Ghosts In Regis

Ms. Ipruk slowly begins to open her eyes. Once she notices Sophia's presence she hugs her tightly. "Sophie! You're okay! I am so very sorry. This teacher did not want things to turn out this way."

"I'm fine. I'm glad to see you're back now. You had me super worried!" Sophia lightly scolds but clings tighter.

"I really am sorry. I owe you many explanations but let's get up from the ground and finish up here."

"You're right." Sophia let's go and dusts herself off from the ground. "We should take this… evidence right?"

"We can take one of the vials but let's not touch those eyes. Even if they're not 'dangerous' anymore, I'd rather be safe. Besides, it doesn't matter, we already know they're here and that they were used."

Sophia nods in agreement and takes one of the empty vials and picks up some of the notes on the ground. They leave the room since there's not much else they need from here.

Outside the creepy pathway, they start making their way back up to the library through the trap door. For Sophia its easy, since she can fly up but, she needs to help Ms. Ipruk up as well. It's not too high up but high enough that it's annoying.

"Oof. Thank you dear. I'm still a little drained from earlier."

"..."

"Yes?"

"Explanation. Now."

"Here? Now? Oh, alright then, aha! Well. I was searching the library for old records that might shed light on anything. But, I couldn't find anything useful to this case. Then, I tripped over the trap door. It was slightly opened. I was curious so I went down. The real challenge was getting inside the 'secret room'. It was blocked by a powerful magical barrier. I spent almost half an hour just trying to break it!"

Half an hour to break a barrier spell is not unheard of but for Ms. Ipruk, it should not take that long. She is a legend after all. So it can only mean that it was a pretty strong spell.

"Once I did, I started looking around and imagine my shock! I try to think the best of people but I should of been more doubtful. I should of been more suspicious and done something. Who knows how many innocent people got hurt because of these horrifying creations."

"Ms. Ipruk, it's not your fault. It's not your job to fix everything wrong in the world. Let's just do our best now."

She gave her a huge smile. Almost like a proud parent, "You're right as always, Sophie. I don't know what I'd do without you!"

"Yes. Yes. I know your life would be significantly awful without me but you still owe me more explanations!"

"You do deserve the truth." She gives a deep sigh, preparing herself, "I noticed something off about the secret room. I knew someone was in there. It had to be a lost spirit! I tried talking to them but I couldn't get a response. So, I…"

"You let them possess you? Why? How?"

"Do you remember what I said about Spiritual Magic? Well, I wasn't completely honest. There's a way to use it without having to sacrifice part of your soul and life energy. It's not very is stable. When I sensed the spirit, I tried to use it. It was supposed to be a simple spell where I let the spirit enter my dreamscape but because it was unstable it backfired on me! Instead, the spirit began to take control over my body. A forced possession. Before I lost complete control, I wrote that note and I tried to write it in a way that he wouldn't understand. Ancient Fae is something not many people know, but you know it. I messed up but as long as you're here, I knew you would get the job done."

Sophia stays silent for a long tense moment. But once she speaks again she doesn't hold back, "I'm so angry! Ms. Ipruk how could you be so reckless?! You didn't just leave me to clean up your mess but, carelessly risked your safety! What if something bad happened to you! What if I never saw you again! What would I even do-"

Ms. Ipruk gently puts her hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry for not considering your feelings and lying. I was trying to- no, that doesn't matter. Sophia… Do you still trust me? Even though, I'm not always right."

"That's an absurd question. I trust you because you're not always right. You're not always right, but you're very real."

"Thank you, Sophia. Sometimes I feel that I don't deserve your loyalty."

"Of course you do! And I'll even forgive you. Just this once," she playfully winks but then says more seriously, "Just don't lie to me about important things. Please… be more careful." Sophia wipes her eyes, when did she start crying? How pathetic. These tears are real as well.

"I promise. Although, in my defense, the spell I casted was temporary so even then-"

"Enough. I still have to tell you about what I discovered." Sophia briefly tells her about the Shadow Beast, the ghost maid, Darmae Farona, and her conversation with Mr. Hobbleton.

Ms. Ipruk looks stumped as well. "Hm. When I visited here, I don't remember running into a maid with that name. I also didn't hear about any disappearances but maybe it was because it happened recently. I do remember a butler named that but I didn't interact with him much. I mostly only spoke to the Johnsons."

"If the disappearance was recent did Mrs. Johnson look distressed?"

"She did look… out of it. Like her mind was elsewhere. I only spoke with her when I was in the library looking at that painting and she honestly didn't say much. Hmm…"

The painting! With no eyes but now it only has eyes. What does that mean?

"Those eyes in the painting, could they be connected with the Shadow Beast eyes?"

Ms. Ipruk shrugs, "It seems possible."

An obnoxious ringing began to play. "Oh oops, that's my phone." She took it out from one of her pockets and answered the call.

"Yes. Mhm. Okay we'll be right there!"

"That was Bradley?"

//When did he get your number???//

"Yup. He says dinner's ready." Ms. Ipruk pales a little remembering the wolf meat. "Are you ready to go, dear?"

Sophia scoffs, "Of course I am. We have a job to finish after all."

They head towards the dining room not really sure what to expect. The only thing Sophia knows is that Bradley will have to answer her questions. Lots of things go through Sophia's mind. She wants to trust Bradley and believe he's just a pathetic, idiotic man, who's afraid. But there's too many things that make him suspicious. He is hiding something. There's no doubt about it. But what? He probably already knew about the ghosts but that's why he needed help. Did he know about the Shadow Beast? He could have but maybe he didn't. Shadow Beasts are known to be good at hiding. Sophia is only certain that Bradley knows about the secret room. The barrier her teacher described is powerful and very new. How did he make it? Why did he make it? Why did he hide what his father created? Is he ashamed or is he planning something? Could all of this been a trap? It certainly feels like one.

Why did he let us look around knowing the risks? Is he stupid or cunning?

Or is Sophia just overthinking?

Before she goes inside the dining room she looks over everything she has. She skims through the journal again to see if she can find anything new. She finds some interesting new facts but nothing seemingly important. She does one last thing. "Ms. Ipruk did you find anything on how the Johnsons' died exactly?"

"I searched scrolls, papers and even my phone. Alas, I couldn't find much. Why the media is trying to make their deaths silent, I can only theorize."

"He said he wasn't there during the accident right?"

"Yes. I believe he did. Why? Do you think that was a lie?"

"Who knows." He knows. Why would he lie about that though? There's just something about him that's off… She can't shake that feeling.

"Ah! There you two are, come in! I have everything set."

No more time for doubts.