Chapter 1: The Marshmallow Mistake The Witching Academy was supposed to be spooky. It was supposed to be bubbling slime, and sound of dramatic thunder. But Sunbeam was a bit of a problem for the Headmistress. Sunbeam was a witch who smelled like vanilla and sunshine. While the other witches were practicing their “Terror Transitions,” Sunbeam was trying to turn a teacup into a toad. Instead, she turned into a tiny, sleeping golden retriever puppy with a fashionable pink bow. “Oh dear. You’re much too cute for a Dark Magic exam,” Sunbeam whispered, patting the gorgeous puppy. She tried one last time to cast the Fog of Forgetfulness. She waved her wand which looked suspiciously like a giant glittery lollipop and shouted, “Misty Moisty Gloom! POOF. A thick, pink, sticky mist exploded from her cauldron. It didn’t make people forget things; it made the whole classroom smell like toasted marshmallows. In a split of a second, the grumpy gargoyles on the walls started to smile, and the head accidentally let out a tiny giggle. Sunbeam sighed. She was just to too loveable for her own good. Chapter 2: The Hero Who Tripped Over History Sunbeam’s marshmallow fog drifted out of the classroom and floated down the hallway like a sugary pink cloud looking for trouble. Unfortunately, it found exactly the right person. Or… the wrong person. Professor Thornhelm, the Academy’s strictest teacher, was marching down the corridor carrying a stack of ancient spellbooks taller than a baby dragon. He was muttering to himself about “undisciplined wand‑waving” and “the youth these days,” when the pink fog curled around his ankles. He froze. He sniffed. His eyebrows twitched. “Oh no,” Sunbeam whispered from inside the classroom. “Not him.” Professor Thornhelm’s eyes widened as the marshmallow scent hit him full force. His knees wobbled. His arms flailed. And then— THUD. He slipped on absolutely nothing except his own dramatic cape and fell backwards into the stack of spellbooks. The books flew into the air like startled pigeons. One landed on his head with a soft bonk. The students gasped. Sunbeam rushed out. “Professor! Are you okay?” Thornhelm blinked up at her. Chapter 3: The Library of Loud Whispers Sunbeam dragged the still sparkly knight version of Professor Thornhelm to the Academy Library, hoping the ancient spellbooks might explain why her magic kept turning everything adorable. The Library of Loud Whispers was the quietest place in the entire school… except for the books. They whispered constantly. “Psst… someone’s coming.” “Hide your bookmarks!” “Don’t let them dog ear me!” Sunbeam tiptoed inside, Thornhelm clanking behind her like a walking cutlery drawer. “Shhh!” hissed a dozen books at once. “Sorry,” Sunbeam whispered. “I need help. My spells keep going wrong.” A dusty book with a cracked spine floated off a shelf and hovered in front of her. Its title glowed: THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MAGICAL MISHAPS: A Guide for the Accident Prone Witch Sunbeam sighed. “That feels personal.” The book flipped open by itself. A page titled ‘The Curse of Cuteness’ shimmered. “Ah,” Thornhelm said, adjusting his marshmallow covered helmet. “This sounds relevant.” Sunbeam read aloud: “If a witch’s magic becomes too sweet, too sparkly, or too full of joy, she may accidentally enchant the world with irresistible cuteness.” The book continued whispering: “Side effects include: giggling gargoyles, fluffy transformations, and uncontrollable marshmallow fog.” Sunbeam groaned. “So I’m… too cheerful? That’s the problem?” The book snapped shut dramatically. “Yes.” Before she could argue, the floor trembled. A booming voice echoed through the library: “WHO DARES DISTURB MY SLUMBER?” A giant stone statue of a cat — the Library Guardian — stretched, yawned, and blinked its glowing emerald eyes. Thornhelm squeaked. Sunbeam squeaked louder. The cat statue leaned down, sniffed the air, and purred. “Mmm. Marshmallows.” Sunbeam gulped. “Uh oh.” The Guardian’s tail swished. “I hope you brought enough for sharing.” Sunbeam looked at Thornhelm. Thornhelm looked at Sunbeam. Both whispered the same thing: “Run.” “Why… does everything smell like a bakery?” Before Sunbeam could answer, the pink fog swirled again — and with a tiny pop, the professor transformed into a heroic-looking knight wearing shiny silver armour… except the armour was covered in marshmallow fluff, and his helmet had a giant pink bow on top. He leapt to his feet. “Fear not! I shall defend the Academy from” He tripped over a history textbook. “gravity,” he finished, face‑down on the floor. The students burst into giggles. Sunbeam covered her eyes. “I really need to stop doing magic before breakfast.” Chapter 3: The Library of Loud Whispers Sunbeam dragged the still sparkly knight‑version of Professor Thornhelm to the Academy Library, hoping the ancient spellbooks might explain why her magic kept turning everything adorable. The Library of Loud Whispers was the quietest place in the entire school...