Though he complained, Dave went through with the training well that day, but that night, when Balthazar went to sleep, Dave snuck into the lab and grabbed the Encantus. He then created a small flame, lit a candle and started to search the book, checking page after page. Soon, he found the pages he wanted; the compacting spell, the acid protection and the spell of creating air. He smiled and made a few notes and then put the book away and went back to bed, too tired to try anything that night.

The next day, however, when Balthazar left for shopping, Dave started to practice with the compacting spell. He tried it on something simple at first: a dictionary. He didn't want to try the Encantus first in case he couldn't UNDO the spell. He worked hard, but finally managed to compress and fold the molecules, shivering slightly in remembrance. But he shook his head, clearing his mind and continued. His first few tries weren't very good. While he DID manage to get the book down to the right, tiny size, it still WEIGHED the same and he was left with a book the size of a postage stamp that still weighed a huge amount. Sighing, he tried again and again.

It took his scientific brain a while to understand the 'disappearance' of the extra matter, since he had always been told that matter could neither be created nor destroyed, but once he had allowed the magic to take equal part in his mind, the spell became simple and easy. Delighted, Dave went to his junk-closet and started to practice the spell, finding with glee he could shrink ANYTHING! He went a bit overboard and then stared in shock at seeing the wooden floor of the space for the first time in YEARS!

"Dave?"

Jumping, Dave slammed the closet door shut and leaned back on it, stammering as Balthazar stared at him, "I-I-I… was just… cleaning." he managed finally, praying Balthazar didn't ask to see. While he was thrilled to have gotten this spell down, if Balthazar saw it, he would quickly realize what Dave was up to and… protect himself or something magical like that.

While the sorcerer stared at him, arms laden with bags, he only snapped, "That's very nice, but stop it and help me. I have more bags in the car."

Dave eagerly went; glad to have avoided this near discovery.

The next few spells were tricky. He had gone with the 'providing air' spell next, and found that he was able to easily test that one. After reciting the spell, Dave felt the pressure inside, making him feel like he had to burp. He tried to figure out where the air CAME from and finally went with the notion that it was either his own magic transforming into air, or it was his own extra oxygen being sucked out of his bloodstream and put into his stomach.

The acid protection one had been tougher. Not wanting to test it on anything alive, Dave had thought of a simple solution: he had gone out and bought himself some candy, gummy candy especially. That stuff would break apart when you just sucked on it, so if he could manage to protect the candy, he could protect anything! He found that the spell manifested itself as a warm glow on his palm and when he held the item to be protected, the light would vanish instantly, but he could sense the magic keeping the item safe.

Not trusting his body enough just yet, Dave snuck into one of the school labs and poured a small amount of potent hydrochloric acid into a beaker and dropped the gummy worm inside, stirring and agitating the liquid to mimic what would happen inside. But even though he played with it for an hour, the gummy worm wasn't melting in the slightest! Thrilled, Dave tried the spell again, but this time he ate the gummy himself, checking with his magic from time to time. But at the end of the day, the gummy was still perfectly fine and protected.

Grinning broadly at this success, Dave then realized he had overlooked an important skill: he was having trouble bringing back the swallowed gummies on cue. It took a few tries, but Dave eventually learned how to squeeze his stomach just right to expel the item inside, though it certainly didn't taste very good as some residual acids were brought up as well.

One day to really test himself, Dave had gotten the idea to eat a whole bag full of gummy worms and then had allowed himself to eat lunch. Checking with his magic, he felt a swell of pride that the gummies were fine while his lunch was digesting normally. Oh, he had this DOWN!

That night, Dave went to go to his bedroom to have some privacy to get the gummies back out. His stomach felt a bit sick from all that sugar inside, even though he wasn't digesting it. The weight felt heavy and unnatural to him and he would be glad to get them out. Idly as he climbed the steps to the loft above the lab, he wondered if the acid protection spell could only be removed if the subject was at hand, or if it could be dispelled whenever the sorcerer wished? Deciding he would try this later, Dave paused when he was intercepted by Balthazar, calling him back down for another training session.

Dave bit his lip, asking nervously, "Um… Now?" He could feel the weight of the gummies inside and he didn't want to exert himself and be sick or something!

"Yes, NOW." Balthazar said. But then the man looked at him closely. "Why? Are you busy?" he asked with an innocent tone, but Dave thought he picked up a suspicious note.

"Uh, no!" he said quickly, forcing a smile. "No, of course not!" He then grinned crookedly, asking, "What could I be busy with?"

This seemed to please Balthazar and he said, "Good." He turned on his heel, snapping, "March."

Dave marched and did the training and afterwards, all but ran upstairs, quickly expelling the candy, his stomach protesting at the unnatural weight kept inside for so long. However, even though he felt sick to his core and so very unhappy with that horrible sour taste in his mouth, Dave smiled weakly at seeing the gummies were STILL in good shape.

He was getting the hang of this!

One night after training, Dave was practicing creating tiny plasma bolts, hardly the size of static-shocks, thinking things over as Balthazar read next to him, watching him and offering advice and instructing him from time to time.

As he worked to control a particularly jittery one, Dave thought about the risky plot he was planning. Was it even a good idea? Balthazar would probably be FURIOUS and who KNEW what the man would do to him once he was back to normal! But than again… perhaps his Master would… well, not enjoy it, obviously, but be proud of his apprentice for taking such a step all by himself and not asking for help? And what would it feel like? It was one thing to perform these spells on gummies and dictionaries... But to do it to a human being? Dave had to admit he was nervous about it and how it would tur-

Dave let out a surprised shout as the plasma bolt escaped from his distracted hands, zipping through the air. He leapt after it, but fell flat on his face.

He looked up at a buzzing noise and saw that Balthazar had managed to catch it for him. The man was reading like nothing had happened and had caught the tiny plasma bolt between two fingers. He then held out his hand, saying in a bored tone, "Focus, Dave." As his apprentice gingerly took back the little bolt, it exploded in his hands and Dave yelped as he got an electric shock. Balthazar then looked at him again, saying with a mild expression, "Are you even trying?"

"Yes I am!" Dave defended. He then focused and created another plasma bolt easily, and showed it to his Master, saying, "See? I can focus!"

Balthazar stared at the perfectly created sphere of energy and then said, "Make another."

Dave blinked, but then groaned and started the difficult process of creating another sphere and then three more as his Master commanded, able to control them to a slight degree. Balthazar nodded slightly and went back to his book. When the plasma bolts escaped, he didn't even look up, not even blinking as one zipped past his ear.

"Try again… Six, this time."

That night as he lay on his bed, staring ahead into the darkness, Dave made up his mind. He would do it. Balthazar might be mad at him for it, but he would do it. He had tested himself on the spells over and over again and he was going to PROVE to his Master that he was able to perform complicated spells! That would HAVE to make the man proud of him!

He wasn't angry or bitter at Balthazar; he just wanted the man to acknowledge his success. And what better way that shoving in his FACE that he could do a spell that the man hadn't taught him? Smiling to himself, Dave rolled over and slept.

Dave had to wait another week before he could do anything for his plan however. He wanted to have an excuse to be alone for a long while. The next time Balthazar went shopping seemed perfect. As the man headed out the door, Dave leaned over the stair rail, calling up, "Hey, Balthazar?"

The man paused at the door, looking down at him. "Yes?"

Dave inhaled, nervous. He then shifted and said with a grin, "Um… Don't… pick up anything readymade. For dinner, I mean."

Balthazar looked confused. "And why not?"

"I… want to cook." the young apprentice explained, grinning nervously.

Balthazar looked surprised. "You can cook?" he asked.

Dave didn't blame the man for his question. Dave had either made them ramen noodles or had bought them food from sandwich shops in the time they had known each other. He shrugged his shoulders, pursing his lips a bit. "Passably."

The sorcerer chuckled and for a second Dave's heart leapt, thinking he had been found out somehow, that his trick had been discovered. But he soon relaxed when Balthazar only turned from him, saying, "All right." and then shut the door behind him as he left.

Smiling, Dave watched the man leave and then did a little victory dance, pumping his fist as he dashed off to the kitchen to start cooking.

As he put a simple meal together, spaghetti, meatballs and some tomato sauce and cheese, Dave kept the Encantus close at hand, peering at it from time to time. He felt nervous, but very excited. He did not like the idea of deceiving his Master, but he knew that if he tried to start the shrinking spell while the sorcerer was awake and conscious, Dave would SEVERELY regret it. So, what he planned to do was to enchant his Master's food with a very simple sleeping spell, something that would knock the man out for half an hour, at the most.

His hands were shaking as he stirred the pasta, his mind whirring. Was this worth the risk? Was it worth incurring the [quite likely] wrath of a powerful sorcerer who was over a millennia old? He had never really seen the sorcerer MAD at him before, but if the man thought it was fair to scare his apprentice to death over an easily-fixed coat, what would he do if his apprentice shrank him? Let alone ate him?

But as Dave ducked and cracked open the oven to check on the meatballs, he grinned shakily. Balthazar was always telling him to push himself, to try new things and to expand his horizons and experience. Well, this would certainly count, wouldn't it?

Dave had just finished putting Encantus away and the food on the table when Balthazar came home. The food was simple, but it was well-cooked and there was PLENTY of it. Still, Dave didn't think there would be any leftovers.

Looking up in surprise at the door slamming shut, he smiled as he saw Balthazar carrying some plastic and paper bags down the steps. "Oh, you're back." Dave said, smiling. He then stared as Balthazar's arms dropped to his sides and he started to undo his coat, but the bags remained suspended in the air. As the bags then floated, seemingly of their own accord, into the kitchen as Balthazar sat down at the table, Dave couldn't help but mutter, "Show-off…"

As they ate, Balthazar spoke to Dave about what they would be working on tomorrow, pointing his fork at him for emphasis. "I've noticed you're very shaky on your control when it comes to multiple levitation spells, so after dinner, we're going to start working on that."

Though he nodded obediently, Dave could barely hide his grin. He wouldn't be doing ANY spells tonight, not after he had safely tucked his Master away for the night!

When they had finished eating, Dave stared in amazement. For the two of them, he had cooked well over three pounds of spaghetti, two cans of spaghetti sauce and nearly two dozen meatballs, and yet, all that was left now was just 4 meatballs and a handful of spaghetti, the sauce having been all used up. He chuckled, still amazed by the whole thing, though Balthazar still told him quite regularly that he should be eating more to help to support and power his magic.

When Balthazar started to get up to leave, Dave quickly told him to sit tight and ducked into the kitchen and out of sight. There, he took out some ice cream from the freezer and served them each a decent bowlful. Then, his heart racing, Dave closed his eyes and focused on Balthazar's bowl, murmuring the words softly that he had memorized and practiced over and over again. His ring glowed a soft, emerald green as he felt his body grow warm inside.

But then the feeling passed and Dave was left looking at the innocent and harmless ice cream. Shaking, he took a few mouthfuls from his own bowl, and then brought out both bowls. Balthazar nearly destroyed the whole game by reaching for Dave's bowl, but when he saw the missing spoonfuls, he took the other one instead and started to eat, thanking Dave for the meal, but also mentioning that the meatballs had been slightly overcooked.

Dave took the combined praise and insult in stride and nodded, muttering, "Looks like I had better be a good sorcerer, since chef doesn't appear to be a good career choice…" Chuckling as he licked the spoon, Balthazar nodded.

They ate quietly for a time and Dave was frightened that Balthazar could hear how hard and fast his heart was beating. Every glance the man seemed to give him was something suspicious and knowing, though Dave had to keep telling himself it was just his paranoid imagination. The man only ate quietly, leaning back in the chair and seeming completely at ease.

Dave ate more slowly, watching Balthazar closely. It took about 10 minutes, but the man was starting to nod off, his eyes closing and yawning. Balthazar then laid his head on the table and within seconds, was asleep.

"Oh thank GOD!" Dave muttered. That had gone off without a HITCH! Oh, this was PERFECT!

Coming forwards, he gently touched the man's shoulder.

No response.

He reached under and gave Balthazar's side a sharp jab with a finger, leaping out of the way, just in case.

Nothing.

Grinning foolishly, Dave came over and gently made his Master sit upright, leaning him back in the chair. The man's body slouched and was limp in his hands, but didn't fall off the chair. Shaking, his breathing quick and excited, Dave forced himself to focus and calm himself. He kneeled beside Balthazar and grabbed the man's arm, starting to bend and unbend it gently, letting the first stage of the compacting spell take effect. He was essentially 'softening' the molecules of the man and after just a few moments, he grinned in delight as he was able to fold the man's arm up like a long-sleeved shirt!

Working slowly, Dave worked his way over the rest of his Master's body, his eyes closing of their own accord as he worked, his hands moving smoothly by themselves as the magic took over and helped him. As he opened his eyes a crack, he noticed something interesting. While he could feel he was 'folding' his Master like paper, Balthazar looked no different, except for being smaller. Testing, Dave bent up a leg, but the instant the heel of the foot touched the man's knee, it… merged until it looked like the leg was only half as long as before!

Dave stared at this, confused and intrigued. Was that how it REALLY looked? Or was it the only way his poor, confused brain could interpret this magical act?

Closing his eyes again, Dave let the warmth of the magic guide him and before long, he sat on the floor, panting hard as he stared at a tiny, three-inch tall Balthazar lying on the chair he had been slouching in.

Licking his lips hesitantly, Dave reached for the tiny man, but then paused. Had he forgotten to do something? Oh! Of course! Closing his eyes again, Dave hovered his hand over the man's tiny form and spoke a few careful words, his ring pulsing, making his face turn green from time to time. Dave opened his eyes a crack and stared. From his palm came a… Well, it looked like a sheet of golden paper, but it was glowing and floating near to his palm, refusing to fall even though his hand was palm-side down.

He smiled, the sight familiar from his earlier tests. He lowered his hand to be RIGHT above Balthazar and with a soft murmur, lowered his hand to be BARELY touching the tiny man. The glow vanished and Dave withdrew his hand, smiling as his magic verified for him that Balthazar was now safe from acids.

Nervously, Dave then cast the next spell, touching his own chest and murmuring softly the words, drawing on the warm magic inside of him. He winced as he felt his belly twinge in protest at the sudden air, but he sighed and relaxed. Okay… he was all set.

Physically anyway. But mentally?

…Not so much.

As he looked at the tiny man, Dave found his hands shaking worse than ever. One part of him told him to abandon the whole project. He could try again later! Another part told him to just grab Balthazar and swallow him down right away, so that it was done. And yet another part told him that he should wait for Balthazar to wake up.

After biting his lip until he felt he would draw blood, Dave finally made his decision and stretched out his hand. Hesitantly, he flexed his fingers and then gingerly left his fingertip rest on Balthazar's chest, feeling the man breath and feeling his warmth… It was a very slight warmth, like touching a chair after someone had leaned on it. He could feel the fabric of the man's clothes under his fingertip and Dave rubbed slightly, stunned by how delicate and sensitive his fingers were. He had never realized before…

Inhaling to steady himself, Dave gently pinched the tiny man's chest, lifting him into the air. Balthazar was like a bit of wet rope and Dave was quick to add his second hand under him to catch him and keep the man from drooping like a ragdoll. Gently cradling his Master in his palm, Dave looked closely at the little man, his heart thundering in his chest.

Everything about him was PERFECT, right down to the teeny, tiny buttons on his waist coat. He could even see the man's ring, clear and golden as always. Cupping his hand, he settled Balthazar into a gentler curve and with his free hand, gently caressed the man's chest and belly, stunned that he could feel the difference of the bones and soft area of his gut. He kept rubbing gently, the way one would pet a hamster, frightened he might go too hard and BREAK the tiny sorcerer. Growing more confident, Dave whispered, "Balthazar?" But the man was completely out and after checking the clock, Dave saw why; it had only been ten minutes! He had plenty of time!

Smiling, Dave stood up carefully, feeling like he was walking on eggs as he worked to keep the transit smooth. He got over to his cot and sat on it, smiling as he leaned in close, staring at Balthazar, stunned he had even DONE this! This was insane and crazy and yet he had DONE it! He had taken control and had taught himself new spells, had practiced them and had pretty much mastered them! By himself!

Feeling a great swell of pride, Dave debated taking a picture of himself to celebrate this victory. After a few seconds of pondering, he grinned stupidly as he gave in and getting up, very gingerly walked to his desk and grabbed his digital camera. Fiddling with the settings with one hand, he held it at an arm's reach and took the picture, smiling hugely and shaking slightly.

Putting his camera away behind him on the cot, Dave then looked down at the tiny man. Well, he had to make a choice. Time was running out! Should he wait the few minutes for Balthazar to wake up, or should he go ahead and gulp him down and give him a surprising place to wake up?

After biting his lip again, Dave finally straightened up and lifted his hand. He then realized he had NO idea how to do this! Headfirst, like snakes, or feet first or… what? And would those clothes scratch him if he swallowed the man down the wrong way? Dave then gently pinched Balthazar's chest again and lifted the man into the air, letting his legs dangle. While Dave felt a little bad about tricking his Master like this, he smiled as he hesitantly opened his mouth and lowered the little legs inside.

He felt them hit his tongue and he chuckled at the weight and feeling of them. That… kind of tickled! Reassured and more eager now, Dave gently lowered Balthazar completely inside, leveling his head as he removed his fingers, shaking as he felt the weight of the little man as he lay completely in his mouth. Closing his teeth carefully, Dave sat on the cot for a time, shivering, feeling it as Balthazar BREATHED in his mouth. It was amazing!

Impulsively, Dave brought up his wrist and saw that his time was growing thin. If he wanted to do this before Balthazar woke up, he'd have to stop wasting time. With a shiver, Dave then tipped his head back gently, startled as he felt Balthazar's limp weight slide backwards so easily and perfectly, and Dave found that though he was prompted to swallow, it didn't feel as unnatural as he had feared! It felt like he was MADE for this! It was very easy and natural-feeling for him to swallow, but then he got a bit of a surprise; Balthazar could fit in his throat, but he stretched it out a little bit. That felt odd! Dave frowned slightly and swallowed again, shaking as he could FEEL the pressure of the man going down. It kind of hurt, but in a good way… The only thing he could compare it too was taking a hunk of food and swallowing it without chewing it enough. It could fit, yes, but you sure felt it as your body struggled to shove it down.

As he sat there, Dave found himself hugging his middle firmly, shivering a bit. It felt… different than he had thought. He found that it was one thing to try and force down a too-big mouthful, but another thing entirely to swallow down a shrunken man. His throat was strained, but he could… FEEL that Balthazar was alive. It was not a sensation he had ever felt before and he struggled to understand it. It felt oddly warm, but not in a temperature sense. Also, when he sat very still and focused on it, he was able to feel the tiny chest moving as his Master breathed. Oh wow… He could only imagine what it felt like for Balthazar earlier, when Dave had been struggling like crazy. How did that feel inside? Did it hurt or scratch? Or did it just feel funny?

Gulping again, Dave found he was able to relax a little bit, leaning on one hand and his other lowering down to his thin stomach, pressing inwardly curiously. He wondered how it would feel… He had had a hint of it earlier, when Balthazar had linked them, but how would it feel when Dave wasn't the one moving around? How would it feel when Balthazar moved by himself, in a way that Dave wasn't able to predict?

As he rested his hand over his stomach, Dave realized once again how very THIN he was. He really had no muscles to speak of. If Balthazar started to push at him, he should be able to feel it easily. Rubbing his fingertips gently on his shirt, Dave smiled. He wasn't going to hurt Balthazar of course, and that helped him feel better about tricking him. He was going to eat the man, yes, but he would be completely safe. Dave had gone out of his way to make things safe for his Master and he would continue to do so. He let his eyes drift shut as he swallowed again, feeling the little lump slip down so easily, deeper into his chest. This felt so nice…

Dave felt warm and happy and leaned back on the cot more heavily, pressing in at his belly experimentally, feeling the strain as Balthazar got closer. He shivered at that thought, grinning foolishly at the idea that he had WON tonight. There would be no painful trainings, no tiring practice, no mind-numbing repetition of various spells tonight. He would reassure his Master once he woke up and then go to sleep after a good, successful day.

Shaking hard, Dave inhaled as he was prompted to swallow one last time and he felt the tiny form of his Master slip into his belly. His hand was now very still over his stomach as he FELT the weight of the tiny man. He had no idea his stomach could even SENSE that slight a change of detail! It suddenly occurred to Dave that he had forgotten all about having dinner and it was probably kind of messy inside. Though he felt a bit bad for that, Dave's thoughts were soon drawn to the warmth of the tiny figure, another thing he had no idea he could feel. This was amazing!

Grinning, Dave leaned back more, his hand on the cot bumping something. Looking, he saw his camera and he grinned, grabbing it. His hand still over his belly, Dave turned it on and started to flick back through the pictures, wanting physical proof of what he'd done. As he flicked through the earlier photos, he chuckled, wondering if he should have taken a series of pictures. He got to the desired one and he chuckled at how TINY Balthazar looked in his hand! So tiny and cute with his little scowl and miniaturized clothes and-

Dave's heart skipped a beat and he looked harder at the picture, holding the camera with both hands and bringing it in close, until it nearly touched his nose, his heart starting to double-time instead.

In the picture, unknown to Dave, Balthazar was lying in his hand, WIDE AWAKE and looking VERY cross.

"Oh Daaaaaavvve?" The singsong voice echoed in his head in the same manner as before. The voice of his Master, Balthazar Blake.

Dave whimpered. "Oh man…"