After the less-than-stellar performance in his duel with Alistair, Elyas was more determined than ever to master his magic and salvage what remained of his dignity. Seeking a fresh start, he turned to Seraphina, who, with her no-nonsense approach, suggested he focus on transformation spells. Transformation, she assured him, was a core discipline at Arcanis Academy and a great way to hone his magical skills.
Seraphina: "It's all about focus and intent. You've got the potential, Elyas. Just visualize what you want to become and make sure your mind is clear."
Elyas (nervously): "Right... focus and intent. Got it."
With newfound determination, Elyas threw himself into practicing transformation spells. He started with the basics—turning an apple into an orange, changing the color of a feather. Simple stuff. Each success gave him a little more confidence, like a baby bird learning to flap its wings. He was ready to take the plunge into more complex magic, convinced that his magical prowess was on the brink of greatness.
His goal? A full-body transformation. Elyas envisioned himself as a more impressive mage—taller, stronger, with a commanding presence. What he didn't anticipate was that his confidence would quickly lead to his undoing.
Elyas stood in front of the mirror, casting the spell with an air of self-assuredness that was quickly about to be tested. He chanted the incantation, waving his wand dramatically, fully expecting to emerge as a more formidable version of himself. Instead, the spell went spectacularly awry, and Elyas found himself transformed into a small, fluffy rabbit.
Elyas (in rabbit form, panicking): "Oh no, oh no!"
His attempts to reverse the spell were met with squeaks and frantic hops. The spellbook, which he had been using as a reference, lay open, completely unhelpful as Elyas's tiny paws flailed ineffectually over the pages. The situation was only made worse when Marlowe entered the room, lute in hand, his face bright with the excitement of another potential serenade.
Marlowe (excited): "Elyas! Is that you? This is... this is adorable! I must write a new ballad at once—'The Hare with the Heart of a Hero!'"
Before Elyas could make a dash for it—though, to be fair, his dash was more of a hoppy scurry—Marlowe scooped him up in his arms. Elyas, now utterly helpless, tried to wriggle free, but Marlowe was far too enchanted by the sight of the "heroic" rabbit to notice his struggles.
Elyas (struggling, squeaking): "Marlowe, no! Put me down!"
But Marlowe, oblivious to Elyas's distress, was already composing lyrics in his head. He cradled Elyas the rabbit with all the reverence of a treasure unearthed from a magical quest.
Marlowe (singing): "A hero in fur, with bravery untold, Elyas the rabbit, so daring, so bold!"
Elyas, in a state of sheer panic, tried to use his newfound rabbit agility to escape, but Marlowe's grip was as firm as his resolve to turn this "magical moment" into an epic saga. Elyas's futile efforts to cast a reversal spell only resulted in a few sparkles and a dramatic puff of bunny-sized smoke.
Meanwhile, Kellen walked in, having heard the commotion. He took one look at Elyas in his fluffy predicament and let out a groan.
Kellen (deadpan): "Seriously, Elyas? You're a rabbit now?"
Elyas (squeaking angrily): "I didn't mean to! I was trying to—"
Kellen (interrupting): "I get it. Magic can be unpredictable. But can you try to avoid being the world's fluffiest catastrophe for five minutes?"
Elyas, trying to communicate his plight through a series of frantic hops and exaggerated squeaks, managed to convey the desperation of his situation. Kellen, with a sigh, took pity on him and approached Marlowe.
Kellen (firmly): "Marlowe, put Elyas down. We need to figure out how to reverse this before he becomes a permanent resident of your lute case."
Marlowe, still caught up in his musical euphoria, reluctantly set Elyas down. Elyas hopped over to the spellbook, which Kellen examined with a discerning eye. He skimmed through the pages, muttering to himself.
Kellen (muttering): "There's got to be a reversal spell here somewhere... Ah, here we go."
With a mixture of impatience and determination, Kellen recited the reversal incantation. Elyas, still in rabbit form, watched hopefully. There was a moment of tense silence, followed by a burst of magical energy that enveloped him in a shimmering glow. When the light faded, Elyas was back to his human self—albeit with a rather dazed expression and a few stray bits of fluff still clinging to his robes.
Elyas (relieved): "Finally!"
Marlowe, though disappointed that his new ballad would have to be shelved, couldn't resist making the best of the situation. He looked at Elyas with a grin and declared:
Marlowe: "Fear not, brave Elyas. For even the smallest of heroes can make a grand impression."
Kellen, still shaking his head, handed Elyas the spellbook.
Kellen (grinning): "Just maybe keep the transformation spells to a minimum from now on. We don't need a repeat performance."
Elyas, exhausted and feeling slightly embarrassed, nodded in agreement. He'd learned his lesson—perhaps he should stick to less adventurous spells for a while. But as he walked away from the room, he couldn't help but think that the incident, while humiliating, had been a memorable addition to his magical journey.
And so, with a sigh of relief and a bit of newfound humility, Elyas prepared for his next magical misadventure, hopeful that it would involve fewer feathers, fewer furballs, and definitely fewer serenades.