In The Doghouse

Nokto cut an impressive figure as he walked, bare hind paws smacking against the stone courtyard of the Imperial College. He was tall, easily one of the tallest Diamond Dogs in the city, even dwarfing other members of the Shepherd Breed. His coat was thick and black, nearly as dark as the night sky itself. Wrapped around his form was a bright red robe, trailing down to his knees, the borders lined with a golden inlay, the colors marking him as a member of the graduate class. One massive paw held a long staff of oak, straight until it reached the top, curving around into a knot. Runes and sigils carved into the wood glowed slightly with a white light, giving away the arcane power possessed within them. In his other paw he carried a leather-bound book, the cover bare of any writing or design. The most striking part of him, however, was his eyes, sharp blue things that scanned around as he walked. Nokto radiated class, sophistication and power, the perfect image of a mage.

Then he tripped when one of his toes caught in a crack in the pavement. With a cry of “Shit!” he was sent tumbling forward, releasing his book and staff, the latter clattering against the ground and gaining the attention of all the other students in the courtyard. Nokto landed flat on his stomach, all four limbs splayed out, and his face eating the ground. With a grumble he pulled himself up, his dark coat hiding the raging blush he was sporting. Many of the other students, mostly blue-robed undergrads, were snickering, while the other graduates were openly laughing.

Nokto picked his book and staff up, trying to salvage what dignity he had left. He turned around and glared at the crack that had so foolishly assaulted him. Leveling his left paw towards the crack, the mage channeled power into his body, letting it take form before releasing it. A blue glow leapt from the paw to the crack and, with a slight shuddering of the ground, the crack closed and knit itself, leaving smooth, untarnished cobblestone in place. Satisfied, Nokto turned with a swish of his robes and resumed his dignified walk to the Arcane Arts building.

It was a pleasant walk, despite the embarrassing mishap. The day had been cloudless so far, the sun casting a lovely warmth over the entire college. A constant breeze had been coming down from the mountains for the past few days, and the smell of fragrant wildflowers filled the air, carried by the very same cooling breeze. It was going to be summer soon, and the weather was certainly showing it.

Arcane Arts was visible as soon as one entered the campus; it was the largest building out of all of them, crafted many hundreds of years ago from enormous blocks of basalt into a towering structure. It was mostly square with several small additions that had been added over the years jutting from the sides, their darker colors contrasting with the lighter, sun-bleached stone of the main building, giving away their young age. Row upon row of stained glass windows lined the walls, colorful pictures detailing important events from the Empire’s history or showcasing artistic designs. An incredibly large set of mahogany doors were used as the main entrance, pulled wide open to let in the comfortable air of the day.

Nokto passed through these doors, exchanging friendly greetings with other dogs or giving short bows to professors. A gigantic hall met him, larger than even the Emperor’s throne room. Pillars grew from the floor and shot straight up like great, fossilized trees, joining the vaulted ceiling. The pillars were simple and smooth, polished to a fine sheen. The floor was smooth and very cool, softened from the many thousands of paws that had made their across them for centuries. Chains of griffon forged steel came down from the ceiling like spider webs, their ends attached to lamps large enough to hold ten dogs. Every night they were lit by a simple enchantment, and every morning workers came to replenish the sweet-smelling oil that they burned.

The Shepherd took a right, headed towards a classroom that he was familiar with. It had been one he had sat in during his undergrad years, quill in paw, scribbling down notes while wide, hungry eyes soaked up all the knowledge they could. Today was different, though. Today Nokto Tresbulon wouldn't be sitting and listening, no! Today he would be teaching! Just the thought nearly had him in a fit of giggles. He was the assistant to Professor Sapphire, a short, orange Corgi that was known for his lighthearted demeanor and easygoing teaching style.

When Sapphire had told Nokto that he wouldn't be able to teach due to a royal summons, the Nokto admitted that he had been happier than he should have. He knew it would be his chance to teach, and it was. A dream come true for the scholar. It was an introduction course, sure, but that didn’t matter.

Nokto finally reached the door to the classroom, hardly able to contain his excitement. The dog paused and checked himself over, smoothing down his fur. Wouldn’t want to look like a ragamuffin, now would we? With a dignified air he grabbed the handle with a massive paw, turned it, and entered the room.

Chattering greeted his ears, the thirty some students talking back and forth in low voices, holding conversations about their daily lives or academics. Rows of long, solid yew tables were used as desks, stools tucked underneath. A motley crew of dogs sat at the tables, books open and sheets of parchment lying before them. Most dogs were of the smaller breeds; the larger, stronger breeds didn’t often pursue a career in arcana, while the smaller dogs did. All Diamond Dogs could use magic to a certain extent, and most knew a spell or two, but few ever became full-fledged mages. Most university degrees required a course or two of basic magic classes, whether it is theory or more practical classes, so there were always larger dogs in the introductory courses.

All eyes turned to Nokto, who cleared his throat and set his book on the table and leaned his staff against the wall. He scanned the crowd for a moment before speaking.

“I’m assuming that you heard that Professor Sapphire won’t be teaching today, due to business at the palace, so I’ll be teaching today,” Nokto spoke, opening the book and flipping through the pages. “We’re on chapter fourteen, correct?”

A murmur of yesses left the group of students. Nodding, the temporary instructor turned to the chalkboard and picked up a piece of the powdery stone. With a flourish of his paw he began to write.

***

The lesson lasted an hour and a half, the standard time for most classes. Nokto paced across the length of the chalkboard, eraser in paw, wiping off the notes and diagrams he had written. Students were standing up and leaving, giving polite goodbyes to their friends and temporary teacher. Nokto acknowledged them with a simple nod, too busy going over the lesson in his mind. He was a tad paranoid about whether or not he had done a good job. His thoughts analyzed every detail, from the notes on energy manipulation to whether or not his writing had been legible enough. He was sure that he hadn’t forgotten anything, but brilliant minds have a tendency to fray under the tiniest amount of stress.

Especially if it mean't disappointing a teacher.

Nokto gathered up his book and staff, turning to face the empty classroom. Well, mostly empty. One student was left, an incredibly attractive Golden Retriever bitch, her blue robe tight against her figure. She was leaning against one of the tables, her green eyes half-lidded, giving Nokto a classic seductive stare. The dog recognized her. She was named Embressa; an average student when it came to work ethic and grades.

“Um, may I help you?” Nokto asked.

At first she didn’t say anything, sauntering up to him and sashaying her wide hips, Nokto’s eyes briefly glancing down to take in the view before he caught himself. Embressa must have noticed. Her smile grew wider and she stopped just a few paw lengths away from him, head turned up to his face.

“I very much enjoyed your lesson, Graduate Nokto. You’re a wonderful teacher,” the Retriever said.

Nokto could have sworn that he heard a whoosh of displaced air as his ego suddenly expanded and filled the room. His chest swelled and a stupid grin found its way to his mouth, pearly white teeth lighting up the room.

“Thank you, Undergraduate Embressa. I admit that I was worried about my performance, but I see that it was for naught.”

Embressa’s smile grew even wider. “I’m sure that you perform well at everything you do. And I mean everything.” Her voice lowered in pitch, taking on a sultry tone.

“Not everything. My area of expertise is in elemental manipulation, so I find myself quite lacking when it comes to the finer techniques of magic,” Nokto said, completely oblivious to what the bitch was implying.

Embressa’s smile twitched at the corners of her mouth and shrunk by an inch, but that didn’t stop her. “Now I’ve been having some trouble in class, and I was wondering if you could give me some private lessons.” Her voice was smooth and silky.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t have time for private lessons. I’m busy with my own classes and research. Besides, there are plenty of resources out there to help. I know other students have started study groups, and I hear that a tutoring service is being set up by the university,” said Nokto, completely oblivious to what Embressa was implying.

The Retriever leaned back like she had been struck, but recovered quickly. She lifted a paw and slowly traced a circle on Nokto’s chest. “That may be, but I want you to teach me. You’re ever so clever and smart, and I understood today’s lesson much easier than when Professor Sapphire teaches.”

Nokto looked away, glad that his dark fur hid the blush rising on his cheeks. It was rare for him to receive such compliments. The dog was modest for the most part, and disliked the politics of the Imperial College, where professors and nobles would spend their time currying favor with the Board or trying to rub muzzles with courtiers. He kept out of such things and wasn’t used to the flattery that others used in everyday conversation.

“I’m flattered, really,” Nokto said. “But it wouldn’t be fair to the other students. I’d have to hold tutoring sessions for them as well, and I wouldn’t be able to find the time. Besides, if I showed favor to you, rumors would start up and dogs would think that we were sleeping together or something, and I know neither of us want that to happen.”

Embressa’s calm demeanor changed in an instant. Eyes narrowed and she took several steps back, a growl coming from deep in her throat. A scowl crossed her face. “Is that so? Fine! I see how it is. Though believe me when I say that you’ll regret turning me down.” Her voice was a near snarl. With a swish of her robes she turned and stormed out of the room, slamming the door hard during the exit.

Nokto stood there, dumbfounded. He played back the conversation in his head but couldn’t think of anything that he said that would make Embressa act that way. Shrugging, he packed up his things and headed out the door.

***

“She wanted your dick.”

Granite Rock was a small, cozy pub nestled in the western district of the city, one that Nokto frequented quite often. It was made from cob and had a homey atmosphere. All the patrons knew one another, and everyone was friendly. Smoke drifted through the air like a fog, wafting up from the cigars or pipes of the smoking patrons. Tables and chairs were scattered around the establishment, dogs sitting and chatting with friends or nursing drinks. Some played cards while a few others were engaged in a game of chess, pieces clacking on the board as onlookers watched with some interest. A long bar made from petrified wood served as the counter, nearly as long as the room it was in. A myriad of bottles were stacked on a shelf behind it, filled with wines or the more expensive alcohols. Underneath the bar sat several kegs containing different brews of beer and a few ciders. Small bowls of gemstones lined the counter, all of the salty variety, to encourage customers to buy drinks.

Nokto sat on one of the bar stools, a flagon of beer held in his paw. He had traded his robes for a simple grey tunic and pair of pants. Beside him sat a Weimaraner, his silver coat nearly glowing in the dim light. He swore a set or purple robes with a silver trim, marking him as an illuminator for the college library or the palace.

“I don’t think so, Tor. She really seemed like she wanted me to tutor her.”

Nokto’s friend shook his head with a sigh. “I can’t understand how thick you can be sometimes.” Tor’s western accent was thick when he spoke. “You could be rolling in bitches if you just opened your eyes. And I know for a fact that you’re no stranger to sex.”

“Maybe she was trying to get into my robes, but it would be inappropriate. I’m Sapphire’s assistant, and she’s a student in his class. If Embressa had waited until the end of the semester that would have been perfectly fine,” Nokto said before taking a sip of his beer.

“I’d be careful for a while. Word around the palace is that Embressa comes from the same line as the Dukes of Stonewall, and she has some political pull. You could be fired, and you don’t have very many connections outside of Sapphire.” Tor’s voice was filled with concern.

“My advice would be to find some lonely bitch from a noble line and rut her. Give you some stress relief and gain an ally, even if it’s temporary,” Tor said.

Nokto took a few gulps of the amber colored liquid, emptying the flagon. “I won’t bother with that. Professor Sapphire has been doing some work for the court, so he’s got more influence than you would expect.”

“Oh yeah. I heard about it. Does it have anything to do with those towers that the university set up all over the place?” asked Tor.

Nokto nodded. “They’re ambient magic readers. They record information about the types of magic and the arcane particles floating around in the air. We’ve actually seen an incredibly large increase in the particles that we’ve come to associate with gravity and space, and the increase is only being seen around the city. Other places have their own towers set up, and there are a few just outside the city limits, but they haven’t recorded the same phenomenon. The towers aren’t faulty, so we know whatever is going on, it’s only happening here.”

The Shepard leaned forward and motioned for Tor to do the same. “Keep this a secret, but I think the Emperor is worried about it being some plot by the griffons.”

Tor’s eyes widened and he nearly spit out the ale he was drinking. “You’re not being serious, are you?”

“I’m afraid so. Sapphire is concerned, and there have been whisperings that the griffons have been working on some project involving the magic they learned from the zebra shamans. Zebra magic can be potent when used correctly, and there’s a whole lot we don’t know about it. For all we know, the griffon mages could be casting some form of teleport spell. Next thing you know, this place will be swarming with griffons.”

Nokto’s voice trailed off. He signaled the bartender, an old, grizzled mutt that was cleaning glasses. The dog refilled Nokto’s flagon, the beer sloshing about inside the wooden container.

Tor had a look on his face, eyes closed and mouth scrunched up, the look he always had when he thought about something hard. “I hope that a war doesn’t happen. We’ve had peace with the griffons for over a century, and I don’t know why a war would start now. The Griffon Confederacy doesn’t need any more territory after all they gained in Zebrica, and race relations have been doing fine. There are entire towns filled with griffons on the eastern coast.”

“I don’t know much, but that’s what the Emperor is concerned about. Honestly if a war does occur I’ll sneak out of here with a few books and head north to the Crystal Mountains. Barely anyone lives up there, just a few outposts and the occasional archaeologist looking for any new pony ruins. It would be tough living but I could survive the worst of it. Wait until things cool down then move to some sleepy village somewhere under a new name. Call me a coward, but I’d rather live a nice, comfortable life than die because national leaders are morons.”

“I don’t know what you have to be worried about, Nokto,” Tor said, tapping a claw on the bar. “You’re a mage. You’ll be sitting in a nice, dry tent, waving your staff around and lobbing fireballs while the rest of us have to trudge through mud wearing heavy armor and get impaled on griffon pikes.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that. The griffons have gained more knowledge of magic over the past fifty years, and their mages have increased by exponential numbers. Combine that with the ambient magic in their steel and you would have to have mages on the front lines to counteract attacks.

“Anyway, it’s getting kind of late. I should be heading back,” said Nokto, pushing his stool back and standing, stretching his limbs.

“Come on, dog. Tomorrow’s the weekend, and I know you don’t have any plans. Don’t be an old dam. Stay for a few more drinks,” Tor replied in a pleading tone.

Nokto shook his head. “Sorry, but I’ve got some work that I need to catch up on.”

Both dogs exchanged goodbyes and Nokto set some crowns down on the bar to pay for his drinks. The Shepherd turned and strode through the door out into the street.

It was night, and it was very quiet. No noises were heard except for some raucous laughter coming from the Granite Rock. Stars brilliantly twinkled in the night sky above, though they were dulled compared to those seen out in the countryside. Buildings of stone and stone-based materials lined the streets. Some were businesses and shops, though just as many were homes. Diamond Dog homes were normally built aboveground now, though you could still find entire communities dug into mountains. Those were more common in mining communities. Nokto was the only dog visible on the streets, a lone shadow crisscrossing by brick and stone sentinels.

Right now Nokto was in one of the middle class districts, sandwiched between the mansions of the elite and wealthy and the smaller, poorer abodes of the lower class. Senpaga, the capital city of the Second Diamond Dog Empire, had very few impoverished. It was a bastion of wealth and power, situated snuggly in a mountain valley, between the Jewel River and the Everfree Forest. What had once been a fort surrounded by a small farming settlement grew and grew, becoming the seat of House Forge. They crafted a mighty kingdom, fighting and conquering enemies and absorbing other noble houses until they had successfully conquered all Diamond Dog kingdoms, uniting them into a mighty empire.

Senpaga wasn’t the largest city, but it was the most diverse. Every breed of dog known lived here. There were even a few griffons to be found, and one dragon that was being raised under the care of the Emperor. Museums and theatres took up entire districts, detailing histories and artifacts. Education was mandatory until the age of sixteen, unlike other territories where education wasn’t as relied upon, places where practical skills were king. Senpaga wasn’t a grand city. It wasn’t a gem or a jewel. It was most often compared to a piece of tarnished silver, one that had sat around for too long and was desperately in need of polish.

Nokto yawned and continued walking, taking a shortcut through an alleyway. Bits of refuse littered the ground. Old moldy fruit peels had fermented and gave off a rather ripe smell, stinging the Shepard’s sensitive nose. He quickened his pace, but something stopped him. His head whirled around, nose twitching, ears swiveling, trying to find what had given him pause. An itch was in the back of his mind, and Nokto recognized it. The kind of itch that he only got when he was at the university.

It was magic. Either a powerful spell had been cast here recently, or something was about to be cast. Nokto focused power into his paw, energy crackling in arcs of electricity before forming into an iridescent, blue flame. While he didn’t have his staff he could still pull off a simple hellfire spell, one of the more common techniques used in close combat.

In the darkness of the alley, lit only by a ghostly blue light, a purple spark came from the shadows. Then another. And another. Nokto took a few wary steps back, ready for whatever was about to come. A ball of purple energy shook and writhed in front him, before it flashed and something fell to the ground with a thud.

Nokto approached the spot carefully, a dark form lying on the ground. He lifted his paw until the fire light landed on the thing. The Diamond Dog’s eyes widened. It looked like a zebra. It was too big to be a horse, but the coloration didn’t match the zebras. Instead of stripes of black and white, its coat was lavender. An image of a starburst adorned the flank, but the most surprising thing of all was what sat on the head.

A horn. This thing was a unicorn.

Nokto shook his head. That couldn’t be, could it? Unicorns were ponies, and ponies had been extinct for several thousand years. No evidence ever suggested that they had traveled farther than the Everfree, so why was one here?

Lifting a paw, the dog poked the unicorn in the side, eliciting a mumble. It seemed to be passed clear out, and Nokto figured out why when he took a whiff of the air around it. Alcohol, the familiar, pungent scent, coated the pony.

So an extinct, drunk creature had teleported in the middle of an alley. Now what to do with it? Take it to the college and let them do research? Or the palace? Hard to say how the Emperor would react. He couldn’t just leave the poor thing here.

After a moment of deliberating Nokto snuffed out the hellfire spell and gently picked the unicorn up, who shifted slightly but stayed asleep. Cradling her in his massive arms he turned and walked out of the alley.

“Guess I’ll be having a guest for a while.”