“Prancer Žemaitukas you say? I am certain I have heard that name before, I believe I heard it bandied around the Canterlot institutes during my studying period at the School for Gifted Unicorns and the University, this was before the your time you understand, when the princesses were still continuing their duties and the races were unified.” Scalpel frowned, “Yes that name certainly rings a bell… I may have read some of his pre-war work during my time there, perhaps even after the school and university was put under Twilights mandate… interesting.”

Inside his mind was turning, devouring the information the young mare was telling him about. He had heard of Prancer, and he remembered certain concerns regarding his disinterest in ethical issues even back then, although they had remained quite muted during his time. He also had heard of these Scholars, who hadn’t? They were rag tag bunch of researchers rooting out old knowledge and protecting it against the storm of swords which assailed the world, like a group of tattered monks without a monastery, now suddenly risen to prominence just within the last few months… an interesting coincidence. In Scalpels opinion they dwelled far too much on preserving the past and not enough in investigating the future of scientific knowledge… but this Manehatten institute sounded like it share his opinion on this matter. 

They certainly seemed like an interesting group, and worthy of at least paltry attention, and temporal disruption from his vocational studies. 

“Very well, it seems the deal is set, one tome of lore for another, inform me once you have acquired it physically and I will send you a message detailing the location of the exchange. I hope you will not abuse this trust I set in you, or you will be surprised how quickly this” here he gestured around him to the room at large “Can all disappear.”

“As for your question on my interests, I can say that I certainly am a similar scholar to that of your Director. I am a stallion of many talents, most likely if we were having this discussion a few centuries earlier I would be called a ‘Renaissance Stallion’ or a Polymath like Dr Žemaitukas. I have many interests, not just limited to what you see around you, haematology, biological transmogrification, cybernetics, time distortion, at one point I was deeply invested in Necromancy, but I abandoned that due to the crudeness of the subject matter and the little gains that can be made beyond fashioning unwilling servants. Recent decades have seen me move more to the discovery of the prospects of machines and ressurectionism, but my main subject of interest still remains in exploring the fundamental nature of ponykinds connection to magic, and how that might be altered or changed to suit the needs of future generations.” 

He grinned at her again, revealing a line of shining white teeth. “You could say I know a little bit of everything Dr Lens, although some matters I am a more proficient in than others.”

A slight coldness returned to his gaze and he stared the Doctor down once more, “I won’t pretend I didn’t notice your hesitation in answering my final question, but I will leave it alone for now. Doubtless your work is not openly acknowledged throughout your organisation; after all, the gods I have met have been sullenly and irritatingly reactionary towards any form of progress. I trust that any help I give to your organisation will remain secret and obscure, as I have no interest in attracting unwanted attention.”

“Regardless, once our first exchange is settled I believe I will have some interest in maintaining contact with your organisation, I may even join it, given a provisionary period where I may observe whether you organisation fits what I would actually desire, certainly your vaults do sound tempting… but one step at a time.”

“Now!” he stated, shifting up into the same position as the mare before him and tapping his front hooves together, “I believe that our business has been arranged, if you have any further questions I will be willing to answer within reasonable bounds, otherwise we will adjourn this little talk and you can rejoin your fellow comrades in research.” 

“It has been a definite pleasure to meet you Dr Lens.”