"Ah Ha! Wormy I've done it! Just one more drop of this potion and I'll have my Anti-Aging potion!" Cedric told his pet raven cheerfully as he walked over to his desk potion in hand. "Now, be very quiet Wormwood, I can not add any more than one drop, or the potion with be ruined!" The raven rolled it's eyes and watched as Cedric attempted to slowly put one drop only into the Anti-Aging Potion. 'Almost there... Almost... Alm-'
"Mr. Ceedric! Guess What?!" Sofia came happily skipping into Cedric's lab. The sorcerer got startled and fumbled the potion he was pouring, almost dropping it. Thankfully he neither dropped it, nor poured any amount into his Anti Aging Potion.
"Posiden's Pumpkins Princess! How many times have I told you to knock before barging in?!" Cedric snapped at the young girl. Hurt clearly evident on her face now, replacing her former happy smile.
"I'm sorry Mr. Ceedric... I was just so excited to show you this." Sofia looked down kinda ashamed that she forgot something as curtious as knocking. She put her arms behind her back as she said this, hiding whatever it was that she wanted to show the royal sorcerer, from his sight. He hated seeing her like this. He could not stay upset at her for anything. He tried once... Didn't really work out too well... Somehow it ended with him teaching her how to perform a magic trick to have confetti rain from the ceiling.
With an audible sigh of defeat Cedric held out his hand for the young girl. "What is it you wanted to show me princess?" The young girl looked up, and slowly walked over to Cedric. She pulled out a plaque and handed it to him. "Whats this? 'Award for being the best in class at magic and potion making' Oh, well that is great Sofia! I'm proud of you! Have you shown the King and Queen yet? I'm sure they'd love to see it too." Cedric tried to usher the young princess out so he could get back to his potion.
"I haven't Mr. Ceedric. I came to you first. I- I thought that... well... I should give it to you. Since it's because of you that I was able to get it. All of the spells you've helped me with and remembering potion ingredients, I wouldn't have been able to do it without you." Sofia looked up at the sorcerer and smiled her usual wide smile, with her bright blue eyes looking at him hopefully. Cedric didn't know what to say. He didn't get recognized for his abilities often. Being the son of Goodwyn the Great meant unless you did something sensational, it wasn't worth recognizing; but to this girl, everything he did was sensational. He gripped the plaque in his hand on opened his arms for her to come to him.
"Thank you, Sofia. I will put it where I can see it everyday, I promise." Cedric said while she went to give him a hug. She smiled up at him, and was surprised to have him gently tap the end of her nose making her giggle.
"What are you doing Mr. Ceedric? May I stay and watch?" Sofia said looking at the potion on his desk curiously. Cedric followed her gaze and thought for a moment... Well it wouldnt hurt to have her stay and see my amazing potion do its work.
"Of coarse Princess Sofia, I just finished the potion you are looking at actually. It's an anti aging potion." The Sorcerer said rather proudly to the young girl.
"Mr. Ceedric? Why would you need an anti aging potion?" The young princess asked curiously. Cedric looked at her for a moment. Kinda dumbfounded.
"Sofia, how do you think sorcerers get beards down to their knees? You cant achieve that in less than one hundred years!" Cedric said with a lopsided smile hoping the young girl buys his explanation. Sofia looked at him for a second and laughed. At his explanation or at his lopsided smile he doest know, but the girl seemed to accept what he said as truth.
"Are you gonna drink it now Mr. Ceedric?" She asks the Sorcerer, her eyes shining with anticipation to see a potion at work.
"Yes I am, but there will be no noticable difference Princess. Of coarse in the upcoming years you will otice that I will not age, but as of this moment, nothing will happen." He looked down at the girl. Wonder never leaving her eyes as she steal had her hopeful look. He never could turn her away. Especially when she showed such interest in what he did (Which was every time, mind you). "Ok, fine. Well here goes nothing Princess. Bottoms up!" He tipped the potion down his throat before he heard Wormwood's "Squawk!" to get him to stop.
He never put in the last drop he needed.
As the last of the potion slid down his throat, a purple cloud of smoke covered his body, and Cedric felt tingly in all his limbs.
'Uh-Oh' was the first thing on his mind.
When the smoke cleared Sofia was surprised at what she saw. "M-Mr. Cedric?" She called out, worried about her favorite Sorcerer.
"Yes, it's me Princess. What's wrong?" Cedric asked. No doubt this person was Cedric; but he was... smaller. His robe was a pool on the floor around his feet, even though it was on his shoulders still. His voice was more high pitched. His shoes were bigger too. Cedric gave Sofia a weird look and went to walk to his desk. but with the too-big-shoes and the too-big-robe he tripped and fell. "Oh Merlin's Mushrooms..." He got up and that when he realized. He was smaller! What... had he...?! He kicked off his shoes and ran to his mirror. The look of horror that crossed his face was comparable to seeing a ghost. In the mirror he saw himself... As he was when he was ten years old.