Chapter 37: The Half-Runt Puppy
The next morning, the Tactical Magic training grounds were abuzz with activity. Unlike the controlled chaos of the Chaos Magic arena or the structured lessons of Practical Magic, the Tactical area felt like a battlefield. Rows of students sparred with their familiars, magical barriers sparked in the air, and the clang of enchanted weapons echoed off the stone walls.
Ash stood near the edge of the field, watching intently as the more senior Tactical students demonstrated advanced combat spells. His sleek black snake familiar, Shade, coiled tightly around his wrist, its golden eyes watching the scene with quiet calculation.
"Alright, Shade," Ash muttered under his breath. "This is our chance to prove we’ve got what it takes. No holding back."
His determination only grew when the gates to the training grounds opened, and a hush fell over the crowd. A figure stepped through, commanding every pair of eyes in the room.
The woman was tall and broad-shouldered, with a presence that seemed to make the air itself stand still. Her short, steel-gray hair framed a face weathered with age and experience. Deep scars crisscrossed her arms and neck, each one telling a story of battles fought and won. She wore a dark blue cloak fastened with a golden clasp shaped like an eagle, the symbol of Tactical Magic.
This was Councilwoman Valeria Kaine, the leader of Tactical Magic and the Council’s head of War and Peace.
"She’s even more intimidating in person," Ash muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
Shade hissed softly in agreement.
Valeria’s piercing gaze swept over the students as she stepped onto the training field, her boots crunching against the gravel. She carried no staff or wand, but the sheer weight of her presence was more commanding than any spell.
"Listen up," she barked, her voice sharp and clear as a blade. "I am not here to coddle you. I’m not here to tell you how special you are or how much potential you have. I’m here to find the ones who are ready. The ones who can handle what Tactical Magic demands."
Ash straightened, his heart pounding. This was it. His chance to show her what he was made of.
Valeria paced in front of the group, her scarred hands clasped behind her back. "Tactical Magic isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s for those who are willing to fight for what they believe in, to protect what matters, no matter the cost. If you’re looking for glory, you won’t find it here. All you’ll find is hard work, pain, and sacrifice. If that scares you, there’s the door."
No one moved.
"Good," Valeria said with a faint smirk. "Then let’s see what you’ve got."
She gestured toward the training field, where enchanted dummies lined up, their wooden forms glowing faintly with defensive wards. "Step forward. Show me your best shot. Let’s see if you’re worth my time."
Ash didn’t hesitate. He stepped forward, Shade uncoiling from his wrist and slithering to the ground.
"Impressive confidence," Valeria remarked, her tone neutral. "What’s your name, boy?"
"Ash," he said, meeting her gaze.
"Alright, Ash," Valeria said, crossing her arms. "Show me what you’ve got."
Ash nodded, taking a deep breath. He extended his hand, and Shade began to glow faintly as their bond activated. The snake slithered toward the nearest dummy, its body shimmering with dark energy.
"Go, Shade!" Ash commanded.
Shade struck with lightning speed, its body transforming into a blur of shadow. The dummy’s wards flared as the snake’s magic collided with them, but Shade was relentless. It darted around the defenses, striking from multiple angles until the wards finally shattered. With a final lunge, Shade coiled around the dummy and crushed it into splinters.
Ash turned back to Valeria, his chest heaving. He was certain he’d impressed her.
But her expression didn’t change. She studied him for a long moment, her scarred face unreadable.
"Not bad," she said finally. "For a half-runt puppy."
Ash blinked, his confidence deflating. "What?"
"You’ve got some fire in you," Valeria said, her tone as sharp as ever. "But fire alone won’t cut it. You’re reckless. Overconfident. You rely too much on brute force and not enough on strategy."
Ash felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment. "But I—"
"Spare me the excuses," Valeria cut him off. "If you want to impress me, you’ll need to do better than that. Tactical Magic isn’t about showing off. It’s about thinking three steps ahead, about knowing your enemy and adapting to the battlefield. Right now, all I see is a pup trying to play wolf."
Ash clenched his fists, frustration bubbling inside him. "I can do better. Give me another chance."
Valeria raised an eyebrow. "Maybe. But not today. Come back when you’re ready to prove you’ve got more than just bark."
She turned away, addressing the rest of the students. "Who’s next?"
Ash stepped back, his jaw tight. Shade slithered back onto his arm, its golden eyes narrowing as if it, too, was offended by Valeria’s assessment.
He had never felt this useless before.
That evening, Ash sat alone by the lake, tossing stones into the water. Each one skipped once, twice—then sank.
He barely noticed Joy approaching until she sat beside him, stretching out her legs.
"You look like you lost a fight," she remarked.
Ash let out a dry chuckle. "I didn’t even get the chance."
Joy tilted her head, studying him. "So, what happened?"
Ash hesitated, then exhaled sharply. "Valeria thinks I’m reckless. That I just throw power around without strategy. She basically called me a dumb puppy."
Joy didn’t laugh. Instead, she leaned back on her hands, watching the lake. "You know… I used to think magic was about raw power, too. But the strongest witches I’ve ever seen? They weren’t just powerful. They were smart. They adapted."
Ash frowned. "And?"
"And that means you don’t need to be stronger. You need to be smarter. If Valeria wants strategy, then let’s figure out how to give it to her."
He turned to her. "You’re actually offering to help me?"
Joy smirked. "Why not? I like proving people wrong."
Over the next hour, she drilled him with rapid-fire questions about his fighting style. She helped him analyze every mistake, pointing out weaknesses he hadn’t even noticed.
"Shade is fast, but he’s predictable. He always strikes from the front."
"You rely on breaking wards, but what if you redirected them instead?"
"You keep standing still while Shade does all the work. Why not use that to set traps?"
By the time they were done, Ash’s head was spinning, but something inside him had clicked.
"You’re right," he said, a slow grin spreading across his face. "I need to stop fighting like I’m just throwing punches."
Joy stretched, standing up. "Exactly. Now, get some rest. Tomorrow, we’re making sure that ‘half-runt puppy’ turns into a wolf."
Ash watched her go, feeling lighter than he had all day.
He wasn’t done yet. Not by a long shot.
