St. Chariot’s Academy for Teenage Witches has been one of the most renowned magical boarding schools in the world for many centuries. Even in the age of technology did the school manage to assert itself against modern advancements thanks to its adaptability. When asked for the main reason for this success, people usually point first to its current headmaster, the youngest principal in the school's history, Mala Hexe. Her unconventional methods proved invaluable when declining interest in magic threatened the existence of the school.
But that was years ago and nowadays Miss Hexe only had to deal with the common problems of being the principal of an all-(magical)-girls school. Such as holding the introductory speech for the new school year. The girls were listening with rapt attention as Miss Hexe welcomed them into the school, though part of it might have been the custom-made witch dress that showed of all the right curves of her still young (in witch years at least) body and made quite a few hearts among students and faculty beat faster, bisexuality was common among witches after all.
Just as she was about to finish, did the principal make an announcement that would have a huge effect on the student's coming years. “Those of you who haven't heard this speech for the first time might be remembering that last year we had a bit of a problem in regards to magical pranks in our school. Especially with transformation magic. Yes, we do encourage you to try and practice your magic in your free time to improve your abilities. But barely a day passed where our faculty didn't have to dispel transformative curses, remove animal features and extra body parts or reanimate statues. And unlike with mental magic, you can't train to get an immunity to it. Over the summer break we pondered over many potential measures to contain it. But as you know we're talking about one of the main pillars of magic with the broadest field of uses, so only completely forbidding the use of magic outside of classes could work. But this would go against the principles of this school and would be nearly impossible to oversee, so I figured that going in the opposite direction instead might help keep you in check.”
In a small flash she summoned a long staff and a thick grimoire, both encrusted with magical gems, into her hands. Both started glowing as the principal started casting a spell. A magic circle formed around her feet and started to expand. Growing ever faster the circle harmlessly passed over the people in the auditorium. Unseen to everyone, the circle soon covered the school’s whole campus. Miss Hexe finished the spell with a dramatic thump of her book, the circle giving a final glow before seemingly vanishing.
“What I just did was casting a powerful curse over the whole school and student body. This curse will automatically alter each transformation spell cast on any human and make it permanent.” She paused to allow the students some of their wild murmuring. “You heard me right, any change you subject yourself or others to will become permanent… until the end of the school year, where I’ll offer to remove any changes you amassed during your time here. If you decide to ignore the rules, you will be forced to learn to live with fox tails, cat ears or the ever popular pussy mouth for the rest of the year. All teachers of course have been taught a counter-spell that can temporarily disable the curse from affecting transformation spells inside a room to allow for safe practice during lessons or free time, if you ask for permission. But the only person with the power to remove any changes and fully return your bodies to normal is me, and I will only be convinced to do so under very urgent circumstances.
“I am aware that this technically doesn't stop you from transforming others, but keep in mind that doing so will likely paint a target on your back for revenge. To avoid students abusing the curse for sinister means I installed a couple safety measures into the curse that will additionally alter every spell cast to follow certain guidelines. I have prepared a flyer with all of them, but the most important are the following.” With a flourish of her staff every word she spoke also appeared as glowing writing above herself.
"First, once you have been transformed, your original body will be pretty much lost to you. You can add transformations or turn into something entirely else, but not back. This of course extends to any additional transformation. In short you can’t turn back into any form you held for longer than 3 minutes until I lift the curse.
"Second, everyone transformed will retain all five senses. If sensory organs are replaced, the new parts will take over their function. If they get completely removed, magic will allow you to keep that function, for example, even if you remove your eyes you'll still be able to see by gaining magic sight. Of course this also applies to any internal organs that end up affected by a transformation.
"Third, anyone transformed will keep some form of mobility, even if just by wobbling, and enough dexterity so it doesn't affect their school work. If the arms are removed, a different body part will automatically gain additional dexterity, like the feet or tongue.
"Fourth, singular body parts can be petrified, but not the full body, in which case you turn into an animated statue. This also counts if each of your body parts is petrified one by one. Full inanimation is not possible.
"Fifth, size changes are limited to small enough that you still fit into a room– *cough* excuse me, wait, don't write this… ugh, anyways– while standing and big enough that you still can be seen with the naked eye from a few feet away.
"Sixth, everyone transformed will retain full awareness of their changes. Though that should go without saying considering most types of mental manipulation are forbidden here and will be severely punished.
"Last for now, in the case of merges, control over the resulting body will be equally shared by all sentient individuals inhabiting the body. If merged with a non-sentient being, you can decide whether the non-sentient being gets partial control or not. Otherwise all the other rules apply with the added caveat that a full separation also won't be possible until I lift the curse.
“I should also mention that it is possible for me to add additional rules to the curse, but I truly hope I won't be forced to do so.
“And with that I’ve already reached the end of my little speech. If any of you have further questions, the faculty members as well as myself will be open for them. With that I wish all of you a great start into this new, probably very interesting, school year that is hopefully filled with fun, friendship and knowledge.” With her speech finished the principal walked off the stage.
The usual stream of students quickly leaving the auditorium did not occur, as most girls spent some time longer in their seats to truly digest what their principal just announced. Some looked forward to the coming year in excitement, some in fear, but they all knew it would be, like Miss Hexe said, a very interesting one.