Applied Magicks Department

Professor Xilius was sitting and staring at one of the many many pieces of paper that towered around his desk when he heard a knock on his office door, swiftly followed by giggling.

"Come in." he said, with a sigh.

The door opened to a group of student wizards, a couple of them giggling, most of them doing their best not to.

"Ahh, Ms. Cole." said Xilius, gesturing to one of the chairs across from his desk. "Please, take a seat."

With a smile, one of the students looked back at the rest, and said, "I'll just be a second, ladies." Before entering, and flopping into a chair.

"What's up, sir?" she said, slumped in the chair, "Also, please call me Avarus."

"Avarus." he said, trying to sound a bit more serious, "I've got a few questions about the spells you submitted as part of the last assignment."

"Yes, sir?" she replied, tilting her head slightly.

"How do I put this..." he said, searching for the right way to approach the topic. He wasn't sure there was a professional way to approach this, so instead he decided to play the clueless Academic, who had definitely never been a university student himself.

"I like to see students working hard, and you did submit more than was expected. But," he said, pausing for effect, "I need some help seeing the practical use for these spells."

"As you know," he continued, before she could respond, "the Applied Magicks Department is big on students coming up with new, novel, and useful magicks, but the department head would give me hell if I couldn't explain what half of these spells were intended to do. So to start, what's the practical use of 'Mage of 8 Hands'?"

Without so much as a pause, Avarus replied, "Petting kittens, sir."

The Professor raised his eyebrows, before asking, "Petting kittens? You'd use Mage Hands to pet kittens?"

"Yes, sir."

"Very well then..." he said, trying to hide his disbelief, "I guess it could be of use in limited situations."

"I've already gotten plenty of use of it, sir." she replied, trying to conceal a smile, while giggles erupted from the group of students lingering around the door.

Xilius looked over to the gaggle of gigglers lingering outside his office. Avarus was almost permanently surrounded by a group of girls, all of whom looked at her with adoration. Though, recently, one of the boys appeared to have joined the group, which was unusual, because he was pretty sure Avarus was a-

He cut himself off, refusing to finish the thought. It wasn't his business, and they weren't breaking any university rules. These were modern times after all!

Getting back to the task at hand, the Professor rummaged through the papers on his desk, until he found her assignment. Scanning the paper, he asked, "And... This one here... A modified version of Bottomless Breath?"

"Yes, sir. I call it 'Deep Breath'."

"And it's use is?"

"It's requires much less focus, sir. It makes it easier to concentrate on other activities." replied Avarus, managing to maintain a straight face this time.

"Right..." said Xilius, taking another look at the paper, trying to move on, "And, what was your intended use for 'Comfortable Restraints'?"

"Ahh, right, sir." she said, sitting up in her chair a little, "You see, sir, I intended for the guards to use it."

"And this would be better than simple handcuffs, or a common Hold Person spell, in what way?" he asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"It's a... How do I put it... The sub-" she said, stumbling over the word, "ject of the arrest might struggle less, if the restraints tightened when they struggled against them, and if they settle down it'll loosen a little to make them more comfortable."

"Uh-huh." said Xilius, not even attempting to hide his disbelief this time.

"What was next... Oh right, 'Shivering Shock'?"

"Ahh! Another one for the guards!" replied Avarus with excitement, "You see, most shocking spells are quite powerful, while this one is designed to only temporarily stun the subject, leaving them with no permanent damage."

"And you're sure it's safe?"

"Yes, sir. I've tested it quite extensively, sir."

Professor Xilius just stared at her, not wanting to know more and wanting to forge ahead, started to say "And, next we have..." before reading the spell name. He took a moment to compose himself, before continuing, "'Vibrating Stones'?"

"Alchemists, sir."

"Alchemists?" he asked.

"Yes, sir. They could use them to stir or agitate potions."

He actually had to give her credit on that one, they'd probably do quite well if the university sold them.

"Noted." he said, "And, finally, 'Magic Leash'?"

"Dog walkers, sir. So the dogs can't get their leads all tangled." she said, seemingly quite proud of herself.

"And, the leash is invisible because...?"

"Style, sir."

Putting down the paper, the Professor pinched the bridge of his nose, and let out a sigh.

They were all... Somewhat reasonable explanations... The department head wasn't exactly the sharpest, so he'd probably believe them if he ever did enquire...

"Right." said Xilius, looking back to her, "Thank you for your time, Ms. Cole. You may go."

Standing up, Avarus said, "Thanks, sir. See you later, sir."

The group closed in around her as she entered the hallway, some letting out little giggles, while a couple hung off her arms.

"Now ladies, what do you want to do?" said Avarus.

One of the girls on her arms leaned in and whispered something, causing Avarus to raise her eyebrows, and say, "That can be arranged, my dear."

The group started to make their way down the corridor, leaving the Professor shaking his head, as he tried to get back to the never ending stream of paperwork.