Chise is taken to a dragon nesting ground by the youthful mage Lindel, the dragon’s caretaker. Chise meets an elderly dragon called Uncle Nevin, who will die soon, and transform his body into a tree to keep the forest alive. Chise is saddened by this until Uncle Nevin explains dragons are not afraid of dying as all dragons live their lives to the fullest so they will have no regrets. Chise remembers being so alone she considered suicide but Uncle Nevin is glad she chose to live or Elias never would have found her. In his final moments Uncle Nevin shares with her his memories of flying. Elias regrets that as human populations grow Chise may one day be one of the last surviving mages. As Uncle Nevin dies and his body transforms into a tree covered in white flowers he tells Chise that when the time comes and she needs a wand, he would be happy for her to use one of his branches, as thanks for making his final moments happy. Chise feels she has learned something about living a happy life. As they prepare to leave Chise, having expended too much magic sharing memories with Uncle Nevin, collapses.