Leila walked with a sense of urgency on her way to the local schoolhouse. Her school was held in a small building, aged yet well cared for. It looked humble by outward appearance, but the volume of wisdom and knowledge within the building excited Leila. She craved education of any kind. Normally she would grow bored with school, outpacing her teachers, although this year was different. This year, a brilliant professor from Hallador taught one of her classes.
Most professors from Hallador, especially those from the Lund Academy, would not normally teach multiple age levels at a tiny school in a remote village tucked away in the mountains. Previously, the professor served the city of Hallador, offering studies and observations on a very elite scientific committee. Because of family reasons, the brilliant professor moved to the small village of Eknor. Most students were ranchers and farmers. They were not as passionate about education as those in Hallador. This new way of life differed from Hallador, but the professor still found enjoyment, lending her mind and services to the community of Eknor. Leila jumped at the opportunity to get to know a science professor from Hallador, as Leila would need a reputable recommendation when applying to the Lund Academy.
Today, Leila’s excitement stemmed from today’s topic at school; biology, a subject that she adored. Leila thirsted for knowledge about the natural world. Discovering a pile of old bones would illicit foul reactions from most children, yet Leila found significant fascination studying the natural world. Many mistook her drive for knowledge as morbid fascination, which Leila ignored, knowing it was the only way she could learn how the world was built and how it worked? She read as much as she could, scouring the local library for any educational reading materials. Soon, she became too advanced for her own good, often asking questions that her teachers did not know the answers to.
That’s why she looked forward to class today. Leila had developed her own theories about life and the way it worked. So far, the lessons her professor taught aligned with her theories. Today, they talked about the structures of life and biological codes that determine species throughout life. She couldn’t wait to confirm more of her theories.
Class began as usual, and the classroom progressed well into the conversation. Or, more correctly, Leila hosted a conversation with her teacher, talking about traits and the theory of a biological code that gives life its shape and form.
That’s when Leila asked, “If all biological creatures are determined by a specific code, what sort of things could affect their code to create anomalies within various biological creatures?”
“What do you mean anomalies? Like defects?” her professor asked. “Sometimes something goes wrong during the development of any biological creature, from plants to animals to dragons and humans, that affects the way they develop.”
“Yes,” Leila said, “I realize biological creatures can have defects, but I’m talking anomalies, like fully functional anomalies. Features that an animal shouldn’t have, yet on rare occasions, those traits come out, like the code got mixed up, and more than one biological trait is displayed and—”
“Wait,” her professor said, “I don’t think you are understanding how the code of physical traits work. They are specific to each species, the species cannot share code. It’s not like a dragon has human code buried within, it only has dragon code. Same with humans, there is no dragon code within humans. A human will never have a defect that allows them to grow wings, as an example.” Leila’s professor tried to clarify the science.
“Yes, I know that, but isn’t there a possibility that anomalies could occur—”
“Outside of their given species? Not in the least! Like a dragon could have an ‘anomaly’ and potentially be born with a partial third wing, and humans likewise with an arm or a leg. But humans aren’t about to grow horns, and dragons will not grow little human hands. Creatures may adapt to their surroundings and lifestyles, but that doesn’t change their biological code.”
“Then what about a dog with wings?” Leila said, straight faced. “I mean, that can’t be that unusual? There are a lot of dragon species that have similar builds to dogs. I know they are not the same, but you see the similarities. Plus, what about Tyrns? If a dog could be similar in physical traits to beings like Tyrns, why could they not be similar in traits to dragons at some point?”
Leila’s professor sighed. She knew what Leila hinted at. “Leila, I know stories of a flying dog have circulated around this little village, but they are simply not true. Science tells us otherwise. A dog will never ever be born with wings. Dogs are not dragons, nor are they like any of the flying creatures in our known biological classification. A dog with wings would never exist. Even if there was a believable account, the fact is no one has ever found a dog with wings in or around Hallador, and Hallador is significantly larger than this little village. Mathematically speaking, if anomalies like wings on a dog could happen, there would be other sightings or accounts, yet this account of a flying dog only seems to appear here in Eknor. Whoever started this story simply didn’t correctly observe the information at hand.”
Leila sat in silence, disappointed that the professor she looked up to did not agree with her own theories. Plus, the professor made her look foolish, an emotion she hated with a vile passion. But she needed her professor’s recommendation. She figured she should tame her argumentative nature and let it go.
Her teacher offered one last thought. “Leila, you are smarter than this. You are a brilliant student. Don’t give into local lore and legends. You should be smart enough not to fall for those silly stories. There is no room in science to speculate or base theories on hopes and hunches. Science is about analyzing the evidence that we can observe. You need to let go of those daydreams if you are going to take science seriously.”
That’s when Leila’s professor crossed the line. A fire lit within. Leila fit many descriptions, although ‘silly’ just felt offensive. She had little patience for anyone who put her in such a category.
Her professor responded to her silence. “You don’t look convinced. But trust me, I know what I’m talking about. As much as we wish we could have flying dogs, it simply will never happen.”
The fire churned more intensely. Her sister Lili was the daydreamer, not Leila. She hated when people assumed they were the same. Leila took science seriously. Even if she had to prove how serious she took it.
“Now back to the lesson,” her professor tried to continue.
“What about a cat with horns?” Leila asked with a straight face.
“What do you mean, like a wildcat?” Her professor asked.
Leila shifted her voice to sound more innocent and unknowing. “No, like a house cat, like a cat that might live in a house with people, like a house cat, but with horns… like a dragon.”
“It wouldn’t happen. Some larger species of wild cats have barbs, like a thick claw in their tails, but a common house cat would have nothing like dragon horns. That’s not how science and nature work! Now can we stop these stories of fantasy and fairy tales and get back to the lesson?” Leila’s teacher grew less patient.
Leila smiled and nodded. The lesson continued, as Leila remained unusually quiet for the rest of class.
After school, she walked to her grandmother’s house before going home. She needed time to think about what her teacher told her. As much as her teacher insisted on the accuracy of her knowledge, Leila knew her theory had to have some truth to it. After all, flying dogs weren’t just local stories. Leila was the kid that found the dog with wings. Her discovery sparked the many stories of flying dogs in Eknor. She questioned if her young mind remembered incorrectly. Maybe she didn’t understand what she saw as a child?
No. Even at a young age, Leila understood the natural world. She knew what a dog’s anatomy looked like. She knows what she saw. Engrossed by the discovery, she thought about it all the time, always trying to figure out a scientific explanation for what she saw. She clearly remembers the carcass of a dead animal found in the stream up in the foothills. She wondered if maybe the decomposition made it difficult to accurately identified? Yet she remembers tiny stubby wings on its back. Like it wanted to grow them, they just never developed. She knew it wasn’t a dragon. It still had patches of fur, and the skull remained intact. It must have been a dog. Ever since then, she tried to figure out how such curiosities could exist in the world of science, which ultimately led to her theories on anomalies of physical traits.
Now it seemed Leila not only had the scientific challenge of explaining the oddities and anomalies she witnessed, but convincing the academic world to take her seriously would be a steeper hill to climb. If she couldn’t get other academics to listen to her theories and discoveries of the physical world, how would she ever get them to listen to her theories on the science of thought? For some time now, she had been observing and writing a theory about the belief there is something unsee that connects all living things. Another one of her efforts as a young woman to explain moments of knowing what someone felt without being in their presence. Every strange experience needed an explanation.
Her long walk to her grandmother’s home gave her time to think and analyze everything in her mind. Her experiences, what her professor said, what science knows, what she thinks science will know, and how to measure each bit of evidence. As her mind played out the options, she identified too many truths that would not line up with the science being taught in school. Isn’t that the academics job? To question what we know?
Leila eventually made her way to her grandmother Brynhilda’s home. Her grandmother warmly welcomed her and offered tea and a myriad of sweet pastries and treats, the typical hospitality fit for a queen. After a lovely conversation catching up on life and school, Leila ventured to the science room of her grandmother’s house. Over the years, her grandmother collected many fascinating trinkets and items of wonder. She looked for one in particular. After moving a few things around, she found the glass case she hoped to find. The glass case contained a cat skull.
With horns.
When she was young, her grandmother took in a stray cat. The unique cat did indeed have horns. Leila loved the cat, so enchanted by the cat with horns, she adopted the cat herself for several years. The strange lovable cat eventually died a natural and peaceful death, and because of Leila’s fascination with the cat, her grandmother, also a believer in science and education, kept the cat’s skull to fuel Leila’s drive and passion for learning. Again, many mistook her love for science as a morbid fascination.
Leila stared at the skull, again mesmerized by the specimen, smiling at the validation that sat in front of her. She held scientific proof. Leila thought for a moment. She could bring the skull in and prove her point. But it would make her teacher, the very well-know and well-respected scholar from Hallador, look like she didn’t know what she talked about. Plus, she needed a recommendation if she ever hoped to attend the Lund Academy in Hallador. She carefully set the skull down and sighed a moment in thought. If only life were more simple.
Leila then thought about the words of one of her favorite authors and philosophers. “To be thought insane for looking at the world upside down is worth the ridicule to see it as a whole.” Leila smiled. She carefully packaged up the cat skull and put it in her bag.
The next day, she patiently waited for class to start. Her teacher gave the students opportunities to bring up questions or thoughts they have regarding science. Most have nothing to say. Leila gently raised her hand.
“You told us yesterday that a house cat would never grow horns. It’s not in their code. I believe you, but how do you explain something like this?” Leila carefully unwrapped the cat skull with horns.
“What is that? Bring it up here,” her professor asked.
“It’s a cat skull, a house cat, that grew little dragon horns. You said this would never happen, yet here it is. I just want to understand the science here.” Leila said as she walked to the front of the class.
Leila’s professor examined the skull, and with a sigh she said, “Leila, did you make this to prove me wrong?”
“Absolutely not. This is authentic. Who has the time to make something like this and make it look authentic?” Leila said.
Her professor continued, “It seems convenient that you find a cat skull with horns the day after we had the conversation.”
“Not at all convenient. More logical, really. I didn’t find this cat skull. I grew up with this cat. I knew this cat when it was alive. It had horns then, and it has horns now.” Leila said, doing her best to portray her humble voice. “I just want to understand the science of how it came to be.”
Leila’s professor struggled to discredit the authenticity of the skull. “Look, Leila, I appreciate your passion for science, but we don’t have time to entertain these stories of yours, despite the authentic look of this skull. It’s just not plausible. Please have a seat.”
“These are not stories! I didn’t make this up and I’m not the only one who saw this cat alive. Lili?” Leila pointed to her twin sister, who acknowledge she knew the cat when it was alive and confirmed it had horns. “Plus, others here have seen and pet that same cat!” Others in the classroom acknowledged they had been to her house and saw the cat as well.
“And that’s something simple, like a cat with horns.” Leila turned to the class. “A dog with wings is another ‘story’ that people like to discredit, yet I saw that creature with my own eyes. Sure, it may be difficult to identify since the animal was dead, but it clearly had fur, two front legs, two back legs, and little stubby arm like wings attached to its torso. Full bone structure and webbing. Just too small to give the dog any flight. I witnessed the animal with my own eyes.”
Leila embraced her true lawyer form, although it did not amuse her professor. “Now, I will admit, my inexperienced eyes could have fooled me. Maybe I saw it wrong. I could have been overtired, or any number of things could have altered my memory. Although I wasn’t the only witness. Who else here saw the same winged dog?” Leila asked the class.
Several of the students raised their hands and acknowledged they saw the deceased creature when it was discovered. The beauty and curse of a small town meant everyone knew when anything out of the ordinary happened.
“And tell me, do you remember seeing wings?”
They agreed.
“And did you also see tufts of fur on the skin of the creature attached to the skeleton?”
They agreed.
“And if you had to identify it as an animal, what would you say?”
Generic replies followed, stating it looked like a dog.
“Leila…” her professor said.
Leila didn’t stop. “Multiple people saw the same thing I saw. This ‘story’ everyone wants to make fun of is clear to be more of a scientific discovery than a silly ‘story’!”
“Leila!”
“So logically, the only deduction to be made is at a young age, we all got together and made up a story we promised we would always corroborate on, to ensure our lie stood the test of time, or what we witnessed wasn’t a dog at all, and potentially a baby ice dragon with fur, which we all know would be an even greater discovery since we know such a thing as ice dragons simply do not exist!”
“LEILA!”
Leila talked directly to her audience and ignored her professor. “Or is it possible, even in the slightest, science hasn’t fully uncovered the intricacies of life, and this is evidence of something we have yet to learn? Is it possible someone from Hallador doesn’t believe the eyewitness accounts of us locals because Hallador is so much bigger and better than we are? Do we not have the same sized brains? Are we not capable of understanding what we see and experience as true scientific fact?!”
The class nodded, seasoned with a mob mentality.
“Is it possible that we are discredited because we are from the uncivilized backwoods country, and maybe the intelligence of Hallador simply is too prideful to acknowledge Eknorian intelligence?” By then, the class erupted in conversation and statements about the things they saw or other stories they heard from their parents or uncles, or remote cousins. Leila shifted from lawyer speech to a mild battle cry. “As Eknorians, they will not push around us. We have something great to offer, and the world will know how brilliant Eknor really is and—.”
“LEILA! LEILA, to the administrator’s office, NOW!” Her professor stood up, motioning for her to gather her things.
Leila, angrier than upset, packed up her books and her skull and walked to the door, turned to the class with a slight nod of the head to thank them for their support, energetically twirled about face and walked to the Administrator’s office.
Leila knew what she saw. She knew she was not wrong. It frustrated her that anyone would think she doesn’t take science seriously. Science is her passion; it is her life. She wants to know the answers to these questions as much as the next scholar. She knew, if she wanted to find genuine answers, she had to question everything.
She didn’t look forward to the Administrator’s office. She would have preferred a physical punishment over the mediated conversations between the student and those involved. Leila knew it didn’t matter what she said. The adults never listen to the youth. Her only choice is to smile and nod along and acknowledge what the adult said was true, when she knew deep insider her soul, she was not wrong, and it was not wrong to stand up for herself when the world tried to dampen her spirit in clouds of doubt. It’s her professor’s fault for trying to make her look bad or insinuate that she isn’t an academic. Leila can’t protect everyone from their own ignorance.
Leila rounded the corner to the hallway of the Administrator’s office. Another young girl, chawing on some dried meat, sat there waiting to have a similar conversation with the administrator.
“Hi Ella.”
“Leila! My best friend, you came to visit me!”
“Ha, yeah. So, what are you in for?”
“Oh, you know, the usual.”
“Yeah, me too.”
Talks with the administrator were always annoying, but she knew what to say to get through it. What concerned her most is now she needed a new recommendation if she ever wanted to attend the Lund Academy in the heart of Hallador.