Qilin

In front of the checkout counter at Flourish and Blotts.

A long line stretched out, mostly young wizards buying textbooks for the new term.

Lucien was about to be next.

Hermione, standing behind him, gritted her teeth and asked, "Lu-Lucien, you bought so many books. Can you finish reading them?"

Lucien turned his head and shrugged.

"More or less. By the time I finish these, school will be starting anyway."

"When the time comes, I can just go straight to the library at Hogwarts."

Hermione's eyes widened slightly. She had meant to ask whether Lucien could finish reading all these books within a year.

Was he planning to read them all before school started? There was only one month left.

Looking at Lucien's handsome profile, Hermione felt that his eyes were very serious, not like he was bragging.

Hermione was just about to say something when it was already Lucien's turn to check out.

Lucien directly took out a handful of gold Galleons and handed them to the clerk.

When his eyes swept over Guide to Raising Magical Creatures at the top of the pile of books, Lucien added, "If you want to read it, I'll lend it to you after school starts."

"Ah, thank you."

Hermione nodded repeatedly.

As long as there were books to read, she did not mind either way.

The clerk quickly counted out the change, and Lucien picked up the books and left.

He did not wait there for Hermione to finish checking out, then chat with her or anything like that.

Lucien could hardly wait to get home and absorb the knowledge in the books.

Of course, what he wanted even more was to check on his pet, the divine beast Qilin.

Grafton Manor.

Lucien looked at the egg on his bed and could not help falling into thought.

The egg was about half a meter tall, just the right size for Lucien to wrap his arms around.

"System, what is this?"

"Where's my Qilin?"

[Host, this is the Qilin... egg.]

The corner of Lucien's mouth twitched.

"Uh, system, are you sure Qilin lay eggs?"

[...This is more convenient (0v0).]

Ignoring the system acting cute in its robotic voice, Lucien leaned closer and examined the Qilin egg.

"How long will it take to hatch?"

[Three.]

After waiting a few seconds, the system still gave no follow-up.

Lucien was speechless. He really did not want to play along with the system's joke.

"Two, one?"

Crack, crack, crack—

A crack appeared on the surface of the eggshell.

Immediately afterward, a mass of cracks spread across the shell, accompanied by rustling sounds.

The upper half of the shell shattered, and a little head poked out from inside.

A pair of large golden-red eyes looked at Lucien.

That gaze was clear and bright, as if looking at the being closest to it.

The little Qilin was covered all over in fine pale-gold scales, and the short horn on its head had not fully grown yet.

"Hungry—"

A young, tender voice appeared directly in Lucien's mind.

Lucien looked at the little Qilin in surprise.

Telepathy?

Was this Qilin's innate gift, or the result of the system's influence?

"I'm hungry—"

Another voice rang out in Lucien's mind.

At the same time, the little Qilin's mouth opened slightly.

Lucien questioned the system directly:

"What does a Qilin eat?"

[Pure dew, plant essence]

Dew meant exactly what it sounded like, but it was already night now, so Lucien had no way to get any.

"What does plant essence include? Ordinary vegetables and fruits? Herbs?"

[All are included. The older the plant, the higher its quality, and the denser the plant essence contained within]

Lucien immediately left the bedroom and instructed a maid:

"Loxia, prepare some fruits and vegetables and send them to my room."

"Bring some of the herbs stored at home as well."

After giving his orders, Lucien returned to the room, looked at the young Qilin, and said gently:

"Just wait a little longer."

Hearing Lucien's soothing words, the little Qilin actually nodded in a very humanlike way.

Lucien was a little surprised.

"You can understand me?"

"A little—"

It was that childish voice again, echoing directly in Lucien's mind.

Lucien communicated with the little Qilin for a while and discovered that its intelligence was already equivalent to a five- or six-year-old human child's. It could express its needs simply, but since it had only just been born, it still lacked understanding of the world.

Less than ten minutes later.

The maid Loxia knocked on Lucien's door.

Lucien went out and took two trays from her hands.

One held common fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, carrots, and apples.

Several herbs were arranged on the other tray.

He brought them in front of the little Qilin.

The little Qilin leaned forward and sniffed them one by one.

With a forceful inhale, wisps of greenish-blue aura emerged from the fruits, vegetables, and herbs, then slipped into the little Qilin's mouth and nose one after another.

As he observed the little Qilin's peculiar way of eating, Lucien asked the system:

"What abilities do Qilin have?"

[Command flames]

[Ride clouds and mist]

[Mental communication]

[Perceive the goodwill and malice of other living beings]

[Powerful magic resistance. Only a very small number of spells can harm a Qilin]

[Qilin blood has the effect of curing illness and extending life, and is an excellent material for making potions]

[They are naturally able to use Apparition. At the same time, they can imprison space within a certain range, rendering Apparition within that range ineffective]

Lucien rubbed his chin, clicking his tongue in wonder.

As expected of a divine beast. Not only were its abilities varied, they were all extremely powerful.

With the ability to sense the malice of living beings, as well as powerful magic resistance, Qilin were naturally able to avoid many disasters.

They came with Apparition, so running away was even more convenient.

If used to deliver letters and such, it would definitely be much faster than those round-faced fat chickens.

And in the end, a Qilin was a divine beast. Once it grew up, its combat power surely would not be poor.

Add to that the ability to imprison space, and if he encountered a battle in the future, he could directly cut off the enemy's escape route.

As for Qilin blood, which could cure illness and extend life, it made Lucien fall into thought.

From the system's description, this Qilin of his was very different from the native Qilin of this world.

He did not know whether, in the understanding of those wizards, the blood of native Qilin had similarly miraculous effects.

If the Qilin of this world also had such effects, then before my own strength increases or the little Qilin grows up, I can't casually expose its existence, in case it draws unwanted greed.

"I still have to read more and master more knowledge."

Lucien rubbed his forehead.

He turned his head toward the pile of books on the desk.

Lucien raised his wand.

He pointed it at the Guide to Raising Magical Creatures.

"Accio Book."