A jubilant mood took over the castle as the moon elves handed out Mouse’s potion to anyone who passed by. Servants, nobility, princesses, it didn’t matter; they received the potion in the order they came. Mouse leaned against the wall nearby, a satisfied smile on his face. I fixed my mistake, and with no one any the wiser. Fantastic.

“Still, I wonder what that person who set this so off asked the fae for, whoever they are,” Felix wondered, a hand on his chin.

“I suppose we’ll never find out now,” Mouse replied evenly.

Felix hummed to himself thoughtfully. “Or why I didn’t swap…”

Earnest this time, Mouse nodded. “Some mysteries, we’ll never discover.” It’s probably his magic, though, right? He has a strong enough aura to repel the wild magic. It’s almost impossible, but if anyone were able to repel magic by their aura alone, it would be the Mage-Emperor. And it's not magic that particularly targeted him, but a wide area magic, and if any magic could be shaken off by aura, it's wide area magic.

Still, there’s something… off about it.

Cel took a few steps back from where she stood, watching over the queue to ensure no one stepped out of line. “Looks like we’ll have enough for everyone, as long as no one gets greedy. Oh, and thanks again, Your Majesty, Mouse.”

“Of course, of course, there’s no need,” Felix said, flustered.

Cel smiled. While Felix was distracted by his own embarrassment, her hand met Mouse’s. A small bottle passed between them, and Mouse smiled. The potion, for after the hot springs. Perfect.

“Coming through! Coming through. Make way!” A grand procession pushed through the crowd, shoving aside those who’d been waiting in line.

Mouse stood, brow furrowing, but Felix pushed him back. “That’s the royal procession. Best if we let him have his way.”

Mouse grimaced. He’s not my king… but he is Felix’s, even if Felix technically outranks him now. He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall again, frowning silently while servants led the king to the front of the line.

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Slightly behind the king, Reginald noticed him and laughed. “What is it, drow? Disapprove?”

“Not at all. Moon elf, please.” Mouse’s eyes narrowed to slits.

“You can call yourself the moondwellers for all I care, as long as I get some potion. Sabelyn was getting too uppity for her own good,” Reginald scoffed, flapping flouncy sleeves still too large for him.

“So eager to drink the potion? Aren’t we drow incapable of making anything worthwhile?” Mouse replied, unamused. Sabelyn was getting uppity? Pot, meet kettle.

“For once, you’ve accomplished something,” he replied, waving his hand.

“Mmm. Mind your cup. We moon elves are a poisonous race, after all. Perhaps my hand slipped, earlier.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” Reginald laughed.

“I dared to throw a certain oversized swine where he belonged, did I not?” Mouse replied, arcing a brow.

Reginald stiffened. A faint tone of green showed around his ears. “You wouldn’t dare,” he repeated, but less certain this time.

Mouse snorted and flipped his hair. “Only one way to find out.”

Uncertain, Reginald looked from the cup to Mouse, then back again.

“Drink, already, you fool,” Sabelyn grumbled, pushing him out of the way to take her own portion. Reginald’s fine-boned female self couldn’t hold up against Sabelyn’s sturdy male body, and as he jolted out of the way, the potion sloshed in his cup. Eyes wide, Reginald clapped his mouth to the edge and drank before it could slosh out, then drew back and stared. He put a hand to his lips, mildly horrified.

A second later, his form began to twist, and uncontrollable giggling overtook him. Beside him, Sabelyn began to giggle as well, twisting around herself.

Ah, how beautiful, sibling harmony. Mouse smiled, pleased with himself. And to think, I created this beautiful, harmonious scene. They should thank me.

The royal procession passed by, all their original genders once more. The line resumed, with only a bit of shoving and fighting. Mouse leaned against the wall and watched, half an eye on the crowd. Now, there’s nothing standing between me and the hot springs!

Felix sighed. He leaned against the wall beside Mouse. “I need that break more than ever now.”

“You didn’t even swap sex. What are you exhausted for?” Mouse asked, tipping his head.

Felix shook his head. “It’s been crazy, lately. The arena, your blight, the vampires, now the wild magic… a lot happened, all at once. I’m looking forward to just… unwinding, with no worries, no court, no… nothing."

Mouse patted him on the back. "From here on out, it'll be smooth sailing to the hot springs. Go ahead and relax, Your Majesty."

Bam! The door at the end of the hallway slammed open. Everyone froze and looked up. A messenger stood in the doorway, silhouetted by the sun.

He panted, then swallowed and stared at them. “The—the dungeons! The darkfoe has escaped!”