The winged reptile, a monstrous emerald blur, filled Pellita’s vision. Curved claws, each like a polished dagger, plunged downward toward the tarts and jams nestled on the checkered cloth. A sharp, guttural shriek tore from its throat, smelling faintly of burnt sugar and ozone. Briska, seeing the opportune moment, fumbled in her pocket. “This is it!” she hissed under her breath, pulling out a small, iridescent scale. She squeezed it, murmuring a quick incantation. The scale pulsed with a faint, sickly green light, then crumbled to dust, releasing a cloud of dense, syrupy vapor. This was the ‘Sweet-Lure Charm’ – guaranteed to draw any nearby beast into a frenzy for the scent’s origin. Briska flung the dust-cloud in Pellita’s general direction, a triumphant, wicked grin stretching her lips. This time, the System wouldn’t deduct points. This time, Pellita would be mauled. [SABOTAGE INITIATED: TARGET ACQUISITION. REWARD POINTS PENDING.] A sudden, fierce gust of wind, a common occurrence on the perilous Cliffside Foraging Grounds, whipped up from the churning turquoise waves below. It caught Briska’s carefully aimed charm-dust, twisting it away from Pellita and, with an almost deliberate malice, swirled it directly back onto Briska herself. She gasped, inhaling a mouthful of the heavy, sugar-thick mist. The diving drake jerked its head, its glowing pupils shifting away from the food spread toward Briska, who now reeked of the irresistible lure. “Briska, look out!” Nerio yelled, his hand already flying to the gleaming chef’s knife sheathed at his hip. But before he could even draw it, Casimir moved. A blur of dark academy robes, he launched himself forward, a furious roar escaping his lips. He shoved Pellita hard, sending her tumbling ungracefully onto the soft blanket, just as the drake's claws shifted course. Casimir stood, arms spread wide, a human shield between Pellita and the plummeting beast, his face set in a grim, protective snarl. The air crackled with raw, untamed magic. Pellita blinked, a half-eaten berry tart still in her hand, utterly bewildered by the sudden, violent turn of events. Smelling the concentrated sugar coating Briska but confronting Casimir directly in its flight path, the reptile lunged, swiping sharp toes toward his ribs. A frantic scream tore from Briska's throat as the shadow engulfed her, the smell of her sweat mingling with the lure. But Pellita, ever the optimist, wasn’t thinking of danger. She was thinking of *hunger*. This magnificent creature was clearly ravenous, possessing fine taste judging by its initial plunge toward her preserves. Without a moment’s hesitation, she scrambled up. “Wait, wait! Don’t hurt him!” she cried, a bright, hopeful plea in her voice. The reptile paused, razor tips inches from Casimir’s nose, its horned head cocked at the unexpected sound. Casimir, braced for impact, flinched at Pellita’s voice. “Pellita, stay back!” he commanded, his voice tight with desperation. “It’s an apex predator! They’re vicious!” “Only when they’re misunderstood!” Pellita countered, already rummaging among her containers. She pulled out a small, vibrant jar of her infamous ‘Sunblaze Snap-Pepper Jam’. It was the very jam that had won her the first exam, known for its fiery kick and delightful sweetness. “Here, sweetie! You must be famished after all that flying!” She uncapped the jar and, with a fearless smile, extended it towards the snarling reptile. The spicy-sweet aroma hit the beast’s sensitive snout. Its eyes, previously glowing with fury, softened just a fraction. It tilted its head, sniffing cautiously, a low rumble replacing its shriek. “Pellita, what are you doing?!” Briska shrieked from where she’d fallen, half-buried in a patch of thorny Sea-Thistle, the charmed scent making the winged hunter's attention dart between her and the jam. Ignoring everyone, Pellita scooped a generous dollop of the ruby-red jam onto her finger. “See? It’s delicious! And very energizing!” She held it out to the beast, completely unafraid. The creature’s enormous head dipped. Its long, forked tongue, surprisingly delicate, flicked out and licked the jam from her finger. Pellita giggled. “Good boy!” The drake's yellow pupils dilated. A blissful rumble vibrated deep in its chest as its bristling scales smoothed flat. It closed its eyes, savoring the taste. Then, with an eagerness that bordered on puppy-like, it nudged Pellita’s hand, begging for more. Pellita, delighted, offered the jar. The green beast scooped the glass with two curved toes, licking it clean with visible satisfaction. “Well, I’ll be,” Nerio breathed, lowering his knife. “She just… tamed it.” Casimir stared, his protective stance slowly dissolving into utter disbelief. The notoriously wild terror, purring like an oversized emerald barn cat, nudged Pellita’s cheek before dropping a crystal sphere into her lap: a shimmering, pale shell pulsing with inner light, prized by every high-tier chef in the realm. Pellita gasped, lifting the prize with two hands. “Oh, you shouldn’t have! It’s beautiful!” She scratched the crest behind its ear, and the creature leaned into her palm. [SABOTAGE FAILED: TARGET NOT HARMED. ALL BEAST ATTRACTION POINTS DEDUCTED. ADDITIONAL PENALTY: 1000 POINTS FOR UNFORSEEN BENEFIT TO TARGET. TOTAL POINTS DEDUCTED: 1000. CURRENT POINTS: -1500.] Briska, covered in mud from her tumble, stung by Sea-Thistle, and now enduring the ignominy of being ignored by a newly friendly Wyvern, stared at the System message. “One thousand points?!” she shrieked, tears pricking her eyes. Startled by her squeal, the scaled tail whipped sideways, splashing muddy runoff across Briska’s nose. She spluttered, wiping her eyes. “This is ridiculous! It keeps backfiring! I’m going to run out of time!” She clutched her head, the trial period deadline looming like a storm cloud over her. “Thirty days. Thirty days until… until what? Arrest? Exposure?!” Pellita beamed at the docile drake. “Briska, aren’t you glad we made a new friend? And look! An unfertilized clutch crystal! We can bake the most amazing soufflé with this!” Briska merely let out a strangled groan, sinking further into the mud. Nerio shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. Casimir, frozen beneath his damp collar, merely stared as Pellita wiped jam from her knuckles. She was truly unlike anyone he’d ever met. Dangerous beasts became cuddly pets, disastrous ingredients became legendary dishes. She was sunshine personified. The idyllic peace of their picnic (now with a very large, friendly, emerald companion) was shattered a few days later by a buzzing, magically enhanced announcement echoing through the Zeffa Culinary Conservatory. Head Judge Arlen Verridian’s stern voice boomed through the speakers, silencing the bustling hallways. “Attention, Master Gastronome candidates! Your Mid-Term Master Exam is scheduled for next week. This year, the trial will be undertaken in teams of two. Choose your teammate wisely, as scores will be tallied as a unit.” The announcement ended, setting off sharp murmurs throughout the corridor. Team cooking trials brought notorious friction. Pellita, who had been humming a cheerful tune while meticulously polishing her pastry molds, paused. A partner? How wonderful! She could finally share the joy of cooking with someone! She looked up, a bright smile on her face, just as Casimir rounded the corner of the hallway, his usual scowl replaced by an intense, focused determination. At the exact same moment, Nerio emerged from the research library, a scroll tucked under his arm, his eyes locking onto Pellita. They reached her simultaneously. “Pellita,” Casimir grunted, his voice gruff but unwavering, “I’ll be your partner.” “Pellita,” Nerio said smoothly, giving an easy half-bow, “I would be honored to cook beside you.” Their eyes met over Pellita’s head, twin glares of possessive rivalry burning between them.

Taming the Sugar-Wyvern