Ghosts In Regis

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 maybe 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!"

//Why didn't you just give me this sooner!//

"Ah. Thank you..."

"Try to use it after speaking with them. This is a very powerful charm and if the spirit is vengeful it can backfire."

//Fantastic.//

She takes the charm and puts it away safely. They walk in comfortable silence for a few more minutes. Only the noises of the busy city and some creatures chirping. Soon they arrive at Flower Hill. The climb up the hill isn't long and even though Sophia was flying, they both make it to the top around the same time.

Sophia has seen the mansion before but from a far distance. This is her first time seeing it up close!

And she's not impressed.

She thinks, damn bitch you live like this? Does this even count as a mansion?! No wonder why people thought it must be haunted, it's in complete ruins! Also, it looks more like a ruined castle. Guess, rich people can do whatever and live however they want.

"Teacher, are you sure this is the right place?"

"It must be! This is the only mansion on Flower Hill. It certainly has changed these past years."

That's one way to put it. The whole structure looks like it's about to fall apart! How can someone live here? It's simply inhabitable. They walk past the gates that have been left open.

"Do we knock? I fear that if we do it might collapse on us." she said dryly.

"Ha! Funny as always, Sophie dear! But don't worry this structure won't fall on us just yet." She proceeded to knock on the main door. What ended up happening was exactly that. The doors did collapse! Debris and dust are everywhere! Sophia coughs and struggles to breathe again. Ms. Ipruk is fine since she's wearing the mask. Who knew it would come in handy after all!

"..."

"We don't have to pay for that right, Ms. Ipruk?"

"Nah! I'm sure that was meant to happen." She laughs it off.

They enter the mansion, walking over the ruins of the doors. Er- floating in Sophia's case. There seems to be no one in the hallway leading to the main foyer. Actually, there's not much of anything. It's pretty barren only a few withered decorations and old, abandoned furniture remain. At least the lights seem to be working. Sophia notes that it looks much better on the inside than the outside but that's not saying much.

"Oh my, I wonder why it's so empty?"

"I have no idea, perhaps the moving truck got lost?" Ms. Ipruk jokes.

"And just how long has he been "living" here? A few weeks right? Also, didn't he say there were supposed to be servants?" Sophia questions.

She can't bring herself to trust this man.

"Hmm..."

"Ms. Ipruk, What should we do?"

"Let's look around."

"Um, won't that be-" rude, but they already broke the door, so who cares. "Oh maybe we'll be able to find him!"

"Hm yes." Ms. Ipruk seems distracted. Sophia wonders if she's more interested in the mansion itself rather than finding their client. No wait, she probably is, after all it's been over twenty years since she was last here.

"Okay so should we go upstairs? Perhaps, someone is there? Oh, but what if the stairs aren't stable... not that it's a problem for me. Or be the dining room. Oh! What about one of the bathrooms-"

"Let's go to the library."