Chapter Four

Amaryl opened the door and stepped into the suite she shared with Kimmy and Ahisa and Mirta. Her remaining roommates were sitting in the common room, waiting for her. She came over to the couch and flopped down with a sigh. It was now nearly ten at night, some twelve hours since Mirta vanished.

"Any news?" asked Kimmy.

"Yeah," nodded Amaryl, "They think they've figured out what the ingredient did. The magic of my bubble spell got mixed in and it apparently created a portal that lasted just long enough to suck her in."

"A portal to where?" asked Ahisa.

"That's the thing. Nobody knows because there was nothing to direct it. Totally random," was the answer. "They've also brought in Tecna to investigate. I had to do the bubble spell for her to take readings."

"Hm. So you've discovered a new portal spell using a potion. That's pretty good," said Kimmy. "Maybe you'll get a good grade for it."

Amaryl shook her head. "Not really. Once they figured out what was in the beaker, Palladium recognized the mixture. It's been discovered before, but is too unstable to use."

The other two girls were silent, thinking. Amaryl laid her head back against the couch and sighed again. "You were right, both of you. I shouldn't have done it."

Her friends looked at her, both biting their tongues to stop from saying 'I told you so.' That wouldn't help. Mirta was in trouble, and getting into a fight was the last thing they needed to do.

"What did they say about... punishment?" asked Kimmy.

"It depends on finding Mirta first," answered Amaryl.

"Well, can they figure out where she is?" asked Ahisa.

"They're not sure," said Amaryl.

"Do they even know if she's... alive?" asked Kimmy.

At that, Amaryl, broke down completely and the other two fairies immediately came to her and sat beside her.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked that," said Kimmy.

"It's- it's all right," sobbed Amaryl. She looked at them. "Miss Faragonda said that all we could do was hope."

She broke down again and her friends did their best to comfort her.

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Tecna stood in the classroom, looking things over. She took readings of everything and compiled the data as Palladium and Faragonda stood by the door, watching. Magic had, so far, failed to discover Mirta's fate, so now they turned to science.

While her laptop did its work, she addressed the teachers.

"Tell me everything you can about the mixture," she asked.

Palladium went to his desk and opened the book sitting there.

"Not too much to tell," he said, flipping pages. "This will give you everything that's known about the effect." He turned the book toward her.

It took the Technology Fairy less than a second to read and commit to memory the few pages of data. Her laptop also made a copy of them, converting the text to a file and storing it in the folder she had started for the project.

"Thank you," she nodded, "Now I've got a better idea of what's going on..."

She went over and sat in the chair Mirta had been in. She looked at the wall behind her and stared at it. Her normally passive face betraying no hint of what she was thinking.

"Mirta was sitting here when it happened," she said, and stood up. "She disappeared with a bang and rush of air, and her chair was tipped over backwards. The beaker was broken and the other bottles knocked around, correct?"

Palladium nodded.

"So the portal appeared right in front of her, likely over the beaker, and pulled her in," said Tecna, taking more readings.

She looked up, directly at the ingredients cabinet, and stared at it like she expected Mirta to come tumbling out. Then she turned and looked at the wall behind her again.

The teachers exchanged a glance. Odd behavior, but if it got the job done...

Turning her attention to her laptop, she studied the results of the scans, and her eyes narrowed slightly. Tecna studied the list and amounts of ingredients used. They had to assume Mirta had put in the correct amounts of the right powders and liquids because the beaker had broken and the contents scattered. They knew the amount of liquid added from the wrong bottle by what was left in it.

Tecna pointed toward the cabinet. "That way is west, correct?"

Startled by the complete non-sequitur, Faragonda could only nod in answer.

They watched as Tecna pulled up a program and started typing. Equations came and went on the screen, almost too quick to see. Then a circle appeared and a line went from one spot to another, leaving an "X" at the end. Tecna nodded and turned to them.

"As far as I can determine, she's in Trollzopolis," she declared.

Both teacher's mouths dropped open.

"How- how do you figure that?" asked Palladium. Tecna's face took on a slightly hurt look, and the elf quickly added, "Not that I doubt, you understand, I just want to know why you think so."

The look disappeared as quickly as it came, and Tecna turned the laptop toward them.

"The size and shape of the portal is based on the composition and makeup of the ingredients. Amaryl's spell and the wrong ingredient supplied the energy, and we have that quantified. Essentially, a wormhole was created with a tunnel going west. Said tunnel would follow the curve of the world because of gravity, and the exit would appear when the energy ran out. That can be estimated. Since it was created by magic, it would be attracted to a place of magic, and Trollzopolis is the only thing in that area that qualifies." She pointed at the circle, which had added more details and now could be seen to be a map of Magix.

"I... think I'd better go call Obsidian..." said Faragonda. Then she smiled. "Thank you, Tecna, that is excellent work."

Putting away her laptop, the Technology Fairy nodded. "Glad to help. I'll stop by Amaryl's room and let her know."

"Thank you, dear," said Faragonda, and left for her office.

"That was incredible work, Tecna," said Palladium, "I am very impressed."

She smiled and said "Thank you, sir. I enjoy solving mysteries like this."

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Tecna knocked on the door of Amaryl's suite then let herself in. Three pairs of eyes were looking in her direction.

"I have news," she said, "The portal has probably taken Mirta to Trollzopolis, and it's likely she's okay."

Amaryl sat back and appeared to deflate in relief. "Thank you."

"Trollzopolis?" said Ahisa, "Where those troll-girls that visited came from?"

"That's right," nodded Tecna. "Ms. Faragonda is calling someone there now."

Amaryl stood up. "I have to do something to help. I'm responsible, and have to make it right."

Tecna smiled. "Good to hear."

Kimmy and Ahisa stood as well. "We're her friends too. We'll help."

"Well, you need to tell Ms. Faragonda and Professor Palladium, not me. As it is, I've got to go now and get packed for that mission," said Tecna.

"Thanks again, Tecna," said Amaryl, giving her a brief hug.

"You're quite welcome. I know you will handle it just fine." The Technology Fairy left, leaving three friends very relieved about the fate of the fourth.

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"I see," said Obsidian. Her image was on Faragonda's holophone projector. She was very old, with white hair and light green eyes. "I'll call the girls and get the search started."

"Thank you, Obsidian," nodded Faragonda. "How are your students doing?"

The old troll smiled. "Quite well. They're picking up knowledge and techniques at a very satisfying rate."

"That's good to hear. I felt they had a lot of potential when I met them," said Faragonda.

"Yes, they're young and inexperienced, but they give me hope for the future," was the reply. "I need to make that call. And I'll call you back when I've got news."

"Thank you, Obsidian, and good night," said Faragonda, and broke the connection.