And Elara, smiling, reached for the baking soda once more.

Elara then poured a full cup of . It fell like a silent, white avalanche into the drain, dusting the sides of the pipe, settling onto the warm, softened grease of the King’s lair.

A low, volcanic fizz erupted from the drain. It wasn't a polite whisper; it was a full-throated, crackling roar. A foam, white and energetic, started to churn and rise. It was the breath of a miniature dragon, waking up in the pipes. The chemical reaction—acetic acid meeting sodium bicarbonate—released carbon dioxide gas in a furious, expanding froth. This was the Clockwork Dragon, and it had no master but physics.

Gran replied: Of course it does. It’s not a trick, darling. It’s chemistry with a little bit of patience. Now clean the shower drain.