Bouncing back to Silei's side, Sophie flashed him a triumphant gesture—whether he understood it or not.
"Begin!" Hall shouted before retreating to stand protectively beside Sophie. "Stay close, dear. Their magic might have stray effects."
"Thank you, Uncle!" Sophie felt a pang of guilt. *If not for Silei, I'd never treat family this way...*
Her eyes darted to the arena, counting silently.
Silei studied his opponent warily. Since Sophie's abduction, he'd pushed his limits, fueled solely by battle aura. Now, facing a dragon at full strength, he needed every advantage.
Leonel smirked. *A human defeating a dragon? Preposterous!* Yet his instincts prickled—something was *off*.
"Five... four... three..." Sophie's lips curved as she mentally timed the countdown.
Hall beamed. *She can't take her eyes off Leonel! Clearly smitten! Soon we'll have dragon-phoenix hatchlings!*
Silei forwent magic—useless against dragons—and channeled all his aura into his right fist. As Leonel blinked, he lunged. *One strike to win.*
Leonel saw it coming. He braced to counter—
*GURGLE.*
A seismic rumble erupted from Leonel's gut.
"STOP!" Leonel vanished mid-shout before Silei could touch him.
The arena fell silent. Only Silei remained, frozen mid-attack.
"WE WON!" Sophie dashed in, planting a loud kiss on Silei's cheek. *Mwah!*
"Where's Leonel?" Hall scanned the grounds. *Dragons don't flee battles—especially against humans!*
Murmurs swirled:
"Did that human *vaporize* him?"
"Leonel? Lose? He's our top fighter!"
Meanwhile, behind a boulder field...
*SPLORT. PLOP. SPLASH.*
Leonel, in full dragon form, trembled over a steaming, foul-smelling crater. *Thank the gods I escaped in time!* Another cramp hit. *SPLAT.*
Back at the arena, Sophie tugged Silei toward Hall. "Declare the results! Leonel forfeited!"
"But he didn't *say*—"
"Two minutes!" Sophie jabbed a finger. "No objections! I demand fairness!"
Grudgingly, Hall checked the skies. *Where is that idiot?*
*ACHOO!*
Leonel's sneeze launched him backward—directly into his own filth. "*CURSED RED-HAWK KING!*" (Conveniently forgetting he'd *eaten* said hawk.)
"Sophie... what did you do?" Silei whispered.
"*Hehe*... Leonel's 'lucky' cookie had *dragonlax berries*." She blushed. "*Meant for... someone else.*"
Silei paled. As a child, three berries had left him bedridden for days. *How many went into that cookie?!*
"Darling... any more of those cookies?"
"Just the one!" Sophie giggled. "Perfect timing, right?"
Hall finally conceded. "First trial: Silei wins."
"HA!" Sophie vaulted into Silei's arms.
"Don't celebrate yet," Hall growled. "Two trials remain!"
"Just wait, Uncle! That crown's *mine*!" Sophie stuck out her tongue.
As the crowd dispersed, the reunited couple lingered.
"Silei, meeting you was fate's greatest gift." Sophie sighed.
"And I, you." He kissed her forehead. "I'll give you the wedding you deserve."
Their lips met—until a distant wail interrupted:
"*RED-HAWK KING, I'LL DEVOUR YOUR ENTIRE SPECIES!*"
*SPLOSH.*
---
"Still no Leonel?" Hall rubbed his temples.
Bradlee shook his head. "Checked everywhere! Disgraceful!"
Stanfer sneered. "*I* would've pulverized that human!"
"Something's wrong..." Bradlee's scales prickled. "We keep looking."
**What disaster awaits in Trial Two—and where *is* Leonel?**