After waking in the afternoon from his dagger-dream, Alptraum is given a message by a young page named Aya that Lady Melusine wishes to see him. The Eeee allows the girl to help him dress, and asks her about her family and ambitions. It turns out she a grand-niece of Barnabus, the Draco family retainer, and wishes one day to be a knight and tame the Dreaded Rabbit of Elsinore.

When Alptraum reaches Melusine, she asks how his training went and has him demonstrate his skill at forming a shadow 'body suit' – which is as far as his training got before the effects of contact distracted him and Rosalind.

Melusine approves, and asks next to have damaged heart of Muriavan, the Shadow Dragon who gave up his powers to Alptraum, brought for examination. She explains that it is contaminated with iron, and must be purified before it can be tested again. The reason being that she needs it to host a child, since in order for Rosalind to become pregnant Melusine must as well, while the two are merged into a single physical being. This surprises Alptraum, who hadn't expected to become Melusine's consort as well.

The dragon instructs him to find a Crystal Mage or a being of living crystal who might be able to purify the old heart. Alptraum asks about things he should be expecting or practicing, and Melusine describes some of the abilities he can expect to eventually master, while cautioning him to do only very basic things at first which won't harm him, and that Rosalind will be his training guide for the time being.

Alptraum's shadow reacts to the contaminated heart, feeling burned, and Melusine advises that he test his reaction to iron in general. Alptraum asks if this means he's becoming a Shadow Dragon as well, and Melusine doesn't give a direct answer – but warns him that he must keep a subservient attitude towards her since she won't tolerate competition. She also tells him not to share their plans with Kaira, to 'spare her from feeling inadequate and jealous.'