The Alchemists Academy: Stones to Ashes Book 1 by Kailin Gow Page B

is rather dangerous, so I have to give you some warnings before we start. Load of nonsense if you ask me. First, this spell comes in two varieties… temporary, and permanent. Permanent is better if you’re changing into people, because there’s no chance of it wearing off at an embarrassing moment, but don’t use it to turn yourself into anything that can’t speak unless you plan on spending the next few years looking for a princess to kiss it better. Second, if you stay too long, or you don’t say the spell quite right, you can end up with… mementoes.”
    Wirt joined the whole class in taking another look at the traces of animal dotted around Ms. Genovia.
    “Finally, apparently some kingdoms still don’t like it very much if you go around turning people into things. They think that transmutation should only be used for healing, for some reason. All very silly, if you ask me.”
    The rest of the class period passed in a kind of stunned haze for Wirt. He couldn’t make up his mind though whether it was an after-effect of being transformed, or simply the natural result of being around someone quite as loud as Ms. Genovia for any length of time. They practiced the words and gestures for the spell separately, and then at once, with Ms. Genovia turning back a few of the less successful efforts. Wirt found himself warming to it. Indeed, by the time the class came to a close, he’d managed to turn himself into Spencer, Ender Paine, and a version of himself about a foot taller and with rippling muscles. He was almost disappointed when he had to turn back from that one, particularly since he saw Alana give him a thoughtful look.
    He and Spencer returned to their room, where Wirt was surprised to find a package waiting at the door, wrapped up in brown paper and addressed to him. Opening it once they were inside revealed a box made from dark wood, with a note pinned to the lid that said, Thought you might be needing some spare clothes, if you”re going to be here much longer. Ms. L.
    “Wow,” Spencer said, “a wardrobe.”
    “No,” Wirt replied, “it’s just a box.”
    “Just a box? That box will give you anything you need to wear. Anything. Go on, try it. All you have to do is ask for what you want. Ask for something.”
    Much like those times when someone tells you to “say something”, Wirt found his mind going completely blank.
    “Like what?”
    “Why don’t you start by getting it to copy what you’re wearing now?” Spencer suggested. Wirt nodded.
    “Box, give me a copy of what I’m wearing now.” He thought for a moment. “And an expensive diamond ring.”
    He opened the box. The clothes were there, from the gray hoodie to the jeans. The diamond ring was not.
    “I guess it doesn’t provide valuables, then,” Spencer said. “Nice try though. That’s an impressive thing for Ms. Lake to just give you.”
    “I suppose she thinks that I’ll need it,” Wirt said, though truthfully, he was thinking much the same thing. People didn’t give you things like this without wanting something in return. He wondered what it would be. For now, he changed into his new clothes, all too aware of how grubby the originals had become.
    “We should be getting to Ms. Preville’s class next,” Spencer said, “if you’re ready.”
    Wirt was, so they took the tubes back to the hall where Ms. Genovia’s classroom sat. If Wirt had expected the classroom opposite to be identical, he was disappointed. Though disappointed probably was not the right word, because the classroom was spectacular. Beams of light sparkled round walls lined with crystal, images of great beasts flashed across the floor, sparkling clouds of dewdrops spun rainbows in the rafters, and flowers opened in a small meadow towards the back. Wirt came to a quick conclusion.
    “This isn’t real,” he said aloud. That was greeted by the sound of clapping.
    “Oh, well done. People don’t usually guess so quickly.”
    The images faded, leaving a