So the turtles, whether killed unnaturally or not, had to be dead in order for this form of divination to be done. He spun the little shell that was levitated toward his work area and considered this fact. Out of the corner of his eye he tried to observe some of the other students with tendencies toward animal welfare in hopes of gaining an amusement.

He went up and grabbed the phial of dragons blood and brought it back to the turtle shell. He grabbed the shell in one hand and with the other began to carve out his name. Rigorous P. Johnson. One of his many aliases.

Leah & Zander got cred for following him into the unknown. He'd be asking them about their wands later.