Édouard

Just a short summary of this character: Édouard is the person that gave Verta her amulet. That amulet is part of a larger dragon hoard that only dragons (or in her case a shrew that can become a dragon temporarily) can unlock. The reason he gave it to her wasn't because he's dying or something he's just extremely lazy in his old age. He came to live on this specific island with the rest of the cast long ago specifically to find this hidden hoard and gave up almost immediately because younger him wasn't much better in terms of laziness. 

Édouard chose Verta for this quest simply because she's one of only like a handful of dragons (actual or "can turn into one sometimes") living on that island and was the only one willing to actually go look for the hoard. Its notable dragons aren't nearly extinct or anything its just they tend to live more inland in this area of their world. Édouard enjoys how nice and quiet this island happens to be so that's why he had no desire to return to his former home.

Sorry if that description is a bit all over the place but wanted to explain both the character and in universe lore at the same time.