None of them were looking forward to meeting the headmaster of the school. They sat uneasily in the medical ears waiting for the headmaster to arrive. Mai had carried Freed's weak body down the halls to the medical ears, Celine trying to keep up, her bloated belly had deflated some as it seemed her body had absorbed the spunk causing her to bulk up even more than before. Eva had run into them in the hallway and explained what she thought had happened as they all rushed to the ward. The nurse on hand had set up a saline IV for Freed before rushing off to get the headmaster.
"Anyone ever seen him before? The headmaster I mean," asked Freed weakly.
"Only stories. But I've never put much stock into stories. Always full of exaggeration and only a grain of truth," replied Celine as she flexed her now massive biceps, marveling at the size they reached.
"You should heed stories young one. Sometimes, the truth is more than you realize," came a voice from the doorway.
Standing in the doorway was a tiny man, not dwarf, hobbit, or gnome, but a human man standing around 4 feet tall. A nearly trimmed moustache and goatee gone white with age. A pointy wizards cap atop his head and deep purple robe covered most of his body. He looked at the 4 over the rims of his bifocals in a stern expression.
"I believe this belongs to you," he motioned for something out of view.
Slowly slithering into view was Vesper in his aquatic naga state, his eyes red and puffy from tears. Without a word, Vesper slid to one side of the room and wrapped himself in his coils, eyes never leaving the floor.
"Now I've already discussed what happened to him, so I ask you don't try to pry the information out yourself." He sighed, shaking his head slowly. "This is one hell of a mess you've gotten into. Yes your hearts were in the right place, but you should have left it be. I was going to punish you for breaking into the restricted section and taking the enhancement spell scroll, Freed, Eva, but I can see that this is punishment enough."
"How long are you going to leave us like this," asked Freed as he pushed himself into a sitting position.
"Whatever was keeping us from shrinking Mai back down has spread to you all as well. I've been trying to change Vesper back ever since we found him. All we can do is either add or replace changes."
"What do you mean," asked Celine causiously.
"An example being I can replace Vesper's back fin with a row of spikes or maybe wings, but I can't out right remove your changes. I don't think you fully understand just what is and has happened to you. Speak with the resident at this tower once you are able, and be patient with him," he said with a sigh, "Plus now I've got to find a place for Vesper to stay as he's been barred from the Aquarius dorm."
"He can stay with me," chimed in Freed, "I have the space."
"That will suffice. Ms. Char will want that scroll back as soon as possible. Return it as soon as you are on your feet."
"Ok. I'll apologize to her," Freed looked down in shame at how he had slipped past the librarian.
"Ok it's settled. I'll be keeping an eye on you 5. And be sure to return the scroll," with that the headmaster turned to exit and leave them to figure out how to progress.