As Sophie's figure gradually disappeared into the distance, Silay lay back on the grass, a contented smile on his face. While he had been completely absorbed in carving the gemstone, he hadn't noticed the exhaustion creeping in. But now that it was done, fatigue hit him like a tidal wave.
*How many years has it been since I felt this tired? Ten? Twenty?* The last time he had focused so intently was probably when he was just a child learning to carve. As he grew older, he had grown lazier. That he had managed to complete the castle was nothing short of a miracle—and perhaps it was only because of Sophie that he had pushed himself so hard. Closing his eyes, Silay allowed himself a brief rest.
---
"Uncle Hoar!" Sophie had walked quite a distance before realizing—she had no idea where Hoar lived. She had no choice but to stand still and shout at the top of her lungs, hoping he would hear her.
"Sophie! What is it?" Hoar appeared in an instant, startling her so badly she nearly jumped out of her skin.
"Uncle Hoar!" She clutched her chest, glaring at him. "You can't just pop up like that! You scared me half to death!"
"Uh… right. I'll be more careful next time," Hoar muttered, scratching his head. *For a descendant of dragons, she sure is skittish.*
"So, what did you need?" Hoar hadn't expected Silay to finish the gemstone house so quickly.
"Silay's done! He built the house! You should gather everyone to see it!" Sophie announced proudly.
"What? Already?" Hoar's jaw dropped. Even for dragons, constructing a house in such a short time was impossible—not that dragons were known for architecture. Most of them lived in caves, after all.
"Yes! And Silay wants to attempt the third trial today!" Sophie urged.
"*Today?!*" Hoar was stunned again. Seeing Sophie's impatient pout, he quickly snapped out of it.
"Alright, alright! I'll call everyone!" Turning around, Hoar let out a thunderous roar that echoed across the valley. **"ATTENTION, ALL DRAGONS! THE GEMSTONE HOUSE IS READY FOR VIEWING!"**
Then, with a smug grin, he turned back to Sophie. "Shall we go?"
Sophie grabbed his arm and dragged him toward Silay. She had only been apart from him for a short while, yet she already missed him terribly.
---
Meanwhile, across Dragon Valley, the announcement sent the dragons into a frenzy.
"Already? I better hurry if I want a good spot!" A white dragon muttered as he dashed out of his cave.
"Mom, hurry! The chief called ages ago! If we're late, we'll miss it!" A young red dragon impatiently tapped his claws outside his mother's cave.
"Ow—my head!" A silver-gray dragon yelped after smacking into a stalactite in his haste but kept running.
"Hmm… That human really built a gemstone house so fast?" Elder Gustave emerged from his cave at a leisurely pace.
---
When the dragons arrived at the clearing, however, they found… nothing. The field was empty, and Silay was lounging casually on the grass.
Murmurs spread through the crowd. Had Silay given up?
"Sophie, what's going on?" Hoar frowned. "You said the house was finished!"
"It *is* finished!" Sophie beamed, standing proudly beside Silay.
Once the crowd had gathered, Silay strode confidently to Hoar and, with a magician's flourish, produced an exquisite, translucent miniature castle from behind his back.
"Uncle Hoar, a little gift for you—made from the gem you provided."
Gasps and awed whispers rippled through the crowd.
"Wow… It's beautiful!"
"I want one too!"
"It's so detailed! It looks real!"
Every dragon's eyes gleamed with envy, including Hoar's.
"Do you like it, Uncle Hoar?" Silay asked, his voice smooth as honey.
"*Like it?*" Hoar wiped drool from his mouth, barely resisting the urge to snatch it immediately. He had never seen such a finely crafted gemstone piece—it looked like it had grown that way naturally!
"Then… will you accept this gemstone house?" Silay kept his tone neutral, careful not to betray his triumph.
"Accept it? Of course!" Hoar snatched the tiny castle, running his claws over its intricate details. Even the throne inside was visible—this was a masterpiece!
"Then… shall we proceed to the third trial?" Silay finally allowed himself to relax.
"Sure, sure—wait, *what?*" Hoar's eyes widened. "You haven't even passed the second trial yet! Where's the *actual* gemstone house?" He gestured at the empty field.
Sophie and Silay pointed in unison. "It's right there in your hands."
"*This?*" Hoar stared at the tiny castle, his mind blanking. *I gave him two massive gems, and he returns this?*
"Uncle Hoar, you *can't* go back on your word!" Sophie pressed. "You *admitted* it was a gemstone house! Everyone here heard you!"
Hoar groaned. *Technically, I did say 'gemstone house,' but I didn't expect it to be* this *small!*
Glancing around at the expectant crowd, he finally sighed. "Fine! He passes!" *At least I got this gorgeous little castle out of it. No other dragon has anything like it!*
But the third trial? *That* one, he would oversee personally. No tricks this time!
---
"When do you plan to attempt the third trial?" Hoar asked, puffing out his chest.
"Since everyone's already here, why not now?" Silay met Hoar's gaze firmly. "If I pass, you'll honor your promise and let me marry Sophie."
*With her family's blessing,* he thought. *That's what she deserves.*
"Bold words, boy! Fine—if you pass, I'll personally hand Sophie over and even throw in a wedding gift!" Hoar clapped Silay's shoulder, confident in his victory.
"Actually, Uncle Hoar…" Silay hesitated. "Could we change the rules *slightly*?"
Hoar's eyes narrowed. "What now?"
"Instead of *you* hiding the crown and *me* finding it… what if *I* hold the crown, and *you* try to take it from me? If you succeed, I lose—fair and square."
Hoar studied him suspiciously. *What's his angle this time?*
"Uncle Hoar…" Sophie batted her eyelashes. "You're not *scared* of losing to Silay, are you?"
The surrounding dragons erupted in laughter.
"Chief, just do it! You can't let a human outmatch you!"
"Yeah! Show him what dragons are made of!"
"Fine!" Hoar snapped. "I'll play your game!"
In a flash, he vanished and reappeared, holding an ornate golden crown. "Here. Hold onto this. When you're ready, say 'go.' Then I'll take it back."
Silay accepted the crown with a sly grin. "Actually, Uncle Hoar… I think we're done."
"What?"
"You said the trial was to *take the crown away from Dragon Valley.* Well…" He handed the crown to Sophie. "Mission accomplished. Now, if you'd kindly escort us out? And don't forget that wedding gift!"
Hoar's jaw dropped.
*I've been tricked. AGAIN.*
His eye twitched. *Twice in one day!*
"*You—!*" He wanted to strangle Silay. No—*eat* him.
But then Sophie sidled up, rubbing his arm. "Uncle Hoar, don't be mad! We only cheated because you're *so* strong! We knew we couldn't win fairly!"
Hoar huffed. *Flattery won't work this time!*
…
*Okay, maybe a little.*
"Fine," he grumbled. "You win. But that wedding gift? Don't expect anything fancy."
Sophie squealed and threw her arms around him. "Thank you, Uncle Hoar!"
Silay bowed deeply, relief washing over him.
**The trials were over. The crown was theirs. And soon… so would be the wedding.**
**But what *exactly* had Silay and Sophie planned for their future—and what surprises did Hoar still have up his scaly sleeve?**