"Now, add the core of the shifting mantis to your mixture and stir clockwise exactly three times," Professor Mia instructed, demonstrating the motion at her own workbench at the front of the class.
"The color should shift to a light blue as it dissolves," she added, lifting her gaze from the cauldron. Her silver-rimmed glasses had fogged up, prompting her to remove them and wipe them with her robe.
Meanwhile, Michael watched his own bubbling mixture as Lilly carefully added the core and stirred. For a moment, the potion shimmered a promising blue—but then the color dulled, turning a murky brown, thick and viscous like swamp water.
He let out a quiet sigh, shaking his head. They had followed the instructions to the letter, yet something had still gone wrong.
His eyes drifted to Melody's station. Her cauldron glowed with the intended light blue hue, and a hint of satisfaction played across her face. She sat tall, proud of her success.
