals through his mana-attuned eyes, a skill he had acquired in his previous life. Something about them struck him as amusing. Their mana resonated at the same wavelength as Mira's, almost as if she had gathered five other novice mages who were as skilled as she was.

"That's not fair," Rohan smirked to himself. Dragon mages like him could only summon one dragon in their lifetime. However, dragons were distinct living creatures from another parallel plane of existence, and their mana wasn't shared with the summoning mage. They did, however, lend some of their abilities to the mage.

Meanwhile, Sydnia took her position ten steps away from Mira. In her hand, she held an ornate staff, which Rohan recognized immediately. He used his mana-attuned vision to examine the staff itself.

I knew it, he thought to himself. 

Her mana is so poor that she needs extra help from a legacy-class enchanted artifact. Money really can buy anything.

Rohan realized that the two mages about to engage in this duel were polar opposites of each other. Mira possessed an abundance of mana, but her magical output was smaller and more subtle, spread out among her hounds. On the other hand, Sydnia had a laughably small mana reserve, but her magical output was immense, compensating for her lack of inherent magical power.