As the smaller female shrank, Grimoire rose synchronously. Her gaze of instinct relaxed into rationalism. It was a surprise to find a wolf willinging to sink bellow her paws. Grimoire wondered… had she found a servitor? She bared her teeth and growled, her tail curled over her back and her legs stiffened. The brown and gold wolf rolled onto her back, showing her stomach obediently to her. Oh, sweet, sweet power. It had been a long while since she had felt it’s warmth wash over her. Given to her, Grimoire relaxed and stepped passively aside, allowing the younger female to roll back onto her stomach. Grimoire lowered her head and licked the back of Alouette’s ear once while her tailed waved behind her,

”I like you. What’s your name, tweety?”

The golden-masked wolf’s eyes widened in shock, but she remained limp for Grimoire’s amusement. She whispered the syllables of her name “Alouette.” Grimoire moved away from the young wolf, observing her with some warmth in her expression. French for the bird, a lark. It was no wonder her whine earlier was more like a note from a song rather than a noise of distress. Larks were song birds, with the most lovely early morning voice.

”Alouette, gentil Alouette, où as-tu étudié?”

The stare she received was blank. Oh, dear. French was apparently out the question.

”Where did you study?”

“Study what… miss?”

Ooh. Being called “miss” send tingled up her toes. Grimoire clarified, ”The art of the servitor.”

“I… I learned in Asteraia. From The Monster.”

Her tentative response exposed two aspects of herself; first, was that she gave the answer Grimoire wanted to hear, despite not entirely understanding the question. Truly a talent - how few would answer questions they didn’t entire know? Second was that Alouette hadn’t been taught that her skillset was ancient wisdom. Poor, poor pup. Well - not to fear. Grimoire was certainly on the case of this… lapse in knowledge.

That aside, little Alouette was a serendipitous find. Grimoire was heading to Asteraia herself… and now she had a guide. A triumphant, unkind smirk covered the Demon’s features, and she gestured for Alouette to rise - which the young wolf did.

”Take me to Asteraia, Alouette, and I will reward you with a penance of knowledge you are lacking.”

Alouette’s ears popped forwards, and her fearful ears gleamed with curiosity. The young wolf nodded and gestured for the taller wolf to follow her. The pair set off toward the Asteraian border.