Fireburp's large, crimson eyes widened.
"Hard training?"
Young Wolf nodded as they sat by the riverbank, the water glittering while the others splashed and shouted in the background.
"But throughout history, no human mage has ever trained a dragon. Not once. Even I don't know what kind of power you might unlock this way. One thing is certain: your strength will become more unique than any other dragon's."
Fireburp's wings trembled with excitement.
"Will I become stronger?"
Young Wolf gazed thoughtfully at the water.
"I don't know how strong the Fire Dragon Queen — your sister — truly is. I can't promise you'll surpass her. But I can promise that I can make you stronger than most dragons."
The little dragon practically vibrated with excitement.
"Really? I can become stronger?"
Young Wolf smiled.
"My training regimen works. My strongest Wolf Knight couldn't be defeated even by the Hero."
Fireburp's eyes sparkled.
"Not even the Hero?! Then I'm in! Teach me!"
Young Wolf nodded.
"Good. Tell me — have you heard that dragons have a human form as well?"
Fireburp nodded.
"Yes. Dragons can take human shape… but we're not supposed to. It's considered shameful."
Young Wolf chuckled softly.
"Of course. Proud creatures would think that way. But in your case, that doesn't matter. Being weak is a far greater shame. If you take human form and grow stronger, your life will be much better than if you remain a weak dragon."
His voice grew firm.
"So the first thing you need to learn is how to take your human form. You'll understand better if I show you."
He stood up and raised his hand over the water.
"I use the water element. And within it, I copied the shapeshifting ability of water slimes when I created this magical technique. Dragon shapeshifting works differently, but the core principle is the same."
The air around him shimmered.
"The main element is imagination. You must picture the form you want to take. Watch closely. I'll take Noelle's shape."
Water flowed around Young Wolf's body, and in an instant, he transformed.
Noelle stood there — a perfect copy, down to the smallest strand of hair.
Fireburp blinked in amazement.
"There are two Noelles!"
The "other" Noelle spoke — in Young Wolf's voice.
"Since shapeshifting consumes a lot of mana, I can only maintain another form for about two hours. I'll change back now — no need to waste energy."
Water swirled again, and Young Wolf returned to his original form.
Fireburp stared at him in awe.
"You changed back…"
Young Wolf nodded.
"This is actually one of the easiest techniques to learn. Now, look at Noelle. Study her carefully. Imagine that you want to take her form. That you want to look exactly like her."
His voice softened.
"Don't force anything. Just focus on your imagination. Close your eyes… and picture yourself looking like Noelle."
Fireburp closed her eyes.
"Hmmm…"
The air around her began to shimmer gently.
Something… was about to happen.
Fireburp closed her eyes.
Her small dragon body relaxed, as if all her fear and uncertainty finally melted away.
The subtle vibrations of dragon magic rippled through her — and for the first time in her life, it didn't hurt, didn't burn, didn't paralyze her.
For the first time… it obeyed her.
The air around her trembled, her scales began to glow, and her form slowly shrank, softened, reshaped.
A moment later, standing before them was a tiny human child with crimson-red hair, two small dragon horns, and a thin, shimmering scaled tail.
Fireburp opened her eyes.
"Did it work?"
Young Wolf stared in disbelief.
"Incredible… she succeeded on the first try."
Noelle stepped closer, instantly melting at the sight.
"She's adorable!
Her hair looks like mine — just crimson.
And those little horns, and that dragon tail… it suits her so well!"
Young Wolf nodded.
"Yes. Even though she took human form, her dragon traits remained.
She looks a bit like you, Noelle… when you were eight."
Noelle laughed.
"Really? I don't even remember what I looked like at eight."
The half‑elf gently patted Fireburp's head.
The little dragon glowed with joy, as if she had just received the first real gift of her life.
Her eyes sparkled, her ears twitched, her tail wagged.
"Hehehe!"
Young Wolf smiled with satisfaction.
"Well done, Fireburp.
You completed your first magic lesson immediately.
See? You're already stronger."
The little dragon straightened proudly.
"Your next task," Young Wolf continued, "is to maintain your human form for as long as you can.
It's an important part of your training."
A huge splash echoed from the river — Ironclaw had just jumped off a rock, and Anita splashed after her.
Young Wolf stood up and dusted off his hands.
"Which means it's time for us to go swimming too."
Fireburp hopped up excitedly.
"Swimming? Even in human form?"
Noelle laughed.
"Of course. And it's much easier than swimming as a dragon."
The little dragon — now in her human shape — ran happily toward the water, her tail wagging behind her.
Fireburp now stood on the riverbank in her human form, her tail swishing back and forth, her small horns gleaming in the sunlight.
The others were already cooling off in the river, splashing and shouting, but Noelle and Young Wolf stayed behind to prepare the little dragon for her first time at the "beach."
Noelle rummaged through her bag.
"Shouldn't we put a swimsuit on her?"
Young Wolf raised an eyebrow.
"You brought spare clothes?"
"I always bring spare swimsuits and other clothes. You never know when a fight might break out in the Forest of Wolves. Mostly because of Ironclaw — last time she was so hyper she tore hers clean off."
Young Wolf laughed.
"Won't it be too big for Fireburp?"
"No. This type is adjustable. They only make one size, and everyone adjusts it however they like.
There we go."
With quick, practiced movements, Noelle put the swimsuit on the little dragon.
Fireburp looked down at herself in amazement.
Young Wolf smiled.
"Let me guess — this is the first time you've ever worn clothes?"
"Yes. Dragons don't wear clothes. But here everyone has the same kind… except you. Why?"
Young Wolf sat down beside her in the grass.
"First of all, this isn't normal clothing — it's a swimsuit. We only wear it when we bathe in the river.
I have a different one because this is a men's swimsuit, and you girls wear women's swimsuits.
Once we're done swimming, you'll get different clothes."
Fireburp's eyes sparkled.
"I get more clothes?"
Noelle nodded.
"You'll get a temporary outfit to wear back to the castle with us. And once we're home, you'll receive the prettiest outfit a girl can wear: a maid uniform.
Though because of your dragon tail, the classic version won't fit you — so you'll need a custom one. Just like Ironclaw did."
Young Wolf stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"Hmm… in that case, I'll design your battle‑maid outfit as well. Maybe decorate it with dragon patterns and fire motifs."
Then he shook his head.
"Actually, no. We'll skip the dragon motif. I don't want the Kingdom finding out I have a dragon.
But the fire motif can stay.
We'll just say you're a female lizardfolk.
Humans have never seen a dragon in human form anyway.
And there are no lizardfolk in the Kingdom, so no one will question it."
Noelle laughed.
"That'll work perfectly. Even the people of Wolfwood won't realize a dragon is going to live in the castle. Hahaha!"
Fireburp wagged her tail happily and ran toward the water to join the others.
A new era began in the Forest of Wolves:
for the first time in her life, a dragon hatchling felt truly at home.