fandomhigh | Basic Cryptozoology - First Period

As her students filed in, Mike was curiously absent for the moment. Something was slightly different in her stance, in her tone, even perhaps the atmosphere in the room. She looked more serious.

"Today, class, we will be discussing demons and spirits. I was unsure if they should qualify, as they are largely though to be beings entirely outside of the animal kingdom, beings made of energy and magic and the aether, but as they are such creatures which some like to doubt in certain worlds.

"Not my own, I assure you.

"And because they are different from other creatures which we've covered though can have similar effects as ghosts and some of the other beings, I thought they were worth a class. I should like it known right this moment that I do not approve of demonology in the least, nor will I answer questions pertaining to it's practices. I will not preach to it's wickedness; I will only point out the stupidity of the school and the eventual fate of most who practice such a craft."

She breathed out and offered a smile.

"As for the spirits of nature and others such as these, I will only teach caution and to never think yourself too clever. Now, however, I think we should begin..."

[ocd ~~coming~~ up!]

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"These are the things that come from the earth, or the air, or the sea, beings which have never been human and never will be human. Some, such as the Bon practioners, would say that each spirit comes from an individual place or features, whereas others would claim that elementals have no specific place but are beings of that sort of matter, that a salamander would be as happy in one fire as another.

"The most important thing to remember about them, however, would be that their morality and their view is so vastly different from a human one that their actions are very hard to predict in some cases. There are usually certain boundaries that dictate their behavior, but they are hard to tell and harder to think around as we are only human and will never truly understand them.

"Specifically, matched to their element, salamanders live in fire, undines in water, sylphs in air, and gnomes in the ground. Other such beings include those known as faeries or the Fair Folk."

She smiled at her class, glad to be off of the more serious subject.

"Now what I would ask you this time is this: what is it about human beings that make us so different from such creatures, do you think? And why do you think we find them so fascinating? For that matter, why do they very often find us so fascinating? And how much does form, environment, and make up create one's perspective?

"Once again, pairs or groups, or raise your hand to discuss it with me or ask any questions."

Ella raised her hand, puzzled. "But that's not what the fairies I know of are like at all," she said.

Edited 2008-08-13 17:12 (UTC)

"Oh? Well, I'm always happy to learn something new. What are they like in your world?"

She's genuinely curious.

"They're like people," Ella frowned. "Short-statured people, but people all the same, and they can look however they wish. They can do any sort of magic they wish, but their ethics usually forbid it."

She added, "They're all but immortal, but there are very few left."

"Ethics? Hmm... there are few ethics to the fae of my own world, except for their inability to lie to any degree. They can twist the truth like a cat about their legs, however.

"A very different breed indeed."

"very much so," Ella agreed. "Their belief at home is that magic may have unintended consequences, so they must carefully consider any possible use, even something so small as removing a stain from a rug."

Wryly, she added, "Of course there are exceptions."

"There are always exceptions," and she looked around the room, hoping everyone heard that.

She looked to Ella, offering to listen to anything else she might say on the subject, but thinking that perhaps this might be something personal and thus, not voicing the question aloud.

It was more personal than she was willing to share with the class, so she just shrugged and took her seat again.

Edited 2008-08-13 18:04 (UTC)

"I dunno about 'fascinating'," Harry said (Bob was a spirit after all and that was not a word Harry would ever use to describe his skull) "but a lot of it has to do with them just being so different. They're completely not human, even if some of them look it."

"People have found interest in their stories, in the forms, in their histories, in their homeland. There's countless tales..."

She smiled.

"I'd call that interest."

"It's possible I may just be biased against a certain obnoxious spirit that happens to live with me," Harry admitted.

"Certainly understandable."

She was curious.

"What manner of spirit is it, if you don't mind me asking?"

Harry had a number of words he normally used to describe what manner of spirit Bob was. Fortunately (and surprisingly!), he knew better than to use those in class.

"He's a spirit of air and intellect," Harry said, sounding very much like someone who's been corrected on the subject a number of times.

"So an irritating know it all?"

She wasn't unfamiliar with the practice.

Harry nodded. "Sometimes. He has his useful moments though. And he's got an obsession with romance novels."

An eyebrow quirked.

"I've dealt with much worse demands, I assure you. Romance novels is almost amusing."

"It's amusing until he starts reading out loud."

She can't help it. She laughs.

Harry just gave a long-suffering sigh in response. He'd had lots of practice.

"Oh buck up. I'm sure you'll be able to use that," she laughed again, "knowledge at some point."

Basic Cryptozoology - First Period - Wednesday, 08/13

Nature Spirits and/or Faeries

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