“Stop copying me, you’re going to get it wrong. Do the beginner work,” said Amethyst, crafting an invisibility potion for herself.

“I’m not copying you, I’m modifying the potion. And besides, I’m already invisible, why would I need the invisibility potion?” asked Sahara. They were at tables of four, with Amethyst, Sahara, Nadia and Ella at one table, and Phila, Garnet, Dian and Oma at the other. They had switched the tables around from what they normally were, Garnet, Dian, Oma and Amethyst at one table, so that they could have a chance to warm up to each other. Nadia had decided to join their little group after attempting to get a seat with Yekti, who rejected her.

The seating change was sort of working, Oma became less shy around the newbies and actually engaged in conversations.

“Don’t put that in there! Did you not learn solutes and solvents?” said Amethyst as Sahara dropped some red liquid into the potion, which splattered up on her.

“Gah, I look like I got into a bloody fight!” grumbled Sahara as she wiped the splatter off her face.

“Look at me. Did the potion work? It’s a new mix that will last longer, so...” asked Amethyst. Sahara looked where Amethyst was sitting, and found Amethyst to be gone.

“It worked!” said Nadia. “Good job, Amethyst!” Phila walked over and nodded her head. She picked up Sahara’s potion.

“Potion of invisibility? Let me try!” said Phila as she drunk the potion.

“Phila, no!” yelled Sahara, slapping the vial out of Phila’s hands, but it was too late. Phila fainted as she reverted into a dark green blob of liquid.

“Ewww,” said Garnet as she walked over. “What is that? Should I have the janitor clean it up?”

“No, that’s Phila,” said Sahara. “Did the potion do that?”

“No,” said Nadia. “Shifters are viscous liquids. They revert when they’re injured badly, or when they don’t need to hold form. Like when they sleep.”

“Oh, right. We should probably put her in a bucket,” said Garnet. “She’d kill us if anyone stepped on her.” Oma walked over with a glass vial. She scooped the goo into it.

“How long will she stay like this?” asked Oma, concerned. She traced one of the burns on her forehead, which she always did when she was nervous.

“I don’t know,” said Garnet. “I could try healing her.” Garnet stuck her hands in the goo. Nothing happened.

“I told you not to experiment!” said Amethyst. “If she had bones, you would have killed her! Or, more accurately, she’d have dissolved inside out! Without an immunity, this destroys calcium! Seriously?”

“And bones are made of calcium,” said Ella. “But she obviously had some calcium in her body. Which is why she... reverted?” Ella poked her pencil into the goo.

“Okay. I’ll take her to the hospital wing while you guys finish potions,” said Garnet as she lifted up the vial. “Phew, she’s heavy.”

Down at the hospital wing, Professor Kari, an elderly man who was head healer, was appalled by Phila’s condition.

“She just, melted?” Professor Kali asked Garnet.

“After she drank the anti-calcium invisibility potion,” said Garnet. “She kinda just ‘blobbed’.”

“I’m afraid I don’t know what to do about her. She may remain this pile of goo for the rest of her life,” said Professor Kali, looking sadly Phila.

“Did you hear that, Phila?” said Garnet, talking to the goo. “You may be goo for the rest of your life. You’ll never get to take the shape of anything else anymore.”

“Wait, what was Phila’s power?” asked Professor Kali, suddenly looking alert.

“She was a shifter,” said Garnet.

“Oh, then it’s no big deal. She’ll remain dormant until tomorrow so she can heal. I thought she was an actual human. Now, that would have been a big deal,” said Professor Kali, happier. “Why don’t you go back to class? Oh, and can you ask Amethyst to stop by? Oma asked about some burn cream she may have some ideas for.”