Several weeks passed by the time the whole story of Ehrlinger built up in her mind. She wondered a lot about that and thought through again and again. She wasn't afraid that the Conrad will scold her if she got the wrong conclusion, she rather wanted to be praised by him. One night before she left the office she asked him to have a few moments to listen her. Somehow he wasn't annoyed, but curious.

'I've thought a lot about Ehrlinger's story.' she started to speak.

'And…?'

'And I think he was a compulsive liar.' she stated boldly. Conrad didn't react. Though she wanted to see some kind of strong reaction from him (she hoped that he will either angry because she called an famous wizard liar or he will be surprised about that she noticed this fact), he wore a poker face.

'If you have a few minutes more, explain your opinion. What do you base this on?' He gestured toward the seat in front of his desk.

She hesitated, but sat down. Now they were face to face in front of each other, like equal talking partners.

'Though Ehrlinger was a person who always bragged about the thing he had done, he hardly ever mentions in his letters important events before he allegedly was about to do them. He mentions big things only after they happened. For example: he says he finally could buy the Half Moon Amber on 1st September, in the year of the Caldron's invention. First of all, as he liked to brag about his actions, I'm sure he would bragged about this a lot before he could actually buy it. He would have bragged about that he was ready to buy it and about that he plans to use it. Secondly, we know from the mine's production logbooks that the Amber was found only in November. Ehrlinger obviously lied about the date. He didn't even know when was it mined, how could has he been the first owner of it? Impossible.'

'What if he didn't lie? What if he was confused about the dates later, when he wrote the letters?' Conrad asked still with poker face. She was embarassed, but he didn't manage to confuse her.

'There are other references to that he was liar. His contemporaries mention in their letters that he like to talk like someone who's mind was invaded by fool elves. It's obviously a reference for that he talks nonsense.'

'What if they were wrong?'

'I don't think so. After 10 years he finished the school, he brags about his grades to one of his rival. He says he was the best student in his class.

'And what about it?'

'The school's documents says exactly the opposite.'

'Anything else?'

'He mentioned that he named the Roaring Jewel after he accidentally turned it into a beast because he couldn't hold back his 'huge' and 'mighty' magic power while forged this sword.'

'And?'

'And we all know that it was invented by Jannik Feuerwerker, who named it after his wife… who - to put it mildy - wasn't the nicest woman in the earth and usually roared when he argued his husband. Though her eyes were beautiful like jewels, according to several Feuerwerker and the contemporaries, and several paintings'

'If he was a liar, why do we deal with him?'

'Once he accidentally saved the king. Not only the king's life, but it prevented the bursting out a huge war. This is the only part from his life what is curriculum in the school. So though he was a liar about his inventions, he had an important role in the history.'

'Then let me ask one last question.'

He leaned forward and looked into Liz's eyes like a predator. He was ready to ask the latest question and hoped that it will confuse her.

'What do you think, why is it?'

'He always yearned for the attention. After he saved the king's life, he got it all. However when it revealed that it was accidental, his fame faded away. Still, he yearned for the attention and reputation so he tried to propagate incredible stories about his life and inventions.' she answered with one big breath.

He leaned back satisfied.

'It's good to see that you can use your brain.' Conrad said. 'I want you to write an essay about this topic. There is no special deadline, just bring it to me when you're finished. Now you can go home.'

As she hesitated to sit down, now she hesitated to stand up, like she would have waited for something. Though she got some praise, she wanted more. But she had to go.

Liz soundlessly put on her coat. She left the office with silent, soft steps. Conrad thought her movements are so gently like some fairy's. He quickly rubbed his eyes and tried to get her out of his head.

'Today I want you to neglect the documents. There are a lot of folders which are processed, arranged and I can work with them for a while. Now I want you to focus on this…' he said and put a test paper in front of her.

'Uhm… And what is it?' she asked puzzled.

'As you can see it, it's a test paper.' he answered with his usual emotionless tone.

'And why exactly…?'

'I want to measure your level.'

She wanted to ask 'why' again, but she gave up. If he doesn't want to give a real answer, he won't. He can always divert the topic to the way he wants. He's manipulative and open in the same time.

Liz read the paper and said only one last remark:

'The pages are numbered, but the first one is misssing.'

'You are so perceptive when you shouldn't be.' he said sarcastically. 'Don't mind that. That contains only the instructions. But I can tell it you shortly: Solve. The. Tasks.' he said and finished the topic.

Liz sighed and started to write. The tasks were about mixing ingredients. Basically, every of the tasks was built on the same scheme. There was a list of ingredients or tools, the question was that what kind of variatons of these materials could work. Combinatorics for magic. She found it interesting and finished the worksheet in one and a half hour.

'Is that all for today?' she asked.

'Yes. But I want you to come on the next week, too.' he said and put her worksheet into his drawer.

'Of course. Good night.'

Next week she finished her paper in about 80 minutes.

'Is it just my opinion or was it harder than last time?' she noted. The lists of ingredients were longer.

'If you really ask my opinion, it wasn't hard.' he stated calmly, though she found it quite difficult.

'Well, I'm sure it's not hard for some people, but it was hard to me.' she murmured. 'Maybe you should rather make filled these sheets by students like Elias Goldstein…' she noted bitterly.

'No, these are for students like you. I can choose my methods on my own, but… thank you for your advice.' he said sarcastically the last part. Liz sighed and said goodbye.