Villanelle looked up at the pitch-black sky outside the window and let out a long, listless sigh.
Spread out before her was a scroll of parchment. Aside from the title at the very top, “About the Abnormal Behavior Observation Report of the Black Dragon Cub,” the rest of it was spotless.
The morning’s Magical Creatures Class had passed without any major incidents. However, in the afternoon, Professor Hiram had sent someone to remind her of one thing.
Even though Ignis had passed the evaluation, it did not mean everything was over. Before the end of the term, she was required to submit an additional observation report.
In Professor Hiram’s words, “Special observations must involve actual observation.”
However, this kind of observation report was no different from a senior-level thesis. It was clearly beyond the capabilities of a third-year student.
Given Professor Hiram’s legendary strictness… Villanelle did not dare to imagine the expression on the woman’s face when she saw the final product.
‘She would probably say that this paper poses no threat to her academic standing, but it will certainly ruin my reputation in the world of education.’
Regardless, she had to submit something by the end of the term.
Villanelle sighed again.
She had visited the library earlier that evening and turned the public reading area upside down, but she still could not find any materials with significant reference value.
It seemed she would have to visit the restricted reading area again.
***
The next day, after her morning classes ended, Villanelle did not go to the dining hall as usual. Instead, she rushed to the Greenhouse.
Standing before the bronze plaque that read “Authorized Personnel Only,” she hesitated for a moment before stepping inside.
The door to the operating room was not open, but another door beside it was slightly ajar.
Villanelle took a deep breath and lightly rapped on the door with her finger.
“Enter.”
A familiar voice called out.
As Villanelle pushed the door open and slowly stepped into the room, Professor Hiram was sitting at her desk. Parchment scrolls and textbooks were piled half-person high in front of her.
On the parchment spread out before her, many red marks were clearly visible.
“What is it?” Professor Hiram looked up, her gaze scrutinizing.
“It’s… well, Professor.”
Villanelle swallowed hard. She was nervous at first, but recalling her last visit, she relaxed slightly.
“Regarding the observation report you requested… I need some more professional materials. However, in the public reading area of the library, the relevant books are very few, and most of them are quite superficial, lacking in-depth analysis.”
Professor Hiram put away the graded parchment and pulled out another one, spreading it across the desk. Her tone remained flat.
“The public collection serves basic education. It was never designed for ‘in-depth analysis,’ Miss Adrian.”
“Yes, so I was thinking… I would like to apply for permission to access relevant materials in the restricted reading area,” Villanelle stated her purpose, then cautiously probed further. “Could you… recommend some titles?”
The air was quiet for a few seconds. The distant cries of magical creatures in the pens were faintly audible.
Villanelle waited for an answer with trepidation.
“Titles regarding special cases of the Dragon Race…” Professor Hiram repeated, her fingers tapping lightly on the desk. “Materials on such cases are rarely included in public domains. They are either proven to be fallacies, or…
“Their conclusions are in irreconcilable conflict with the Imperial Current Theory or certain policies, and are therefore restricted.”
Villanelle’s heart sank slightly.
She knew the professor was not just talking about borrowing privileges, but she did not give up.
“I understand what you mean, but… my subject of observation is a special case in itself. If I am to write a good observation report…” she said thoughtfully, “then regardless of whether those case studies were successes or failures, I should reference them to some extent.”
Hiram stared at her as if she were evaluating the precision of an experimental instrument.
“You are very persistent, Miss Adrian. That is a necessity for a researcher, but in your situation, it might lead to unnecessary trouble.”
Hiram’s voice remained as flat as ever.
“The books you are looking for should be in the underground Forbidden Books Area of the library.”
Villanelle’s ice-blue eyes widened.
“The books in the Forbidden Books Area are protected by prohibition spells. Reading them requires a significant amount of mental energy, and…” Professor Hiram paused, adding emphasis, “all borrowing activity is recorded by the ‘Eye of Prohibition’ and kept permanently.
“Every section you enter and every book you consult will be archived. Certain book titles alone will attract attention. Are you sure you want to go?”
Villanelle hesitated.
That was true, but…
A thought that had been lingering in the depths of her heart for a long time drove her to make a decision.
She wanted to understand Ignis.
She wanted to know why Ignis expressed concern like a real human, why he showed no reaction to Father Malvorn’s Holy Light test, and why he had caused Agrippa, the supervisor of the Dragon Cliff Hatchery, to make a misjudgment.
Now, the Special Observation Permit gave her that opportunity.
Should she give up, maintain the status quo, and write a mediocre, empty report? Or should she be a little bolder?
Her mind finished its calculations in an instant. Villanelle’s gaze became firm as she looked directly into Professor Hiram’s scrutinizing eyes.
“I’m sure.”
She did not want to remain so confused, dismissing Ignis’s uniqueness as mere “good luck” or a “gentle nature.”
Hiram remained silent for a moment.
Then, she pulled open the desk drawer and took out a piece of special parchment with a complex watermark and a faint magical fluctuation. She picked up her quill.
“As your course professor and the supervisor of your special observation application, I have the authority to issue you a temporary literature access permit, valid for a single use.”
The quill flowed across the parchment in an elegant, soaring script.
“Permit scope: limited to non-forbidden manuscripts, transcripts, and special case compilations directly related to ‘Abnormal Behavior of Magical Creatures and Ancient Dragon Research.’
“Permit duration… from the time of issuance until sunset seven days from now. Permit location: Forbidden Library, Forbidden Books Area, Ninth Archive Room, third to fifth shelves.”
After she finished writing, she took a badge representing her status as a high-level professor from the desk and pressed it firmly onto the bottom of the parchment.
The complex patterns on the badge glowed slightly, leaving a clear magical mark on the paper with an open eye at its center.
“Take it.”
Professor Hiram handed the parchment, still warm with magic, to Villanelle.
“Remember, the permit only applies to the titles mentioned. Do not attempt to look through anything outside the permitted scope, or the Eye of Prohibition will trigger an alarm.
“Do not transcribe the original text; you may only record key points. Duplication magic will be intercepted and countered.
“If you experience any discomfort while reading—whether it be headaches, auditory hallucinations, or blurred vision—you must stop immediately, leave the archive room, and report to me. Do you understand?”
“I understand. Thank you, Professor.” Villanelle took the permit carefully, feeling as if the piece of paper in her hand weighed a thousand pounds.
“Do not thank me.” Hiram put away her stationery box, her tone returning to its usual detachment. “I am merely fulfilling my academic duty to provide the necessary tools for a valid research project.
“Whether this report ultimately reaches the standard of ‘observation’ rather than ‘subjective conjecture’ depends on what you excavate from those old piles of paper. And…”
She gave Villanelle a meaningful look.
“How you apply and selectively present them. Be cautious, Miss Adrian. Knowledge is a weapon, but the one it wounds first is often the one wielding it.”
Villanelle froze for a moment.
Before she could process those words, Professor Hiram had already lowered her head back to the parchment on her desk while issuing a dismissal.
“Now, you may leave.”
Villanelle bowed deeply, slowly backed out of the room, and gently closed the door.