"You are going to be a toad" Elspeth informed James happily.
"A toad!?" James gulped. It was one of the lowliest and ugliest creatures he could think of.
"Oh, I know what you're thinking and yes it is a little cliche" Elspeth teased James "but don't worry, there is a twist. I'm going to allow you to retain the ability to talk!"
"Um, mistress..."
"Don't worry, you'll be able to make all the appropriate froggy noises too" Elspeth ignored James' attempted interruption "I think it is important for you to be able to communicate with your own kind as well as with me. But I'll soon tire of you croaking and ribbiting away if that's all you can do. I want you to be able to articulate everything you feel and experience as a result of my magic. Gives an old witch a bit of a kick I suppose, so you'll just have to indulge me"
James could scarcely believe what he was hearing. He opened his mouth to protest but Elspeth waved a finger at him and he quickly fell silent.
"Please, I need to concentrate on my spell" Elspeth cautioned the young man "you don't want me to mess this up, believe me"
James stood nervously, his heart racing. He had read all of the old stories and fairy tales of young men being transformed into talking amphibians as child, but surely that wasn't about to happen to him in real life?
He soon got his answer. A strange sensation began to spread throughout his body, confirming that the old witch now had control of it and was able to reshape him at will. The changes that followed were carried out quickly and efficiently. Elspeth was a highly skilled and efficient sorceress after all.
James first noticed the changes on his hands, the skin of which was rapidly taking on a greenish, brown hue and a rough, bumpy texture which was then spreading up his arms and all over his body. His fingers were growing longer and merging so he now had only three. He felt his body begin to bloat as his arms and legs shortened, he was now struggling to support himself on two legs and soon gave up trying, falling into a squatting position on the floor in front of Elspeth. It was at this point he had the misfortune to notice a mirror stood behind the old witch. Janes caught sight of the unnatural monstrosity he currently was, part way between human and amphibian. He witnessed the last of his hair falling out, saw as well as felt his face reshaping, mouth widening, eyes bulging.
Any last visible traces of humanity had now been removed and James was basically a six foot toad. The final part of the spell then kicked in, the world around James growing quickly and terrifyingly as he rapidly shrunk to the size of a regular amphibian. The transformation was complete.
"There!" Elspeth smiled as she leaned down to inspect James "Admit it. You didn't think I could really do it did you?"
"Please mistress" James' voice emanated sadly from the ugly little toad, a surreal sight "turn me back"
"I'm sorry" Elspeth replied, looming over James like a giant "I'll need at least a day to recharge my energy enough to attempt that. But don't worry, you'll be restored at some point I'm sure. You are so much better looking as a human. And besides, £5000 would be a lot of money for a talking amphibian"
"Yes mistress"
"Now, what to do with you in the meantime?"