Foxtails and Fairytales: Facades and Fables of the Phantom Prince

[Arc 7] Ch. 6 Competitive Spirit

Dova

"Normally a charm is a sort of beneficial magic. A soft charm is purely beneficial, but weak and usually equates to a slight improvement in battle prowess. A hard charm utilizes a concept where it applies a negative affect to a less useful area to improve a more useful area. For instance, a common knight may have a hard charm cast on himself that decreases their ability to cast magic in place of resistance to magical attacks." Vlad continued his lecture with a sober voice. "Most people are smart enough to protect against hexes, a type of purely harmful magic, but leave themselves open to charms and beneficial magic. This is where reverse charms are effective. For instance, you create a sacrifice of visibility for a sharp increase of hearing. Then you scream or use loud magic to cause harm and impair them."

"You can't be serious, why would you teach that way of fighting? It's dirty and-" Sable argued.

"-very effective against the undead, beasts, and it's a non-lethal way to subdue humans." Vlad finished her statement. "Using salt as a catalyst only gives you that much more versatility. Charming resources before battle will give you the edge you need to survive. Tonight, we are going to have another lesson on cooking magic. We'll go through a few simple recipes that will change the way you prepare your lunches, rations, and teamwork. To that end I've prepared jars to keep your salt in until then."

Did Vlad really know how to cook?

"Quick, now is your chance- Nyah?" Julie pushed me, but the Nerys girl nearly toppled him over.

"Does this mean you're going to let me cook for you! I already have so many recipes in mind just based on what we talked about. So cool." Nerys cooed and my heart stung as I saw Vlad's face turn red.

"Nyello!" Julie said tugging me along to get their attention. "So many familiar faces. Nyah."

"Professor, I sure hope your cooking is better than your teaching." Sable walked forward to stand by Vlad.

"I think his teaching was just fine." Anger got the better of my embarrassment however I didn't realize it was me who had just spoken until everyone looked at me. When Vlad looked at me his face turned an even deeper shade of red and he immediately looked away. Somehow that filled me with a small amount of pride, and I was a little happy that I allowed Julie to dress me and drag me along.

"D-Dova, I thought you were supposed to stay at the school?" Vlad asked.

"I... well... you see..." I couldn't form words as I got a closer look at Vlad's muscles which had become a lot more defined than I remembered. Were his arms always that big?

"Dova is the new advisor for our club." Julie saved me. "It's the Modern Magus research club."

"That sounds... interesting?" Vlad said with a little hesitation.

"Just don't be surprised if we come to you for an interview sooner or later. Nyah." Julie winked.

That's when Vlad's eyes hardened. "I applaud your cleverness, but I don't believe it would be wise for me to accept an interview. And Professor Perchwell, don't you think your attire is a little too revealing?"

With each word I felt like crawling under a rock.

"Stand up straight!" Nerinin chirped from behind me and I instinctively thrust my chest forward and tilted my head up.