To educate Arthur, Merlin transforms himself and the boy into fish. They swim in the castle moat to learn about physics, but they were attacked by a pike. Arthur is nearly eaten by a pike, but he is saved by Archimedes. After the lesson, Arthur is sent to the kitchen as punishment for attempting to relate his lesson to a disbelieving Ector and Kay. Merlin enchants the dishes to wash themselves, then takes Arthur for another lesson, turning them into squirrels to learn about gravity and male-female relationships, but they are both infatuated by two girl squirrels. After returning to human form and when they return to the castle again, Ector accuses Merlin of using black magic on the dishes, which he and Kay discovered and unsuccessfully tries to fight off, while Merlin and Arthur are away. Arthur defiantly defends Merlin, but Ector refuses to listen and punishes Arthur by giving Kay another squire, Hobbs and also revokes Arthur's chance of going to London. Resolving to make amends, Merlin plans on educating Arthur full-time. However, Merlin's knowledge of future history confuses Arthur, prompting Merlin to appoint Archimedes as Arthur's teacher. Merlin transforms Arthur into a sparrow and Archimedes teaches him how to fly. Soon after, Arthur encounters Madam Mim, an eccentric, evil witch who is Merlin's nemesis. Merlin arrives to rescue Arthur, and Mim challenges Merlin to a wizards' duel. Despite Mim's cheating, Merlin outsmarts her by transforming into a germ that infects Mim, thus illustrating the importance of knowledge over strength. On Christmas Eve, Kay is knighted, but Hobbs comes down with the mumps; therefore, Ector reinstates Arthur as Kay's squire. This causes Merlin to think that Arthur cares more about war games than having an education, and when Arthur defends his choices, Merlin unwittingly transports himself in time to 20th-century Bermuda in his anger for a long overdue vacation.