"Dana, is it really you?" James asked incredulously. It seemed impossible that his once cute girlfriend is changed herself in such a way.

"James, don't you even recognise me at all?"

Dana looked close to losing it. Despite the fact that she chooses to change herself so much, James not recognising her seemed too much.

"Of course I do, you just look so different blonde."

Dana giggled quietly as he pulled her over to him to hold her close. Despite the awkward way they were sitting before, James noticed with some joy that he could feel Danas now impressive rack pushed up against his chest. He quickly pushed her away so she wouldn't notice his rapidly rising erection, and indicated that they should stand. Rapidly adjusting himself, James stood after Dana and looked around. The classroom itself hadn't changed, but outside was obviously different. Besides the sky of clouds, many of the houses in the area seemed to have been crushed by an invisible force, in long lines branching away from the school.

Leaving this mystery for later, and wondering why he didn't see this while he was falling, James turned his attention to the other rooms occupants. Before the change, he remembered there were eleven people in the room including him and Dana. So far, all but four had returned. Curious about the way people entered the room, James watched the ceiling. As he was distracted, he didn't notice as the other people in the room began to adjust.

Those who appeared to have focused on strength were lifting things, marvelling at their increased strength. Those focused on speed took a few experimental steps and jumps. One person even looked to have focused on intelligence and wisdom, and had her eyes shut, sitting cross-legged, slowly moving one hand in a wave motion. Dana watched all this with amazement Dana had allocated all her stats into vitality and agility. Suddenly, everyone in the room focused as a cold wave spread across the room. It was a strange feeling that stole James' focus, forcing him to look at its source. The girl who had been messing with the air was lying on the ground, asleep. As everyone in the room crowded around her, James began to look at everyone. Though he didn't really know anyone in the room. Before the change well enough to remember their names and faces, he was certainly now in a room of strangers.

The girl messing with her magic specifically might have been a plain, forgettable figure before, but had taken advantage of the customisation by force. Lying before him, and five others, was a raven-haired beauty. Though she was curved in all the right places, Dana won where it mattered most.

Playing a hunch, James began to look carefully at all the people in the room. Of the seven other people in the room besides himself and Dana, James counted 2 other boys and 3 girls. Everyone had used the customisation extensively, and all likely had their dream bodies. They couldn't even be called kids anymore. Everyone looked to be in their early 20's with varying levels of fitness, in well-fitting uniform. The clothes they were all wearing before were now perfectly fit their new bodies, something that James noticed especially with the women, most of whom had the figures of models. Curiously, one had a very skinny figure and was at least a foot shorter than everyone else. Maybe she is more like me, James mused and didn't want to change much about herself.

While James was focusing on each individual in the room, one of the boys had crouched down next to the fallen girl and appeared to be reaching towards her shoulder.

Suddenly there was a noise behind him, and everyone looked over to a far corner where someone had just fallen from the ceiling. Looking up, James saw nothing odd with the ceiling. He must have missed it.

"Goddamnit..." he muttered under his breath. He had no idea when another person would fall.

The person in question was another guy.

"The fuck... what?" He said as he stood, rubbing his back.

One of the girls rushed over to him, maybe she recognised him.

"Jack", she started, something seemed wrong to her. "You didn't change?"

At the mention of his name, Jack looked at the beautiful brown-haired woman in front of him, and seeming entranced, forgot how to speak properly.

"Wha... who... you?"

Looking around the room for any familiar faces, and not seeing any, he visibly deflated and leaned back against the wall. James took personal offence to this. He hadn't even changed his face. Everyone should know this face. What the hell.

"Jack, focus!"

The brunette in front of Jack said sharply.

"It's me, Mindy. You know, your best friend since forever!"

He voice rose as a distinct lack of understanding clouded his face.

"I'm sorry, I must have fallen asleep in class and fallen off my desk... I I.. have to get to my last lesson." Misunderstanding the situation, Jack quickly grabbed his bag and ran out of the door.

As it was swinging shut, James caught a glimpse of red on the floor of the hallway. Trying not to assume the worst, he turned to the room. Mindy stepped to follow him, but James held her back. Before she could protest, James clamped a hand over her mouth and whispered harshly in her ear.

"Stop. We don't know what's out there. This isn't the same world. We have magic, and power now, so I'm assuming everything else does as well." As James spoke, her struggling eased. Her strength was obviously not enough to break his grip.

Screams erupted from far outside the classroom. James recognised the voice as Jack's. At first, they were screams of fear, then of pain. Something was out there. Something terrifying. Something dangerous. Mindy's struggles started anew, and she started crying.

James felt her hands attempt to punch his arms, and he closed his eyes, trying to block out the screams. Suddenly he felt an overwhelming force hit him in the face. Opening his eyes in shock, James looked at a blue wreathed fist and he fell backwards.

Status effect: dazed

Blunt magic force received: -9hp

Skill learnt: magic resistance (D)

Messages flashed in James' vision, and his muscles failed him as he struggled to raise his head. All he could see was Mindy, visibly weakened by her assault, hurtling to the door. No-one went to stop her, as all seemed shocked by her performance. Mindy was gone, running out the door, towards the direction of Jack's screams. Nobody moved, unsure of what to do.

James grew increasingly frustrated at his dazed effect, and focused on it, hoping to learn something.

Dazed (status effect):

After receiving a powerful blow to the head, your body is slow and unresponsive. Duration: 12s

In those 12 seconds, too much happened. The still audible footsteps of Mindy stopped as the sharp scrabbling of something hard pulled over wood was heard. This scraping got louder, but its source must have been from the other end of the hallway to Jack and Mindy, as the sound got louder, until it passed the door, and began to get quieter. By now Jacks cries had stopped, by death or otherwise, no-one knew. Mindy was cut off and likely trapped. Running could be heard again, getting fainter. Faint cries of help could be heard, getting quieter and quieter. Still, nobody moved to help what was likely to be a futile situation.

All James allowed himself was a soft curse for giving him this effect and injuring him, and a moment of respect for what she had attempted to pull off.