Dr. Lord's Office 1:30pm Sat

[Gabriella Velas]

Gabby knocks on the door hoping he is still here.

[griffinguy24]

"Yes?" comes Dr. Lord's curt reply. You enter the office to see him frantically scribbling on papers with a grimace on his face, "Oh, Miss Velas. As a favor, if you see Miss Saladin, Mr. Efasteyo, or Mr. Applegate, kindly send them my way..." he then considers for a second, "On second thought, please DON'T. I'd much rather make an example for the rest of you."

[Gabriella Velas]

Gabby winces slightly. "So this wouldn't be a good time to talk about Ix Chel then. I'll just go head to the field then."

[griffinguy24]

Dr. Lord sighs, "No, no, it's fine..." he takes a deep breath, "Sorry, between preparing for this upcoming session and the numerous crises that I need to take care of, I'm just a bit off center. What did you want to ask?"

[Gabriella Velas]

"How did she come to be? Was she something Tez..I mean Quetzalcoátl did for you or was she something you did yourself?" she winces again at her mistake.

[griffinguy24]

Suddenly you see a manic glint in your professor's eyes. He drops his pen, adjusts his hat, and Ix Chel walks up to his side as he leans against the desk and begins to talk.

"First of all, let's discuss the Aztec soul. Miss Saladin may have told you that the Egyptians classify their soul into several parts. Well, so do we. The first part is the body soul, the yollotl. Or, as it's translated from Nahuatl, the heart," he places his hand on his chest. "The second is the spirit soul, the tonal," he points to his head, "This is your personality, the spark, the breath of life. Through Latin America, it is said that the tonal can be lost, causing deep depression... Had to chase down a few spectres responsible in a few cases," he chuckles, "The third is the shadow soul, or nagual. This represents the hidden aspects of your personality, the more primal urges. It's the source of emotions, good and bad. The connection to the nagual is stored in the liver," he gestures to his abdomen, "But the nagual is not stored in the body."

"When a person is born, at that exact same time, an animal is born in the Aztec Overworld. That is your true nagual. Throughout your life, your nagual can send messages to you in dreams. Sometimes they're subtle, sometimes not. But by knowing what your nagual is, not only do you gain a guardian creature, but you gain insight into who you really are. I daresay if you found your nagual, you'd gain more control over your oracular abilities."

He points to Ix Chel, "She was not subtle. Jaguar naguals rarely are. Ever since I was a really little kid, she came to me in dreams. Sometimes she was chasing me, sometimes we were side by side chasing something else, sometimes I was in her body chasing my own body... Kinda screwed me up in school... got into a lot of trouble with my adopted folks... Still not on good terms with them..." he sighs, then shakes himself, "Sorry, you're already too embroiled in my family affairs, don't wanna make it worse."

"Anyway, I got my first visit from Quetzalcoatl after being kidnapped, then left for dead in a jungle. He took Ix Chel from the Aztec Overworld and brought her down to me. I mean that literally, he turned into his feathered serpent form, reached up, opened a hole in the sky to an otherworldly jungle, grabbed Ix Chel in his mouth by the scruff of her neck, and brought her down here. We've been inseparable ever since."

"I should tell you: Tepini isn't your nagual. I've got control over Mystery, so I know. The night Tezcatlipoca carved that tattoo on your back was the night he was born, right from a drop of your dad's blood. It's actually a pretty neat trick. I've done it myself... Anyway, retrieving your nagual would require the act of a God... or else a sufficiently powerful supernatural creature or Scion. It'd need to be someone with a good knowledge of the particulars of the soul. Someone well versed in the Occult. Someone with mastery over the Animal Purview. Someone who can traverse the cosmos themselves...." he sighs, visibly deflating, "Someone like me," he says dejectedly, "I'm willing to do it... but not right now."

"I want you to think about it, though... not everyone, not even all Scions, have what it takes to be a nahualli. And what's done cannot be undone. Not everyone knows who they are in the dark... Not everyone can deal with their shadow soul being brought to the light. Finding your nagual could be the best thing that ever happened to you, but it could also destroy you. Trust me. I know from firsthand experience."

"Just... don't rush it. Not every Aztec Scion needs to be a nahualli. Not even every God is one. Tread lightly on this one."

[Gabriella Velas]

"I will think on it. And thank you. Do you have an opinion on what mine may be?"

[griffinguy24]

"I know what it is. But you can't be told. You have to find it for yourself. Also..."

He pokes Gabriella on the forehead. You feel a tingle throughout your body.

"That should clear the aftereffects of the cocaine from your system. You can't afford to feel listless today. If anyone else took that stuff, tell me. Liam can use the Antidote Boon, but I doubt he's learned it yet. Oh, and if you ever again inebriate yourself before going into a potentially dangerous situation without a surefire way to counteract it, I will personally sacrifice you to your father. Understood?"

[Gabriella Velas]

"Some how I knew that was going to be your answer."

Gabby looks ashamed as he says this and clears the lingering effects. "Dave did as well. And I'm sorry." stopping there sensing he isn't looking for an excuse or explination.

"I'll just head to the classroom then. Thanks again."

[Gabriella Velas]

"Oh and Dr. Lord?" she says poking her head back in the door. "I don't mind if you talk about how you grew up with me. After all, you're kind of like family for me, certainly more than I've had up till now."

With that she shuts the door and head to the classroom early.