After a long climb … “ Here we are . The Dragon ’ s lair ,” Proditione used a paw to point to a plate on the ground made of gold and with pearls spelling out the initials ‘ RD ’. “ Wow ,” Xandra marveled as she took a step forward . “ Yes . It ’ s also your demise .” “ What ?” Xandra had the time to get the word out of her mouth before Proditione pulled a tree branch which opened a trapdoor under her feet . “ Goodbye ,” Proditione put the trapdoor back and strode away .
Xandra remembered she had matches in her pocket , so she lit a fire to look around . The walls were bare except for a large patch of green moss , which Xandra instinctively touched . The moss fell to reveal a passageway . Xandra lit some moss on fire and used it as a torch to light her way .
The passageway led to a room filled with shadows . “ We meet again . What did I say ?” Xandra turned and spotted the butterfly she had seen earlier . “ I expected better . But , fine , I ’ ll help . Go up that passage to the Throne Room . That ’ s where the Dragon will be . To defeat him , challenge him to a riddling contest .” The butterfly disappeared
Xandra walked upstairs to witness the Riddler Dragon yelling at Proditione . “ WHERE IS SHE ?!” “ I ’ m here ,” Xandra stepped up and strode in front of the Riddler Dragon . “ And I challenge you to a riddling competition .” “ No one can beat me . I ’ ll start . It can only live where there is light , but I die if the light shines on me . What is it ?” “ A shadow . What flies when it ’ s born , lies when it ’ s alive , and runs when it ’ s dead ?” “ A snowflake .”
They kept riddling each other , until the Dragon couldn ’ t answer three riddles in a row , and shrunk down to three centimeters high . “ Give the treasure up .” Xandra kneeled down to face the Dragon . “ Fine !” The Dragon threw a necklace at Xandra which grew larger when she caught it and teleported her back home in the library . Next to the table she was standing next to , the King of Arostocia was reading . “ Uncle ?” Xandra walked up to her uncle . “ Xandra . Cyltine told me where you were . Where is the treasure ?” Xandra ’ s uncle hugged her . “ Here ,” Xandra gave the pearls to her uncle , who put it on his neck . “ You ’ ve done wonderfully .”