As Luennolay's most mysterious area, the location of the Jade Book Gallery lies to the north of the academy district, encompassing the entire Jade Mountain Range. Its main body is a colossal, majestic, and unending gallery set along the mountain ridge, hence its na.
As one of Luennolay's iconic buildings, a variety of rumors related to the Jade Book Gallery circulate among the public; such as the gallery having collected all books ever existed in the history of the Kingdom, or that the na "gallery" is rely a facade, and the site is actually an evil research base for taboo studies, or yet another rumor saying the gallery is a communication center for interacting with extraterrestrials, with most of the Research Institute's work revolving around alien technology...
Since no one has been able to personally verify the authenticity of these rumors, so of the more ludicrous stories have beco increasingly exaggerated with each retelling—from "one truth amid nine falsehoods" to "one truth amid ninety-nine", until finally, they beca unfounded hysteria. The public, gradually sinking into the morass of indistinguishable fact and fiction, entertained themselves to death under the belief that "no debunking ans it must be true," fabricating even more implausible rumors. These rumors ultimately beca layers of external imagery uniquely associated with the Jade Book Gallery, making it appear ever more mysterious in the eyes of the masses.
Today, at an unknown mont, this mysterious Jade Book Gallery opened its doors for a special guest.
For those who work and live here, the true Jade Book Gallery is, for the most part, not as enigmatic as the rumors suggest. This place serves as the database for the Magic Kingdom Research Institute and is a morial that aggregates the crystallized wisdom of countless predecessors. It is important and sacred, but the terms "important" and "sacred" have never described the building itself but the knowledge it carries and the people gathered here.
Because of this, even though commoners or Magical Girls may never have the chance to enter, the Jade Book Gallery isn't considered a closed institution within the entire Magic Kingdom. There are always guests here—even many guests—because the Research Institute invites researchers who have achieved academic success to co, and it never shuns knowledge and learning.
Besides researchers, there are also Card Magical Girls seeking cooperation, powerful Magical Girls from the Five Major Institutes, even nobility from the Royal Court... These aforentioned visitors, no matter how influential they may be within the Kingdom, are not considered "special" to the Research Institute.
However, the guest who arrived today is deed "special" for a very simple reason—
The Research Institute's chief scientist, who had been cooped up in the lab for a month, raising concerns of whether she had suddenly died in there, finally erged.
Only the core mbers of the Research Institute who are aware of the chief scientist's whereabouts were not unaccustod to visiting dignitaries and their grand displays. But even looking back decades, a century, there would hardly be a few instances that would require the chief to make a personal appearance.
What was more disconcerting and anxiety-inducing was that their chief, Lady Erald, showed up in the gallery quite early today, not to conscript people for her experints nor to find a place to sleep with a pillow, but properly dressed in attire suitable for public appearance, with her hair done, and even a touch of makeup!
This sight, which the researchers who were acutely aware of their chief's years of bending legal boundaries for the sake of research Panic ensued. Could it be that the wrongdoing was discovered and the Royal Court had sent soone for an investigation?
Out of a simple instinct to seek benefit and avoid harm, the researchers, trembling with fear, began to skirt around Lady Erald, trying to pry so information from her but ended up empty-handed.
They tried to catch a glimpse of this guest at the entrance but ca up short—the visitor had already been personally guided into the gallery through an exclusive reception corridor by the book gallery's administrator.
The researchers were on edge, and the administrator responsible for the reception remained silent. The core mbers belonging to the Research Institute were agitated by their chief's unusual behavior. So, what exactly was Lady Erald doing at this ti?
"Your shadow is stepped on by ; you are dead," Lady Erald squatting on the ground, pointed at Erald Sparrow's shadow and declared.
"What nonsensical thing are you talking about?" Erald Sparrow's face was expressionless.
"Shadow Ga, Shadow Ga," Lady Erald stood up, brushing the hem of her coat. "The beginning of a duel often cos at the instant when eyes et. Your vigilance is lacking, youngster."
"When did I agree to play a ga with you?" Erald Sparrow felt baffled.
"Didn't you? But your expression is so tense as if you're ready to duel with ."
Lady Erald opened her hands: "Since that's the case, I will engage in a duel with you. Now I've won, you've lost, the ga is over. Can you relax a bit now?"
"…Sorry."
Erald Sparrow paused for a mont, then realized her intent, making an effort to adjust her expression to appear more relaxed: "Because I thought this eting was a serious matter, I was a bit tense."
"No problem, I share your view. But everyone here is one of us; there's no need to worry too much."
Lady Erald said this, maintaining her hands open posture, turning around on the spot: "How about it? This must be your first ti seeing in person? Do you feel honored?"
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