The Trials Are a Mess 2/2
Ten seconds later, Luciel regained control of his body and, just like before, launched himself toward Dee at full speed. But this time, instead of running straight at her, he began circling. Dee's gaze tracked him with precision, as if she were waiting for the perfect moment to freeze him and then retreat again.
And when she seemed to find it, her eyes opened just a fraction wider.
Luciel froze.
Dee moved at once, dragging herself farther away, leaving deep grooves carved into the sand. The chest was clearly being pulled along her back.
When Luciel recovered control again, he did not bother warming up or stretching this time. He simply ran.
But at the second mark, his body stiffened once more. He did not get any closer than before.
"It seems the competitor Luciel is having a hard time, wouldn't you say? Only on his second attempt did he manage to get significantly closer. But perhaps that won't work again… and he knows it," Ludo commented as Luciel regained movement.
Luciel ran again without hesitation.
And was petrified again.
Dee only moved when he was frozen. It had never been stated that she could not move while Luciel was free, but she did not. It felt like a silent display of superiority.
He had already lost count of how many times he had been petrified. None as close as that second attempt. Now he was covered in dust from countless falls. His clothes no longer looked as immaculate as they usually did. Even his platinum blond hair, normally bright, had turned dull and streaked with sand.
Luciel stopped in the middle of the arena and rolled his neck once. Then he began bouncing lightly in place again.
"Oh. He's changing strategy," Ludo said, noticing that Luciel no longer dashed forward the instant he regained mobility. He was warming up again, stretching again, just as before. Though by now, he should have been more than ready.
For a brief moment, he seemed to touch his ear in an odd way.
Luciel kept his eyes fixed on Dee.
Then, just like at the beginning, on the final bounce he propelled himself forward.
Dee was nearly at the far end of the arena. Luciel ran straight at her, counting each second in his head.
One… two…
Just as he had done earlier, he dropped low and tore at the ground with one hand, flinging sand toward Dee's face. But this time, as if she had expected it, the creature tilted her head slightly and avoided most of the dust.
Then, in the very next instant, another spray of sand struck her face.
The other hand.
Luciel had already scooped sand during the previous jump.
That bought him a couple more seconds as Dee shook her head lightly before focusing again.
But just as she was about to lock her gaze onto him, a ray of light flashed into her eyes, forcing her to look away.
The entire stadium widened their eyes..
It was not a spell.
The light came from Luciel's sword. He had not fully drawn it. He had pulled it out just enough for the sun to catch the blade.
That was enough to irritate the enormous creature's eyes.
The stadium began rising to its feet as Luciel's hand closed in on her scales.
But just as he was about to touch her, his body froze again.
He stood there, immobile, arm extended, mere centimeters from Dee.
The massive basilisk hissed as she stared at him and began to move away.
Yet as she shifted, another flash struck her vision.
This time, it did not come from the sword.
The creature jerked her head by reflex.
And then she felt it.
Her vertical pupils refocused on Luciel, whose hand was resting against her scales, a playful smile curving across his face.
Luciel lifted his hand.
On his finger, an earring glinted, catching the sunlight.
That had been the final flash.
"You lost," Luciel said with a charming smile.
"Wow!" Ludo shouted, unleashing the excitement in the stands. "Luciel Delacour managed to touch the basilisk! And he won his own game!"
At this point, everyone was completely thrilled over what was, technically, a children's game… turned into a life or death competition.
"So he took off the earring earlier to use it now. And the whole time he was guiding the serpent into the perfect angle for the sunlight to reflect," Newt explained with a nod, helping those who had missed the detail.
"So then… will the guardian accept her defeat?" Ludo asked.
All eyes turned to the basilisk. She was still an enormous creature. She could have swallowed Luciel whole in that very instant.
Several people swallowed at the thought.
But fortunately, the basilisk seemed to possess a certain sense of honor.
She slowly moved her tail and pushed the chest toward Luciel.
Then she lowered her head slightly, revealing the key hooked between a few of the scales on her forehead.
Luciel took the key, giving the basilisk a light stroke along the scales as he did.
"Thank you. Next time we can keep playing. It was quite fun… and it works very well as training," he said naturally.
The serpent answered with a low hiss before beginning to shrink. Her massive body gradually reduced in size until she was no larger than an ordinary snake. Then she slithered calmly toward the door she had entered through and disappeared without another sound.
Luciel watched her leave, then turned and offered the crowd a smile. He lifted the key above his head, earning a standing ovation.
Without making a spectacle of it, he opened the chest, took what was inside, and walked off with composed steps.
"I must admit, no matter how we try to test these creatures, each of them gives us quite the show," Ludo commented as the audience nodded enthusiastically. "So what will the last two bring us, I wonder?" he added, raising the anticipation even higher.
"So I won't keep you waiting. Shall we call in the next competitor?"
The crowd, still riding the excitement of the previous match, roared even louder.
After enough time had passed for Luciel to leave the arena, greeting people along the way, Ludo raised his voice again.
"Then let's welcome the next competitor, this time from Hogwarts. We have… Draco MALFOY!"
The champions' door opened, and Draco stepped out almost immediately, wearing a serious expression as he surveyed the stadium.
He gave a slight nod to those greeting him. He noticed how many people had come, how many seemed to be cheering for him.
But that did not seem to interest him nearly as much as the trial itself.
He glanced toward the chest at the center of the arena and nodded faintly to himself, preparing to face whatever would appear. He had been readying himself for this for some time. After all, he needed to break the string of ties he held with Harry.
"Well then, it's also time for the guardi—"
Before Ludo could finish the sentence, the door on the opposite side of the arena suddenly exploded into red flames, blown completely apart.
Draco, who had been watching the fire with mild confidence, felt a bad premonition almost immediately.
Especially when he made out those red scales in the shadows. Those claws. Those small horns. Those wings.
"Oh no…" he muttered as he recognized the small dragon stepping through the burning remains of the door. "Red…"
The chaotic little dragon, his friend's pet, walked into the arena.
Many could not help smiling at the sight of the dragon, no larger than a dog. At first glance, he might even have seemed adorable.
But the Hogwarts students who knew him well wore the same expression as Draco. Some even showed silent condolences.
Red strode proudly toward the chest, as if the cheers directed at Draco were actually meant for him. He placed one paw on the chest and looked at Draco with something that resembled pride… and mockery… and contempt all at once. An odd combination for a dragon's face. Yet Draco was certain that was exactly what it was.
Red released a small puff of fire, as if daring him to begin.
Draco stared back, feeling that it might have been easier to face a real dragon than Red.
The most unpredictable being he had ever met.
"Aaah…" he exhaled.
He had the very clear feeling that this second trial would be far worse than any other.