Being complimented was apparently foreign to the student as the woman's aura flickered despite maintaining her composure. The young woman seemed pleased with how the meeting went, knowing she now had someone to speak to should she wish it. Vera simply smiled as Laele rose to her feet and bobbed a small curtsy. "Thank you, Miss Zazael," she replied, "I will keep that in mind. Good luck in your studies." She rose to her feet to help the woman with the pastries, taking them into the fridge so the cooler can be taken back. If there was nothing else, she would allow the student to take her leave and decipher what purpose the directions she gave had. If successful, the woman may be in for a surprise in seeing the colorful display of mana flowing about the world. Of course from there, the woman would have no clue where to go. None of the studies the student mentioned should have anything about mana and channeling it for magic. But for now, Vera would continue with her day as normal though with a tasty treat waiting for her after dinner.

Laele would take the cooler with a finaly low nod to Vera after putting the pastries in her fridge. She left calmly heading to her room. She had nothing to do after this for at least a day; she had plenty of spare time to decipher the paper.

Attempt one. same day as recieving the paper,
She had worked on decyphering some of the papers as best she thought she could, it had been written in plain english by vera after all. She knew what to do but, she had no idea what she was supposed to see, she tried to do it in her room she sat in the most relaxing way she could, she kept the lights dim with candles lit around her room hoping that a general meditation like atmosphere might help
”the room is silent calm, peaceful... so I just sit down... relax... follow the instructions.”
she closed her eyes for a moment as she sat down taking a breath to try and calm herself; she was sitting with all the doors and windows locked and shades drawn shut she was sitting in her lingerie & her crochet rose net stockings. She spent an hour following the directions as best she could trying to calmly see whatever she was supposed to see. There was nothing at first, maybe a few vague wisps of something. Eventually she just fell asleep in the mound of pillows she'd set up in her room.

Attempt Twelve, eight days later, mid-afternoon after classes finished for her.
she'd spent every minute of her free time attempting and reattempting the directions each time tweaking one or two small elements of her set up. Each time she got nothing save perhaps a glimmer of something she couldn't quite explain. She decided to sit just in front of her window this time, letting the sun shine in as she looked out at the people below she had openned the window letting a few of the vague distant sounds come in. she did well to ignore those sounds almost completely as she let in the breaths enjoying the gentle breeze before she heard something. It was a unique sound that lasted for a moment followed by a brief two second long glimpse at some sort of light flowing around her like an odd river, the light was around the trees in the distance and the students below. It ended as suddenly as it began and she cursed under her breath her normally nuetral aura flared blood red for a moment at her anger with herself more than anything
”Bloody Fucking Hell!!! I am a worthless twit with this... I saw something and lost it quicker than I got it, bloody fucking hell!!!!!”
her composure was gone completely. She didn't bother dressing, she grabbed a towel some clothes and walked off for a quick shower to cool off.
She walked out of the room calm, collected and completely relaxed her hair a bit messy but, she was at peace now, the anger had completely faded away now and it was about then she was the flowing lights once again, it didn't fade this time not until she tried to force herself to stop seeing it letting her mind wander as far as she could. She tried to turn it back on and she could then back off and she smiled at the faint understanding of how this seeing worked... it was something but what was she seeing exactly?
She took a breath trying to think what it could have been she had just seen she came up with nothing at all. The flowing rivers of light were woven into most things she saw outside; the rivers of light were in varrying colors, speeds and intensities. Her own had been more intense than some of those she saw outside and it was flowing extremely eratticly as if it didn't know what to do with itself. She stood in her elegant mostly black (save for the yellow ascot she always seemed to wear) and left the dorms heading quietly over to Vera's suite. When she arrived she knocked softly against the door.
She knows more than she told me. I'm certain of it.!
her aura was still neutral for the most part but, tinted with a determination and confusion that was no doubt lovely to see in such a disciplined girl.

Over a week had passed since Laele came to her suite with her questions. Vera had not forgotten the meeting but she did not make an effort to keep track either. The student was merely an investment or perhaps an experiment. Her days were the usual routines of classes and performing her duties as a Head Girl. She tutored a group of students and participated in a few matters involving the student council. Her time back in her room was that of sending emails and updating records while also making appointments in various rooms in the basement. Occasionally, she would take the time to study a few old tomes of magic before finally calling it a night.

Working at her desk once more, she heard the knock at her door. The once neutral aura now had chaos flickering within it. It seemed the woman had finally found something with directions she gave. Of course there was no way for the woman to know what she found, leading her right back to her suite. "Come in," she called, folding in hands in her lap as she waited for Laele to enter and ask her questions. How things went from here would decide if she would treat the student again or not. It was obvious this stolid woman wanted power. But what would the woman do to gain it?

Laele needed a moment to cool down and opening the door was enough. It had stopped her from accidentally going off the handle when she saw the woman behind her desk. Her expression was one of vague happiness to see the women.
”Good afternoon Miss Masumoto, I'm glad you're in and not at classes. Forgive me for being just a little anxious to talk with you.”
She would close the door and approach her desk taking a seat and clearing her mind in the quiet room now that she understood the directions it wasn't 'too' difficult to see the flow of energy.
They say everyone has a natural talent, Laele had never had one and she had tried so many different things over the years. Turns out for her, her natural talent was with the supernatural, it was an unfortunate century to have been born with 'that' as the talent the universe had decided you.
”I've come because of the directions you gave me when we last spoke. First, I'd like to thank you again for them, second I wished to ask you what exactly it is they allow me to see... It's almost like rivers of colored lights. I've been thinking about them while I walked here and until this very moment and all I have deduced is that they seem stronger around living things than they do randomly flowing inside man-made structures.”
she didn't wait to be asked, she knew it seemed obvious she thought Vera knew more about this than she let on, after all she was asking the woman about these directions, but she couldn't imagine anyone not out of some curiousity just trying the directions to see if they did anything. she decided to wait to ask the next question or see if vera answered it before she asked it.

It was apparent the woman was anxious even without the her admitting it so. The poor student was no doubt lost on what she had just found. It was something that could not be photograph or recorded with standard Earth technology. Laele had real proof of something supernatural but had no means to spread this knowledge or confirm it with another ordinary human. The only source of information was the Head Girl sitting patiently behind her desk.

"You are the one who has been studying this, Miss Zazael," she replied cooly, "You tell me." Vera would continue to play with this student for a bit. There was nothing to make her answer Laele's questions. If she wanted to, she could close the door on the matter and leave her to find out from perhaps another gifted student if she finds one. But, the Head Girl would not risk that. She will just bait the woman along and see how the student handles the little inklings of information.

Vera was right about that, She had been the one studying these things why couldn't she tell the head girl what she was seeing? Why was she having such a problem with this simple thing, she had proof of what she always knew was real somehow. She had compared what it looked like outside to what it looked like inside.
stronger where life is present... weaves through those it surrounds, is all over the ground outside, weaves into the dirt. Isn't seen without trying to look for it, but is always there. Shows around lights just as strong as life...”I'm seeing the flow of life, The force, the life stream, essence of the universe... whatever you want to call it, that's what I'm seeing isn't it?”
It made sense anyway; she had some theories that magic had to do with manipulation of whatever powered life, well that was one theory anyway; another was that it manipulated dimensional fabric and used energy from between realities, but that was the one she had made the least sense of the two.

"Hmm... I suppose," Vera replied, "But why tell me this? I am pleased that this little excerise has provided you with such a find. What will you do with this? What does this find mean to you and your studies?" Laele was certainly on the right track for what she is seeing though there was a far simpler term for it, mana. For science, the find alone would provide reason to be excited even if in the end there was no potential use for it currently. Though that was more than likely not enough for the student who was prodding for further information. Data alone was not what Laele wanted, the girl wanted power. Not just any power but a power that few can claim to have this day and age. Still, the Head Girl would not reveal more than she needed to. She was giving only mere scraps to a starving animal at this point, not enough to satisfy but rather to hunger for more.

”For my studies it gives me something specific to look for on actually harnessing this essence and converting it to something useful. Which in simpler words, it means I have to start over because most of what I read was completely and utterly wrong...”
she was just a bit bitter about that but, it wasn't directed at Vera.
”Finding actual information though, I'm not sure where to start other than the library here and I just don't know if I'll be able to find anything unless somehow I find someone that knows about magic proper. Which brings me to my next questions, since you had the directions given to you by a student, I'm sure if isn't just a coincidence that she gave them to you. Am I right in thinking that you know something more about this?”
she knew that Vera might not like this question; it was a bit of a strong assumption based of very little more than basic assumptions of simple logic and what she was looking at right now in the way of Vera's mana which she knew she could simply be seeing something that was just natural in some people.

Having shown one's work to this point be nearly for nothing, it must have been a harsh blow for Laele's ego. It was not all for naught though as it did keep the woman moving to pursue her goal even if that path led to dead ends and circles. Now the student was starting over from scratch for the most part with only this bit of knowledge on her side. As if desperate for an answer, the question finally came about Vera's own knowledge of the matter. Of course the student giving her the information was a fabrication but there was no point in revealing that.

"You seem hopeful that I hold all the answers, Miss Zazael," she began calmly, "But what if I did hold such knowledge or if another student did? What you seek is something that makes you unique and gives you a power few can ever hope of having. If you had this knowledge already and someone approached you with a similar desire, what would you do? Would you willingly give up that knowledge that made you so unique, so powerful. Each new adept would have the same or similar power within their grasp that you hold in such importance. So what would you do, Miss Zazael?"

Thinking about her question for even a moment brought up very obvious answers. She simply nodded in understanding to Vera.
”No, I'd give them a taste then I'd ask for something in return. I'd use them to further my own goals before even giving them just a place to start. Actually training them or teaching them, that would cost a lot more than a few favors.”
She was a pretty normal person in that respect; well perhaps a little cruel and self-serving despite being a 'nice' person. There was no shame in being honest here; at this point she was sure Vera was thinking of the very same thing, if she was even entertaining the idea of sharing ANYTHING else with the woman sitting before her.
”I get the feeling that was more than a hypothetical question Miss Matsumoto.”
she offered somewhat coldly with her eyes only half open and her brow completely relaxed as she prepared herself for whatever Vera would say next.

"I have yet to claim anything, Miss Zazael," she replied simply, "You have already stated your situation and you have walked through the things standing between you and your supposed goal. You also understand the risks the teacher would put him or herself in by revealing those unique secrets as well as the secret of knowing them in the first place. Your past studies have led you to dead ends and endless loops. The only thing that remains is what you will do now?" Vera would not allow herself to be poked or prodded by the woman's observations. Either Laele will finally bite the bullet and make an offer worthy of Vera revealing a few more secrets or she will try to find a less demanding teacher.

Vera was doing almost exactly what she herself thought she would do if caught in the same situation. She lowered her gaze closing her eyes now. There were several moments of silence as she considered what her options were.
option one is to look around for myself and try to teach myself this ability without knowing where to go... that's no option at all... option two well “There's a saying in the British isles Miss Matsumoto, 'A nod's as good as a wink to a blind horse.' it's a way of saying you have understood something that someone has said, even though it was not said directly but, that's a disgression I suppose. The question was what I'll do next right? Next I'll try to find a teacher and given the risk involved, I offer something worthy of the risk as incentive to assist me; the only thing I can think of being worth the risk is servitude for the length of the teachings and some sort of binding contract to never use anything I learn to harm the teacher in any way. What's a little more time with no control or power for the promise of a future worth having?”

"You certainly desire this greatly, Miss Zazael," she said cooly, "And your offer is one that is to be expected from someone such as yourself. You wear attire that very much resembles a maid's by which I mean no offense. It merely shows you prefer discipline and order. I may have what you seek or at least enough to help you begin. But as you have no previous experience in it, it may take years for you to reach a point where you produce anything visual from your studies. It is possible that you are unable to perform the occult arts you wish. It is different results for different people."

Vera folded her fingers infront of her as she gazed at Laele. "As you understand," she continued, "The price is high. But, there may be others on campus willing to teach you as well and perhaps for a cheaper price, perhaps even for no charge at all. The choice is yours if you wish to pay the price here or elsewhere. I will not punish you for taking my time should you decide to take your business elsewhere. I find you rather pleasant, Miss Zazael. I may have uses for you that can be seen as suitable... compensation. But as I am fond of your company, I willingly revealed that there are other gifted students on campus and some may even be willing to help you. How effective they are I do not know as such students do not come to speak with me with few exceptions. The choice is yours, Laele."

Laele found a vague sort of comfort in being told what she had already guessed from Vera's own lips though hearing that there were other students capable of teaching her wasn't something she'd expected at all. She was being a bit more friendly with the knowledge than Laele thought anyone else would be, but then She didn't have the best opinion of humanity despite only knowing an average life among average people.

The idea of finding a different teacher among the students; one that would teach for less or for free ran through her mind for a moment. It didn't seem like a very 'good' option to be honest. Having a head girl for a 'tutor' as it would no doubt be put into the records of the school had certain advantages... she had no doubt Vera could bend rules for her own sake; and the unusual sort of teaching magic was no doubt to be would undoubtably require that; with a normal student for a teacher getting in trouble with one of the head girls was almost inevitable.
”The very nature of the study Miss Matsumoto would make me seem foolish to want to study without paying a price and to pay a paltry sum higher than others may ask to be taught by someone in power within the hierarchy of the school is worth it. Beyond that I must agree; I find being in your company quite enjoyable.”
she stood for a moment dusting off her skirt before she'd offer a somewhat simple gesture calmly and quietly stepping so she could be seen clearly and completely before kneeling as one would before a queen.
“Allow me to formally request that you be my teacher in these arts Madam Matsumoto.”

There were certain advantages of having a Head Girl's attention though each of those advantages came at a price. But if the student body were to know what their future held each of them, they would no doubt do everything they can to earn a Head Girl's favor. Laele did not know the truth but sees an advantage in serving under a Head Girl and that was enough to please Vera for now. Magic takes time to learn which meant she had herself a potential ally for the time being.

Laele made her request as formal as possible, even kneeling before the Head Girl but not in such a way that one would beg. Vera gave a soft smile and reached out to gently stroke the student's fine hair. "Very well, Laele," she answered, "But let me begin by saying this. If you mention to anyone that I am teaching you, your lessons are over. I do hope you understand that. It is difficult enough maintaining order already and if rumors spread that I am studying the occult, then my work will become much harder." She made the threat very clear before stroking the woman's cheek. "But your assumption is correct, I do know more and perhaps enough to help you get started. As you seem eager to offer yourself, I shall accept that as payment. I am sure you will put your cooking to use along with other skills in keeping this apartment clean. You will tend to my needs as a servant should. You may study with the other students on your free time if you wish and I will be grateful if you bring the names of those who are gifted to me so I may keep my records up to date, Miss Zazael."

"But for now," she said finally, "You shall prepare us dinner. I hope you have no plans tonight, Laele."