Note: This post is a short story set in The Magical World of Zealandia. Each story offers a glimpse into the wider universe behind the book series — including side plots, hidden moments, and character perspectives.
While these can be read on their own, they’re best enjoyed after reading Zealandia: The Dreadstones Grasp to avoid confusion and get the full context.
Tom Walker burst out the townhouse door with toast in his mouth and panic in his eyes.
“Alex!” he shouted, muffled. “We’re gonna be late!”
Alex appeared a moment later, casually buttoning his shirt.
“We wouldn’t be late if someone hadn’t snoozed their alarm rock three times.”
Tom glared. “It launched itself off my side table. I thought it was trying to kill me.”
With a sigh of disapproval, Alex started their journey down Northway’s switchbacks to Aetherium School. Northway was waking up around them — windows creaked open, curtains twitched, and a gnome with a broom gave them a dirty look.
Emily jogged up beside them, satchel bouncing against her hip.
They turned the corner, and the spires of Aetherium rose ahead — grand and ancient, like they always were.
Then the air changed.
All three of them slowed.
There was a bubbling sound.
Then a hiss.
They sighed — not in fear, but familiarity. Because of course something was happening. Something always was.
A blast of green and pink foam erupted from a bell tower, spiralling upward before sloshing down the stone like a melted dessert.
The foam fizzed as it oozed down, dyeing the bricks the exact colour of old watermelon rind.
Then the front doors to the school slammed open with a sea of students.
Victoria stumbled out — uniform scorched, hair sticking in five directions, eyes wide, dripping foam.
“School’s cancelled!” she wheezed.
Tom, Emily, and Alex stared at her, muffling their laughter.
Not a word was said about how Victoria had insisted on getting to school early. How she hadn’t waited for them. How being punctual was so important.
They just stood there, taking in the soot, the foam, and the look on her face.
Then a cough echoed from the tower.
Followed by a very, very muffled voice:
“I’M FINE!”
Emily cracked first. “That was Professor Scruffles.”
Tom frowned. “Who?”
“The Head of Advanced Pyrotechnics. He’s a big bear. The size of Elter and Hazel put together.”
Alex snorted. “Didn’t he enchant fireworks to clean his office once?”
“Yep. Blew the door straight through the herbology wall.”
Tom watched smoke curl lazily into the sky. “So… no school today?”
“What do you think,” Victoria muttered, still wide-eyed and dripping foam, staggering back towards the townhouse like she was rethinking every life choice.
Behind her, her friends snickered.