The slide projector clicked, and the lecturer at the front of the dark classroom gestured at the picture on the wall. "This," she said, "is a normal, healthy clockwork doll."
The picture displayed a porcelain doll, arms at its side, and that same doll opened up to reveal the clockwork inside. There were a few titters from the audience.
"Oh, come now, you'll be proper witches soon. You can't be giggling at the first sight of clockwork or you'll never get anything done." There was a click as the slide projector advanced, and a low murmur spread through the class at the sight of the new image. Evidently the same doll on the left, but on the right the clockwork had been completely replaced with a green slime. "Physarum Keramimesis, also called the doll mimic. This is the third stage of its life cycle, where it forms a hard pseudo-ceramic shell and moves about in search of a place to release its spores. Some specimens have been shown to be highly intelligent, for a simple slime. They can be taken in and given orders much like a doll, but do not possess true loyalty. Note the slight deviation of the runes here on the upper arms and torso, as well as the slight discoloration of the hair at the roots. This variety is harmless, however..."
The slide projector advanced again, and this time there were gasps of alarm. The left side once again looked identical, but the right side had green slime all around the existing clockwork, jamming it in place. "Phytomexia Plasmokeramikos. A parasitic slime mold that spreads from doll to doll, preventing it from displaying signs of illness. Like Keramimesis, it has enough intelligence to follow orders, but unlike Keramimesis, most of its 'cleaning' activities are actually spreading spores within its environment in the hopes of infecting other nearby dolls. There are still signs, though - note the discoloration at the joints, particularly nearest to the torso." The projector clicked again to show the doll surrounded by a greenish-yellow aura. "And here, through thaumic resonance, the aura can be seen leaking into the doll's standard aura."
Uneasy murmurs spread through the classroom for a moment, only to be interrupted by the lecturer swinging her pointer down on the table. "But! This slime must not be confused with our following slime!"
The projector clicked again. The doll on the left once again appeared identical, and on the right, the same green slime - but this time, instead of attaching itself to the clockwork, it lined the inside of the porcelain like a second shell. "Physarum Parakeramikos, also known as 'The Doll's Helper'. Although this slime has the same appearance as Plasmokeramikos, this slime actually enters into a symbiotic relationship with the doll. It can repair hairline fractures within the doll's porcelain, prevent particles such as Plasmokeramikos spores from entering the doll, and generally improve the doll's lifespan and responsiveness. It is unfortunate that in their early life cycles, Plasmokeramikos and Parakeramikos appear extremely similar. The rest of today's lecture will primarily be on how to distinguish between the parasite and the symbiote. This will be on the mid-term, so please be sure to take notes."
There was assorted grumbling from the room as the audience shuffled around for pencils and notebooks.
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