Suddenly, the baby bird, upon seeing Imugi, spread its tiny wings as wide as it could and chirped enthusiastically.
It was a spirited cry, as if determined to show something.
Seeing this, Christina smiled and reached out her hand.
"Sure. I hope you help well, too."
As Christina stroked the baby bird's head, Imugi looked at the bird with sparkling eyes.
'There’s just the right element to provide some stimulation.'
He puffed out his chest and looked at the eager white bird.
The corners of Imugi's mouth curled up slightly.
The bird, sensing something suspicious, raised its single black feather nervously.
'Ferdykion can't control it, and it seems to be a bit of a troublemaker, so it will be a good catalyst to bring out various situations.'
Even today, despite showing dissatisfaction, he had given the last biscuit, revealing his awkwardness.
His somewhat clumsy reaction was likely an experience for Ferdykion to act not as an elder but as himself.
Living to meet the high expectations of becoming the leader of the fire clan, he must have suppressed emotions and desires that didn't fit.
He must have lacked the experiences that would fertilize his growth.
'I'll have to teach him. As we go along, the day will come when I see your true self, which will be good for you too.'
Ferdykion would think he came to teach Imugi, the next elder, but in reality, the immature fire dragon child would be the one receiving the lessons.
Ferdykion visited as soon as the sun rose, with not a hair out of place.
Fortunately, Imugi was awake, but he hadn't expected to meet him so early in the morning. He barely managed to pull himself together and met Ferdykion alone in an empty room of the lair.
As soon as he saw Imugi, Ferdykion rummaged through his robes and took something out.
In front of Imugi was a golden bracelet with a red mana stone embedded in it.
"It's a transformation artifact. According to Lady Christina, your intelligence is quite high. Since it contains the ability to transform into a human, I thought it would be convenient for you to use."
Imugi took the bracelet and fiddled with it.
"You can't cast polymorph yet, so it will be useful."
'Polymorph... It's similar to transformation magic, but it's a more definite ability to change into the desired form.'
The knowledge he had acquired through Christina's inheritance came to mind.
"I used it when I was young. Just imagine your form and channel your mana."
'It will definitely be useful. It's not a common artifact. He must have felt the need for communication to teach properly.'
It was more of a tool for better education than a gesture of kindness.
Imugi nodded and put on the bracelet.
Swoosh. The bracelet adjusted to fit his body, and his hand turned into a human hand.
'If only I could transform into a bigger form.'
Imugi, now a small boy with black hair and red eyes, nodded.
Ferdykion, who seemed to be in his mid-teens, was still taller, but the change in his mouth structure allowed him to speak and use his hands comfortably, which felt very convenient.
'Being able to speak is so good. It's refreshing.'
He had refrained from using telepathy magic, fearing that Ferdykion might detect it, so the convenience of verbal communication was even more noticeable.
Ferdykion looked at him with a cold expression.
Seeing the restrained look on his face, Imugi turned his gaze away but understood his thoughts.
'Hearing a thank you must have been awkward for him.'
Imugi chuckled inwardly and fiddled with the bracelet again.
Ferdykion, who had been looking at the small bird that flew to Imugi with bright yellow eyes, frowned strangely.
"Get rid of that bird. It will be a distraction during the lesson."
Ferdykion's eyebrows twisted nastily. He muttered a curse under his breath and revealed his discomfort to Imugi.
"So, you want to be taught along with this bird?"
"Yeah. Christina said it's fine if you're okay with it."
When he mentioned Christina, Ferdykion's cheeks twitched, and upon hearing that his permission was needed, he refused with a stiff face.
"Why should I allow that? It seems Lady Christina has shown mercy to your childish whims, but this little bird will only be a hindrance to your learning as an elder."
Hearing the disgruntled chirping, Ferdykion clenched his fists and glared at the chick as if it were a protruding nail.
"Stop annoying me and get lost. You insignificant chick."
Despite the look that suggested he wanted to chase it away immediately, the white bird puffed up its round body and stood its ground.
The tension in their gaze was almost audible.
'What a short-tempered guy.'
Getting angry isn't always bad, but it's a problem to be angry even at a young bird.
A ruler who can't distinguish when to be angry and when not to is just a cruel tyrant.
Imugi's eyes turned cold as he looked at Ferdykion.
Ferdykion's eyebrows twitched, and his lips trembled as if he was about to explode.
"What, that insolent look? Is that how someone who wants to learn should look?"
'To think he's an elder of the fire clan.'
Though inwardly displeased, he needed to intervene.
Imugi slumped his shoulders and pulled the small, white, round body of the baby bird into his arms, looking at Ferdykion.
"That's a bit harsh, isn't it? It's just a young bird."
"Attacking me without knowing my strength and annoying me is what that little thing does. A hostile creature must be thoroughly subdued."
Imugi held up the bird with both hands.
"Where does this guy pose a threat to you? Rather, isn't he... kind of cute?"
A phoenix chick that might become strong someday.
It would take a few hundred or a few thousand years for it to become strong.
Right now, it was just a newborn bird, and the same would apply to Ferdykion as time passed.
"He's just a bird that uses fire. And the reason he's wary is because you're stronger."
Ferdykion's face, which had been filled with anger, showed confusion upon hearing Imugi's words.
He had always been told by his father, Phasias, that he was weak and lacking, and had received harsh punishments.
For Ferdykion, hearing that he was strong was a first.
"Both to me and to this bird, you're strong enough to be a threat. If you act more intimidating, he'll feel even more threatened and attack."
Ferdykion, with a confused expression, watched as Imugi held the bird in his arms.
It seemed like a young hatchling protecting a baby bird.
'This guy is simpler than I thought.'
Focusing on the fact that he doesn't bully the weak, as Christina said, it worked better than expected.
If Ferdykion continued to vent his anger at the bird, he would become a creature that genuinely hates those he fears.
"I've heard this bird is a mystical creature. If you don't hate it first, it won't hate you."
Imugi stroked the bird's head in his arms.
If you show hostility to someone who isn't an enemy, it's natural for them to become noisy.
The baby bird was only blinking its yellow eyes in Imugi's hand.
"How about it? Isn't he well-behaved?"
Ferdykion looked displeased, but the baby bird only made a small "peep" sound and tilted its head to receive his touch.
It was so harmless and peaceful that it almost made his anger disappear.
"This bird was just doing its best to protect me. If you touch this bird, I won't just stand by."
The pure eyes of the hatchling, looking into the other's heart, and the calm gaze warning not to cross the line, with his lips firmly closed.
Though he exuded an aura that he shouldn't be trifled with, the young and black hatchling's firm expression only made him look like a bold little kid.
Seeing him become silent after a short answer, Imugi felt relieved.
'It works. He has a sense of morality, which is fortunate.'
Imugi placed his hand on the head of the baby bird, which had puffed up its feathers and was huffing, and pressed it firmly, ruffling its feathers.
'Don't get too cocky. Remember, he's lived much longer than you.'
The young bird protested and held Imugi's hand with both wings, chirping as if to say, "Don't hate me."
Beings with the same attribute and ability.
Though they had been clashing from the start, they seemed to be on equal footing, which was good.
He thought they would communicate and understand various situations, but it seemed they had a long way to go.