35th of Summer, 514 AV
Aoren arrived at the professor’s study earlier than was usual for their scheduled lesson time. Still, when he’d received the notice that she wanted to get an early start to the day he was certainly not going to argue. His instructions had noted that he was to come without the normal materials he brought every day. Only himself. With a polite knock upon the door to the room he stepped inside to find the professor donning a shawl. Beside her on the floor was a pack that looked to be filled. She smiled up at him as he entered.
“Good morning, Aoren.” He gave her a half bow bending slightly at the waist.
“Good morning, Professor. Are we going somewhere?” The elder woman grasped her cane getting herself situated.
“Indeed. We are continuing your lessons in Spiritism today. However, for this lesson we must venture outside the walls of the University.” Aoren stepped forward grabbing a hold of the pack without having to be told. He hefted it up over his shoulders slipping it on moving it about until it was seated comfortably on his back.
“To where?” The professor reached out to Aoren. He extended his arm helping her walk. It would be slow going but somehow he found that a slow stroll with this woman would be anything but dull.
“To the place where ghosts would most frequent, to the cemetery.” Aoren was surprised. The cemetery? He wasn’t nearly learned enough in Spiritism to actually to practice all that she had taught him. The professor must have noticed Aoren’s reluctance. She gave his arm a pat.
“Fret not, Aoren. I will not let harm come to you. Unfortunately this is an unavoidable part of learning the discipline. As with all magic, you can go only so far in discussing theories.” He nodded.
“What is it that we will be going over today?” The professor looked up at him for a moment as if gauging how he would react to the news.
“Possession.” Aoren stopped in his tracks. He stared at the elder woman open mouthed. A cold dread washed over him. He had been possessed before. He had been subject to the terrible manipulations of a deranged ghost. It had been a horrifying experience to have no control over himself. He had been nothing more than a puppet dancing on the ghost’s strings. It had taken every ounce of willpower that he possessed to free himself of the possession and even then he had managed it only just.
“Professor…” He struggled to find the right words. The elder woman gave him a sad smile.
“It is a frightening experience, I understand. To have your body invaded by another, to lose all control, I know just how difficult it can be to face that.” She reached out taking Aoren’s right hand patting it gently.
Aoren arrived at the professor’s study earlier than was usual for their scheduled lesson time. Still, when he’d received the notice that she wanted to get an early start to the day he was certainly not going to argue. His instructions had noted that he was to come without the normal materials he brought every day. Only himself. With a polite knock upon the door to the room he stepped inside to find the professor donning a shawl. Beside her on the floor was a pack that looked to be filled. She smiled up at him as he entered.
“Good morning, Aoren.” He gave her a half bow bending slightly at the waist.
“Good morning, Professor. Are we going somewhere?” The elder woman grasped her cane getting herself situated.
“Indeed. We are continuing your lessons in Spiritism today. However, for this lesson we must venture outside the walls of the University.” Aoren stepped forward grabbing a hold of the pack without having to be told. He hefted it up over his shoulders slipping it on moving it about until it was seated comfortably on his back.
“To where?” The professor reached out to Aoren. He extended his arm helping her walk. It would be slow going but somehow he found that a slow stroll with this woman would be anything but dull.
“To the place where ghosts would most frequent, to the cemetery.” Aoren was surprised. The cemetery? He wasn’t nearly learned enough in Spiritism to actually to practice all that she had taught him. The professor must have noticed Aoren’s reluctance. She gave his arm a pat.
“Fret not, Aoren. I will not let harm come to you. Unfortunately this is an unavoidable part of learning the discipline. As with all magic, you can go only so far in discussing theories.” He nodded.
“What is it that we will be going over today?” The professor looked up at him for a moment as if gauging how he would react to the news.
“Possession.” Aoren stopped in his tracks. He stared at the elder woman open mouthed. A cold dread washed over him. He had been possessed before. He had been subject to the terrible manipulations of a deranged ghost. It had been a horrifying experience to have no control over himself. He had been nothing more than a puppet dancing on the ghost’s strings. It had taken every ounce of willpower that he possessed to free himself of the possession and even then he had managed it only just.
“Professor…” He struggled to find the right words. The elder woman gave him a sad smile.
“It is a frightening experience, I understand. To have your body invaded by another, to lose all control, I know just how difficult it can be to face that.” She reached out taking Aoren’s right hand patting it gently.