Delta prowled the Shadow Garden headquarters, her mind simmering with frustration. Zeta's words echoed in her ears, biting and relentless. "A dumb mutt who knows nothing," Zeta had taunted, her voice dripping with disdain. Delta's fists clenched at the memory. She was determined to prove Zeta wrong, but the path to knowledge was a daunting one.

She found herself outside Beta's study. The door was slightly ajar, and she could see the soft glow of candlelight within. Beta, the meticulous scribe of Shadow Garden, was the perfect starting point. Delta pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Beta looked up from her writing, her eyes widening slightly at the sight of Delta. "Delta? Is something wrong?"

Delta hesitated, her usual confidence wavering. "I need... I need to learn. Teach me to be smart."

Beta blinked, momentarily taken aback. "You want to study? What brought this on?"

"Zeta," Delta growled. "She called me a dumb mutt. I want to prove her wrong."

A sympathetic smile crossed Beta's lips. "Alright, Delta. Let's start with some basics." She gestured to a chair. "Sit down, and we'll go over some history and literature."

Delta sat, her eyes wide with determination. Beta pulled out a stack of books and began explaining, but the words seemed to swirl around Delta, eluding her grasp. Delta's frustration grew as Beta's explanations became more detailed and complex.

Hours passed, and Delta's head felt heavy with confusion. Beta closed the book she was reading from and sighed. "Delta, maybe we should take a break. You've been working hard."

"No," Delta insisted, her voice strained. "I need to keep going."

"Delta, learning takes time. Don't push yourself too hard."

Delta's resolve wavered, but she nodded. "Alright. Maybe... maybe I need a different approach."

The next day, Delta sought out Epsilon, the elegant and poised musician of Shadow Garden. She found Epsilon in the music room, her fingers dancing gracefully over the keys of a grand piano.

"Epsilon," Delta called, her voice tinged with hope. "Can you teach me?"

Epsilon looked up, her expression curious. "Teach you what?"

"Teach me to be smart. Zeta said I'm dumb."

Epsilon's eyes softened. "Of course, Delta. Music can be a wonderful way to stimulate the mind. Let's start with some basic theory."

Delta tried to follow Epsilon's instructions, but the notes on the sheet music blurred together, and the intricate patterns of sound eluded her. Epsilon's patience was boundless, but Delta's frustration grew with each mistake.

"Don't worry, Delta," Epsilon said gently. "You're doing fine. It takes time to learn."

Delta shook her head, tears of frustration brimming in her eyes. "I'm not getting it. I'm just a dumb mutt."

Epsilon reached out and placed a comforting hand on Delta's shoulder. "You're not dumb, Delta. You just need to find the right way for you to learn."

Determined not to give up, Delta sought out Eta, the brilliant scientist and inventor. Eta was in her laboratory, surrounded by strange contraptions and bubbling test tubes.

"Eta," Delta called, her voice filled with renewed determination. "Can you help me learn?"

Eta looked up, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Learn what?"

"Learn to be smart. Zeta said I'm dumb."

Eta grinned. "Science is all about curiosity and experimentation. Let's see what we can do."

Delta tried to follow Eta's explanations about chemical reactions and mechanical principles, but the scientific jargon was overwhelming. Eta's enthusiasm was infectious, but the concepts slipped through Delta's grasp.

After several hours, Delta's head throbbed with the effort. Eta noticed Delta's struggle and sighed. "Delta, maybe we need to take a step back. Start with something simpler."

Delta's shoulders slumped. "I'm trying, Eta. I really am. But it's so hard."

Eta gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Delta. You're doing great. We'll find a way."

Days turned into weeks, and Delta's frustration grew with each failed attempt. She had tried studying with Beta, learning music with Epsilon, and experimenting with Eta, but nothing seemed to stick. Zeta's taunts haunted her, fueling her determination but also feeding her self-doubt.

One evening, Delta found herself sitting alone in the garden, her head resting on her knees. The sky was a deep indigo, and the stars twinkled overhead, indifferent to her struggles. She felt a presence beside her and looked up to see Beta, Epsilon, and Eta standing there.

"We've been looking for you," Beta said softly.

Delta looked away, unable to meet their eyes. "I'm a failure. I can't learn. Zeta was right."

"No, she wasn't," Epsilon said firmly. "You're not a failure, Delta. You've been trying so hard."

Eta nodded. "Learning isn't easy, and everyone has their own pace. You're doing great, Delta."

Delta shook her head. "But I don't get it. I'm just a dumb mutt."

Beta knelt beside her, taking Delta's hand. "Delta, you're not dumb. You're strong and determined. That's what matters. And you have us to help you."

Tears welled up in Delta's eyes. "But I keep failing."

"You're not failing," Beta said gently. "You're learning. Every step, even the hard ones, is part of the process."

Delta looked at them, her vision blurred by tears. "You really think I can do it?"

"We know you can," Epsilon said, her voice filled with conviction.

"Together," Eta added with a smile.

Delta took a deep breath, feeling the warmth of their support. "Alright. I'll keep trying. I'll prove Zeta wrong."