Alf bounded down the stairs, taking two to three steps at a time. The morning light streamed in through the manor's windows and the sound of tropical birds floated on the air. It was a beautiful morning, and despite the horrible events that had taken place yesterday, he couldn't help but feel excited; this would be the first time he'd left town since his transformation.

Jumping the last two steps, he landed right in front Olivia as she walked into the foyer with Drakovian, or Drake, as he guessed they were supposed to call him now.

"No running in the manor," Olivia scolded him in a teasing tone.

Alf stumbled to a halt. Last night, it had been difficult to see the changes, but now Olivia's newly colored eyes shone bright in the light of day. Her hair gleamed with golden undertones, and her skin seemed as if it had been dipped in honey. That's going to take some time to get used to, Alf thought.

Acting casual, Alf started strolling to the front door. "You're starting to sound like Harold," he teased back.

The prince interrupted him, "I trust you are prepared to take on the responsibility of being a leader. It is a heavy weight for even one of your stature," he stated.

Talk about being a killjoy, Alf thought as he glanced down at the man stuck in a child's body. To his surprise, Drake still wore the new school uniform, though he had made a few alterations; he'd creased the shoulder cuffs so they came to a point above the shoulder, removed the school's insignia, and replaced it with a crouching panther which looked as if it were about to pounce on an unsuspecting foe.

"O...of course," he stuttered and turned towards Harold, who stood waiting for them at the front door with the maids.

"Good morning," the butler said as they arrived. "I hope you are all well fed and rested?"

"I am," Alf replied, thinking about the sausages and muffins that had been delivered to his room earlier that morning. A goofy smile spread across his face; he would never have to eat that disgusting nutritional mush again.

Wait, he thought, startled out of his musings. Why isn't anyone holding bags or knapsacks?

"Where's our supplies?" he asked, looking around in confusion.

Harold held out a small, silver medallion that looked oddly heavy; at least, the way he held it made it seem that way.

Curious about the object, Alf leaned forward and looked closer.

The plain, round disk had ancient dragon script running around its edges, and the surface looked timeworn, covered with pockmarks and scratches. With a start, Alf realized it was one of the family heirlooms he'd sold to the Odds and Ends' pawnshop.

Alf furrowed his eyebrows and opened his mouth in bewilderment. "How did you get that?"

"Mr. Dinwiddie," Harold said bringing the heirloom up to chest height, "came to me last night with it. He told me that he cheated you and should have paid ten times more than what he gave you. I accepted his apology and bought it back from him."

"Ten times?" Alf blurted. "You can't possibly be serious. It's just an old scratched up medallion."

"Do you know what this is?" Harold inquired, his left eyebrow raised, his chin tilted downward.

Alf knew that look. Every time the butler gave it, he ended up listening to a lecture about responsibility. Trying to play it cool, he shrugged. "No, not really. Just that it's one of my family heirlooms."

Harold shook his head and motioned for him to hold out his hand.

Alf complied, and the butler dropped the disk into his palm. The medallion hit his hand with a solid smack and he nearly dropped it as it yanked his arm down.

"Whoa. Why does this thing weigh over fifty pounds?" he asked, tightening his grip on the medallion.

Point made without a single word, Harold's eyes twinkled in amusement. "Because it has all of the supplies and clothes you need for your trip in it."

Alf frowned in confusion. That made no sense.

"Ah, it's a geometric inventory," Drake peered into his hands. "I've only seen four of these in my lifetime."

"What's a geometric inventory?" Olivia queried as she eagerly bent forward.

Drakovian motioned for Alf to lower the piece so he could examine it closer. "It's a magical, no—it's a scientific—masterwork of engineering that divides space, then warps it to be larger than its original state."

Olivia brought up her hands and formed a small scrying spell between them—an action which allowed her see the spells on the medallion more closely. "So it takes a small area and expands it?"

"Exactly," the prince said as the tip of his finger lit up and he touched the device.

"So how much larger can it make an area?" Olivia asked, her voice full of unbridled curiosity.

The edges of the medallion glowed in reaction to Drake's touch, and a small arc of lightning reached out and bit his finger. The boy pulled away and rubbed his hand. "That depends on the device. I have seen one bearing the Veldarien inc. stamp that was capable of containing six people the size of Alf."

Alf's eyes bulged. "Six people as big as me?"

"Yes, but the price on the thing was approximately a year and a half of the Empire's entire income."

"Oh."

Drake waved his hand, signaling Alf he was done examining the medallion. "That, and my father thought it was quite useless anyway, seeing as no man alive could possibly move it if it was filled, no matter how light the contents."

"Um, feathers...hello?" the brunette maid whispered.

Alf grinned at her comment as he pulled the heirloom up to eye level. "Talking about weight, how am I supposed to carry this thing? I definitely can't carry it around my neck."

Before anyone could answer his question, Olivia started mumbling equations to herself. Her scrying spell shifted from a flat plane into an elaborate 3-D projection filled with math equations.

Alf smiled. Olivia had always been a science geek, and she loved dissecting every spell she came across. On multiple occasions, she and Harold had tried to pull him into it too, but he couldn't get his head around quantum mechanics or half of what they tried to explain to him. That, and what was the use of learning unique and complex spells if you never had the strength to cast them anyway.

A half chuckle escaped Harold's throat as he pulled out a glass tablet from inside his vest and handed it to Olivia. "The spells are far beyond my comprehension, but here is what I have been able to decipher, if you wish to try for yourself."

Olivia's hands shot forward, dispelling her scrying. She grabbed the spell tab from Harold's fingers and began to skim through its contents as the butler turned back to Alf.

"Actually," he said, addressing Alf's earlier question, "you can. The medallion has a spell which, once put around your neck, equalizes the weight to the parameters of your body structure."

"Really?"

Now he had to try it. Alf slipped the medallion's chain over his head, and as he lay the disk against his chest, he felt the weight of it settle about his body like a blanket.

"How does it feel?" Olivia asked, momentarily distracted from her reading material.

"Like I just gained fifty pounds," he said with a laugh.

Olivia shivered at his statement. "I'm glad I'm not carrying it. Fifty more pounds would make me feel like a walrus."

"Such a weight would disable me," Drake said. "However, Alf's physique should enable him to carry the supplies without slowing him down." The prince glanced at Harold. "What is the storage capacity of this particular model?"

"Extensive enough for Alf to stand up in, and it is currently less than one-third full."

Alf pulled the medallion up as he whistled in surprise. "Good thing it's not full. Which reminds me, how do I use this thing?"

Harold reached over and pushed a hidden button located on the top. "Pushing this will cause it to open and close."

A circular opening, large enough for Alf to crawl into, expanded outwards above the medallion. Alf gazed in fascination down into the opening to see a plain, round storage bin with supplies neatly stacked in uniform piles.

"Ah," Alf said, then pushed the button.

The circular opening shrank and disappeared. Alf started to push the button again, but Harold placed his hand in the way.

Alf grinned at him. I can play with it later, he thought and went to place the medallion under his shirt.

"Wait," Olivia shouted.

Alf froze in mid-motion and Olivia leaned closer to gaze at her reflection.

"Aaah," she shrieked. "What in the world happened to my eyes?"

"It would seem their color changed last night when you unsealed your holy magic," Drakovian informed her.

Olivia stared at Drake as comprehension washed over her. She then turned and glared at Harold, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Last night was a bit overwhelming for all of us, and I thought it best not to 'add fuel to the fire' as the saying goes," Harold replied, the corner of his eyes crinkling at Olivia's reaction.

"Do you think they'll return to their original color?" Olivia asked.

"Hmm," Harold rubbed his mustache. "I do believe the change is permanent. A result of your holy magic awakening, you see."

Olivia widened her eyes as she stared closer at her reflection.

"If it's any consolation," Alf interrupted. "I...I think they're beautiful."

Olivia looked up at Alf, and blushed. "You think so?"

"Ya," Alf said, feeling heat rush to his own cheeks. "I do."

"Ahem," Drake cleared his throat. "I believe it is time we were on our way."

Alf shuffled his feet and looked away, feeling more than a little embarrassed.

"Ah, ya... I guess you're right," he muttered as Olivia made a show of returning her attention to the spell tab.

"Humph, party pooper," a peppy voice whispered in the background.

Harold straightened his black vest, holding back a grin. Then, enveloping Alf and Olivia in a hug, he prayed, "Our Father above, watch over your children below. Keep their feet on the narrow road and guide them in your wisdom. Keep them safe from danger and show them the way they must go. In your loving name we pray, Amen."

"Amen," Olivia and Alf chorused.

Drake stood awkwardly to the side as they completed their farewells, his face looked pinching and his expression uncomfortable.

"Godspeed," Harold said with the slightest hint of tears in his eyes. "And take care of each other, all of you."

Alf teased Harold, "It's only going to be a day or two. We'll be back before you know it."

"Yes, of course. I must be getting old. It's like I'm sending my children out on their own for the first time. Now you better move before I break down and flood the world with my tears. And since I have no ark prepared, we'd all drown."

Olivia and Alf laughed at his joke.

With their farewells complete, Harold opened the door and the group made their way into the morning light.

Alf stretched and breathed in the fresh air. He couldn't wait to get started.

"Howdy," a voice said.

Alf snapped his head to the left to see the town crier leaning against the manor. "Hey Cutler, how you doing?"

Cutler waved his hand with a goofy grin as he pushed himself off the manor's wall. "Well besides having to stay up all night to help pave a bogus road into a phony town, I'm doing marvelous. But anywho, things have changed while y'all had your cat naps. So I'm here to show you the way out."

"Oh, okay."

Turning, Alf hugged Harold one last time. This was it. It was time for him to head off on his grand adventure. Well, maybe not so grand since he'd be back in a few days, but still...

"Be safe," his friend and mentor said.

"I will."

The group started following Cutler down the lane when the eldest sister said, "I thought I told you to leave her behind."

"But she's family," the youngest whined. "And you don't leave family behind."

"That creature has got us into enough trouble," the redhead scolded.

Alf turned around to see a small, baby spider monkey's head peeking out from the youngest sister's fingers.

The eldest maid scooped the creature out of her hands and said to him, "One moment please," then disappeared around the corner of the manor and returned a few minutes later empty-handed.

She smiled and nodded at him. Alf suppressed a chuckle as he grinned and turned to follow Cutler down the hill.

***

The town crier led Alf down the lane, off the road, and into a jungle that hadn't been there the night before. Looking closely, he could see where the earth had been moved to shift the trees. "Why are there trees here?" he asked

Cutler whistled a jaunty tune and pointed upwards.

Alf's eyes drifted to the sky. The heavens appeared hazy and seemed to shift back and forth, like the ripples of the ocean; it was akin to looking through water.

"What is that?"

"Well, Harold's warp thingy was a bust," Cutler said as he led them through the winding trees. "But that there kid, I forget his name."

"Alex," the red haired maid said from behind Alf.

"Yeah, dat's the one—the one who got himself locked in his bedroom. He came up with this here refraction type spell that somehow makes it look like the whole town is on the opposite side of the lake."

"Interesting," Drake said, gazing at the hazy illusion. "What about visitors, or someone looking for the town on foot?"

"Well, Mr. Allender and the others cobbled together a fake town thingy and placed it where that kid's spell tricks the eye into thinking ours is. Right uncanny it is." The town crier pushed a branch out of the way and let it swing back, smacking Alf in the face.

"Hey," Alf protested.

"Sorry," the older gentleman said then continued. "Anywho, they had to fix up our town to hide it. That's what the trees are for. Blast it all, they even went as far as to add fifteen feet to the edge of our shoreline, fill it with tall trees, undergrowth, and random flotsam so that there town can't see ours. They even destroyed my favorite fishing spot, said we couldn't afford to have fishing piers or someone might spot 'em. I'll tell you what," he said wagging his head as his colorful floral shorts brushed against the bushes. "Life is hard, it is." He sighed.

"So," Olivia asked as she circumnavigated the plants with ease. "Are people going to live there?"

"No, them students you have came up with this elaborate plan. They're goinna make it look like the remaining house of Lirsdro attacked in retaliation for their destruction. It's supposed to make it appear as if the survivors fled for their lives."

"Fascinating thought process," Drake stated. "While far-fetched, it is plausible. The tension between the two houses is well known, and with the last of the Brokovich line assumed dead, and Harold left in control, the house of Lirsdro may indeed see him as the only source for such an attack."

Olivia fell back beside Alf as she put her arm up to keep some leaves out of her face. "But aren't they too far away to attack? It would take them weeks to get here."

"Not necessarily," Drake said.

Alf glanced back at him, waiting for a further explanation, but instead the prince changed the subject. "The real problem is numbers. I do not foresee them having the remaining manpower to collaborate such an assault."

"Viktor said the same thing," the senior maid spoke up. "He suggested we make it appear as if they drove wild animals into the town as a distraction and used the chaos to cover their attack."

Distaste spread across Drake's face at the mention of Viktor's name, and his nose wrinkled like he had smelled something rotten. "Sounds far-fetched to me," he said.

Cutler waved his hand in dismissal, "I'm sure it'll all work out. It makes perfect sense to me."

"Well, we be here," the town crier said as they came out into a clearing.

The soft sound of horses nickering reached Alf's ears, and he peered across the field to see the estate's stable manager waiting for them with six horses in tow, his daughter Hailey riding on his shoulders.

Hailey waved enthusiastically from her perch. "Hi, Alfy."

The senior maid froze in her tracks. Her lips pressed together in a slight grimace. "We don't know how to ride."

Olivia strolled through the ankle high grass and over to the handsome bay gelding. With familiar motions, she lovingly rubbed his head. "Don't worry. It's not that hard, and these horses are well trained."

The three sisters went deathly still. The red head looked around; her pupils dilated and her head turned left and right, as if she were searching for some means of escape, until her eyes lit on Alf.

Suddenly, her face brightened. "Alf doesn't know how to ride either. And," she threw her hand up, her index finger pointed skywards, "these animals are not trained for combat. If we face battle on the back of these creatures, we'll die—or get struck by a giant lightning bolt. We, for one, would rather try our luck on the ground."

Alf's eyes fell on the giant animal beside Olivia, and a flashback of his fight with Vackzilian raced through his memory. The sound of cracking bones echoed in his head; a feeling of vertigo washed over him, and he felt his heart pound in his chest. He cringed as he recalled the pain from his excruciating fall. "I'm not that comfortable riding a horse either," he admitted, then rushed to add, "And while it's unlikely that I'll be hurt from being thrown, it is likely I'll lose control and someone else will be hurt. So for the safety of the party, I think it's for the best if we walk."

Before any of them could move, Drake planted himself in front of the group, crossed him arms, and glared at them. "Time is of the essence. We cannot afford for your childish fears to hinder our progress. We will use the horses whether you and the ladies are comfortable or not."

Alf glanced at Olivia in desperation.

"What you say is true Drake," Olivia said. "But chasing after a stray horse that has tossed its rider can be dangerous and time-consuming."

Relief flooded Alf. He smiled at Olivia in gratitude and said, "I agree and," he cleared his throat, "as leader, I think it's for the best that we walk. Mark, please take the horses back to the stable."

Mark nodded and gathered the reins.

"Are you serious?" Drake fumed. "You're being unreasonable."

"Daddy, does this mean I get to ride back?" Hailey asked.

"You sure do sweetie," Mark said as he lifted her from his shoulders and set her on Olivia's bay gelding.

Patting her horse one last time, Olivia made her way back to Alf's side as the stable master led the horses away.

"Thank you," Alf mouthed wordlessly.

"You're welcome," she whispered back, her eyes sparkling with humor.

Ignoring Drakes protests, Alf and the ladies moved through the clearing and towards the road, leaving a clearly flabbergasted and fuming prince in their wake.

"Alf," the town crier said from the other side of the clearing, "Could I talk to you alone for a second?"

"Sure," Alf said leaving Olivia's side. "What's up?"