That night in the Dark Dreamscape, Russell continued experimenting with Polly's horn, trying to determine how it pierced the dream and reached into reality.
In the end, he discovered that this miniature horn was not omnipotent.
It could indeed pierce into reality, but it did not truly appear in reality. Instead, it moved along the boundary between dreams and reality. It could stick to objects suspected of being amber, then travel along that boundary just like the miniature horn.
However, it could not stick to objects without magic. It could only adhere to magical objects, and they had to be unconscious, inanimate things.
Phantom Beasts, knights, Spirit Worms, and other living beings with self-awareness were beyond the reach of Polly's miniature horn.
For instance, the Black Oil Dragon egg Russell carried could not be stuck to by the miniature horn, even though it had yet to hatch and its mind was still very young.
But magical implements such as gemstones and metals could be successfully adhered to.
"Then is this stone suspected of being amber actually amber? Amber Bugs should count as living beings with self-awareness, but when an Amber Bug is trapped inside amber, perhaps it no longer counts as self-aware... Forget it, this is too convoluted. We'll know once dawn comes."
"Gah." Little Dream Dragon was tired.
The Dark Dreamscape faded away, and consciousness sank into darkness.
Before dawn the next day, Russell got up. He did not bring a manservant with him, though Swan Castle had assigned one to help him dress.
But Russell merely had the manservant bring him his clothes, then dressed himself. After hurriedly washing up and going downstairs, he headed straight for the Phantom Beast camp.
"Russell." Polly's voice sounded in his mind.
"I'm here."
"It really is a piece of amber." Polly