Magic Can Be Tricky

"Er, no," Ambaric said, looking embarrassed. "Fortunately. But I'm afraid that magic is never quite one hundred per cent predictable, though with straightforward spells it gets very close."

"I was only teasing," Astra said.

"I must say that you've taken it remarkably well. But we shouldn't really be chatting here in the doorway. The risk is very small, but it's just possible that the magical residue in the room from the spell that I was practising might interact with your illusory costume."

"Oh. But surely any change would have to be an improvement?"

"Perhaps, but it would be wiser not to take the chance."

"All right. I'll head on down to the bar then."

"I've got a little tidying up to do. I'll see you down there shortly."

Because it was only a small amount of residual magic that had come into contact with Astra's illusory costume, the change took a little while to take effect. So it was not till half way through their meal that the illusion reshaped itself. Suddenly...

1. Astra appeared to be wearing a clown's costume, complete with appropriate make-up and wildly frizzy hair.
2. She now seemed to be wearing a grass skirt and a pair of half coconut shells as a bra.
3. Though her costume appeared unchanged, she now gave the impression of being heavily pregnant. (Though if anyone tried to feel her "bump" they would find that their hand seemed to disappear inside her until it reached her real flesh.)
4. Though her costume appeared unchanged, her red hair now seemed to reach down to her knees.
5. Her costume had become a brilliant scarlet. Meanwhile the skin of her face - the only skin visible - now seemed to be a very dark brown and her hair appeared jet black.

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