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Set in a
Fantasy, Royalty AU
⟢ Kendra & Seth ⟣
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Kendra tries out a new spell on Seth—a semi-willing participant. But let's just say, after this fiasco, he is never being her guinea pig again.

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"Seth, can you stand right there?"

"Uh, why?"

"Just...a little to the left. Thank you." The old pages of the grimoire crinkled as Kendra tugged it out of her dress's pocket.

"Oh hell no." Seth unsheathed his sword and backed up against the training dummy.

Kendra moved her free hand to her hip. "Seth."

"No way."

"I need to test a spell."

"Yeah, last time that happened, I had flowers growing out of my armour. No."

"Muriel said I should practice. Lena agreed."

"Muriel is up to something, and Lena wants to see me suffer."

"Lena doesn't want that. Why would she make you those paint-by-number paintings? Those take forever you know." Her fingers leafed through the grimoire. Long drawn out letters next to a picture of a toad caught her eye. She muttered her next words under her breath. "You're probably right about Muriel though."

Seth crossed his arms. "No spells."

"Fine." The book snapped shut. "I thought you would have liked the gold, but I guess I was mistaken."

Seth perked up. "Gold?"

"What did you think the spell did?"

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Seth gave a very aggravated ribbit. His slimy greenness hopped along Kendra's desk. He had to be purposely getting her stuff sticky.

"I didn't know the reverse spell wouldn't work. Don't get mad at me."

"Croak."

"I'm sorry, okay? I'm sure there's something else in this book." Kendra scoured the transfiguration section. Animal after animal popped up but no further troubleshooting instructions.

Seth hopped onto the page; covering the recipe to a purple brew. "Ribbit."

"Come on, Seth. It's hard to read the old writing with your sticky feet covering it."

Another angry ribbit. Seth hopped onto Kendra's arm. The toes gripped her arm and the sensation crawled up Kendra's brain.

"Ew! You're slimy, Seth. Get off."

A knock at the door. "My lady?"

"Vanessa! Don't come in." Kendra ran to the door; Seth not losing his froggy grip on her arm.

"My lady? May I ask why?"

Seth croaked loudly.

"Seth!" Kendra hissed.

He continued to ribbit.

"Do you have a toad in there, my lady? Seth, too?"

"Um, yes. A toad and Seth."

"Patton has been looking for him. Could you tell him that?"

"Uh, yes." Kendra plucked Seth off her arm and held him up to her eyes. She could swear he was narrowing his pupils. "Yes, I could."

"Could I come in to see Seth?"

"No. Sorry." Guilt never sat well in Kendra's stomach and now it was nipping at her peace of mind. Seth's puppy—well, froggy—eyes didn't help either.

"Kendra." The frustrated tone seeped through the door. "What are you two up to?"

Kendra laughed nervously. "He's just a bit sick. Wouldn't want you getting sick either."

"We must get him to Tanu then."

Kendra screwed her lips to the side as guilt overtook her fear of being reprimanded. "Come on in."

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"So you turned him into a frog and now you can't reverse the spell?" Lena patted Seth's slimy head.

"Yes. I didn't mean to."

"I'm sure you didn't." Vanessa sat to the side, observing Seth's hops and croaks. "But we still need to fix him. Lena?"

"Well. As much as I dip my toe in magical curiosities, I am not a witch. You need Muriel."

"Do we really need her, though?" Patton asked. Concern painted his features as tight as his body against the wall. "Kendra's as much of a witch as she is."

"Not really," Kendra murmured. Muriel was a powerful sorcerer, but she didn't get her magic from a goddess's blessing like Kendra did. Muriel got her power from...darker methods. But with a scarcity of people who actively practiced sorcery, Muriel was the best teacher available.

Vanessa wrinkled her nose. "I hate that lady."

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Muriel's little cottagey hut was the same as ever. Kendra didn't understand why the sorceress chose to live in the forest and not the city. Grandpa paid Muriel very well.

Muriel probably would've said something about magic being stronger in the wilderness. Kendra would've pointed out that the wilderness had no plumbing.

"No." Muriel picked at her fingernails. "I won't turn him back."

"You're kidding," Patton said. His back hunched under the low roof.

Seth added his dissent as he paced on Kendra's hand.

Kendra pouted at her teacher. "Muriel, please."

"No. I want you too to do it."

"I already told you I tried and failed."

Muriel patted her table. Her long nails clacked against the wood. "Set him down and try again."

Kendra sighed and let Seth jump to the wood. He hesitated to move closer to Muriel.

With all eyes on her, Kendra took a deep breath and lifted her hand. Trepidation threatened to pool in her stomach.

Vanessa took the grimoire out of her pocket. "Spell book?"

"I've memorized it at this point." Kendra lifted her hand again. "Okay, you can do this."

The incantation flowed out of her mouth and Kendra could feel her magic being pulled, but once again Seth sat a frog.

Muriel clucked her tongue. "Sh. Posha. Not whatever you said."

Kendra swallowed her pride; it was hard to endure Muriel's teaching when surrounded by people she didn't want to see her fail. However, Kendra was a patient person. She was patient and she was going to take a few breaths.

"Fine." Kendra raised her hand and opened her mouth again.

"And really pull the magic. Your words may be activating it, but you need to direct it to your brother."

Seth croaked. Kendra could imagine what he would've wanted to say: "Yeah, Kendra. Direct the magic to your brother."

Patience. Patience, patience, patience.

After a deep breath and the corrections in mind, Kendra tried again. The enunciation on the "sh" earned her a nod from Muriel and her hope grew.

She ended the incantation and lowered her hand.

Patton leaned in to inspect the frog. "Is something supposed to happen, or is—"

Sparks interrupted him and he stepped back.

A sparkle shower later and her brother—human brother—crouched on Muriel's table.

He climbed off and pointed at Kendra. "Nope, nope, never being your guinea pig again."

"Sorry."

He shook his finger. "I mean it."

Kendra knew she would eventually cajole him to participate again.

"Of course."

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the end