Emily’s speech was as fast as a recitation, but every word remained clear.
“Searching for records on non-master-servant contracts? Chapter 37 of that book, *The Unbreakable Alliance of Elves and Treants*, does mention a tacit relationship based on a shared domain and the passage of long years. But using the symbiosis between elves and plants as an analogy for the bond between intelligent beings…”
She tilted her head slightly, as if quickly retrieving information from her mind.
“…The analogical foundation is weak, and Elven literature itself is a mixture of truth and falsehood. Citations require caution.”
Villanelle was stunned. She hadn’t expected the other girl to see through her purpose at a glance, let alone be so familiar with the book.
Emily reached out and precisely drew a sheet from the pile of parchment rolls on the other side of the table, handing it to Villanelle.
“Look at this. It might be what you need—though the source is questionable.”
Villanelle took the parchment. On it was a passage transcribed in neat handwriting:
The *Dragonstone Secret Classics* state: Ancient Dragons do not take their contractors as masters, nor are they enslaved by them. The contract is not forged by force, but by the resonance of hearts. However, the classics have long been scattered, and their teachings remain only in ballads and the ravings of sages.
“The *Dragonstone Secret Classics*…” Villanelle whispered. It was a name she had never heard before.
She knew of Ancient Dragons, those legendary creatures said to master the laws of nature. According to one academic school of thought, Ancient Dragons were actually the only true pureblood dragons. The Flying Dragons and Earth Dragons raised by the Empire were merely crossbreeds, possessing less than one-ten-thousandth of a pureblood’s power.
However, this view had never been proven. After all, no one had ever truly seen an Ancient Dragon.
“A history supposedly compiled by the Dragon Race. Of course, the Imperial academic community generally considers it a fabrication,” Emily said rapidly.
“But I’ve compiled statistics. In at least seventeen folk tales, adventurer journals, and even library notes from remote monasteries that don’t interfere with each other, similar descriptions appear—of a magical creature that understands human nature and possesses high intelligence. These records usually only circulate as ‘strange tales’ over tea. But the fact that so many independent sources point to these same characteristics is, in itself, worth researching.”
She looked up, her light brown eyes shining behind her lenses as she stared straight at Villanelle, her speech quickening further.
“I’ve been observing you for a while, Villanelle Adrian. You frequently borrow books on magical creatures, especially those regarding dragons. According to my observations during the two sessions of the Magical Creatures Class, your Black Dragon hatchling’s behavioral response patterns have at least thirteen points of deviation from the baseline model in the *Standard Monster Behavior Manual*. The most significant point is its interaction with you, which clearly exceeds the scope of a normal owner and pet.”
Emily spoke bluntly, without any intention of hiding her thoughts.
Villanelle shrank back uneasily. The girl’s overly enthusiastic attitude made her feel overwhelmed.
Emily finished her long explanation in one breath, panting slightly, and then naturally proposed a deal as if all of this were perfectly normal.
“I am skilled at organizing information, observing data, and comparing records. But I don’t have a living specimen, especially an ‘abnormal’ one. As for you, I heard you applied for a Special Observation Permit and need to submit an observation report at the end of the term. You clearly need more unconventional data to support it.”
Her body leaned forward slightly, her tone earnest.
“So, we can make an exchange. You allow me to observe and research your dragon under your supervision. In return, I can help you find materials and write your paper. I know that a certain archive in the Forbidden Books Area contains a volume of the *Personal Notes of an Ancient Beast Tamer*. It was written by an old fellow who was expelled from the Imperial Beast Taming Association. It contains his doubts about standardized beast taming and many renegade ideas… Do you want to see it?”
Villanelle swallowed. Emily’s proposal was indeed very good, and the vast reservoir of knowledge the girl had just demonstrated was subtly convincing.
However, Villanelle still hesitated.
‘Will this affect the little guy?’
“I promise not to do anything that would provoke it. You can make me stop at any time. I am just… recording,” Emily added quickly, seeing through her doubts.
Villanelle fell silent.
The surroundings were quiet. Emily did not speak to disturb her thoughts, waiting patiently for a response.
After a long while, Villanelle finally spoke slowly.
“Alright, but only during the Magical Creatures Class, and I will be the one to decide the method of observation.”
What was there left to say? If she agreed, she agreed. She really had no clue about the paper, so having a helper wasn’t a bad idea. As for Ignis’s reaction… it was just observation, so there shouldn’t be any problems, right?
“Of course!” Emily agreed without hesitation, her tone carrying irrepressible excitement.
The topic regarding Ignis ended there. Just as Villanelle was about to ask more about the *Dragonstone Secret Classics*, Emily seemed to suddenly remember something. She pointed toward a corner of the Academy Main Tower, which was dimly visible outside the library.
“Oh, right. Since you’re researching your dragon, perhaps you should also pay attention to the surrounding environment? I’ve recently been repeatedly measuring the brightness of Moonlight Moss at several fixed locations in the academy—” As she spoke, she pulled a small notebook from the pile and flipped quickly to a certain page filled with dense numbers and dates.
“—But there’s a problem with the data. The brightness cycle of Moonlight Moss should be very stable, yet over the last two months, there have been several instances of mysterious dimming or brightening that don’t match the lunar phases.”
She looked up, the gaze behind her glasses becoming somewhat serious.
“Although the fluctuations are small and could be due to instrument error, the fact that the trend is consistent across multiple observation points… is too much of a coincidence. If the underlying mana field in the environment becomes unstable, it sometimes affects creatures that are particularly sensitive to mana. Your dragon might be able to sense it. When you’re recording, you can take note of the weather and the approximate time. You might find a connection. Of course, this is just a suggestion.”
The brightness of Moonlight Moss?
Villanelle had never paid attention to such things, nor did she have much interest in doing so, but she still nodded with feigned seriousness. “I understand. I’ll keep an eye out.”
At the very least, she had to maintain appearances so she didn’t seem dismissive.
“That’s wonderful. When should we start? The next Magical Creatures Class? I need to prepare some materials…”
“Sure.” Villanelle nodded, then changed the subject. “Do you also have a borrowing permit for the Forbidden Books Area?”
“I do. Professor Hiram approved it, and it lasts until the end of the term,” Emily said enthusiastically, showing no intention of hiding anything.
Initially, Professor Hiram had disagreed. It was only after Emily’s persistent pestering that he reluctantly agreed, but with the condition that her test scores must not drop even slightly, or the permit would be immediately revoked.
Villanelle thought back to the suspicious person she had seen in the archives that day.
She asked tentatively, “Um, have you… seen any strange people in the Forbidden Books Area?”
“What kind of strange people?” Emily keenly sensed something was wrong, and the smile on her face gradually faded.
“Wearing black cloaks, communicating in a dialect,” Villanelle said, stepping forward slightly and lowering her voice.
Emily’s brow furrowed instantly. She pondered for a moment before shaking her head. “No, I’ve never seen anyone matching that description… but I’ll keep an eye out.”
“That’s good.”
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