Finally, Professor Hiram closed the file and announced the result.
“The log format is standardized, and the variable records are comprehensive,” she evaluated, her tone remaining as matter-of-fact as ever. “For a non-professional record, it is quite rare — but that does not mean the content is true.”
She placed the file folder on the desk beside her.
“I can arrange a preliminary evaluation.”
Villanelle’s heart skipped a beat, and words of gratitude nearly escaped her lips.
“However,” Professor Hiram’s next words pinned her back to the spot, “the evaluation will not be conducted by me alone. According to the regulations, an interim evaluation team consisting of at least three high-level mentors is required.
“I am a mentor of Biological Behaviorism, so I can serve as the team leader. But I also need a mentor specialized in ‘Mana Control’ and another in ‘Abyss Contamination Identification’.”
She walked back to the stone platform and picked up another, more delicate instrument. Her tone was natural, as if she were discussing arrangements for afternoon tea.
“Professor Thorne, the Mana Control specialist, is presiding over assessments at the Central Mage Tower all week. He will be free next Wednesday at the earliest. As for Father Malvorn, the Abyss Identification specialist…”
When she mentioned that name, her brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
“His time is even harder to book. Moreover, his attitude toward any creature with an ‘Abyss Affinity’ label is extremely… cautious. One could even say harsh.”
‘Father Malvorn… let that living statue participate in the evaluation?’
Villanelle uneasily toyed with a corner of her robe.
“Therefore,” Professor Hiram put down the instrument in her hand, her voice flat and featureless, “if you insist on applying, I will need time to coordinate the schedules of the two professors.
“This could take a week, or perhaps longer. During this period, your practical component grade will be temporarily recorded as ‘Pending’.”
She looked up and glanced at Villanelle. The meaning was clear.
She could choose to either take the risk of an uncertain application process or just be more practical and go to the Academy Trading District to buy a creature that didn’t involve so much trouble.
After a long silence, Villanelle gave her answer, her voice firm and clear.
“I insist on applying, Professor.”
“Why?” Hiram asked in return. “Accepting an audit of unknown duration that has a high chance of failure is clearly an inefficient, high-risk choice.
“The Academy Trading District has creatures that meet the requirements. Although they may be expensive, through work-study and poverty subsidies, they are not completely out of reach. What is your reason?”
Villanelle’s fingers tightened unconsciously.
She could have fabricated a reason about academic passion, but facing Professor Hiram’s eyes — which seemed able to see through everything — any lie felt pale and powerless.
She took a deep breath and looked directly at Professor Hiram.
“The choice you mentioned does not exist for me.”
Hiram’s movements as she sorted her instruments came to a halt.
“The cheapest Earth-patterned Lizard in the Academy Trading District is priced at thirty silver coins,” Villanelle said calmly, as if the facts she was stating had nothing to do with her. “That is the equivalent of the total cash value for three months of food rations at my residence.
“As for the poverty subsidy… my application has been rejected for the past three years by the academy on the grounds that ‘members of the royal family do not meet the criteria’.”
They would not provide her with even a single copper of aid.
As she spoke, Villanelle’s gaze drifted toward the secured Screeching Bird on the stone platform. In its helpless posture, she saw a faint resemblance to herself.
“So, for me, a more rational choice does not exist. There is only the path of applying for a special permit. Otherwise, I will be unable to complete the course practice.”
Villanelle turned her gaze back, her expression composed.
“And by choosing this path… regardless of the reason, at least the Black Dragon Hatchling I have tamed does indeed exhibit deviant behavior. It is worth investigating as a special case.”
After she finished speaking, the operating room fell into a brief silence. Only the breathing of the Screeching Bird and the distant, faint sound of a tolling bell remained in the air.
Professor Hiram took off her glasses and slowly wiped the lenses with a corner of her apron. This action made her seem slightly less cold and more humanly weary.
“Thirty silver coins…” she repeated softly, as if calculating or confirming something.
After putting her glasses back on, the gaze she leveled at Villanelle was no longer purely one of scrutiny, but held a complex emotion that was difficult to read.
Perhaps it was understanding, perhaps mockery, or perhaps just a bit of surprise.
“I have no intention of commenting on your situation,” Hiram finally spoke, her tone returning to its usual rigid cadence. “But your statement follows the basic logic of a researcher — even if the motive is not pure.”
She turned to the desk beside her and gave a wave of her hand. The quill on the desk immediately stood up and inserted a line of text into a crowded parchment scroll.
That parchment was her schedule.
“I will review the logs. Coordinating the evaluation team will take time and will encounter resistance, especially from Father Malvorn’s side.
“If your case passes, it will not be a pleasant matter for him. He will not sit idly by.”
Professor Hiram looked at Villanelle and gave a final warning: “If that Black Dragon Hatchling of yours displays any level of threat that does not match your description during the evaluation, the application will be terminated immediately. Do you understand?”
“I understand, Professor,” Villanelle replied seriously, straightening her back.
“Then, go back and wait for notification.” Professor Hiram waved her hand and turned back toward the stone platform. Her silhouette seemed slightly heavier than when Villanelle had first entered. “Now, leave this place. You are interfering with my experiment.”
“Oh, thank… thank you, Professor!”
Villanelle hurriedly thanked her and then stepped out quickly, closing the door gently. She shut out the atmosphere of the operating room, where magic potions, cold instruments, and the essence of life were all mixed together.
The light in the corridor seemed a bit brighter than when she had arrived. The dust floating in the air looked like a layer of fine gold powder under the sunlight.
Even now, her heart was still thumping in her chest.
She had succeeded.
Professor Hiram had agreed. Next, she just had to deal with the audit.
The audit…
She thought of Father Malvorn, the old man who preached the Holy Light Doctrine with a fanatical look in his eyes during theology class. He viewed any Abyss Fluctuations as impure and wished he could cleanse all shadows with the Holy Light.
An evaluation team of three mentors… Professor Hiram would likely maintain her observation-based neutrality. As long as things were explained clearly, there shouldn’t be a problem.
But Father Malvorn detested anything related to the Abyss or Abyss Affinity. It was inevitable that he would make things difficult.
Villanelle shook her head, her silver hair shimmering as it brushed against her shoulders. she pushed the suddenly heavy thoughts to the back of her mind for now.
At least the first step had been taken; that was always worth celebrating. As for the subsequent review… she would practice with the little guy before it arrived.