"That is true," said Giulia.  "I am the dragon Giulia degli Adragna.  And you are...?"

It was rather rude of him to ignore that part...

It appeared to be a young man, well-dressed, with glasses and a large number of pockets and pouches on his person.  He was looking at her with a distinct air of contempt.

The boy flipped a couple more pages and then looked up from his book.

"I am Theodore Bruin."

Karine started to walk over to the boy.

"Do you have something to say to me?"

"And another student here, I presume," said Giulia.  "Did you have anything else you were going to ask?  You might as well get it over with."

The young man looked her over, and considered the question.

"Not particularly," he said.  "Don't disgrace the school, if you can manage that."

"You are of a humanoid species I have not encountered before and that is fascinating," Theodore said.

Karine did likewise.

"I have dealt with many humans like you, so I will say the same."

"Yes, I suppose many haven't met dragons," said Giulia.  "If you meet another, in the future, consider working on your manners, or you may be eaten."

He stared at her for a moment, and then gave a snorting laugh.

"Well," he said.  "You have some wits, at least.  Better than I thought.  I suppose we'll all see how you do."

With that, he walked off.

"Hmm. You are most likely correct. Could you teach me the ways of your people?" Theodore asked.

"Humans...," Karine muttered as she kept walking.

"Not very well," said Giulia.  "I was, as my name implies, raised among humans.  I should, in your position, also take care with how you approach gentry like the Adragna.  They're quick to take offense..."

Still, it seemed as if he meant well.

"...but that's more important with dragons," she continued.  "Don't take their possessions, and treat them with great respect.  There are very few of Mother Tiamat's children in the world, and I am probably the smallest one you will meet.  We take our nature from the things that surround us when we hatch.  Most are wild, proud and hungry."

"Pardon," said a voice.  Male.  Deep.  Soft.  "Are you, by any chance, acquainted with the great Gregor Otlinesti?"

You can see Theodore nodding as you speak, writing it down in his tome.

"I do," Karine said.

"...rather the devout scholar, aren't you?" she said.  "I'm surprised to find you here.  Surely you'd be better off in an ivory tower?"

A rather large human man in simple clothes grinned at her.

"Isn't he amazing?  I consider him something of an idol, at least in combat.  Although combat is not, despite my size, my strongest skill."

"They do not get first hand experience," Theodore said.

This is very awkward, Karine thought.

"I-I'll let him know the next time I see him," she said with an awkward smile.

"Well, true enough," said Giulia.  "I imagine that you'll get it quickly enough.  I hope you're a fast learner, though."

...of social skills, in particular.

"Well, the school's likely to keep both of us too busy for that, I fear," he said. "I'm Bern, a humble scholar of herbs who's become something of a healer.  May I ask your name?"

"I will wish to speak with you more later," Theodore said. "I see that there are more non-humans around."

"I'm Karine," Karine said. "Good to meet you."

Ah, wonderful.

Then again, it could be worse.  At least his questions would probably be genuine, and not intended as insulting.

"All right," said Giulia.  "I suppose I'll see you later, then."

Now, which was was her room...?