Elowen, a young, frazzled wizard's assistant, stood amidst the chaos, her face frozen in disbelief. The royal family—once regal and composed—now waddled around her feet, quacking in confusion. The king flapped his wings indignantly, while the queen pecked curiously at a stray scroll. "Oh, no, no, no! This wasn't supposed to happen!" Elowen muttered, clutching a wand that still sparked with residual magic.
Elowen hurriedly exited the tower, a basket in hand with the royal ducklings following in a disorderly line. Her mind raced as she navigated the cobblestone streets, avoiding inquisitive glances from passersby. Efervescencia, her trusted yet sarcastic familiar, perched on her shoulder, offered a dry commentary. "Well, this is a fine mess you've conjured, isn't it?"
"I need your help, Efer!" pleaded Elowen, her eyes scanning for a solution amidst the chaos of the city.
Elowen and Efervescencia consulted with the eccentric alchemist, Master Thistle. His eyes twinkled with mischief as he examined the squawking regal entourage. "Reversing such a transformation requires a rare ingredient—Eye of Newt's Charm," he mused, stroking his beard. "But where can we find that?" Elowen asked, hope mingling with despair.
Elowen, guided by Efervescencia, ventured into the heart of the woods. Despite her trepidation, determination burned in her eyes. The woods were alive with the sounds of nocturnal creatures, and the path was illuminated by the soft glow of bioluminescent fungi. "There it is!" she exclaimed, spotting the elusive Eye of Newt's Charm nestled amidst the roots of an ancient oak.
Elowen returned to the tower, clutching the precious ingredient. Just as she prepared to reverse the spell, Captain Thorne, the royal guard leader, stormed in, suspicion in his eyes. "What is the meaning of this, Elowen?" he demanded, gesturing to the quacking ducks.
"It's... it's just a practice spell gone awry," Elowen stammered, trying to shield the truth.
With a flick of her wand and a whispered incantation, Elowen reversed the spell. The ducks shimmered and transformed back into the royal family, bewildered yet unharmed. The king, regaining his composure, eyed Elowen with a mix of gratitude and amusement. "Thank you," he said, his voice warm. Captain Thorne nodded, his stern expression softening.
"Just another day in Eldoria," quipped Efervescencia, nuzzling against Elowen's cheek as relief washed over her.
