"I'm Not Sure"

All three of the teachers tilt their heads to the side in curiosity at your answer and the Headmaster indicates for you to expand on your statement with a wave of his hand.

"It's just..." you start, pausing to consider how to word the thoughts running through your head, "She told me a few things before she moved in on me. Like that she thought some guy stole some of her underwear and tried to get pictures of her in the shower. And how her previous boyfriend tried to **** her. And how all that just made her feel like she was being... used."

"I remember those incidents," Professor Dove says, "the former lacked evidence to move forward with and the latter had... complications even with creditable witnesses."

You raise an eyebrow at the Professor's oddly specific wording but before you comment on it, Aspecta cuts in with, "And you feel this is relevant to how we should treat her?"

"I... kinda feel bad for her," you say after another moment of thought, "She just sounded so... ****, that I don't think she was lying about her situation. Or at least... there's more to it. It just seems to me that she deserves a full investigation first before she gets thrown out."

"Empathy even in a case such as this," the Headmaster notes as he strokes his long white beard, "How rare."

"Headmaster," Professor Dove says, "while expulsion would be the ultimate result, we ARE within our rights to keep the accused confined on campus until we conclude our investigation if we so choose."

"Her actions would need to be restricted by a curse if we did," Aspecta interjects, "She could not move anywhere but to her classes and back to her room. And given the nature of her crime, she would also be unable to speak to any of the other students or the staff unless it was absolutely necessary for her classes or if she found herself in a life-threatening situation. She would essentially be completely isolated, even in public."

She pushes her glasses up again and you are almost certain she is doing it on purpose to catch the light with her lenses as she adds, "In a state like that, expulsion might be the more merciful option."

"But that is a decision we will reach among ourselves later," the Headmaster says as he stands up suddenly, "Thank you for your time and information, son. Let us hope this is the last incident that you are dragged into for a while."

You grunt in agreement. That WOULD be nice... but you have a feeling it will not be.

Professor Dove wordlessly stands up and heads for the door as the Headmaster leaves first. However, she pauses to give a rather pointed stare at Aspecta before she exits as well. The remaining Professor turns to you, her stance relaxing lightly once the two of you are alone. "Are you certain you are okay?" Aspecta asks, concern filling her voice.

"Kinda," you reply, "Still processing all of--"

The next thing you know, Aspecta walks up to you, takes hold of your cheeks, and tilts your head back. Tara flies off your shoulder in surprise and flutters over to the windowsill, watching as the taller woman looks deep into your eyes, her breath just barely brushing against the tip of your nose as her fingers lightly stroke the sides of your face, as if she were studying its shape. Goosebumps form on your flesh as the contact continues and you try to read any of her intentions on her guarded face.

Then she suddenly pries your eyes open wide and mutters, "No signs of discoloration. Nor any delayed or enhanced pupil reactions. You do seem okay."

You stand there in confusion as she lets your eyelids go but keeps her hands on your cheeks, her palms so incredibly warm. "I thought you said you weren't trained as a healer," you say.

"But I do have a doctorate in Potioncraft along with Elementalism," she replies, her lips curling up into a cool smile.

"So that's what you meant about knowing why you were asked to be here for this?" you ask as you ponder if she was just bragging about her intelligence to you.

Aspecta nods once. "The Headmaster was right about how hard Potioncraft can be to track after the fact but there are ways. I will do my best to get to the bottom of this... for your sake."

"And Parisa's too," you add.

The Professor frowns for a second. "If she is innocent. Take care that your empathy does not become gullibility."

She pats your face lightly before letting go and stepping back. The two of you stare at each other for a few moments more before she says, "While the school nurse is certainly well trained, would you mind if I brought in someone I trust with a wider range of experience examining the effects of Potioncraft on the body to have a look at you this evening? Just for peace of mind."

Uncertain if she means hers or yours, you suddenly get a mental flash of that dream meeting you walked in on and, more particularly, the tanned blonde in the bronze mask. "You mean Doctor Harker?"

Aspecta tilts her head, once more giving you the impression she is trying to study your reactions and guess just how much you know about the situation. "Yes," she says, "She tells me the two of you hit it off rather well when she was gathering samples. I imagine you would both enjoy having time together again."

She gives you another cool smile as you blush slightly and she adds, "And if you plan to remain as close to her daughter as you are now, it would be helpful to get used to seeing her more often."