Chapter 47– Shapeshifting(2)

The boy slightly cleared his throat, then began to explain:
'First I place a bait near him, to draw him in the trap, then I turn into a venomous viper and I wait for him to come. I stay on the chase, and when the mouse comes to eat the bait, I bite him. I then let him go, until the venom takes effect, then I come and swallow him, to win the fight. Thus, my enemy is destroyed forever."
The professor looked doubtful about the explanation.
'I know that ... The biggest problem is that I don't know how to shapeshift. But that's why I came to your class. That's why we all came here ..."
'Sh-sh-shapeshifting is the easiest part. F-f-for viper you say transformatum Vipera ammodytes for example. And you became a vi-vi-viper. The word t-t-transformatum and the creature you want to turn into."
'Only that?" the boy asked, somewhat disappointed.
'Yes," Von Halgen replied.
'Then why should we attend this class for at least a whole year? To learn a word?" asked with sarcasm, smiling, the prince while his followers took his side laughing.
'First, there will be two full years of study. And secondly, b-b-because you have to know a lot more until you shapeshift. You have to know very well the creature you become. What it c-c-can and it can't do. And also to know the creature you fight against..."
The boy said nothing more, but he didn't understand and it seemed strange to him that he had to study a year ... in fact two whole years for a class when he learned the most important trick in a few seconds. Wasting so much time for something you already know?
The professor looked in the classroom and saw Elizabeth reading from the textbook he gave to all the students.
'Would you do the s-s-same?" the professor asked the girl.
'I wouldn't swallow it. In any case," the girl said making a face at the thought she should swallow a mouse.
'Then you have no way to win the fight ... that mouse may be the fiercest e-e-enemy. Maybe he is a black magic seeker, programed by his boss to destroy you even at the cost of his life. He would give his life to a-c-c-c-complish what his master ordered."
'How do you know he comes to eat that piece of cheese?" the girl asked, in doubt.
'Because once you turn into another creature, for a few minutes you behave exactly as that creature. That's why you have to be careful what you become," Alexander snapped at poor Elizabeth. 'I know because I read this subject ..."
'Don't quarrel," the professor intervened.
The two got quiet, but it was clear they gave each other dirty looks.
'But Mr. Alexander is r-r-right. The mouse sure comes after the ch-ch-cheese. But my question was: wo-wo-wo-would you d-d-do the same?"
The girl thought a little, and then she answered:
'I think I first read the three pages about the mouse."
Alexander and his friends laughed loud. Nor could it be a greater joy or pleasure for prince Alexander Soimesti at that time.
'Mice and mice. What else do you want to know about them? What kind of cheese do they prefer ...?"
Again laughter, just now the whole class laughed at the boy's joke. Even the professor smiled a little.
But Elizabeth didn't.
'Have you wondered why it's reddish ... bright red? Maybe this can hurt you. I never heard of such a colour in mice. I wouldn't swallow anything reddish until I know why it is like that, especially since it is a mouse."
'Yes, Elizabeth, I think you're right. How couldn't I think of that?" the boy said ironically. It can create indigestion, or worse, I can die. Yes, of course. Because I don't like the red colour."
How annoying this boy was to her. Little Elizabeth wished she were in another class ... or anywhere else.
'But then, then why am I not sick from salad or cucumber? Because I hate green. And until now, as you can see, I didn't die from the green lettuce I eat almost daily…"
Poor girl she'd like to turn him into a mouse right now. And she'd make a little effort to swallow him.
'And anyway, you read so well that I think you'd never turn into anything."
Again, all the kids laughed. Alexander was over the moon, feeling so good in his shoes. The attention given to him and the fact that the students laughed at his jokes, going along with him, made him even prouder than he was. One might say no one could be so proud.
The little girl was about to cry, but the professor put his hand on her shoulder and reassured her with the following words:
'Miss Elizabeth, you should never be bothered by wicked remarks. And you ... I tell you she is right and I t-t-tell you why. This mouse is not an o-o-ordinary one, it is the f-f-fire mouse. And after he is killed by the v-v-viper, he has one last we-we-weapon. When swallowed by the s-s-snake, it k-k-kills the snake too."
Alexander was amazed actually ... very amazed. I think he didn't even know what bothered him the most. The fact that he lost the fight, or the fact that it turned out that Miss Edwards was wiser. Or the fact that no one stood up for him then, because he rushed with the judgment and proved to make the worst decision.
Anyway ... he had to be upset because he was wrong in every respect. He was wrong in public in front of a girl he considered the least trained person at Elmbridge magic school. A girl about whom he often said she didn't have what to do there.
'Well done, Miss Elizabeth Edwards. Today you get from me a point in the exam mark."
Von Halgen was overjoyed that for the first time he uttered a sentence without stuttering at all. The little girl was happy for the five points, and when Alexander thought it couldn't be worse, he found out it could.
'Mr. Alexander you l-l-lost the fight, you l-l-lost a point in the exam."
Von Halgen was angry too, because he kept blubbering again. He looked at the boy as if it were his fault. Maybe it was!! Maybe the fact that he had to punish someone, made the professor feel emotional. So, yes, it was probably Alexander's fault.