Watch the dragon boast.

"Class today has been an utter waste of time already," she continues. "I'll show you all how a mage should act. With dignity. With grace. And with swiftness. Now then, Ostowl. Sleep."

Just like before, a magic spell is definitely cast. It's done so with such confidence. She doesn't even look at her target when she lets loose the enchantment. However, there's an awkward pause. The flustered girl doesn't do anything at all. She doesn't fall to the ground, either to sleep or whatever the last effect was (you have a pretty good idea), but instead just sits there confused.

You see a flicker on the dragon's face. There's a very brief lapse in her confidence. A warm glow starts to draw across her face, and she shifts strangely in place. Her hand gradually raises up from the other's head, and she proceeds to flatten down her skirt. She keeps her hands against it, like she's suddenly self-conscious, but you can't quite place your finger on why.

"Did Lady Vraelion's spell just fail?" you hear whispered from the class.

Her piercing gaze snaps onto the person who spoke. "I did not fail to cast anything!"

"S-Sorry!" the person apologizes in panic.

"Something is incorrect." She purses her lips and glances around her. "I see. Neither spell's casting failed. Something disrupted them. Of course. No spell of mine has ever failed. Something or someone in this room not only prevented them, but altered their properties. Instead of Betha sleeping, her body was... weakened."

"What happened to your spell?" Anna asks.

Suddenly, Malakae looks more embarrassed. "N-Nothing," she mutters. She whips her hair to the side and begins marching straight back to her desk. Though as she moves, she seems to place her steps carefully. "It probably just weakened her more or something of that nature. Either way, the source should be found, or this class can't properly continue. I'll take my seat now." She straightens her skirt and sits at her desk.

"I don't feel any weaker," Betha mumbles.

"Come on, sister. Let's get you back to your desk," Anna says as she helps the other off the ground. "Are you all right?"

"Yes," Betha replies. "I just need some water..."

With everyone returned to their desk, the professor has taken center stage again. Her eyes dart around the room, and she looks completely distracted. "Ms. Vraelion's theory is likely true. Something is amiss."

Eva looks to you. She seems to be distracted by something as well. "Kyle," she whispers. "You have something on the back of your neck."

"What?" you whisper back. As you reach back to possibly crush a bug, you hear a quiet voice from behind. It's coming from your neck, right where Eva said she saw something. The voice is feminine, but high-pitched and wispy.

"Please don't crush me," it says. "I'm just hiding."

"Hiding?" you try not to look completely mad talking to yourself.

Professor Davella's eyes move to you. "Is everything all right over there?"

"Oh, uh. Yes, professor. Sorry."

The voice continues to speak. It's now barely a whisper, but it's right behind your ear. You can't even feel something crawling around back there. It feels more like a bit of wind on your neck. "If you hide me, I'll repay the favour. I promise. Please. They captured me, and all I want to do is escape back into the wild. I don't want to be a prisoner again."

Suddenly, the professor begins walking slowly down the center of the classroom, all while her eyes are directed to you.

"Please, please. All you need to do is let me in. I can hide inside of a person if they allow it. I promise that I can't control you or anything like that. And I really will pay you back. I don't want to go back into that bottle!"

"I hear something... strange," Professor Davella says. "Does anybody else?"

Eva is looking right at you. Given her proximity, and her large rabbit ears, she can surely hear everything. You look back to her with uncertainty.

Then she nods. "Do it," she mouths.

You widen your eyes as if you say, "You sure?" But then you turn to Davella who has now arrived right at your desk.

Like the back of your neck is a locked door, whatever is on your neck seems to be pounding against it, though it still only feels like little gusts of wind. "Just let me in, please... I'll explain after. They're going to put me back into that bottle. I'm begging you."

You clench your teeth.

Eva seems to think it's fine, and she knows a lot more about this world than I do, especially in relation to magic. If I don't let this thing inside and it turns out they're just a poor innocent creature trying to hide from something menacing, it'll be my fault. It did also say it'll pay me back. Maybe I'll get something cool. All right. It's now or never.