I assure you, our business with the book will be concluded in a timely manner, and we will return it to you within a few days' time. You have my word.

[ Trahearne emphasizes what Zhongli says, hoping to show that they're both in agreement with how they'd handle the book, and the respect they want to show for the original borrower. He just hopes that they don't come across as newly-awakened saplings begging for a little extra time outside of the nursery.

The dragon fixes Trahearne with a stare again, huffs, and then turns to Zhongli to say, "I require more than pretty words and trinkets and baubles. I am a scholar. I may agree to your terms should you offer me knowledge I do not already know."

Trahearne frowns. Why does he keep talking to Zhongli, and not him? His fingers curl around the brooch, partly in frustration, and he answers anyway. ]

Then you're in luck. [ He tries his best to sound amiable, but his tone comes out more forceful than he intends. Perhaps from the frustration. ] Zhongli here has lived an extraordinary life, and has seen and experienced things some of us can only dream of. And I myself am a scholar of more esoteric subjects, and more than willing to share my life's work.

[ The dragon stares at Trahearne, clearly displeased by...something. This agitates the sylvari. He doesn't understand dragons, and he feels his frustration mounting.

"Is he yours?" the dragon finally asks, turning away from Trahearne to address Zhongli. Trahearne freezes. Yours? "Reign him in. He's arrogant. No dragon in his right mind would ever allow his minion to speak for him."

It takes a moment for the words to sink in. He hates, hates the reminder that he could've been nothing more than Mordremoth's tool, but it doesn't tear at him as it may have once did. Instead, something else catches his attention.

Did he just refer to Zhongli as a dragon?

His head whips to look at his trusted friend, his eyes wide. What does this mean...? ]