After Arthur and Yuna came back from the forest, the story spread faster than they could stop it.
Elizabeth listened once, took in the image of Arthur frozen in fear and covered in basilisk snot, and immediately burst out laughing.
"You—pfft—paralyzed by a snake and slimed from head to toe?" Elizabeth wheezed. "I wish I had recorded it."
Luna was even worse.
The little fairy rolled around in Erica's hair, laughing so hard her wings buzzed uncontrollably.
Only Erica looked genuinely worried.
Her blue eyes checked Arthur from head to toe, relief flickering in them when she confirmed he was unharmed.
Arthur didn't bother arguing.
He shot everyone a withering look and ran straight toward the river.
He stayed there for a long time, scrubbing off every last trace of basilisk snot until his skin felt raw. By the time he came back, his hair was still damp, and he had changed into a clean set of plain clothes.
