Sounds of conversation fill the spells classroom, and Professor King is yet to arrive. The chatter dies down quickly when two students walk in: Michael and Scy. The mages all wear a wary look in their eyes as they stare at Michael's mostly magicless body. Scy gives them the stink eye, but his ire isn't something the others fear in the least.
"Well this isn't looking good for us."
Near the back of the classroom sits a rather large boy who glowers at Michael's presence. The lack of goat horns makes it less obvious, but it's David Nibuk. Michael's chest tightens at the sight of the boy's face.
"Everyone take your seats, we're getting started." Rumbles Professor King.
The students all turn to look at the Professor who suddenly appeared behind the podium, and quickly rush to sit at a desk. Scy and Michael sit beside one another near the front. Professor King's watchful eyes hover over David for a moment before he starts the lesson.
"Today we'll be going over the basics of magic power channeling." Professor King begins.
Bright orange and gold hues in the form of light shines on the edges of Professor King's body as he focuses silently. The air smells faintly of burnt hair, and the room's temperature rises.
"This is what channeling magic looks like, however your own magic will have its unique appearance." Professor King continues.
The students are in awe of the professor's powerful magic, and several gifted students channel their own magic power. David is one of these gifted ones, and his magic is a mix of black and crimson. Students sitting beside him scoot away as he gives off a sulfur smell and intense localized heat.
"To channel your magic you need to sense it; Do this by concentrating on your body and seeking out the moving pieces within." Professor King explains patiently.
With that said, Prof. King stops channeling his magic and the room's temperature returns to normal. Strange smells, lights, and sounds all erupt throughout the room as students begin channeling their own magic power.
Scy picks it up quickly, and a mix of yellow and brown light outlines his body. Michael is a bit put off by the smell of sweat that Scy's channeling emits, but he refrains from commenting on it.
"So I need to feel it... Let's see..."
Michael concentrates on his own body and sense each part. The pump of his blood, and the firing of his neurons are all present; There is something erratic and unfamiliar within. Michael grasps the strange flickering motes in his flesh, and brings them under his control.
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"Are you already doing it..?" Scy asks incredulously.
Michael is too busy concentrating to respond as he gathers the floating bits of magic in his body and straightens them out. They're pushed to the edges of his skin as he focuses on them, and a faint white glow appears around Michael's body.
"Holy shit you're a natural!" Scy congratulates Michael.
The moment is broken when someone starts shouting at the back of the class; David's magic power is causing the students beside him to sweat and groan. He's clearly enjoying tormenting them, and acts as if he's doing nothing wrong while his crimson aura scorches the air around his body.
While this is happening, Michael's white aura pulses with a red and orange color. The white reappears regularly, and warm colors flash constantly. The magic is all pushed to the edge, and something seems to change within him.
"What did I just do?"
Scy gawks at Michael before suddenly slapping his own button up over Michael's face. The two of them aren't being paid any attention as David's antics have drawn an audience.
"Shit- Drink this, quick!" Scy says hurriedly.
Michael is bewildered by Scy's behavior as a small bottle of clear liquid is shoved into his hand. The label reads "Demanifestation Reagent" and has a cork for a cap.
"Hurry- It'll turn you back to normal." Scy assures Michael.
Michael nods a little before popping the cork and downing the whole bottle. It's tasteless, and feels like water going down. The effects are noticeable, albeit Michael can only feel it not see it.
Scy lets out a sigh of relief as Michael goes back to normal, and takes his over shirt back off Michael's head. Scy starts buttoning his uniform up when David's voice catches Michael's attention.
"What's the matter? Is channeling some magic so hard for you?" David taunts.
David's hand pushes the boy lightly, and he grunts as his stomach hits the desk. David laughs, but is cut short when a shadow looms over him.
"David. Come with me, now." Professor King growls.
David almost looks small with Professor King standing over him like this, and the shift in attitude is visible as David coughs away his laugh. The two of them walk out of the room, and the tension melts away.
"So... what happened?" Michael asks Scy quietly.
Scy gives him a slight smile and shakes his head as if amused by something unbeknownst to Michael.
"You're gonna need a lot of these potions." Scy replies vaguely.
Michael gives him an irritated frown before glancing at the little tan horns which have grown from Scy's head. There are three of them, each pointed straight out from his head.
"Did I grow horns like you? Or an extra eyeball? Seriously just tell me what happened." Michael insists impatiently.
"Next time you channel magic, go ahead and look in the mirror afterward." Scy says with a knowing smile.
~
After class Michael did just as Scy instructed, albeit this time he had no potion to drink. The bathroom mirror gives Michael a good look at himself as he channels his magic, and the strange transformation leaves his mouth agape.
His lips have become softer than satin while his eyelashes have visibly lengthened to fit some arbitrary measure of femininity. The normally brown hue of his irises has been altered to a vibrant green, while the bones in Michael's face have shifted to be thin and petite.
"Why do I look like a girl?"
The sound of someone entering the restroom sends Michael into a full panic; He bolts for a stall and slams the door shut. The sound of familiar footsteps gives Michael goosebumps as he hears the last person he wants to see call out to him.
"Oh mageless~ I know you're in here!" David taunts.