Oh no! Poor dragon! She should. Probably tell its rider, so he knows what's going on? It's really awkward to talk about though. Maybe she can talk to him over telepathy? She should ask him permission first, though.

She waits until the dragon is off on its next mission, marshals up as much bravery as she can, and walks up to the very impressive dragon-riding boy.

"Um. There's a thing I should probably say to you but it's really embarrassing can I say it over telepathy?"

She isn't actually aware enough of what this looks like to realize it's likely to have gossip-related consequences.

Alard is kind of startled to be addressed directly.

Is the pretty girl upset with him for some reason?

"Um, sure."

Um. I'm a telepath. And that's what I used to get away from your dragon. Um. I noticed it thought I was pretty?

(Through the telepathy comes the understanding that that's a euphemism, and what exactly its a euphemism for)

So, um, I got it to follow me into a barracks that I locked it inside by. Um. Sending thoughts suggesting that maybe it could. Um. You know.

(Vaguely around the edges, a few of the images she sent bleed through. Mostly the one of her bending over in the doorway)

And now it's very confused, and I think it thought that was an offer, and so. Um. If your dragon's acting a bit oddly that's probably why. I'm sorry. But I thought it would be irresponsible of me to do something like that and not let you know. So. This very awkward telepathic conversation.

"Oh."

He tries for a reassuring smile.

"That was clever of you. You don't have to worry. Yui is very well-behaved. It won't hurt you. Or um. 'Attack' you."

Unsaid, is that he feels a little guilty. It's his job to see to his dragon's needs, but it's not like he has magic like some riders, and its not like he can afford dragon-rated sex toys. And it's definitely not like he can arrange for an actual girl who's into getting fucked by a dragon; where would he even start asking. He might be a prince on paper but he grew up on a farm and the first time he met his father, the man basically threw a dragon at him and abandoned him to take care of it on his own.

Oh no, cute dragon boy is sad, what do?

(And also apparently those rumors about the dragons fucking girls sometimes are true? She really thought they weren't.)

(And also again, cute dragon boy is a prince? Who grew up on a farm? It's like something out of a story! And also very sad. That backstory is very sad.)

Oh, wait, she thinks the idea of getting fucked by a dragon is hot. She has an opportunity here to get fucked by a dragon and help cute dragon boy at the same time.

Um. I. Heard the thought about arranging for a girl. And. Well. I'm into that?

So.

I could do that?

But, um, no dragon babies for me, I think? I'm not ready to be a mom! Even a dragon mom!

(in addition to the embarrassment and faint arousal, there's also a sense of warmth over Christa's telepathy. She doesn't know this boy well, yet, but she's heard his thoughts a few times and she likes him and thinks he's cool!)

O.O

Did she mean to send that-

"Um."

That would be a huge boon to him and Yui, actually. He would really owe her.

...is she for real though? If she's serious then what's a girl like her doing in the Collegium.

"Um." Well. They can talk later? About this? Maybe?

The thing a girl like her is doing in the Collegium is becoming an alchemist!!! Who says she can't be an alchemist who occasionally fucks dragons? Everybody has their hobbies!

She does not send this. 

Instead, she sends a confirmation that yes, she is for real, and also a yes on the talking later.

...okay then. If she's sure.

Maybe they can have dinner together.

No, wait, maybe they can have dinner together, her and him and Yui.

Does she know where the dragon stables are? He can show her the way. And cook for her. No, wait, being a boy who cooks is way less weird than being a girl who'll take dragon-cock. Someone like her wouldn't judge him for his skills, he hopes.

It is way less weird! Objectively speaking her thing is pretty rare, she should know, she reads a lot of people's minds. Boys cooking is way less rare than that. And she doesn't know the way, she appreciates his offer to show her there.

Um. She'd prefer it if he didn't, like, tell people about her? People would be mean.

(She's sort of a bit sad about some of the way he's thinking about her, it feels sort of icky, but she can feel that there isn't anything even sort of resembling malice in it. He just doesn't know some stuff, that's all.)

He really doesn't.

It's not like he's thinking less of her. It's just so different from what he's come to expect of people.

Eventually, everyone's had a turn, and its time to ride the carriages back to Library Gemini.

"Well done, girls. Every one of you put in an admirable effort. Some of you, however, got more return on that effort than others. We shall meet at the usual time tomorrow in the usual room, to review your performances."

Lavich gives Christa a lingering look before stepping into her carriage. She didn't miss the exchange there, and she's feeling a little smug about turning Christa on to being a dragon slut. Maybe the little creampuff will seduce the boy too, and she'll have a small scandal to play with.

The carriages make the trip uneventfully and drop everyone off at the Arcadia travelport like usual.

(Someone is watching. Someone is watching. Someone is watching. Or are they?)

Someone is definitely watching. This has been going on for long enough that she's stopped thinking it could be a coincidence, there's definitely something there. 

Is there any pattern to it? An increase in the feeling that someone's watching at some times, a decrease at others?

Well, it mostly left them alone while they were out on the exercise.

It started again when they reached the outskirts of Arcadia.

It is particularly focused when Christa is approached outside the travelport by a young Dragoon. It gets downright blatant when Christa accompanies the Dragoon boy elsewhere.

Should she warn Christa about this? Or simply guide her towards not doing anything untoward where the telepathic presence can see it?

No, she thinks she'll let all of this play out. Encourage it, even. She wants to know what's going on, and the risk of a negative reputation is worth that, she thinks. She's only sticking around here because it's fun and convenient. If Christa ends up kicked out of the Collegiate and working as a 'dragon tamer' she doesn't think she'd particularly care.

Alard attempts to make conversation as he escorts Christa through the city.

"Um. You're an alchemist?"

Alard seems like he feels awkward. That’s entirely understandable! Christa will help by giving him a bunch of things he could ask questions about, that way he doesn't have to talk much if he's shy!

“I am! It’s just so interesting how everything effects everything else in all sorts of ways. Every time I feel like I’ve got a good handle on it all I learn about an entire new family of plants, or a new effect of the stars. Which you’d think would be frustrating, but I actually find fun so far! There’s so much!”

Alard knows any things about plants. Seasonings are an important part of cooking.

He doesn't really know anything about alchemy, but he can sort of hold up his end of a conversation about herbs.

Christa knows many things about herbs! Did he know that a few are actually used as spices and alchemy ingredients? She knows because cooking is an important part of alchemy.

There, now they can talk about cooking stuff, since he knows so much about that.

Wow. They can, actually, talk about cooking stuff. Talking about cooking stuff with a cute girl is kind of fun, too.

Alard will venture as far as to talk about what he plans to make them for dinner, and how making that dish works.

Christa is very interested in his dinner plans! She has a solid enough understanding of what he's talking about for it to neatly slot into her head as new information.

It's nice, to talk about cooking with a cute boy. She fully agrees with Alard's sentiment there. Not that she says that bit out loud, of course, she doesn't want to make him feel embarrassed.

Alard leads Christa to an estate on the northern edge of the upper ring, within view of the Temple of Light itself.

He ignores the main gate, instead walking around the outer wall until coming upon a small guard station 'manned' by a Guardian Doll. This Guardian Doll has no graffiti on its body but is for some reason wearing a light-blue wig. It seems to recognize Alard, and lets them in. Then it shuts the wall behind them and silently follows them into this outer courtyard.

Inside, there is a small cabin build against the estate border, next to a much larger domed but very short tower. A covered nest, on a pedestal. A dark-red draconic head appears over the side, and perks up at the sight of Christa.

Christa blushes slightly and waves at the dragon. Do dragons understand waving? Fortunately she's a telepath, and doesn't have to wonder.

Yui hops down out of its nest and bumps its head into Alard once before swiveling over to sniff at and nuzzle Christa.

Alard gives his dragon scritches and smiles quietly.

"I'll start dinner," he says after a few moments. There's an outdoor grill he plans to use, but the larder is inside.

He heads into his cabin to collect the ingredients he'll need, leaving Christa alone with Yui for just a few minutes.

Hello Yui! Dragon nuzzles! This is probably the fourth best day of her life, after the days where she met Aire, had sex with Annabelle for the first time, and was in that orgy with Miss Lavich.

Wow, a lot of the best days of her life are pretty recent, aren't they? Thank you Aire!