2 What Have We Gotten Ourselves Into? (1/2)
After she finished closing up, Sophia went to her room to get ready. She decided to stock up on healing potions and scrolls. She dressed casual. Or more casual than usual. //Hmph, we better get paid generously. I hope Ms. Ipruk writes up a proper contract this time, I refuse to trust this man blindly.//
She goes downstairs to see if Ms. Ipruk was also done getting ready. //Come to think of it, I think this is our first time working together on a ghost case. Oh well! Surely the great and powerful Cecilia Ipruk knows what to do!//
”Okay let's go, Sophie! I'm all set.”
Oh no. Her teacher is wearing very tacky, tacky overalls and a creepy gas mask?
Looking at the chaotic appearance of Ms. Ipruk, Sophia was extremely confused. She's never ghost hunted before but is it necessary to wear this kind of getup? //No I refuse to wear something like that. Ghosts be damned. If I die, I'd rather die looking tasteful.//
Sophia has to know. ”Um, Ms. Ipruk why are you... wearing that?”
”It's so the ghosts won't possess me of course!”
”Right.”
”Anyways let's get going! Flower Hill isn't far from here. Oh but you can fly ahead if you wish. I won't mind.”
”No, I don't mind walking with you teacher!” Okay so be Sophia minds a little bit. //Please Ms. Ipruk! Take off that ridiculous mask! Next time just let me pick out ghost hunting outfits!// But Sophia would feel guilty letting her teacher walk alone. It's just too rude! Besides she has some questions to ask about this client.
And so, they head out. Ms. Ipruk walks in long strides and is just generally a lot taller than Sophia so, she ends up flying a bit anyways.
”Um, teacher. How exactly do you know our client?”
”Oh goodness this was about 25 years ago before you became my pupil actually. The Johnsons were well, a very rich family so when they hired me I was thrilled! Money baby!!! But, they were strange.”
Stranger than you?
”They wanted me to create an incantation that would allow them to speak with the dead. The problem was that they refused to tell me who they wanted to speak with. I told them it won't work if I don't get a name, even a nickname would work. But they refused to tell me, so I couldn't do the job. They felt bad about 'wasting my time' so they still paid me! I felt guilty but alas they insisted!”
She paused sounding a bit hesitant but continued with, ”Before I left they also wanted me to meet their toddler. I was like hell! Sure why not! Kids are adorable. And he was! But, I was concerned with how his parents threw him at me, like they wanted me to take him home and raise him. It was very awkward.”
Sophia was confused, ”Do you think there was something wrong with that baby?”
Ms. Ipruk shook her head, ”Absolutely nothing! It was a perfectly healthy baby. No illnesses or curses. I don't understand to this day why they needed me in the first place. Soon after my visit, they vanished. Er- moved away. I never saw them again.”
Sophia didn't ask anymore questions because she understood. Her teacher wants some closure to this bizarre case from the past.
It wasn't long before her teacher spoke up again though, ”Dear, when making contact with the spirits, make sure to be clear and kind. Do not show any ill feelings or things will go awry. Ask simple questions and be aware of your surroundings.”
”Teacher… this advice is from Ghost Finders! We watched that 2 weeks ago!”
”Aha but they were right! Never look down on good advice no matter its origins.”
Sophia tries not to sigh, ”Isn't there some sort of incantation or spell I can do to talk to spirits?”
”Well of course. Communication with spirits is the foundation of Spiritual Magic (also known as Soul Magic) and it's extremely difficult to work with. Sophie dear, you know that you're not ready to learn other forms of magic. You're focusing on Light and Elemental Magic.”
She tries to protest, ”Surely it can't be that difficult and my studies with Light Magic are over now! I have read that Spiritual Magic is tricky and requires some dedication but-”
Ms. Ipruk interrupts her with a serious tone in her voice, ”And a part of your Soul. Sophie, I admire your ambition but you can't do everything at once. We have already spoken of how you don't need to learn all forms of magic to be great! Even I haven't practiced Spiritual Magic. I only know of the basics and ideology! It's far too dangerous, even more so than Dark Magic.”
Sophia does not pout but she sure feels like it. Spiritual Magic can't be that bad. Sure she hasn't been able to read too much about it but oh well.
”Anyways, I was serious about my earlier advice but, I do have a charm that will help you sense supernatural energies!”