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Fenna watched the creature carefully, fascinated by the constant movement. The little bow made a fine demonstration of the Bael's sense of balance. It was actually rather cute. Why did she keep blinking like that, though? Fenna noted of the professor's explanation on the creature's invisibility and took the opportunity to ask a question when it arose. "Why does she blink so much? Are her eyes sensitive?"

Khamsyn watched the creature still a little in shock. That feeling was fading fast, replaced by sheer immeasurable curiousity. He listened intently as the other students around him bombarded Nata'ala and Lelaus with their questions. He decided to hang back and wait for the answers before posing a question himself. That way he'd have more time to study the Bael's movements, mannerisms and reactions. Plus it would give him time to think up a really good question. Something that might get him noticed by the rest of the class. Noticed and remembered for something other than being a clutz.

After watching Nata'ala's movements while the other students asked questions, she moved a little closer. The creature looked delicate, shy, and oh-so-fragile - quite a bit like Biwa herself, really. And the girl recognized that endearing part of herself in the other, and was drawn to it.

"Their... blood?" she asked, after a moment, frowning slightly. "You'd kill one just to gain a few minutes of invisibility? Use their lives for something that transient...?" It... almost reminded her of the Outsiders, if it were true that Bael had to die for that gift. She understood that some things involved death... but invisibility wasn't a dire necessity, most of the time.

Daggart frowned, unsure. It seemed the Bael were pleasant creatures... wouldn't harvesting their blood be somehow damaging to them? Reaching out to offer a hand to Nata'ala as he spoke, "But... wouldn't getting that blood damage the Bael? They wouldn't be willing familiars then, would they?" It seemed akin to slapping a dog to him. It might stick around but only out of fear.

He reached a little further, trying to touch one of her arms. She seemed friendly enough and he wondered if she'd offer a handshake or some such. Were they very strong?

Lelaus started at Biwa's question, obviously appalled. "Kill one? By Mechiresa's beard, no!!" Lelaus smoothed his whiskers and calmed himself. "No no, you don't need to kill one in order to get enough blood. You only need a small vial - 10 to 15 ml - to make one potion. That's less than we take for a blood sample, and we take their blood samples much the same way. Now, granted the Bael have much denser musculature so it would likely hurt more than taking our blood, but that's why we administer numbing anesthesiacs so they won't feel it. We also don't take more than 2 samples from each Bael in our service in one week, so they've got plenty of time to regenerate those cells." Lelaus smiled and turned to stroke Nata'ala's cheek gently. The Bael closed her eyes in response and leaned in to his touch. "We're very kind to them; we've no reason not to be. They do us a great service, you see."

Nata'ala started as Daggart drew near, and blinked rapidly at him, obviously tentative and a little fearful. But with Lelaus stroking her cheek to calm her she settled and allowed Daggart to touch her. Afterall, she liked being pet, if people were gentle.
"The Bael are a case of domesticating otherwise wild creatures, like a house cat - or better yet, like a horse you'd ride as a steed. They serve a purpose for us, and in return we house them and care for them, and protect them from outside dangers. It's a partnership that is rarely found between Monsters and Empyreans or Outsiders."

The soft, rapid click-click-click of a certain photographer's camera was muffled after a few clicks beneath his shirt, complete with an embarrassed grin tossed to those curious heads turned towards the source of the sound. Otherwise, Abacus' gaze was on the Bael's original hiding spot -- the cabinets. How far could they fly? Did they make that sound all the time?

He held back and waited, feeling a jolt of guilt at Fenna's question. Why didn't he notice that? What if the Bael are sensitive to light -- what would his camera's flash do? He listened to the various questions and answers his fellow classmates had, waiting for a moment to add his own.

When the room fell silent, he took a deep breath and signaled to the professor, and began once he had his attention. "By 'outside dangers,' do you mean other creatures that could otherwise injure or eat them? Or by other dangers such as overzealous alchemists after their blood for its invisibility property? Also, how difficult is it to, er, 'domesticate' one and train it to, say, operate simple devices such as a camera?" He offered an innocent grin, then added, "Speaking of cameras, how sensitive to light are they? Would a flash from a camera be too much for her, or...?"

Khamsyn remained where he was near the rear of the classroom, but not out of nervousness or lack of curiousity. No, he remained near the rear because he did not want to overwhelm the creature. By the whole, although domesticated and perhaps familiar with hordes of students surrounding it with wide-eyed wonder, he still imagined it might be a little skittish in the presense of such a group. Thus, he kept his distance. He did however, raise himself up out of his chair, to stand upon it for a better look. The Bael certainly were intriguing. Although it seemed to have intelligence, he likened it to more basic, instinctual intelligence. Much like a dog, cat or other "pet". Is that what the Bael truly were? Just another pet? There seemed to be a certain lack of dignity in that, but perhaps it was indeed a mutually beneficial arrangement. The "owner" gets a companion and source for a rare alchemical reagent and the Bael gets protection and companionship as well.

"Hmmm... Professor, excuse me if this was already addressed, I missed the answer if it was, but you likened the Bael to a horse a moment ago. Does this mean they are capable of carrying the weight of an Empyrean in their flight? Even for just a short distance?" Khamsyn asked, genuinely curious regarding the answer.

Once his question was asked, he sat down upon he seat back, still elevated to see above the crowd of students. He was careful however, knowing his current issues with gravity and luck, he did not want the chair to break or to lose his balance once more. He had already made himself look like a fool, and now he'd have to work extra hard to erase that stigma from the minds of the Professor and his fellow students.

Daggart had gently brushed fingers against the little monster before his attention was grabbed once more by Lelaus. This was so very fascinating! Rising as the class started to drift out, he lingered for a moment before approaching the professor, "Thanks, professor. Really liked your class... could you maybe show me more later on? Ways to fight the bad monsters and what the good monsters are?" Daggart's eyes shone as he asked the question, imagination running scenarios through his head - all revolving around doing some great deeds for the city. He knew he wouldn't make a good mage but he could use his hands...