"Stanford, think hard—where haven't we looked yet?" Bradley, frustrated after a fruitless search, glared at his shadow, Stanford.
"Uh... seems like we've checked everywhere?" Scratching his head, Stanford gave Bradley an innocent look.
"That brat, where'd he run off to? Did he actually leave Dragon Valley? Without any warning?" Bradley frowned, utterly baffled. "Wait—we haven't checked the Boulder Field yet, have we?" His eyes lit up as he smacked his forehead.
"Who'd go there? It's just rocks and more rocks!" Stanford muttered under his breath as he trailed behind Bradley. All he wanted was to go back to sleep.
"Leonel!" Bradley spotted a purple figure in the distance and took an eager step forward—**squelch.**
"Boss, don't—" Before Leonel could finish, Bradley hit the jackpot—one foot firmly planted in a pile of dung.
"What's so soft—?" He looked down. "Why does this look like...?" Then he looked up. A whole field of it. "**LEONEL!**" With a furious roar, Bradley shot into the air.
"Boss, why'd you fly up?" Stanford craned his neck, confused. **Squelch.** "Ack—**BLEH!**" Another massive figure took flight, both bolting for the nearby lake.
"Not my fault! You guys moved too fast!" Leonel crouched defensively, whispering excuses to the air. **Squelch. Squelch. Squelch.**
---
"Silay, what kind of gemstone house are you planning to build?" Inside the small tent, Sophie leaned back against Silay and asked softly.
"Haven't decided yet. Got any ideas?" Silay smiled, resting his chin on her head, breathing in her warmth.
"I do. But... not sure if you'd like it." Remembering Earth's miniature models, Sophie began sketching a blueprint in her mind. Uncle Hoar never specified the size—just that it had to be house-shaped. Technically, they weren't breaking any rules!
"How would I know if you don't tell me? What's your idea?" Silay booped her nose playfully.
"I was thinking..." The tent filled with their whispered plans. Surprisingly, they were on the same wavelength. The only hitch? The gemstones. Even if they lost, they'd make sure it was a loss their opponents couldn't argue with.
---
Morning came. Sophie stepped out of the tent, stretching with a smile.
"Morning!"
"Morning!"
The two early risers exchanged grins, the air thick with warmth.
Meanwhile, at the Boulder Field, Leonel finally staggered out. Nearby, two dragons thrashed violently in the lake—from a distance, it almost looked like playful splashing. Up close?
"Stanford! Come smell my foot—is the stench gone?" Bradley lifted a massive clawed foot, scowling.
"Ugh—" Stanford reluctantly shuffled closer, then immediately recoiled, pinching his nose. "Boss! It still reeks!"
"Damn it... We washed all night and it's still there! What the hell did Leonel eat?!" Disgusted, Bradley resumed his furious splashing. Stanford joined in, churning the once-clear water into mud.
---
"Uncle Hoar! Good morning!" Sophie waved at the drowsy dragon approaching. Today's trial depended on him.
"Morning, Sophie." Hoar yawned, then blinked at the tent. "Where's that brat?" His eyes snapped wide. "Oh no!" He smacked his forehead. "Sophie, where'd you two sleep last night?"
"In the tent. Where else?"
"And... him?"
"Also in the tent."
"**He—?**" Hoar groaned. He'd forgotten one crucial rule—no unchaperoned cohabitation before the trials! Even if they already had a child, traditions were traditions! Too late now, but he'd make sure it didn't happen again tonight.
"Uncle Hoar? You okay?" Sophie tilted her head. *Is he having a stroke?*
"Nothing! Haha..." He forced a laugh. "Where's that brat?"
"Which brat?" Sophie played dumb.
"Uh... what's his name again?" Hoar scratched his head. "Silay! Where's Silay?"
"Oh, Silay went to pick a construction site. Probably found one by now. Wanna go see?"
"Sure! I'd love to see where he plans to build a gemstone house!" *Please let it be near my cave. I want to stare at shiny gems every day!* Hoar's eyes turned heart-shaped.
---
"Sophie! Uncle Hoar! Perfect timing—what do you think of this spot?" Silay gestured to a vast clearing.
"Uh... great, great!" Hoar barely registered Silay's casual address, too busy eyeing the space. For a dragon, it was barely big enough to lie down—but for a gemstone house? A massive undertaking. Where would Silay even get that many gems in a day?
"Uncle Hoar, could I ask a favor?" Silay sidled up with a grin.
"What?" Hoar narrowed his eyes. *Don't ask for my gems. Just don't.*
"You see, everyone knows dragons are the ultimate gem connoisseurs. The wealthiest, the most discerning." Silay laid it on thick as Hoar preened. "And you, as the Dragon Lord, ruler of Dragon Valley? Your collection is legendary. I have enough gems to build a decent house, but without your touch, it'd just be... hollow. An insult to Dragon Valley's grandeur!"
"Mm. True. What do you need?" Hoar puffed up, flattered.
"For me, it's impossible. For you? A trifle." Silay gauged Hoar's expression. "Could you spare... one or two gems from your collection? Even the ones you don't like would do!"
"Ah! So that's why you're buttering me up!" Hoar smirked, mentally calculating. He could part with a couple—but not too easily.
"Uncle Hoar, you're so stingy! Silay just wants to make the house shine—to show off **your** impeccable taste! Isn't that more glory for you?" Sophie swung Hoar's arm, pouting.
"Fine, fine! I'll give him two gems—**but** on one condition!" Hoar braced for extortion.
"What?" Both leaned in.
"Simple." Hoar grinned. "The gemstone house? **It's mine.**"
"Deal!" Silay agreed instantly, making Hoar uneasy. *Was my demand too weak? Do they have gems to throw away?* No matter—two gems for a whole house? Profit!
"Here. Two gems. Now get to work!" Hoar vanished and reappeared in a minute, clutching two glittering stones.
"Thank you, Uncle Hoar!" Silay accepted them graciously. "Now, could you and the others give us some privacy? I work better alone. Wouldn't want to waste your precious gems on a subpar result, right?" He glanced meaningfully at the gathering crowd.
"Sure!" Hoar waved the others off. "Everyone, clear out! No one comes near until I say so—**or it's the Pit!**"
With the coast clear, Silay and Sophie huddled together.
"One gem or two?" Silay weighed the stones.
"One. The other's your payment." Sophie eyed the melon-sized gems greedily. *If only I could steal them...*
"Alright, you keep this one." Silay handed her the larger gem and studied the other, envisioning a dazzling castle within its facets.
"Roughing chisel..." He held out a hand without looking.
Sophie swiftly passed him the pre-selected tools—courtesy of the dwarves' generosity. She'd memorized each one last night for this moment.
"Round gouge..."
"Flat chisel..."
"Jade knife..."
With each command, Sophie handed over the right tool. Hours passed as Silay carved, sweat dripping, while Sophie watched, mesmerized by the emerging castle.
Finally—it was done.
"Rest. I'll get Uncle Hoar." Sophie wiped Silay's brow, handed him a honeydew, and stole a kiss before hurrying off.
**Will Hoar fall for their scheme—or uncover the trick behind the gemstone "house"?**