Idealism bound outside Logic. (Concluded)

The professor places a hand to his forehead.

"It is not likely to be her but in the chance that it is. Let's just say that she can create anything of your wildest dreams, or your worst nightmare, and that is not mutually exclusive either. Even I do not know the extent of her power and I fought her along with others once, and we only driven her back, not exactly defeat her."

"The good news is that she rarely surfaces and it is very distinct if she does. Things get rather chaotic so you won't be able to miss it. So unless she somehow decided to stay low, you will know where to avoid."

“Haha, and here I was thinking you were man who spent all of his times with his books.” said Pash, “I guess I just don’t have good people reading skills.”

“So how did you drive her back?” asked Pash as she reached for another nugget only to come to the sad realization that there were none left.

"Books are tools to enrich the mind but not the only way." Taps his temple with a grin and a wink.

"As of how we were able to drive her back...well it is less of driving her back and more of repelling her. One of the member of our group, Hans, was dedicated defense mage and a very strong healer. He had called us to cover him while he performs a ritual. Between my trickery and Hina, our frontline specialist, we were able to buy him enough time to conjure a nigh-indestructable barrier us and the town vs her on the outside. And it wasn't that she didn't attempt to stop him either as she is smart enough to quickly catch on that he had an ace up his sleeve.

"Now technically she can actually break it down enough many hours of attacking but we had supplies and she doesn't, and our patience was much higher than hers, so she left in frustration. I do not think it helps that I hit her with several hunger spells and used a spell to repeated slingshot a bunch of high velocity-food into her face. Being very hungry makes it really hard to dodge food or to focus on anything but food which works to our purpose of taking the heat off Hans."

At the side, Sierra had lapse into "Student Mode" and pulled out a notebook and was starting to write notes after notes of his recollection of that battle while Spring Rose nods in definite agreement with the last statement, even if she is a doll and does not need to eat.

"W...wait, let me get this straight... you actually DID attack a midara with chicken nuggets?" asked Pash, her eyes opened as wide as they could go in astonishment.

He gave a very basic shrug from the question "Well...I am not sure if you can actually call it an attack as more of a very, very effective distraction.  And I do not remember if chicken nuggets was part of my arsenal but if it was, it wouldn't be far-fetched to think that they would still be effective.  If I wanted to be cruel and have a decision of what food I throw, it would be chocolate chunk cookies with no milk. No matter how powerful one is, they are all vulnerable to the basic needs of the body."

"Actually, I was going to ask, if you were going to be cruel, why not throw poisoned food at the hungry midara."

The professor hmms briefly. "I have briefly thought on that for a bit and there are a few reasons why. I do not think I can be discrete enough to slip poison in the food even if I had access to nightshade. Plus the survival instinct can override hunger and if she knows the food as been poisoned, it would defeat the purpose of the distraction.

However, slightly expired food, very spicy meat, or just very very terrible cooking are fair game. Having your tongue have a sensation of burning from eating snuck-in dragon pepper would be very detrimental in effect for trying to cast a spell. I generally sneak a few ingredients to weaponize from Sierra's pantry."

That last bit resulted in a indignant "Professor!" and a pout from Sierra.

“Still, it just seems so comical to me. Like, this is the big bad wolf, and you are throwing food at her.” said Pash, “and this is coming from the girl who fights with a teddy bear and kisses.”

Pash has pretty much spent most of her life fighting. This was something she thought about a lot.

“I mean, professor, you can phase through surfaces like it is nothing, no? How come you don’t phase under her and stab her from below with a sword or something? She would never be able to react in time, and even if she did, all you would have to do is phase back into the ground for safety and wait for your next chance.”

Pash thought for a bit before continuing. I mean, this is what she would do if she had to face herself.

“I just find it hard to believe that the guild that came up with something as amazing as that communication orb Sierra gave me sees throwing food at a hungry midara as a legitimate combat strategy.”

Professor looks at Pash with a bit of respectful before hmming thoughfully before he admits.

"Thank you for bringing that up to perspective.  Unfortunately during the time, I was not strong enough to phase through objects at a more consistent duration and also that we didn't have an effective means as an offense.  Hina was landing a lot of hits but wasn't wearing Akasha down as much.  I will admit that my hunger tactic was very improvised. And it doesn't help the fact that we were also hit by a fear spell." Shudders briefly from the experience.

“Oh… I understand now. That was not actually your real plan. It just kind of happened in response to the battle.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, what was the fear spell like? I’ve heard of these things, but can’t even begin the imagine what it would be like under one.”

He closes his eyes, trying to force himself to think on it when he really did not.

"You have the sudden urge to flee from something so dire but you do not know what, that something is coming to get you and you are totally powerless. It doesn't even have to be the caster. You just want to get away at all cost."

Pash looked into the distance for a little while.

“I understand what you are saying, and yet I still can’t imagine what that must be like. I mean, usually when I get scared, I know exactly what I’m scared of. In this case, it sounds like you are terrified, and then have to deal with the additional terror of not knowing where the source is coming from.”

“So what was the reason for fighting her? Did you seek her out? Or did she find your team?”

The professor looks thoughtful.

"Really bad timing as we are heading out towards the exit of the town when she struck, and she wasn't subtle about it. 10 seconds and a quarter of the gate guards became her thralls joining with the the ones she brought along." He slumps into his chair. "It was pure chaos as it guards fought guards and ours could not tell whose still had free will."

"It was then that she noticed us thee whom had resisted the initial wave and was better at dealing with the thralls that were surging in that she singled us out. Then the pressure on our min started, it was a combination of fear and a weakening of our will, far insidious than anything any midara has thrown at us. Even today, I am hesitant to call her a midara either. It only stopped when Hans casted a spell that reinforce our will and linked us together." The professor has fallen silent after that.

“So, ummm, if your team drove her back, but your team is not there anymore, what is to keep her from attacking that same spot again?”

"There is a simple answer to that. We cannot. The only thing that potentially keeps the town safe is that same defensive ritual that repeled her in the first place, though the townspeople doesn't have the offensive ability or versatility we had. As for if the town is still standing today..." The professor closed his eyes briefly as some silent passed by with a sorrow face.

Then he sudden breaks out the grin that shatters the sorrow. "It's still standing today!"

Right after is the sound of furniture tumbling and a feminine squeak as Sierra ended up falling backwards on the chair and toppling it backward in surprise from the mood whiplash and the volume shift from sorrow soft to sudden shouting. Fortunate she looks OK if not a bit shaken from the fall. Spring Rose moves over to help her get up.

“Hooray!” shouts Pash as she throws up her hands at the reveal that the town was still there after that suspenseful buildup.

“Haha, what can I say,” she said with a smile, “I’m a sucker for happy endings.”

Pash looked over to Sierra as she got back into her seat with Spring Rose’s help.

“Dang Sierra, what happened to all the prim and posh persona you had going on when we first met? Haha, you should have heard that squeak. I don’t think even I can squeak that adorably”

Pash turned back to the Professor.

“Did you friends make it out alright that day?”

“Also, what about the guards that she turned? Were they able to be saved from her spell when she ran away? I hope none of them died in the fight that happened. I know it sounds silly coming from a ditzy girl like me, but no one ever mourns the guards in disasters like this, and I find that to be an injustice.”

Sierra just simply facepalmmed at Pash's teasing. That spill was not her proudest moment. Not that she was trying to maintain any image but she dusted herself off before reseating, shuffling back and forth to make sure that she didn't wreck the chair legs.

"And I have to deal with the potential of that happening 4 days a week."

The professor was smirking like a devil that pulled off a very slick prank while he waits for his student to get in her seat before he replied to Pash. "All three of us were shaken but ultimately OK. We actually lost a few guards due to the actual melee."

"However, remember how I mention Hans was a healer on top of him being a defense mage?" He waits for a bit. "He also knows a good degree of necromancy as well which allows him to tether the souls of those that had died to wounds to not depart from their bodies yet. That allows him enough time to resurrect them to life. It took him about one week to recover from the strain of the soul tether, and resurrection, and the defense ritual though."

Sierra blinks a bit. "Necromancy? Isn't that prohibited?"

Professor Durkin shakes his head. "Not exactly. Heavily regulated yes. Prohibited no. You do have to have special permission to have the right to use it."

“Well, it is nice to hear that worked out then,” said Pash.

“So have you faced any other midara? Anyone midara that are sweet and cute like me?” said Pash while obnoxiously batting her eyelashes.

Then she got a little more serious.

“It would be nice to know that I’m not alone in doing my best to make sure I don’t hurt people.”

The professors hmms briefly as he thinks of anyone he knows.

"Three that I recall: The first one is one I meet in formal party and she was fairly low key about her charm as well. After a nice conversation about various subjects, she has taken a liking to me and had offered me a place at her side. Unfortunate due to my duty, I had to decline but she respected my wishes.

The second was actually a minstrel of a sort and I am not sure of she counts as a midara or not as her song seems to have more of a soothing effect in the room rather than than an infatuation. Unfortunately that is all I know about her as we never converse directly."

The three, unfortunate, wanted to keep me for her tribes forever and wasn't asking if I wanted to or not either. I made myself invisible and created a mirage of me running away and she ends up running into a low lying tree branch."

Sierra raises her hand briefly from habit, but then lowers her hand as she realize of that habit of a student with a 'ops'.

"Don't think this counts but there is a library at a bit of a distance from here. The owner is a devil, not figurative either. While she is capable of charm magic, she learns to do it and not innately learned, plus she can also influence your mind in many other fashion. I do not know the extent of her power but her aura is very intense as of powerful being of hell.

Fortunately, you are in no danger if you return her books on time or respect the sanctity of the library's peace, and she really uses her powers to make people return her books, or make them leave if they are disruptive. Other than that, she is very pleasant to talk to and sometimes helps me with my studies on the slow days.

So yeah not really midaras but proof that any being can be amiable if they choose to."

“Ahh, well that is music to my ears then,” Pash beamed with a smile.

“Haha, and look at you Professor!” Grinned Pash mischievously, “such a hit with the ladies that you have to use magic just to get away from them.”

“Well, you sure you don’t want to ask me any questions after you have answered so many of mine? We’ve been here for quite a while, and I’m getting pretty sleepy now.”

Professor Durkin sticks his tongue out at Pash almost in a child-like fashion despite his profession, in comparison to Sierra who looks like she is sitting with a pair of kids.

He did take the hint from Pash's last statement as a sign to bring this meeting to a close.

"Most question that pertains to information has been asked,figuratively, but there is one I do want to ask." He look at her straight into the eye. "If midaras were to be accepted into society, what is it that you see yourself doing? What do you wish for your future?"

“Hmmm, you know, I’ve never really given that too much thought. I’m more of a ‘focus on today’ kind of girl, and forgive me for sounding pessimistic, but I don’t see that day coming any time soon.”

“But if that day were to come where I could walk around without fear of an angry mob forming to chase me out, and they would be willing to tolerate me smooching a boy into a mini coma every month or so, not that the boy would be unwilling, mind you, there is still the issue that just being around me for too long can mess with people's thinking.”

“However, since we are entertaining the idea, let’s just say that will not be an issue in this ideal world. Hmmm, I’m pretty good at getting boys back on their feet. You know, cheering them up after they have had some bad luck, making them believe in themselves again after they been hit with failure. . .

Pash did that silly dramatic hair toss again.

“Haha, I mean, just look at me. How could a boy not be filled with optimism and the desire to be the best version of himself he could be when in my presence.”

“...eh, heheh, ok, I’ll stop now.”

Sierra might have told you that this is pretty much how I feed myself. . . but then that does sound a little like prostitution does it not? I mean, even if I called myself a therapist, people are sure to start gossiping about how I only accept male, ummm, patients I guess.”

“Then there is the salesgirl angle that Sierra suggested. Make no mistake. I know I would be really good at it. However, I would also feel like I would be cheating compared to other salesgirls. I mean, I would have a huge advantage over them.”

“But yeah, now that I think about it, I do love seeing the fire reignite in the eyes of a boy down on his luck. Make me excited to see all the things that he might do now that he believes in himself again. All the ways he might change the lives of people around him for the better.”

“Kinda makes me wish I had the same effect on girls in a way…”

“That way people could not start rumors about my office being a whore’s den, haha.”

"It is not pessimistic to think that and to be honest I am not sure how well we can integrate midaras, even if we are acceptable to them. Part of it is a bit of a case-by-case basis. The work is two ways as well as we will need midaras that will also cooperative as well."

He then listens to her desire, after taking care of her love magic issue, that she does wish to lift the spirit and morals of guys she has associated with.

It was until that when Pash wishes she can help girls as well, he notices a motion behind Pash and watches before Spring Rose hugs the midara from behind for a good several seconds before she points at Sierra, whom just smiles at Pash.

"But you already started to help girls in your way. I am the first, at least in this city, that you help, particular with my social life, remember? Although I do not think I would be considered a down-on-my-luck-gal in any sense of the word, but you do fill the void that is the lack of having someone to confide to."

“Awwww, you are always there for my Spring Rose, haha,” said Pash as she clasped her own hands over the dolls in the hug.

“Well, I appreciate your optimism professor, but as for now, I’m just going to keep on the move.”

“And Sierra, I’m glad you appreciate our friendship, as do it, but what I did for you was nothing compared to what I can do for a boy. In your case, it was a simple matter of telling a girl who has never been on a date to be a little more considerate of the boys who ask her out. You should have seen what I have done for some boys. Taking them from the absolute pits of despair to putting them on the path to their hopes and dreams. Being that cute girl in the background cheering them on and watching them going from being lost boys to successful and happy men…”

Pash smiled a gentle smile as she let out a sigh.

“Makes a girl happy to think of how far they have come. I just hope they remember me.”

“Haha, they better remember me,” Pash quickly added, trying to act like she did not just shed a tear of joy.

Sierra ohs before nodding, not going to argue since, despite their close friendship, she didn't hang around Pash long enough to see her works (and her more intimate moments which Sierra prefers to skip).

"Do you now when you will start to move again? That way I can set a time-frame on me finishing the your doll? I would really want to make the gift before you do."

Professor Durkin gets up from the chair. "Well I think it is time for me, at least, to retire back to my quarters. Thank you Pash for your participation, and thank you Sierra for attending. Do either of you want anything to go? It is on me." His head turns towards the restaurant briefly.