"Well," Aster said after a moment's stunned silence, "I'm sure it's only temporary. Some reaction with your body caused by contact with a volatile pocket of mana." His eyes went distant. "Now, if we could just find a way to utilize this in a controlled fashion, just think of the applications..."

Richter crossed her arms under her breasts. "Aster," she said warningly, in a voice an octave higher than usual.

"I wonder if it's an effect particular to half-elves, or if humans can transform like that, too?" There was a clatter as Aster dropped his pen and notepad in his haste to pull them from his pockets. He picked them up and grinned brightly up at Richter. "You'll let me study you, right?"

"Aster!"