Graduate Program (Patreon)

Meant to finish this piece before Halloween (2023) but stuff kept getting in the way and I didn't complete it until now.

I've mentioned that my ghost character, Anesthesia, was once a renowned chemist named Anastasia who sought to scientifically unravel the nature of the soul. Her work eventually drove her to dark places, ultimately ending when she took her own life during a final experiment. You can read her full backstory--which I enjoyed writing--here. 

I thought it would be nice to actually show what Anesthesia was like during the height of her career, just a few years before she died. Her lab assistant (who you might recognize) is also present.
This young woman was a grad student with a degree in Biochemistry. As a part of her graduate program, she had the honor to study under Anastasia. Together, their work led to the publication of dozens of landmark papers in the field of soul research.
As Anastasia approached the end of her career, her behavior took a turn for the worse, driving away all her peers. Her assistant stayed by her mentor's side the longest, but eventually, Anastasia broke her. Disheartened, she resigned from her position before eventually dropping her studies altogether.
Not long after Anastasia's death, her ex-assistant mysteriously disappeared and was never found.

But, hey! Don't be sad. Look at how happy they used to be!