On my very first day, Anya's mother confines me to the bedroom, my supper a meager scattering of kibble and a bowl of plain water, though in truth, I deserve a bone with meat clinging to it. As for the ruined wall, she mends it with a swift incantation, 'Fixatio!' The scattered bricks, plaster, and torn wallpaper rise and reassemble, as if nothing has transpired.
I scarcely care what delights this evening might have held, for a dog such as I knows little of savor. Even the kibble I consume without relish, a mere act of survival. And so, I chew the dry pellets, each one containing a viscous filling that eases its passage down my throat, then lap at the cool water when my hunger is sated.
My keen ears, always alert, catch the murmur of voices from beneath the floor. It is likely that the family's dining room lies directly beneath Anya's chamber. I decide to press my ear against the wooden floorboards, closing my eyes. Time passes, an immeasurable stretch of seconds. The sound vanishes; I must have imagined it. Looking up at my new master's bed, I see a soft, cool mattress, the air conditioner mounted on the ceiling maintaining a perfect temperature. My fur, like a garment, shields me from all elements save the sun's scorching heat and the storm's torrential rain. I rub my head against the mattress, nestling close, and drift into slumber.
...
Moments later, my sensitive nose detects warm, rhythmic breaths, reminiscent of my mother's embrace in infancy. A floral scent lulls me into a drowsy peace. But when I open my eyes, it is not my mother I see, but my new master. She holds me in a warm embrace, her soft breaths soothing my spirit.
"Awake already...? Nappo?" A drowsy voice cuts through the air, startling me slightly. "I must have snored quite loudly to wake you like this."
I offer no reply, merely burying my head deeper into the curve of her arm. With her still-developing figure, the flatness of her chest hardly constitutes a violation, or so I tell myself.
"Tell me," She asks, catching me off guard, "you can use magic, can't you?" My breath hitches, but then, she knows I pilfered her wand, a transgression. She lifts my face, our eyes locking in the dimness, hers luminous. "You can speak; I know it. Otherwise, you couldn't have cast spells."
Caught. There's no escaping this.
"I... apologize," I stammer, ears drooping with guilt. "I didn't think I could."
"This is a shock," she says, a smile spreading across her face. "I was only teasing, yet here you are, talking. This is beyond amazing."
I remain silent as Anya brandishes her wand, uttering a spell.
"Ascendio." The wand's tip ignites, a white light banishing the shadows, illuminating the room. My eyes widen, once again awestruck by the magic, even though I wield it myself. Her smile is warm as she rises from the bed, heading towards an old wooden wardrobe. She opens a drawer, rummaging through its contents. "Even a dog that talks and casts spells needs belongings," she muses. "Now, where did I put it...? Ah, found it!"
She holds up another wand, presenting it to me handle-first. "This was my first wand, but I have a new one now. This one is unclaimed. From now on, it's yours, Nappo." Her smile is sincere, and I accept the wand, its handle thick and sturdy. It feels like I'm a wizard, just like Anya. The sweet scent of applewood fills my senses, a subtle sweetness dancing on my tongue. My tongue is not as numb as i thought. "Those dry kibbles must be unappetizing. Tomorrow, I'll find you something better to eat. Now, try saying 'Ascendio'."
It feels awkward to speak with a wand in my mouth, but I'll have to get used to it.
"Ascendio…" I utter the word, and simultaneously, the tip of my wand flares with a brilliant light. The girl, witnessing this, counters with 'Vigna,' extinguishing the glow. "I… I did it!"
"Yes! My clever little mutt!" She swoops in for a hug, affectionately ruffling my fur. Then, her lips brush against my cheek, and a sudden blush sends my heart racing.
"Anya!" The moment of joy shatters as her mother's voice echoes from downstairs. Anya composes herself, muttering a spell to douse the light, before scooping me up to bed. She snuggles her face into my soft belly, feigning snores as her mother enters the room. I feel a chilling aura emanating from behind, and finally, I feign sleep, mimicking the girl.
…
The next morning, Anya rises early. She swiftly bathes and eats breakfast, while I wolf down my bland kibble and tasteless water, as we're both in a rush. She explains that this is her first year at Caronia, the nation's top magic academy, after a long stint at the local school. Though she can cast spells outside school, dangerous enchantments are forbidden until she turns eighteen, at which point the restriction lifts.
My wand is tucked into a leather sheath, a gift from Anya's mother, 'Sola,' who conjured it after last night's wall-breaching incident. She marvels at my magical prowess, a mere corgi, and promises to buy me a wand of my own. But this morning, seeing me wield her old wand and cast a light spell, she's even more delighted. She hugs and swings me around, a stark contrast to her stern demeanor of the night before. I now sport a dark brown leather belt, complete with a matching sheath for my newly acquired wand.
"Please take care of my daughter," the young woman says, lifting me to her eye level. Upon closer inspection, I discern the source of Anya's beauty. It seems I have inadvertently become her bodyguard.
"Yes... mother..." I reply, momentarily stunned by her youth and beauty. An unexpected event unfolds; she pulls me into a tight, affectionate embrace, nearly suffocating me. Her bosom presses against my face, almost causing me to faint.
When Monday morning arrives, the time for school, Anya gathers her belongings into a ring-pouch, requiring the incantation, "Aperla Boza," to open it.
The black ring-pouch emits a faint red glow, creating a dimensional portal large enough to accommodate several large suitcases. Anya instructs me to enter the ring-pouch, deeming travel by broomstick too perilous. Naturally, I comply, eager to avoid danger and relish the prospect of a leisurely journey.
Inside the ring-pouch, an endless dimension reveals, where belongings float weightlessly. It is my first experience of drifting, akin to an astronaut, directionless yet free. However, a sense of dread settles in, knowing I will find no tranquility once the pouch is sealed with a spell. I devise a plan to practice incantations within this realm. Anya's textbook pouch lies nearby, and I open it, retrieving a hardcover book with ancient patterns, its cover titled, 'The Caronian World History.'
"Ugh... I absolutely detest History." I grimace, shoving the textbook back into the pile before grabbing another. 'Magical Mathematics,' 'Science Versus Sorcery,' 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,' 'Basic Potion-Making,' 'Enchantment Charms'... no, wait, this one's it!
Rummaging through my bag, I realize 'Enchantment Charms' is the only volume that truly captivates me.
Flipping to the first page, I encounter the 'Wind Control' spell.
"Wow... the first page and it's already this difficult?" I wince, turning the page to find the 'Doppelganger' spell. My eyes light up. "Hey! It's just like something out of an anime! Let's see, what's the incantation... er... Versato... Corpo... Versato Corpo, huh? A bit long, but not impossible to memorize."
"I apologize, Nappo," Phila suddenly announces out of blue, her voice devoid of its usual cheerful lilt. "The Higher Beings have determined you are capable of mastering magic. My services are no longer required. I am to be extracted from your being and reassigned to another transmigrator."
"Why tell me now? Will I still be able to talk?" I ask, alarmed. "Anya will be devastated if I become a mute dog. What about my skills and levels?"
"Both skills and levels will be lost. However, I am granting you the gift of speech," Phila replies, easing my worries. At least I can still talk and learn magic, despite the loss of my skills and levels. "Farewell. Oh! I almost forgot, without me, learning and casting spells will be more challenging. May you find fortune in the world of magic."
That mischievous girl leaves only those words behind, before dissolving into nothingness. I call out to her for a long time, until I'm certain she's gone, a small pang of resentment gnawing at me for her choosing the most crucial matter as her parting shot.
Is it going to be harder to cast spells from now on?
What a load of rubbish!
I retrieve my wand from its holster, placing it between my lips, and utter the incantation, 'Ascendio.' Just as I expect, a burst of light erupts from the wand's tip, but within moments, it flickers and dies out.
In that instant, I realize... this is bad.
..........
Moments later, Anya descends on her broomstick into the courtyard, before a towering castle that pierces the sky. Instead of dark clouds, the sky is empty, allowing sunlight to flood every corner. Students are dressed in their uniforms: white shirts with black ribbons, short black skirts above the knee and long socks for the girls, while the boys wear black trousers and long black coats that reach their calves.
"Phew! Alright. We're here." The girl traces her wand across the air, murmuring the incantation to unlock the pocket dimension. 'Aperla Boza.' The pocket opens. I step forth, followed by a legion of corgis, dozens strong. They form a rigid line, with me at their head, the wand clenched in my jaws.
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To Be Continue Ep.4