Seeing the Count's envious, stunned gaze, Liszt felt immensely pleased. His identity as a Dragonrider could not be revealed at this stage, so he could only show off a little before the Count.
However, just as he was about to ride Rio into the sky, he suddenly recalled that his Smoke mission required him to keep a low profile, and he reined in his urge to flaunt himself. To prevent the mission from failing, he could only force down his desire to take flight, step off Rio's back, and signal Rio to return at once.
"Oh-ho!"
Without any visible movement, Rio transformed into an enormous mass of flame that enveloped Liszt. When the scorching fire dispersed, Liszt stood unharmed where he had been, while Rio had once more become the fiery dragon pattern on his chest, telling Liszt through their mental link.
"At least ten potions for my appearance fee!"
"No problem. Put on a good show, and you won't be shorted on your share of potions," he replied inwardly.
Then he turned to the Count and said with breezy calm, "Father, I've already recalled Rio. It doesn't like performing casually. Though it is still a young dragon, it possesses a dragon's pride. Unless it acknowledges someone, no one can command it."
"I understand, I understand."
The Count nodded, looking somewhat bereft, then urgently asked, "So Rio has always lived inside your body?"
"This must be one of a dragon's wondrous traits. Its flesh-and-blood body is indestructible, yet it can also turn into a mass of magic power and attach itself to its knight." Liszt did not elaborate. There were secrets he did not wish to announce to the outside world—or rather, like those dragon-raising families, he had begun consciously keeping the matter of raising dragons secret.
The secrets of