[...oh. Well that wasn't especially encouraging. Yet Eley doesn't look particularly offended. In fact he seems more curious to find out the reasons why. He knew plenty of people who didn't like dragons after all... at least those who weren't him.]

May I ask why? Did... something happen?

Well, you are still more skilled than me in that case. We could perhaps learn together, if you wished. It... sounded as though you wanted to do more than sit inside by yourself after all this time.