Before launching into a barrage of questions, Noir settled himself, trying to look as majestic as possible.

First, he was going to introduce himself; after all, he wasn’t a dragon without manners—he was a respectful being.

"Well... I should introduce myself properly."

He cleared his throat again.

"My name is Noir."

He paused briefly before adding with a smile.

"Quite an elegant name, if you ask me."

"Noir..." The woman tilted her head slightly and spoke the name calmly, as if she were verifying something: "It’s a fitting name."

The little dragon smiled contentedly, and the question came out almost instinctively:

"And what’s your name?"

The woman remained silent for a few moments before answering.

"Amanises."

Noir repeated the name in his mind to commit it to memory.

’Amanises... It sounds like the name of someone important.’

’Why do all the people the Golden Sphere knows seem important?’

The Golden Sphere gave off a small flash of light, clearly amused.

"Don’t get too proud; you’re just a compass."

The sphere approached Amanises, and its intentions were all too clear for Noir not to realize what it was up to.

"All right, I admit it: you’re a very important person, so you don’t have to expose all my shame to your acquaintances; leave me some dignity."

The golden sphere gave off several proud flashes of light as it settled onto one of the small black dragon’s majestic and beautiful horns.

"There’s something I want to try."

Noir decided to change the subject immediately.

"Can I still talk if I move away? No... I’m still sharing my thoughts."

"As long as the connection remains active."

The little dragon walked over to one of the enormous bookshelves. The number of books was absurd.

There were enormous volumes bound in dark leather. Others seemed to be written on silver tree bark... Some were even floating slowly between the shelves as their pages turned.

"You seem very interested in magic for such a small dragon."

He walked over to another shelf, and the little dragon’s red eyes began to sparkle.

"Is all of this magic?"

For the first time since he had arrived at that house... His curiosity wasn’t focused on the Magic Valley.

Nor on the woman.

Not even on the golden orb.

There was only one thing occupying his entire mind at that moment.

Magic.

Amanises let out a little chuckle:

"You really are quite a unique black dragon hatchling."

***

Amanises watched the little dragon as he slowly made his way along the bookshelves.

His red eyes darted from one book to another with a curiosity he couldn’t hide. He didn’t seem fascinated by the vials filled with potions or by the ancient wands resting against the wall.

What really caught his attention were the books.

She found that strange.

’What a curious creature...’

Amanises had encountered many races throughout her life.

Even most young dragons showed an instinctive interest in anything that might increase their strength or protect their territory.

Noir was different.

Her gaze then fell on the small golden sphere resting peacefully on one of the dragon’s horns.

She had known it for a very long time.

It had disappeared for centuries without a trace.

And now... the sphere had returned, but it wasn’t alone; it had chosen to accompany a small black dragon.

Amanises knew that little sphere better than anyone. It never stayed with anyone without a reason.

It was free.

Capricious.

Unpredictable.

It came and went as it pleased.

And it was rarely wrong in its decisions.

Her gray eyes slowly turned toward Noir.

It was a rather peculiar combination.

A young black dragon.

A golden sphere that had been missing for countless years.

And a small white wolf cub that, instead of showing fear, lay near the dragon with complete calm.

The scene defied logic.

However... Somehow, it worked.

The puppy lifted its head at that moment and walked calmly over to Noir.

After circling him once, it ended up leaning against one of his front legs.

The little dragon didn’t even seem to notice.

He remained completely absorbed in reading the spines of several books he couldn’t even understand.

Amanises let out an almost imperceptible smile.

That was enough to make many things clear.

The wolf trusted him.

And Noir, even though he hadn’t yet openly admitted it, had also begun to trust the pup.

It wasn’t a friendship born of words.

It was one built over days of sharing dangers, wounds, and long silences.

Sometimes... Those kinds of bonds turned out to be much stronger.

Her gaze returned once more to the golden sphere.

For countless years, she had waited for it to reappear.

She had imagined many possibilities; Amanises never imagined that the golden orb would appear alongside such a unique companion.

A black dragon whose greatest concern seemed to be figuring out how magic worked.

It was... refreshing.

She saw no boundless ambition. Just a curiosity so intense that it seemed impossible to quench.

Amanises finally understood why the sphere remained by his side.

Not because he was strong.

Nor because he was destined for something extraordinary.

But because he still possessed something that many lost far too soon: the desire to discover the world for himself.

Her eyes fell on the books that Noir was still looking at with obvious fascination.

It was impossible not to notice.

Every time he came across a book on magic, his eyes seemed to light up.

Amanises remained silent for a few seconds before speaking with her usual calmness.

"It seems you’re really interested in magic."

Noir immediately turned his head. He didn’t need to answer; his expression said it all.

The woman let out a faint smile.

"If you want to learn... I can teach you."

The little dragon stood completely still.

***

Noir stared at the woman in surprise; he had many questions, but... He was in a wizard’s house!

He wants to learn magic other than the dragon magic Chrysola had taught him before. Besides, right now, what interests the little dragon most is magic.

And now the mysterious woman Amanises had offered to teach him magic. Would he refuse? Of course not!

The little dragon, his eyes sparkling with excitement—just like the thing, which made him look more like a dog than a dragon—said:

"Really? Will you teach me magic?"

Amanises took one of the books from the bookshelf.

"Just the basics."

She took another book off the shelf, then set them both on the table.

"And it’s human magic that I can teach."

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