Sophia tensed but didn’t otherwise react as she waited in place to see what happened next when the gang of students disappeared to somewhere on the grounds. The door to the school swung back and forth before settling shut.
Something in the building caused the panic. Something that Sophia needed to investigate. She drew in a breath and started forward, then entered the premises with the same trepidations she had when she had opened the portal door to the Great Library, afraid of what danger she’d find lurking on the other side.
To Sophia’s relief and surprise, she found her fairy godmother Mae Ling standing on the other side of the entrance, her arms crossed and her gaze directed down the hallway.
“Is everything okay?” Sophia asked the shorter woman, then felt dumb for the question. Based on the girls that had run screaming from the building and the pursed expression on Mae Ling’s face, everything was far from okay. However, they had to start the conversation somewhere, Sophia rationalized.
“Oh good, you’re here.” Mae Ling looked at her watch. “Right on time.”
Sophia nodded and realized she should have expected this. Lately, her life was full of appointments she was late for that she didn’t even know she had. This must have been the reason that Plato said she needed to go to Happily Ever After College. A little heads-up on the impending danger was apparently out of the question. The people in her life liked her to be surprised while they were in the know about her appointments and schedules.
“What’s going on?” She flinched, startled by a great commotion that echoed down the hallway.
“A science project gone wrong.” Mae Ling pointed in the direction of the noise.
Sophia nodded. “Of course science would be the problem.”
“It’s usually that and the solution, ironically.”
“Well put.” Sophia laughed. “What happened?”
Steam issued from one of the open doorways at the end of the corridor and Mae Ling’s eyes widened. “I really can’t stay much longer or go into much detail. We tried a new course, and it backfired and has started to infect the school with…well, whatever it is. It’s growing and at a much faster rate than I or any of the professors could contain.”
“Well, how can I help you?” Sophia asked, happy to lend a hand to Mae Ling, who had helped her so many times.
Her fairy godmother yanked open the door and shook her head. “I’m sorry, but what I need is for you to take care of the problem entirely on your own. From what I’ve seen, you can get close to it, thanks to the chi of the dragon. The rest of us are susceptible to the danger that stuff poses.”
Mae Ling backed out of the school, pure horror in her eyes as she stared over Sophia’s shoulder.
“Okay, I’ll take care of it. But, tell me, what do you want me to do about the toxic stuff?” She was so used to Mae Ling helping her out that she suddenly worried how she’d proceed without the fairy godmother’s help.
Thankfully, she wasn’t on her own yet. “Get a sample. Take it to a potions expert. They should be able to find a solution.”
Sophia nodded and was about to offer some words of support, but Mae Ling didn’t wait for them. Instead, she turned and sprinted away while looking over her shoulder with total fear in her eyes.
When Sophia turned to gauge the hallway that had been empty, she understood the reason for the panic. Crawling down the corridor like a swamp creature was a river of sludge that seemed both like liquid and a very alive green monster.
Chapter Seven
Sophia wasn’t sure how the chi of the dragon was protecting her from the magical goo, but she had her suspicions when she ducked back into the hallway of the school. The green slime that bubbled and rose in the air like a wave in various places was nearly halfway down the corridor. It ate the floor underneath it as it progressed, which made the stuff drop lower into the school's foundation.
The acidic smell in the air burned Sophia’s nose, and she was pretty certain that the fumes would have been toxic to others and probably make them pass out. The green substance crawled up the walls and ate them away. At this point, the stuff would take over the school and destroy it in no time.
Sophia knew that not only did she need to get a sample of this poison, but she needed to contain it. As she approached, the goo sensed what she was going to do as if it was alive. It bubbled and hissed.
“Calm down, Stan,” she muttered to the gunk.
Stan? Lunis questioned in her head.
Yeah, it looks like a Stan, she joked.
I was thinking more like a Molly, Lunis replied.
Any ideas on how to contain the stuff? Sophia watched as the goo progressed in her direction, swirling and steaming as it moved like a wave in the ocean.
With magic, Lunis supplied.
Sophia rolled her eyes. I hoped for something a little more specific.
A magic spell, Lunis stated.
Backing up as Stan oozed closer, Sophia glanced over her shoulder. She only had a few yards until she reached the front door. I don’t have all day, she said to her dragon telepathically.
No, but you know who does?
The dragon playing Animal Crossing, she guessed.
Ooooh, I ran out of wood, and now I can’t build the vanity that I wanted, Lunis explained. Do you have any ideas?
The fumes wafting from the green sludge burned her eyes and made them water. I have real problems here. Can you help me out?
Lunis scoffed. This is a real problem. Without the vanity, I can’t fulfill that chicken, Roxy’s campsite request. Do you know how frustrating that is?
Sophia sighed and backed up another few feet. I can only imagine. And here I am burdening you with my problems.
Apology not accepted, Lunis replied smugly.
Conjuring a reinforced potion bottle that hopefully wouldn’t melt from the deadly substance, Sophia nearly laughed. I didn’t apologize.
Maybe that’s part of the reason I won’t help you.
Fine. Sophia suddenly felt desperate. I’m sorry.
I send your apology back, Lunis said at once.
Seriously, Lunis, you’re a real pain in the ass.
Sophia twirled her finger in the air and magically transferred a portion of the substance into the bottle, then immediately sealed it. The container was hot in her hands. She shook her head and deposited it into her cloak where it radiated heat.
Well, I guess I’m acting out because I’ve bottled up my feelings all this time, he expressed.
She suddenly felt a rush of sympathy for her dragon, who was coping with his injured leg. I’m sorry, Lun. I really am. Are you okay?
I’m fine, he said. And I send your apology back.
She sighed, this time more loudly than before. Would you stop saying that?
I can’t put a cork in my feelings like that bottle you used for Stan.
Sophia’s eyes widened with a sudden realization. That’s it! I have to contain this stuff using the same spell that reinforces the potion bottle.
I wondered when you’d put that together. Lunis laughed. I dropped all these hints about bottling up my feelings and all.
So you aren’t upset? Sophia tried to work out how to do such a complex spell on such a large area. The goo had multiplied and was now like a river eating up the corridor. She only had about a yard of space between her and Stan and was nearly backed up to the front door.