“There’s more,” Alex said, pointing to the next rune. “This one lets you generate a small burst of magical energy—good for distraction or disarming traps.”
Fang activated it, and a faint pulse of green light radiated from the vest. “This is incredible!” he exclaimed, practically bouncing on his paws.
“As long as you want to activate a specific function, all you need to do is direct your magic power into the corresponding rune button,” Alex explained, pointing at the vertical row of glowing symbols etched into the goggles. “The first two runes are for the Tracing Charm and the Echo Spell. Your sense of smell is already excellent, but with these enhancements, your tracking abilities will reach an entirely new level.”
Fang’s ears perked up, and he eagerly followed Alex’s instructions. He directed his magic into the goggles, and the runes activated with a soft hum. His eyes widened as the environment around him transformed. The Echo Spell painted an ethereal overlay of his surroundings, revealing magical energy trails and hidden nuances that were otherwise invisible.
Fang’s mouth fell open in awe. His tongue lolled as he spun in circles, trying to absorb the incredible vision in front of him. For a moment, he looked like a child seeing fireworks for the first time. “Focus, Fang,” Alex said, suppressing a grin. “How does it feel?”
“It’s amazing, my lord!” Fang exclaimed, practically vibrating with excitement. “I could do this all day!”
Alex moved on to the next set of runes. “The next functions are the Disillusionment Charm and the Shield Charm. These provide stealth and protection. However, activating them requires a short but intense burst of magic. It’s more demanding than the previous spells, but you should give it a try.”
Fang, already eager to test the vest’s capabilities, directed his magic power into the designated rune. He gasped as he felt the vest drawing energy from him, but the sensation wasn’t unpleasant—if anything, it felt purposeful. “The vest’s enchantments are designed to let you sense the magic it’s using,” Alex explained. “You should be able to feel how much energy the spells require and how much you’re contributing. It’s a learning process.”
Fang nodded. “I can feel it! The magic is flowing through me, and I know exactly how much it’s pulling. It’s incredible!” With a triumphant bark, he vanished before their eyes.
Alex activated his Echo Spell to monitor Fang. The wolf, now cloaked in invisibility, crouched low and crept toward Wimzy. The enchanted pads on the vest muffled the sound of his movements, making him completely silent. Wimzy, still looking at the spot where Fang had disappeared, remained oblivious. “Boo!” Fang howled playfully as he appeared behind Wimzy, causing her to jump nearly a meter into the air.
“Enough, Fang,” Alex said, rubbing his forehead in exasperation. “The tactical vest isn’t for scaring people.”
“Why not?” Fang tilted his head in genuine confusion. “This is so much fun!”
Alex sighed. “Since you’ve successfully activated the Disillusionment Charm, let’s test the Shield Charm next. Activate both charms simultaneously and start moving. I’ll cast spells at you to see how well you can defend yourself and how the equipment holds up.”
With the Disillusionment and Shield Charms active, Fang took off. He moved like a blur, his black-and-white fur turning into streaks of light as he darted through the clearing. His speed was remarkable, and his enthusiasm was contagious.
Alex raised his wand and fired a Stunning Spell toward Fang. It zipped through the air, heading straight for the wolf’s path. Fang skidded to a halt, his paws digging into the dirt as he changed direction in an instant, narrowly avoiding the spell. “Not bad,” Alex muttered, already casting again. This time, he sent two spells in quick succession—one aimed at Fang’s trajectory, and the other anticipating his dodge.
With a powerful push from his hind legs, Fang leapt a meter into the air, easily clearing the incoming spells. He landed gracefully and picked up speed again. “Let’s see how you handle this,” Alex said, smirking as he fired three more spells. He varied their angles and timing, making them harder to predict.
Fang’s movements became more agile, almost instinctive. He dodged left, leapt right, and even slid under one spell, his reflexes honed from years of survival. It wasn’t until Alex unleashed a flurry of five spells simultaneously—each perfectly timed and aimed—that Fang faltered. One spell struck his vest, activating the Shield Charm.
The shimmering barrier absorbed the impact, and though Fang stumbled slightly, he quickly regained his balance. “Alright, that’s enough for now,” Alex called, lowering his wand. He approached Fang, clipboard in hand, jotting down observations. “Your reaction speed and agility are impressive, especially considering you’re still recovering. With proper training, you’ll be unstoppable.”
Fang panted heavily but grinned, his tail wagging furiously. “That was amazing, my lord! I could do this all day!”
“The next function is the Levitation Rune,” Alex said with a smile, pointing to the fifth rune on Fang’s tactical vest. “It has two applications. First, you can cast it on the vest itself to reduce your weight. This will enhance your speed and flexibility. If you push the magic power to its limit, you might even float. Go ahead, give it a try—activate the fifth rune and focus on yourself.”
“Yes, my lord!” Fang said eagerly, wagging his tail. This tactical vest was already more exciting than any of his usual mischief. Fang fixed his gaze on the fifth rune, channeling his magic as instructed. He closed his eyes, concentrating on the flow of energy. Gradually, he felt his body lighten.
Fang froze midair, his limbs flailing as though swimming in an invisible ocean. His wide-eyed expression of confusion made Alex laugh despite himself. “Woof?” Fang turned to Alex with a goofy look, silently asking, ‘What now?’
Alex was already proficient with the Levitation Charm, but he’d always used it directly on himself. While his advanced version of the charm allowed faster movement than the standard one, it lacked flexibility and speed. Watching Fang’s success gave him a new perspective: applying the Levitation Charm to his equipment instead of directly on his body could reduce weight and allow for enhanced movement.
“If I inscribe the Levitation Rune onto my gear,” Alex muttered to himself, “I could use the charm for weight reduction, then combine it with my extraordinary Levitation Charm to control kinetic energy. That might finally solve the flight issue.”
Satisfied with the idea, Alex made a mental note to test it later. For now, he turned back to Fang, who was gleefully running laps with his new abilities. “Alright, that’s enough playing around,” Alex called. “Save some magic power—we have more tests to run.”
Fang immediately skidded to a stop and trotted back, his tongue hanging out as he panted excitedly. “What’s next, my lord?”
“Next, we’re going to test the Levitation Rune’s second function: casting spells on external objects. Since your claws aren’t suited for fine manipulation, this will allow you to control objects with magic. You’ve already practiced using the rune on yourself, so this should come naturally.”
Alex pointed to a large rock nearby. “Focus on the stone. Use the Levitation Rune to lift it, then try moving it around.”