I guess this works this way :
York submits to get a sword.
York also submits to study Reason with Crowned Witch.
Crowned Witch is a villager(in this scenario, I'm not giving a town read here)
York doesn't face any negative effect because Crowned Witch is a villager.
York gets the Reason rank up! Tadadada!
Crowned Witch mysteriously gets the Reason without knowing where it comes from.
That's also the reason I think scum might redirect players who study to a scum player so they would face negative effects. And that's why anybody shouldn't announce they will study with anyone the next night.
York submits to get a sword.
York also submits to study Reason with Crowned Witch.
Crowned Witch is a villager(in this scenario, I'm not giving a town read here)
York doesn't face any negative effect because Crowned Witch is a villager.
York gets the Reason rank up! Tadadada!
Crowned Witch mysteriously gets the Reason without knowing where it comes from.
That's also the reason I think scum might redirect players who study to a scum player so they would face negative effects. And that's why anybody shouldn't announce they will study with anyone the next night.

