"No, this is definitely one of the weird mystic ones.  Sorry.  And if it actually is a lost art that comes from a dragon at the core of the world, I'd expect it to be, uh, super extra bonus weird and mystic."  Tired as Haroun's brain may be, there's some kinds of reasoning it can do on full automatic.  "Assuming the whole thing was true, did you get the impression this is one of those, uh, legendary destiny-related situations where I've got to practice this art because I'll suddenly turn out to need it five chapters later?"

"No, this is definitely one of the weird mystic ones.  Sorry.  And if it actually is a lost art that comes from a dragon at the core of the world, I'd expect it to be, uh, super extra bonus weird and mystic."  Tired as Haroun's brain may be, there's some kinds of reasoning it can do on full automatic.  "Assuming the whole thing was true, did you get the impression this is one of those, uh, legendary story-style destiny-related situations where I've got to practice this art because I'll suddenly turn out to need it five chapters later?"