You look between the two, trying to determine the lesser of two evils here. Normally, you would've stuck with what was familiar, but at the moment /you/ weren't even all that familiar. Did you really want to go with Arik and just completely leave your human life behind? You suppose even staying with Marisa wouldn't really let you go back to it, though. How could you? Even becoming human again, you were still stuck as a girl. You didn't feel nearly as weak and vulnerable as a naga, though. Maybe staying one wouldn't be so bad. Besides, Arik seemed much more competent than Marisa, if not... entirely professional. At least you showed him, you think think to yourself, remembering what it felt like to bite into his lip. You briefly wonder what it would've felt like if he had bit you instead, his venom flowing through your blood and making whatever sort of magic he did...
You rub your eyes, wondering why Nagas seem to have such short attention spans. All the same, you're fairly confident about your decision. "I think that I'd rather stay with someone who won't accidentally transform me," you say, adding a hiss in Marisa's direction. "I assume Europe isn't too cold this time of year?"
He smirks lightly. "You mean summer? No, not especially. I'm glad you're not letting your pride cloud your judgement. Well, Marisa? You've heard what she wants. Will you let your apprentice study under me instead?" The witch looks frustrated, but agrees begrudgingly. "Excellent!" Arik continues. "Are there any belongings you need to get, David? We need to get to the airport as soon as possible, but we should have time for you to grab anything."
You shake your head, sighing a little. "No, Sir. Nothing important enough to bring." On your budget, you hadn't been able to afford many luxuries, and all your practical belongings wouldn't do you much good in your current form.
"Very well," he responds, pulling out two small bottles from a bag he had put down next to him. The glass was colored green, so you couldn't actually tell what color the liquid was. It didn't seem to move with the same consistency as water, though. He handed one of the bottles to you, which you take uncertainly. "It's a potion. Took a mix of six different venoms to get the right effect out of it. I should be able to cut that down with your help."
This information causes you to frown, looking straight up at Arik's cold eyes. You almost lose your ability to speak as you feel that same strage nausea. You sure hope you'll get used to him enough that just looking at him doesn't make you woozy. You manage to regain your composure, though it takes another look at the bottle to remember what you wanted to say. "It's... transformation magic, then?" This was exactly what you didn't want! "Is this really necessary?"
He sighs impatiently, but moves closer and puts a hand on your tail reassuringly. "You were a venomless human, right? So you should be able to tell me how often you see a naga out in public." You open your mouth to respond, but don't bother, looking away in embarrassment. "I know it's an inconvenience, but that's just the unfortunate world we live in. It's a shame more humans aren't as open minded as you are."
You find yourself nodding in agreement without being sure why. A week ago, you would've been right there among those people who were too "close-minded" about naga. "It must be difficult, having to disguise yourself whenever you go out."
"Don't start crying over the plight of the naga now," he says with a light chuckle. "We're the ones who decide to stay in hiding, despite what the Sandof Council likes to think." He seems to tell that there's a question on your lips, because he puts a finger to them before you can ask it. "That's a story for another time, David. We hardly have the time right now." He pulls back, drinking the potion that he kept for himself. Seeing you hesitate, he adds, "Its effects are temporary, so there's no danger regardless."
Nodding, you take a deep breath, then drink the contents of the small glass bottle. It doesn't taste like anything in particular, but it feels like drinking an entire teaspoon of the flemmy saliva that sometimes builds up at the back of your throat. It's so slimy and oily... you swallow before you can experience any more. At first, nothing seems to happen. After a few minutes, you notice that Arik looks a little smaller. Less than a minute after that, you realize you're also getting smaller. You quickly realize what's happening as you see...