When Claire passed out, the last thing she heard, were her very own screams into the night. As it was, the Puchuu that was the cause of her pain, continued to pour the magic of change into her system. The sneaky little thing let forth a full on grin with jagged teeth and a mischievous grin. The little marshmallow f*** had already poured more than enough magic into the girl, forcing her unconscious body into its newly acquired form just to take it all in. As more magic was received, more changed. As the poor girl’s mind was beginning to warp, her body sprouted its new set of ears and tail, the magic starting to go wild.
That is, until, someone just happened upon the scene, and someone willing to intervene. A concentrated beam of flames blazed from out of the nearby alleyway, forcing the little cat creature to move, and sever the link, letting the unconscious girl fall. Before she hit the ground, a pair of ethereal hands managed to grab her, the body following into sight as a Knight of a time long lost, in full on plate armor, broken in the back from several puncture wounds.
And out of the alley, strode the caster, smirking ever so smugly as he blasted the Puchuu farther from Claire and the Knight. Striding over, the man took the fallen girl as she slipped back into her new, and nude, natural form. The man clicked his tongue, looking to the now angered Puchuu, shaking his head. “Tsk tsk tsk. Look at what you went and did, huh? The poor girl is probably scarred in some way or another now.”
The little creature glared at the caster with it’s blood red eyes. “Leave at once! I will not lose another to a thief!” This caused the man to scoff, picking the unconscious girl up bridal style, keeping her close to keep her warm. “Thief? Me? Hardly an insult coming from the one who just stole the poor girl’s life from her very fingers!” He scoffed, before jerking his head at the Knight, who was awaiting instruction.
“Boris. Chase the little bastard off!” The Knight did not respond, merely drawing his blade, and charging the Puchuu. The small creature, for all it’s glaring and brooding and throwing a hissy fit, ran with it’s tail practically between it’s legs as the knight started to chase it. With a slight groan, the changed girl slightly opened her eyes to see Boris chase the thing away and out of sight, before looking up to her saviour. She made to say, ‘Thank You’, but slipped back into unconsciousness before she could muster the strength.
The Mage sighed softly, silently recalling his spiritual knight, before holding the girl close, and heading for his home….More specifically, to the closest cemetery, and into a crypt, in which was a tunnel, hidden under heavy illusions and traps, of which the Mage navigated easily, and into a rather grand, underground abode. Leaving Claire on the couch, he went over to a cabinet, pulling out a pouch, and went back to her, using smelling salts to awaken the poor girl quickly. It wasn’t long, until she groaned again, and started to rouse.
With a chuckle, the mage pulled a blanket from one of the nearby, fancy chairs, and draped it over her for modesty, before pulling over said chair, and waiting for her to fully awaken. He didn’t wait long at all, as mere moments from him being seated, the girl pushed herself up into a sitting position, rubbing at her eyes vigorously. When she finally was able to see again, she looked about the room in a stunned expression, before noticing the man sitting across from her. She then looked down at herself...And meekly pulled the blanket up to cover her chest. The man only chuckled, crossing one leg over the other.
“Before either of us get into asking the other a plethora of questions, Let us introduce ourselves, hm? I am Magister Adrian Flegman, and I hail from Britain. You are...?” He started off, rolling one hand to egg her on as he rested his head on his other hand. Claire bunched her legs in close to her chest, before responding slowly. “Um...Claire. Morricks. I’m….From Melville.” She responded, looking about once more. “Where...Are we, exactly, sir?”
The Magister smiled softly at her question. “Please my dear, call me Adrian. As for where, we are in my home, far away from that Puchuu that….Sadly, has changed your fate forever.” He responded, his smile twitching, sadness darkening his eyes. Claire looked back to him with a curious, and scared look. “P-Puchuu? You mean the….What do you mean, changed?”
Adrian sighed, standing and walking over, sitting down next to her. “Just, breathe, for a moment, and feel out your body. I assure you, it won’t feel the same.” He told her softly. Claire could only nod softly, and do her best to follow the given instructions. As she calmed down, she became aware of several things. She became aware that her hearing had improved….But wasn't coming from her ears normally were. Shakily, a hand went to inspect the top of her head, while the other went to inspect the small of her back, feeling a strange appendage there as well.
As she felt out her new ears and tail, her tongue explored her mouth, and she felt her ‘Canines’ weren’t the same either. She slowly stood up from the couch, the blanket crumpling to the floor, and looking to Adrian with watery eyes. “....What...What exactly did that THING do to me..?” She asked, trying to hold back the tears. Adrian leaned forward, and put a hand on her shoulder. “It granted you what some call a gift, and others a curse. Tell me, have you ever heard...Of Magical Girls?” he asked with a soft voice.
Claire nodded, wiping at her eyes with the backs of her hands. “Y-yeah. On the internet, and in mythology books and all those silly cultist sites and what not. Why…?” She responded as she sniffled. Adrian smiled a bit more and patted her shoulder. “Because, dear Claire, that is what you are now. I came across your reshaping, and managed to stop it before it got out of hand. The Puchuu will take men, women, and children, from what I’ve seen, and turn them into these Magical Girls to fight against those who have either gone rogue, or against whatever evils may lie in the night. That Puchuu would have no doubt forced you to fight for it...But as it is, I see an opportunity, for the both of us.”
He stood up, picking the blanket up and putting softly about her naked form. Claire looked to him with curious eyes as he walked over to a nearby fireplace. “I’ve found that with age, I have grown bored. I figured it was high time I find a suitable person of interest to be my pupil, as well as my hand, in the modern day….If I may, miss Claire…” He turned to her, smiling. “Might you be that pupil? I could help you hone your new abilities, and pay you as well, both in terms of current cash, and coins, to which I will explain at a later date for you of course.”
The newly turned Claire raised her brows, listening to his offer, before shrinking back meekly. “Oh, um, I don’t know...I need to let my parents know I’m okay after all….” She responded. Adrian sighed, shaking his head as he came back over, gently patting her head. “I am sorry, my dear, but...Well, sadly, they might sooner call you a liar, or a monster, before believing you are their child, in the worse case scenario...However, I have heard of some parents accepting and trying to deal with these things...” He said softly. Claire lowered her head at that, ear drooping in saddening thought.
Adrian hugged her tight, shushing her and rubbing her back through the blanket. “Hush now, I am genuinely sorry child...As I said, this is as much a gift, as it is a curse upon you. I promise, I WILL guide you….If you let me…”
It took several minutes for the poor girl to calm down….Before she sniffed lightly, and nodded into his chest. “...O-okay….I’ll learn…” She said softly. Adrian smiled happily, releasing her, and patting her head once more. “Excellent! First thing is first….I must take some measurements….I will need to procure you some clothing, and sadly at this time of night, no shops I know of are open….”
Claire understood what he meant, and shyly let the blanket drop. Adrian smiled softly, conjuring up an old measuring tape, and gently taking her measurements, before leaving from one of his many entrances. Claire, crawled back onto the couch with the blanket….And cried herself to sleep, hoping it was all just a dream to wake up from, actually hoping she was just knocked out from being mugged.
However, not an hour later, she was shaken awake. When she opened her eyes, her new Master was looking down at her, with a soft smile, and a bag. Claire sat up as he plopped it down next to her on the couch. “Please get dressed, and I will ready some tests, alright?” He asked her gently. She nodded, and proceeded to get dressed. She was slightly embarrassed to see there were indeed a set of white panties and a bra inside, and she slipped those one first, then the shirt, jacket, jeans, and the boots. When she saw the beanie, she smiled softly...And slipped it into her pocket for now, doing her best to ignore the uncomfortable feeling of her tail being confined in one of her pant legs.
As Adrian came back with a few items, he smiled, and conjured up a table with the flick of a finger, setting the items on it. The conjuring slightly unnerved her, but she fought the urge to gasp like a kid at a magic show. As he arranged the items, he smiled at her. “You know, my Grandfather was a tailor. He used to work on both men and women in his shop.” That line, sen a jolt to her brain. She couldn't help but furrow her brow at him, thinking something off about the admittance. He stopped, staring at her expression. “What?” He asked.
She shook her head, frowning. “Sorry, I uh...For some reason, that mention of your Grandfather, it...Struck a chord with me, I think?” She admitted, rubbing the back of her head. Adrian stopped, then grinned, clapping in mild amusement. “Well then! That settles that. That, was actually the first test, my dear Claire. You see, even out of their True Forms, Magical Girls have certain….Abilities, and are mostly stuck to one magical specialty. The one you just demonstrated, was the ability to detect a lie, which means, you are more than likely gifted with Magic of Light.” He said, sweeping his arms slowly, summoning orbs of light in each.
Claire ogled at the orbs, her eyes not only shining from the light, but in sheer wonder. As the orbs vanished, something caught Claire’s eye. A man in what seemed like a very old, and strange looking police uniform….Phased through the wall, and ran towards Adrian silently, stopping at his side, not paying her any attention. What was so odd to her, was that he RAN THROUGH THE F***ING WALL, and was...See through. She quietly listened as he spoke of...Having located some sort of summoner of some kind?
When he seemed nearly done, Claire spoke up. “Um...Adrian? Who exactly is that man?” She asked, pointing right at the strange man. Adrian looked at Claire in shock, as did the uniformed man. Both looked to where she was pointing, to the wall behind the uniformed man, then finally Adrian settled his eyes on the man….And chuckled lightly. “...I’ll be damned. Claire, you can see my associate here?” He asked to be sure, not pointing at him at all.
When Claire nodded, Adrian clapped his hands and laughed, heartily, before sending the man back off into the wall, walking over and clapping his hands on Claire’s shoulders. “My dear Claire, you are a gifted one indeed! Light, and the power to see and, I bet, interact with Spirits! My dear, that man has been dead for a hundred and thirty two years!” He exclaimed, laughing happily.
Claire, for all her worth at the moment, merely blinked. She. Saw a ghost. ‘Huh. I guess...They are real....’ She thought to herself. She shook her head, and poked Adrian in the chest. “Ok mister giggles. Mind if we start? I could use a distraction….” She asked him with a half smile. Adrian chuckled, and nodded, walking her over to the mantle, and holding her shoulder tightly. “We will. But first thing is first. Search your mind. Look for some line or another, that just, no matter how hard you try, you don’t remember where you heard it, and you can’t forget it, Claire. All girls have a Call to Arms, of sorts. Find yours, now.” He said, releasing her, and backing away.
Claire shut her eyes, and searched through her memories. Joy, Sadness, Anger, Rage, Despair, emotions running rampant in her mind, flocking through memories, back and forth...Until she found what he meant. As Adrian watched, Claire’s hair started to sway in an invisible wind, and as her eyes opened, they were glowing a dull white. And then, her voice, mixed with what seemed like another, broke from her throat. “Souls of the Night, follow my Light. Let it shine Bright, and banish eternal Fright!”
All at once, her body was engulfed in a bright, warm light, that Adrian had to shield his own eyes from. When the light faded, and Adrian felt he was able to open his eyes again, he looked upon the transformed girl before him, bearing a blade on her hip and clothing that flowed like silk. When the eyes of her sash opened, they portrayed confusion, looking to the cloth on her right hand, and then down at her shifted body, before over to Adrian with a small smile. “Wow…..I feel...Powerful…” She admitted, struggling to find words.
Adrian walked around her, smiling grandly as he studied her form, nodding slightly, and pausing as he looked at her front. “....Is it wrong that I find it odd that your chest seems to have grown immensely in size?” He asked curiously. Claire looked down at the bit of cloak covering her chest, and chuckled, shrugging. “Hell, I always wanted a bigger bust.” She said, her entire self seeming to have changed. Adrian made a small, mental note of this, and grinned, beckoning her to follow. “Come. Time you learned some tricks of your trade. Then, I may have your first task for you to truly test your new form with…….”
Claire nodded with a grand smirk, and followed with her head held high. She felt so...Different now. Like a blast of confidence just burst into her body from the transformation! Moving on from that train of thought as she walked, she looked to her teacher with a slight frown. “Um...By the way, what do I look like, exactly? I mean, I was about six and a half feet before….Everything feels...Taller.”
Adrian looked back at her from over his shoulder, and smirked, summing a mirror to float in front of her. Claire took a moment to look herself over...And smile at the clean and smooth skin. She turned and walked, looking herself over in the mirror. She was definitely shorter, and her butt was damn well bigger, just like her tits. Her eyes settled on her face, however, looking over her face with awe. It was really smooth…
Her thoughts were interrupted by the mirror melting, and Adrian opening a steel door. INside was a large room, with spell circles EVERYWHERE. The floor, the ceiling, some targets set up in the back, and various other objects littering the room. Claire walked in, whistling at the sight, clearly impressed. “Wow. I feel like I just stepped into an episode of the X files.” She joked.
Adrian chuckled and beckoned her over to the target dummies at the far edge of the room. “I have absolutely NO idea what you mean.” He said in return. Claire rolled her eyes, however, Adrian could not see this, only the ‘sockets’ of the sash shifting. He hummed as he looked to her sword...And noticed something odd. “Huh. Claire, could you draw your blade, and strike one of the dummies, please?”
Claire shrugged, and drew the blade, being left handed, and struck out at one of the dummies with a slash to the head. She broke the head in half, and dug about half a foot into the torso, before it stopped. Claire grunted and almost slipped, and yanked the sword free, chuckling lightly. “Guess I’m not so strong, huh?” She joked, only slightly unnerved by this. She saw anime and videos on the internet about people cutting things in half easily with swords…
Adrian shook his head and walked over. “Hold the blade out.” He instructed. When Claire did so, he cautiously ran a finger, along the entire blade, on either side, humming thoughtfully. “How odd. Your blade has a decently pointed tip, but the edge is dull. And this crystal….Hm, Okay Claire. I think it’s time you learn to tap into your magic. Follow my instructions, ok?”
Claire only nodded, putting the sword back in it’s holster. “Ok Claire. Now, close your eyes. Good. Now, do as you did when you found the phrase, but instead of your memories, I want you to find your soul Imagine you’re standing atop a lake. Now look into it. What do you see?”
As Claire followed his instructions, she visualized herself atop an endless body of water, with a clear sky above. As she looked down, and tilted her head at what she saw. “It’s like, the Northern lights, like those you see in the arctic.” She said. She looked at both of them curiously, one set of aurora streams a light purple, and the other a bright yellow, or white. She isn’t exactly sure.
“OK, good. Now, let’s get you introduced to them. Jump into the water, where the streams converge.” Following his directions, Claire hopped up, and back down into the calm waters with a splash, landing at the point of where the streams converged. She felt warmth, and brave from the white/yellow stream, and yet calm, and steady from the purple one. “Have you jumped in? If so, then don’t fight the streams whatsoever. Just, let them in.”
Claire shut her eyes, and tried to do so. It took her awhile, but soon enough, she felt the streams flood into her body, and then, everything going black. “When you’ve done it, open your eyes.” Claire took a few moments, before she finally opened her eyes, seeing a smiling Adrian a foot in front of her. “Well? Feel any different?”
Claire furrowed her brow, and found that, she actually felt a lot better. Like she could really deal with this new path. She felt...Whole. “Yeah, I do….Now what?” She asked him with a raised brow. He chuckled, and motioned to her blade. “I’ve seen several weapons in my time, that react to their user feeding magic into them. You’ll eventually be able to do this with mental commands, but for now, imagine one of those streams flowing through your body, and into your sword.”
Claire remained silent, and mentally pictured what he described. After a few seconds, the crystal in the blade started to shine dully, as did the blade, seeming to take on a new shine. “Interesting. Further along the line, I’m sure you’ll be able to do more. For now, give that dummy another strike.” He continued to instruct, moving safely out of the way. Claire gave the blade a once over, before striking out with a horizontal slash. The result, was the blade cleanly cutting through the dummy, sending the top a few feet into the air before it came crashing back down.
Adrian, clapped happily, with a genuine grin. “Excellent! Your blade reacts to being fed magic by gaining it’s edge! Now, I’ll say it again, once you learn more and become more powerful, you will be able to do more. But for now, put the sword away. Just imagine cutting the stream from the blade, then come over to me.” He told her as he moved ten feet away from where she was. Claire followed his instruction, and put the blade in it’s holster, and walking to his side. He directed her to one of the other dummies.
“Ok, now, watch this.” He told her as he aimed his right hand at the dummy, his left resting on her shoulder. In the blink of an eye, a bright orb came into existence in his hand, and from it shot out a beam of light that burrowed into the dummy, leaving a sizeable crater in its chest. “Light magic isn’t good for targeting more than one enemy at long range, but with it, you can attack your enemies from ranges longer than any other magic type can reach, as long as you’re power is greater than theirs.” He said, before squeezing her shoulder gently. “No, you try. Bring your hand up like I did, and imagine the stream flowing into your hand and gathering there. Then when you’re ready, imagine sending it at your target. When you’re ready.”
Claire once again, followed the instructions. She first felt her hand warm up, before an orb of light formed in her own hand. She glared at one of the dummies down range, and fired off the beam, same as her teacher. This time, however, as the beam impacted, it blasted straight through the dummy. The wall behind was thankfully unscathed, one of the magic circles glowing brightly. Adrian clapped his hands, genuinely surprised.
“Impressive! I forgot that magical girls are naturally attuned to their magic. Some more than others, but still! You seem to be decently powerful for someone who was just transformed. This is a boon. Now, for your physical strength and agility, we can explore later, as well as your powers with spirit magic. For now, I want you to go out and enjoy the night a bit.” He said, putting some money in her hand. “I need you fully focused for the trials to come.” He explained.
Claire nodded, shutting her eyes. In a dull flash of light, she was back in her new, normal clothes. Pulling her beanie cap out of her pocket and pulling it over her head to cover her new ears, she stepped in the portal, with Adrian wishing her good luck as it shut behind her. Putting her hands into her pockets, she took a look around, and stalked out of the alley, making her way towards the city proper, eyes open to a whole new kind of world.