Poop Mage: Manure Mysteries

The dust from Bob's Poo-nado finally began to settle, leaving a thick, revolting haze that clung to everything. Through it, Bob could see Vrog, the once-fearsome orc, stumbling backward, his decayed armor hanging in tatters, and his eyes dull. Vrog's decay aura sputtered like a dying flame, weakened by Bob's relentless blasts and the two valiant Crap Golems still swinging their gooey fists.

And then, like he'd been waiting for his cue, Gabriel made his dramatic entrance. His shining armor gleamed, reflecting the sunlight so brightly that it practically screamed hero. Sword raised, Gabriel galloped forward on his pristine white horse, looking every bit the part of a knight in a storybook. He took one look at the disheveled, defeated Vrog and, without missing a beat, let out a triumphant yell.

"For justice!" he bellowed, his voice echoing over the courtyard. He charged at Vrog, sword raised high, and plunged it into Vrog's side with a resounding thud. Vrog let out a final groan, his decayed body finally giving in, collapsing into a pile of muck and rot.

A cheer rose from the students, their tired faces lighting up with relief and awe. Gabriel stood tall over Vrog's fallen form, basking in the praise. He raised his sword to the sky, face glowing with pride. "Evil has been vanquished!" he declared, his voice booming. "The academy is safe!"

Bob, crouched behind a shattered statue, stifled a sigh. The last wisps of his Poo-nado spun lazily around him, unnoticed by anyone, as he watched Gabriel stand there, gleaming and soaking in the glory. "Sure, buddy," Bob muttered under his breath, rolling his eyes. "You did all the work."

He knew he'd been the one who'd fought Vrog tooth and nail. His magic had held the orc back, bit by bit, while Gabriel had been busy grandstanding. But as he looked out at the cheering students, Bob couldn't help but feel a tiny spark of something unusual—a strange satisfaction. Watching the students rally around Gabriel, their faces full of hope, Bob thought, Maybe... maybe there's room for my kind of magic here too, even if no one knows it was me.

Bob leaned back against the rubble, a small, tired smile tugging at his lips.

The dust continued to settle, revealing a battlefield littered with puddles of muck, groaning students, and the remnants of Vrog's decayed forces. Several students huddled together, exchanging murmurs as they glanced over at Bob, still slightly grimy and disheveled. "Hey," one student whispered, nudging his friend. "That weird tornado thing… wasn't that him?"

The friend nodded, glancing between Gabriel's shining armor and Bob's mucky robes. "Yeah, I think so. But Gabriel took down that massive orc, didn't he?" The two shrugged, clearly unsure how to fit "Bob the Poo-nado" into the heroic tale of the academy's defense.

Not far off, Frank and Cooper lay stretched out on makeshift stretchers as priests of the White Order moved between the students, casting healing spells with a warm, glowing light. The bruises and scratches on Frank's face faded as a healer's spell worked its magic. Frank, looking up through half-lidded eyes, spotted Bob and managed a weak thumbs-up. "Nice work… Bob," he mumbled, his smile fading as he slumped back onto the pillow, exhaustion taking over.

Next to him, Cooper's bandaged arm hung in a sling, and his face lit up with a pained grin as he saw Bob. "Told you, Pooper—you've got moves!" he called out, managing a small laugh. "Just… next time, a little less mess, yeah?" The two priests tending to them exchanged a glance, looking thoroughly horrified but doing their best to keep a neutral expression as they healed the battered students.

Meanwhile, Gabriel stood in front of the crowd, sword raised high, basking in the cheers of the students who were now gathered around him. His armor shone in the late afternoon sun, making him look every bit the hero he clearly thought he was. "Evil has been vanquished!" he declared once more, pausing to let the applause swell. His voice was warm, his stance strong, as if he'd single-handedly fought off every last creature.

Bob sighed, his shoulders slumping as he looked around, realizing that, as usual, most eyes were on Gabriel. "Story of my life," he muttered, half-smiling. He watched the students rally around the knight, feeling a weird mix of pride and resignation. As the cheer rose louder, he straightened a bit, his own small victory hidden beneath layers of muck.

As the crowd's attention gradually drifted, Bob took a deep breath and shuffled over to Gabriel, trying to keep his tone steady. "So... do you know where Merlin is?" he asked, scratching the back of his head. "I was actually, uh, kind of looking for him."

Gabriel turned to Bob with mild surprise, eyebrows raised as if noticing him for the first time. "Ah, Merlin," he said with a nod. "Indeed, we received a distress message from him. It seems he foresaw this trouble brewing and requested aid from the White Order."

Gabriel straightened, his expression serious. "I am personally heading out to assist him, and I welcome any who wish to join in this noble mission." He looked at Bob as if assessing him. "You're welcome to join, if you feel… up to the task."

Bob perked up slightly, a twinge of relief mixed with nerves buzzing in his stomach. "I'm coming with you," he said quickly, trying not to let his voice waver. He looked down at his muck-covered hands, his heart pounding, but he tried to mask his nerves with a determined nod.

Gabriel clapped him on the shoulder, oblivious to Bob's apprehension. "Good man," he said heartily. "Your... unique skills could be of use."

As Gabriel turned back to address the students, Bob glanced at the two fading Crap Golems beside him, their small, crumbly forms giving him a ghostly thumbs-up before they vanished back into the ground. He swallowed, feeling a strange sense of pride and doubt swirling together. For once, he began to consider that his magic—messy and embarrassing as it was—might actually have some purpose beyond disaster.

Maybe there's more to this magic than I thought, he mused, his fingers still tingling from the spells.