Only a year? That makes her disappointingly less interesting as a source of information, though also less likely to be a potential rival. Nor does he care what other skills she used to possess elsewhere, though at least the speed with which she prattles on assures he won't have to listen to it for long. Suddenly being questioned in return comes unexpectedly even though that is how conversations work, and he just blinks at her for a moment before regaining his confidence.

He chuckles loftily, plumage fluffing up slightly in pride. "Familiar? Oh my dear girl, I am the most accomplished alchemist of the dynasty." Or, was, an annoying little voice in the back of his mind reminds him. His plumage deflates and he waves that thought aside impatiently before slipping his wings into his sleeves. "It won't take me a year to master this." Considering that he came in here fully expecting to find this 'magic' to be a load of rubbish, this is quite the turn-around, but who's counting.