Even as mouthpieces, there were different levels of skill.
Zander found it hard enough just to repeat the Archmage's words in his mind, let alone get the tone and expression right.
Bruce, on the other hand, was practically a born actor.
Not only did he deliver the lines with vivid expression, he accompanied them with exaggerated gestures and even improvised a few extra flourishes of his own.
He looked so practiced at it, almost as if... almost as if he did this sort of thing all the time.
Zander wisely chose to keep his mouth shut and take half a step back, leaving the spotlight entirely to the dog, who was currently "shining bright."
But in truth, Bruce was falling apart inside.
Two voices were arguing in his head so loudly that he'd given up trying to think.
Flora's voice said, "The little guy's got some nerve. You'll say whatever Mao Mao Jiao tells you to?"
"Listen to me. Ignore her! Hurry up and tell them your name is Mao Mao Dog and your specialty is the school of conjuration!"
Fivik's voice, meanwhile, said, "Well done, Bruce. I knew Flora would be telling you to do something. Just listen to me and ignore her."
"Otherwise, she'll just pat herself on the back and leave. Then you... Hum Hum."
As the black-robed figures watched in confusion and suspicion,
Bruce began to seem a little "out of his mind."
His dog face shifted between fierce and bewildered, and the words coming out of his mouth made even less sense: "My nickname is... Mao Mao Dog? And I'm also good at... whatever that thing is... chanting spells?"
"No, no, no! What kind of lousy name is that? I'm a Dream Weaver Dog! I love teasing handsome young boys..."
"Woof! That's even more wrong!