Chapter 10: Natural Selection

Just arriving in the hall is a young good looking woman from a side entrance. Moving to the throne-like a chair for the Headmaster the woman shows a dignified inborne posture of an empress. Wearing ice blue robes that gently hug her perfect curves and dim down the impact of her snow-white hair the young woman thaks Shock by simply nodding. Only now does Dante realize that this young woman is, in fact, the Headmistress Professor Lore. Raising her voice the hall instantly becomes quite.

''I have a few starts of term notices I wish to announce. The first years please note that the catacombs below this building are strictly forbidden to all students. Also, this year's caretaker is Mr. Micah Bell...'' Headmistress Lore says pointing at Micah who behind her stands up from his table before continuing. ''... has asked me to tell you that in the middle of this semester some students will be selected to accompany him and Master Draculesci on an exploration of said catacombs...''

Letting her words be discussed by the students for added effect Lore waits before continuing. ''... Also in light of last years events, the Academy has decided, that to have every first-year student take growth potion before the selection process for the student's general safety. Thank you.''

-Finally, I get a body mature enough to pluck all the beautiful flowers around me hehe...-

A lonely massive wooden chair as well an open fire and a branding iron are placed in front of the staff tables before Professor Shock unrolling her scroll announces. ''When I call your name, you will come forth, I shall give you the growth potion, place the sorting iron on your neck, and you will be sorted into your houses. First up Emma Wats!''

While going up to Schock, Dante and Rupert can hear her say to herself. ''Oh, no. Okay, relax.''

Being given the growth potion Emma instantly gulps it down before sitting down on the chair. Before her behind can hit the rest Emma has already changed massively. Not only did she grow from 1.28m to 1.65m in a matter of seconds but she also gained an immense amount of mass, changing her weight from around 25kg to around 50kg.

Staring at her now mature and well developed and well propionate body Emma doesn't look her age of 8 anymore. Sitting down is not a child but a twenty-something enchantress with a perfect hourglass shaped figure. Looking at her now grown breasts Dante, as well as Rupert beside him, curse the enchanted uniforms for not having ripped apart.

While everybody is still trying to make sense out of Emma's stunning transformation the girl now turned woman suddenly screams out.

Without knowing what is happening Dante hears Rupert next to his comment. ''Mental that one, I'm telling you.''

Not knowing how to reach Dante just nods in agreement.

After the screaming stops, everybody can see the reason for her screaming, that being Professor Shock who currently removes the burning iron from her skull.

Looking behind Emmas right ear Shock announces. ''Healer!''

All of a sudden a loud cheering booms out from the students of the Healing House.

Magically able to jump out of the chair Emma shoots Dante a now enchanting smile before joining the healers.

Seeing the first one join a house Shock announces the next student. ''Devon Malavor!''

Devon proudly saunters up. Taking the growth potion he two experiences a stunning transformation before wordlessly receiving his branding.

-Are you guys sure that what you give us children is a growth and not a beauty potion?- Dante thinks while hearing a mature Devon being announced to be joining the Dollmakers.

Looking after Malavor joining under loud cheers the ranks of green roped students, Dante hears Rupert commenting. ''There isn't a person who went all murder who wasn't in Dollmaker.''

''Maria Alexandra Pinehurst!'' Dante hears Shock announce once again and a shy small, white-haired girl not much older than Dante goes up. Accompanied by cheers the girl takes the potion.

Not wanting to see another unobtainable beauty, Dante looks around. Sporting a brown haired, male teacher, he would later learn to be Serpent Stone, Head of the Dollmakers, looking at him, Dantes tattoos on his right arm begin to itch painfully.

Surprised by the sudden pain Dante silently shouts. ''Ahh!'' And rubs his right arms wrist with his left hand.

Concerned for his friend Rupert asks. ''Dante, what is it?''

Feeling the pain slowly go away Dante stops rubbing and says. ''Nothing... it's nothing, I'm fine.''

Before Rupert can further ask Shock say ''Ascension'' for the now mature but girlish looking white-haired woman. The loudest cheers jet sound out from the blue embroidery wearing students.

Having the cheers die down Shock announces. ''Rupert Grim!''

Hearing his name Rupert gulps and walks up. He like anybody else takes the portion and sits down to get his brand.

After hearing him scream as the smallest girl Shock announces. ''Puppetmaker!''

Seeing his now mature and handsome friend sigh Dante is sure that the given outgrowth potions are laced with a beautification potion. Ignoring the cheering from the decorated in red table Shock announces. ''Vincent Elcraft.''

Under even more cheering than the Pinehurst girl received Dante sees his elder brother smug and narcissistic as ever looking go up. Seeing his brother transform from a good looking boy into a prince charming, Dante can nothing but curse whoever has laced the potions.

''Dollmaker!'' Announces Shock, unleashing an unchecked and defining parade of cheers from the Dollmaker House. The cheer even goes so far out of hand that the headmistress herself is forced to cast a muting spell unanimously onto the members.

Announcing the next student Shock says. ''Dante Elcraft.''

In less than a second everything goes silent.

''That shut you guys up fine!'' Dante hears Micah who is sitting at a staff table to the left while walking up.

Taking the growth potion and gulping it instantly down his throat, Dante feels the potion rush through his body, warming it from the inside. Having his eye side get a bit blurry he sits down into the wooden chair. Instead of feeling his whole body grow rapidly Dante only feels change only take place between his legs. Feeling his balls drop and his cock grow massively in size without even being stimulated Dante gets a very bad premonition. -Fuck what is happening to me? Shouldn't I grow all over?-

Feeling a painfully and burning sensation at his neck and smelling flesh getting burned, Dante feels the blockage inside his body dissolve that barred him from absorbing and refining mana in his body.

Feeling the iron is removed from behind his left ear, Dante hears the gentle voice of Professor Shock pulling him back to reality. ''Hmm...difficult, very difficult. Plenty of room for interpretations... I see, not a that one either. There's talent, oh yes, and a thirst to prove yourself. But how to interpret it?''

Thinking that her voice is not only his head, Dante whispers. ''Not Green. Not the Dollmakers.''

Surprised shock shouts out. ''Not the Dollmakers, eh? Are you sure? You could be great, you know. It's all here on your head. And the Dollmakers will help you on your way to greatness! There's no doubt about that! No? Ignoring the professor's words Dante continues whispering. ''Not Green...anything but the Dollmakers.''

''Well, if you're sure... better be... Ascended!!'' Hears Dante the woman announced. -I didn't get the body of an adult all over, but at least I now have a big dick and the ability to learn magic.-

The moment it is announced an immense cheering even louder than the one for his brother goes off at the Ascended table. Some even cheering. ''We got an Elcraft! We got an Elcraft! Come sit down with us!''

Shock dinging on a cup shouts. ''Your attention, please. Next up. Vill Bottom!''

Having found his place among the Ascended Dante sees the scrawny looking boy, who previously searched his toad named Trevor walk up with shaking legs. -Poor guy. He is frightened to death. -

Seeing the boy drink the potion hesitantly, Dante gets a bad promotion even worse than before. Pitting the boy, even more, he sees the fear-stricken boy grow into an even more fearful adult before the light in his eyes is suddenly missing.

-Is he dead?- Thinks Dante seeing Shock remove the iron but not announcing the result. -Shit, Emma was right this is a natural selection process only the strong can survive...-