The transformations

Marcus perked up at Circe's words, while the others only looked at her questioningly.

Circe chuckled at their reaction before she went on. "You see, there is something else our dear viewers will vote for alongside each popularity poll. They will also be presented with three choices for each of you, and the vote will determine which choice you will get. But the one that we are about to have is a special one, as it is all about the theme our dear Master chose for this season."

Marcus gulped as the questioning looks moved onto him, though Circe quickly earned everyone's attention back as she started talking again.

"Let's proceed in order! Catherine, your choices are :

-Dryad : Tree Nymphs. Recent depictions tend to make them more plant-like however, usually by having their limbs made of wood and bark instead of flesh and sometimes even having their hair made out of flowers and leaves.

-Holstaurus : The female version of a Minotaur, they tend to have a mostly similar spread of human and bovine traits, though said traits usually come from a cow instead of a bull. They also tend to be smarter and more docile than their male counterparts, but while most tend to also be more delicate, it's not impossible for them to be as strong or imposing as the Minotaurs are usually depicted.

-Lamia : This one is pretty straightforward. A Lamia is always depicted as a woman with a snake tail instead of legs, though whether or not they have other reptilian traits tends to vary depending on the artist.

( https://strawpoll.com/PKgl35kBonp )

Now dear, would you like to tell us which one you would prefer?"

Catherine blinked at Circe, clearly not expecting the question. "Oh! Hum... The plant one, I guess? I mean, I like gardening, so, hum..."

"Excuse me, but why should we give our opinion if it's the audience who will decide?" Catherine let out a small sigh of relief at Bethany's interruption, giving the other woman a short but thankful smile as Circe answered the question. "Well, you don't have to say anything if you don't want to, but your opinion could influence our viewers. Though whether they would go with or against your preferences is another matter entirely. And since you are next Miss Hawthorne, here are your choices :

-Blue Oni : The name Oni is often translated as Ogre, or rarely but more accurately as Demon. Associated with thunder and lightning, they are depicted as super-humanly strong, horned humanoids. Recently, the blue ones have been depicted as calmer, more collected and less likely to lash out, though no less dangerous.

-Nekomimi : The ever-popular cat girl. The name literally means 'cat ears', though they most often have other feline traits, such as their eyes, fangs, tail and sometimes even claws. It is also the first choice that can receive a later upgrade, something I will explain after the results.

-Yuki-Onna : The ice woman. While the original ones are mostly similar to Snow White in looks, recent depictions tends to make them more outwardly supernatural, often having their hair appear frozen and sometimes even giving them the ability to transform their hands into ice structures, usually claws."

( https://strawpoll.com/QrgebYALjZp )

Bethany was thoughtful for a moment, trying to decipher why they were offered mythological creatures, before shaking her head and gesturing at Circe to move on.

"Nothing to say? Suit yourself. Now, Alexandra..."

"Alex." Circe didn't look too surprised at the interruption, even as she hummed for the redhead to elaborate. "Just call me Alex. I'm not an old woman."

"Very well. Alex, your choices are :

-Harpy : An amalgam of woman and bird, Harpy are depicted with wings instead of arms and bird-like legs, though more recent depictions tend to make said legs more saurian-like. They are sometimes, but not always, depicted with a feathered tail. It is the second choice that can be upgraded.

-Mothman : One of the most recent creatures here. The mothman is a cryptid usually depicted as human-like, with big moth-like wings and reflective or even glowing red eyes. More recent description tend to add some more insectoid details, like covering most of their body in an exoskeleton or giving them a second pair of arms.

-Wyvern : A draconic creature who only possesses four limbs, two wings and two legs. Aside from a few individuals, Wyverns are usually depicted as closer to dinosaurs and thus more realistic than the standard western Dragons, and usually lack the magical abilities said Dragons are sometimes said to have. Furthermore, this choice can be upgraded as well."

( https://strawpoll.com/NMnQ58ARAn6 )

"Oooh! The third one!" Alex didn't need to be prompted for her opinion, her enthusiasm making Circe chuckle again. "May I ask why?" Alex's answer was immediate, stated as if it should be evident. "Because dragons are awesome!"

Circe shook her head in amusement as she moved on to the next contestant. "Now Jared, your choices are :

-Fairy : Recent depictions shows Fairies as small, benevolent winged humans, usually with gossamer or sometimes butterfly wings, with an affinity for nature and magic.

-Imp : Small, low-ranked demon, Imps are usually depicted with the common demonic traits like red skin, horns, a spade-tipped tail, claws, fangs, and sometimes wings. There's not much else to say, aside from them usually having minor magical abilities, and the fact that this choice can be upgraded.

-Kobold : We're not using the dog-like ones from mythology here, but rather the draconic servant from role-playing games. They're usually depicted as short rascals covered in scales and having dragon-like horns, sometimes with an affinity for magic. And it is the last choice that can be upgraded.

( https://strawpoll.com/YVyPmrLwAnN )

So, any favorite?"

"Kobold or Imp are nice, I guess..." The young man said with a shrug. Circe gave a small nod and a non-committal hum before moving on.

"Your turn, Alice. Here are your choices :

-Dormouse : One of our most recent entries, they're human-like but with traits from the adorable animal they're named after, like the ears and tail, and even sometimes the teeth and fur.

-Dullahan : Headless horsemen, though they don't always have horses. Dullahan are animated corpses carrying their severed head and a weapon around, usually a sword-whip or a scythe. Some more recent depictions, which I personally prefer, do away with the corpse part, simply making it so their head is detachable by magic rather than through beheading.

-Usagimimi : Literally 'rabbit ears'. You know them; they're the ever-popular bunny girls! So popular, in fact, that I shouldn't even need to describe them. Ears, tail, sometimes teeth and feet, yadda yadda, you know the drill.

( https://strawpoll.com/wAg3Aq0EWy8 )

Now, Alice, would you like to say something?"

Alice bit her lip as she shook her head before looking away, not saying anything. "Aww, you're just adorable, you know." Circe said before reaching the last contestant, who immediately went back to glaring at her.

"And last but not least, Miss Hartman. Your choices are :

-Mermaid : Women with a fish tail instead of legs, made popular by Disney's weird thing about turning tragic and horror stories into children's movies. Recent depictions tend to give them back webbed hands and more fins.

-Selkie : An interesting case, Selkies are usually women that carry around a seal skin, and can turn into actual seals by wearing it. Though they have to be careful because if someone else takes their seal skin, they'll have to obey them until they can reclaim it.

-Scylla : The more recent depictions, rather than the original Greek creature. Scyllas are similar to Lamias and Mermaids in that they are women with an animal part instead of legs, in this case octopus tentacles. Some recent depictions give them additional cephalopod traits, like the ability to camouflage or give them tentacles instead of hair.

( https://strawpoll.com/poy9Wm0GwgJ )

So, do you have any preferences?"

"Fuck you." Wilhelmina just kept glaring murderously at Circe as the woman gave her an exaggerated pout. "Now that's just rude. But anyways, now that the choices for the contestants are revealed, it's the Masters' turn!"

"Uh?" Marcus was obviously surprised at being addressed. Bethany had noticed that he seemed strangely interested in what Circe said while she was presenting everyone with their choices, especially once she reached Wilhelmina, though she didn't know what to make of it. But right now, the man was pointing at himself with a slightly worried expression. "Wait... Me too?"

Circe arched an eyebrow at him, though her smile didn't leave her face. If anything, it seemed a little larger than before as she answered. "Of course, you too. It is what you asked for here, after all. See?" Circe turned towards Marcus as she spoke, a folder suddenly in her hands open to the desired page as she showed him a specific section, one that he himself filled. Marcus' eyes widened as he read the sentence Circe was pointing out : The first transformation for everyone must be to turn them into a monster girl. Marcus cast a pleading look at Circe, only to sigh in resignation as she just kept smiling at him. She clapped her hand, the folder having disappeared.

"Splendid! Now, here are the choices for our dear Master :

-Drider : Similar to a Centaur, but with a spider instead of the horse. They are usually described as having claws, multiple eyes and fangs as well, and like actual spiders, their silk is the most durable string you can find, though they have no difficulty cutting it thanks to their claws.

-Slime : A creature entirely composed of a liquid-like mass. They are usually depicted with at least some amount of shapeshifting, but what other abilities they may or may not have vary wildly between artists.

-Tentacle Monster : A creature with the dubious honor of being created for porn, the monster itself is rarely depicted, and when it is, it can be pretty much anything, and while most of their tentacles are obviously similar in both form and function to male genitalia, some authors and artists have had quite the perverted imagination to add to it."

( https://strawpoll.com/05ZdW7AvVg6 )

Marcus hid his face with a hand as Alex snickered. Both Catherine and Alice were blushing and looking away, and Bethany just rolled her eyes before Alex's snickering caught her attention, which let her spot Jared switching which of his legs was on the opposite knee.