The next morning Zann took his friends to his parents' lab for a tour.
Perda wanted to see where they worked and check out their latest inventions.
Saffa decided to go too. When they arrived, they found Boz there with Zann's parents.
"Would you like to see the relics?" Asta asked Zann's friends.
"Sure," Perda said. "Is the Mask of Zanta here?"
"You already saw that," Gliss reminded her.
"That was when it was lying around in the Cave of the Unknown," Perda said. "Seeing it here is different."
Zann followed his mother and his friends into the next room.
"Wow," Gliss said when Asta showed them the Mask of Zanta.
It was locked in a glass case. "That's amazing. And kind of scary."
"We keep this relic separate from the others, since it's probably the strongest one we found," Zann's mother said.
"Other than the Horn of the Otherworld, maybe. But that was destroyed."
Zann shuddered, remembering how Morb had tried to take over Magica with the Horn.
They moved on to the other relics waiting to be cataloged.
Zann's mother even took out a few for the kids to touch.
None of the other relics were as powerful as the Mask of Zanta, but still, Zann felt ancient magic crackling around them.
"What are you going to do with them?" Perda asked, examining an old, cracked cup.
"Are you still planning to destroy them all?"
"We're not sure yet." Asta sighed.
"Most members of the Red Council would prefer that the relics weren't around, in case someone like Morb ever tries to use them for evil purposes.
But a few members think we should keep some relics."
"Like Venna?" Zann guessed. The head of the Red Council had been opposed to destroying the relics all along.
She wanted to store them away in case the items' strong magic was ever needed.
"I see why she thinks that." Perda carefully set down the relic she was holding.
"If someone as strong as Morb does come along, the relics could help us fight him."
Zann's mother nodded. "Yes, that's Venna's argument," she said.
"But my father and a few others believe it's not worth the risk. They think—oh, hello, Mari."
Mari had just entered the room. She was holding another relic.
"Hi," she said, looking surprised to see so many people in the lab.
"Excuse me. I didn't mean to interrupt."
"No, it's okay." Zann stepped forward. "This is Mari, a friend from my new school," he told the others.
"Mari, these are my friends from home—Perda, Darb, and Gliss."
Mari smiled. "Nice to meet you."
"Same here," Gliss said. "Are you coming to the party?"
"Oops!" Zann said. "I've been meaning to invite you.
It's this afternoon, but I'd love for you to come."
He smiled sheepishly. "Sorry for the late notice."
"That's okay," Mari said. "I think I can come. Thanks for the invitation."
She set down the relic she was holding and followed them back into the main room.
Boz and Saffa were leaning over one of Nax's inventions while he explained how it worked.
"What is that?" Perda hurried over. "It looks interesting!"
Nax smiled at her. "I call it the guidelink.
It will help people travel through the vortex more easily."
Just then the door flew open. Zann was shocked to see the king and queen of Magica rush in.
Right behind them was Venna, followed by a Red, a man whom Zann had never seen before.
Zann's friends also looked shocked by the sight of the king and queen.
"Who's that guy?" Darb whispered. "He looks familiar."
"I don't know," Zann whispered back.
"Good! You're all here," the queen said, staring at Boz, Saffa, and Zann's parents.
Then she spotted Zann and the other kids. "Oh! Hello, youngsters."
"We need to talk," Venna told the other adults, ignoring the kids. "It's important."
The king rubbed his fingers together. "I'll zap us all to the palace. It will be private there."
"All right." Zann's mother rubbed her hands together and stepped toward the king.
Then she widened her eyes. "Oh! Some of the relics are still out."
"I'll take care of them," Mari said.
"Thanks, Mari," Asta said. "I'm sure we'll be back soon."
The adults zapped away.
"I wonder what's going on," Gliss said.
Perda rubbed her chin. "I'm wondering the same thing," she said.
"Do you think they're talking about what to do with the relics?"
"I doubt it," Zann said. "They've been talking about that for months. This seemed urgent."
"Maybe it's about the Void rights protests," Gliss suggested.
"Why would that be urgent?" Perda asked.
"Boz says Laddno is stirring up too much unrest," Zann said.
"He thinks the protests are turning people against the Red Council, and Reds in general."
"Wow, really?" Perda looked surprised.
Mari cleared her throat. "Excuse me," she said.
"I'd better go take care of those relics." She hurried into the other room.
"She seems nice," Gliss said.
Perda wandered over to pick up the guidelink.
"Do you think this really works?" she said. "Maybe we should test it out."
"What do you mean?" Gliss' eyes widened nervously.
Perda laughed. "I'm just kidding. But Zann's dad wants Darb to try out his other invention, right?
It would be fun to try this one too. I'd love to see more worlds!"
"Not me," Gliss declared. "I never want to see the inside of the vortex again!"
Zann took the guidelink from Perda and put it on a shelf.
"Let's go home and get ready for my party."
He glanced at the spot where the adults had zapped away.
"I just hope my parents and Boz get back from the palace in time."