Day one

August 18

    The classroom wasn't very big, having six rows of desks, four desks deep.  Even so, less than half of them had a student seated.  All but one was wearing the appropriate outfit for a student of the school of transmutation, the apprentices' robe and hat, the latter of which featuring a metal pin in the shape of a
butterfly, the symbol of metamorphosis magic.
    The one who was not in uniform was instead wearing a short black dress.  To her credit, she did have on the hat, though it did not hide the remarkable black wings on top of her head.  She was grinning, which almost certainly had something to do with the fact that in the seat behind her was a statue that looked almost exactly like her, though it looked more annoyed than amused.
    In the seat next to the sculpture was a white haired young man, indeed the only male in the classroom, who could not take his eyes off of it.  His expression was one of thoughtfulness, as though he were admiring the handiwork of the artist.
    Behind these three, in the far corner of the room, sat a girl whose face was one of indifference.  She was reading an incredibly thick book, and if any were to truly take interest in her, they would see that she was reading on an advanced subject indeed.
    A few desks over from her was a blue haired girl who was playing a handheld game.  She seemed to be bored, but perhaps less by the classroom than by everything in general.
    In front of her sat another girl, her skin color seeming just a smidge off.  This one was simulating a John Woosian stand-off on her desk with three action figures.
    Sitting front and center of the classroom was another blue haired girl, this one sporting two shoulder length tails.  She seemed curiously out of place, though not for any discernible reason.
    Far to the side of the room sat the last student, this one having a sad look on her face.  It was almost as though she was purposely isolating herself from everyone else in the room, and judging by her expression, it was likely true.
    As the bell rang, the door opened, and in walked what appeared to be a twelve-year-old girl carrying a milk crate.  She closed the door behind her and walked up to the podium at the front of the room.  She set the box on the floor behind it, and using it as a step, emerged behind the podium.
    "Well I see some of you have decided to get a jump start on my class," the girl proclaimed from her perch.  She snapped her fingers in the air once, and with a sound like air rushing out from under a dropped book, the seated statue instantly came to life.
    "Oh.  Thank you," the animated (or is that reanimated?) statue said.
    The girl grinned mischievously.  "Don't thank me yet, kid, I'm thinking you're not going to much like my class."  A few eyebrows were raised at this child for referring to one who was clearly older as 'kid,' but this only brought a chuckle from her.  "Come now, you're all here because you've already proven you have great
potential when it comes to transformative magic, is it really such a surprise that one as experienced as I can make myself look a few years younger?"
    "A few?" asked the boy.
    "Ah, but wouldn't you like to know how many?  I'm afraid that'll have to remain a mystery, as to be entirely honest, I've lost count myself."  This elicited another chuckle from her before she continued.  "So, shall we begin with the obligatory first day of class introductions?"
    Before she could continue the thought, the door swung open once again, and in walked a stunningly attractive young woman.  She was wearing a dress of unusual style, with opulent jewelry and a veil over her face.
    "Greetings, plebeians!" she announced to the room.
    The girl at the podium made a pout.  "And I was so hoping you would miss the introduction class.  It would have been fun for you to have no clue what was going on."  This earned a stare of daggers from the newcomer, but she only smiled in response.  "Well, don't keep us commoners waiting, take a seat."  The strangely attired person did, but not before a loud harumph.
    "Now, as I was saying, introductions.  My name is Jacqueline Arceneaux, though you can just call me Jackie, and I will be your monitor for the next few weeks.  I do not use the customary term of instructor here because, as I'm sure many of you have heard, my course is a little unorthodox.  In my opinion, students learn best when given the opportunity for hands-on experience, and particularly when looking at the problem from both ends.
    "And that is why, from the moment you leave this room, everyone in this room will become a target for anyone else in this room."  This brought only dumbfounded stares, but whether from the declaration or the dramatic pause afterward, who could say?
    "The way my class works is this: I do not hold lectures, I do not assign homework, I do not have final exams or course projects.  What I do is at the end of the week, each of you will be granted two hours to write a paper explaining what, exactly, you learned that week.  It does not matter what you write; if you learned something in a book, if you learned something through practice, if you learned something about yourself or the meaning of friendship, it doesn't matter.  I will grade based on how convincing your argument to me is that you truly grew somehow that week.
    "I invite you all now to open your desks."  The students complied, and inside each they found a silver necklace with a black gem set in it.  "What you hold is a magical trinket of my own design.  I advise you all to put it on, and to not even entertain the thought of taking it off before the end of this course."
    As soon as the amulet came to rest on their chests, the gem turned blue.  "This amulet will serve to ensure your protection during this course, as well as serve as an arbiter for my rules.  Nobody can remove it from your neck other than yourself.  So long as you wear it, no magic other than that of the transmutative variety will be able to reach you.  Vice versa, no magic other than that of the transmutative variety will be able to leave your fingertips, with the sole exception of any spells you might use to block incoming attacks.
    "Once a spell successfully penetrates your defences, the gem will turn from blue to red.  While it is red, all magic will be prevented from reaching you, including further transformations, and conversely, you will be completely unable to perform magic yourself.
    "You will maintain the role of whatever form finds its way to you until the end of the week.  This means that if you get turned into a statue like the girl when I walked in, you will *be* a statue, and ergo, completely at the mercy of whomever transformed you.
    "If by twelve thirty on Friday, there is more than one student who remains untransformed, all of you shall be transported to this room for a sudden death duel.  Otherwise, you will be brought here at twelve fifty-five instead.  Everyone will have their form restored at one.  The student who remains standing at the end
of the week will have their paper graded two letters higher than they otherwise would have been--and yes, a triple A is possible.
    "The necklace has another function; it will serve to preserve your faculties regardless of the form you may find yourself in.  To any who might think that cruel, imagine how much crueler it would be if you found yourself without a mind early Monday morning up to Friday afternoon, and with no experience to call upon to write your paper with!
    "At one on Friday, the necklace will change to green.  While it is green, you will be outside of the bounds of the course and free to do as you wish.  Please note that I will not tolerate any attacks on each other during this time.  Punishments will be severe, I assure you.
    "At eight in the morning on Monday, the necklace will turn back to blue, and the class will resume.  Any questions?"
    The twin-tailed girl raised her hand.  "Um, I think I might be in the wrong class..."
    Jackie paused thoughtfully.  "Nine students were on the list.  What's your name?"
    "Rika."
    "There was, in fact, a Rika on there.  No, I'm pretty sure you belong here.  Any other questions?"  None of the students moved to speak.  "Very well, and on that note, why don't you start with the introductions?" she said pointing to Rika.
    She sighed and stood.  "Well, my name is Rika, and I hope everyone does their best," she said with a bow before sitting back down.
    "And how about late girl next."
    Late girl stood and leaned over her desk.  "Of all the insolence!  You will pay!"
    "Ya, ya, I've heard it all before.  Name?"
    She stared for a few more seconds before finally responding, "All of you will learn the name Liliath in time."
    Jackie only smiled.  "And you?" she asked, looking to the sad girl at the edge of the room.
    She stood and introduced herself with a bow, "My name is Nanako, and I hope I don't cause anyone too much trouble."
    "Next, you in the middle."
    The girl with the toys stood and saluted military style, revealing the many ball joints that held her too pink limbs together.  "I'm Patty, and I'm just here to have fun," she answered with an impish smirk.
    Jackie called next on the one seated behind Patty.  With a mutter of "bother" under her breath, she stood and replied, "My name's Matilda, and, I don't know, I like swimming I guess," before promptly falling back into her chair.
    Moving toward the left of the room, next called was the young man.  "My name is Crios, and I'm look forward to this," he smiled with something besides mirth before sitting back down.
    Next was the girl with the book.  "Sophia," was all she said, without even leaving her seat.
    "That's all?  Really?"  Jackie only succeeded in eliciting a glare.  "How dull.  Well, that just leaves the lookalikes."
    The one who had begun class transformed began to stand and speak, but not before the one in the black dress could cut her off.  "I am Linkette, sorceress extraordinaire, and this is my adorably gullible sister, Link."
    "I am not gullible!" she exclaimed.
    "Whatever gets you through the night," Linkette responded.
    "Please, save it for when you get out of my classroom.  You'll have my full blessing then."  The two sisters backed off.  "Alright, questions, comments?  No?  Then you're all free to go, class is dismissed."

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    So I borrowed an automatic stenographer from the debate club to use on the first day, and that's what it spit out.  I didn't realize it was going to narrate the whole thing like it did, that's actually kind of cool.  I might have to buy one for myself.