No longer crying, Fia chimed to Umbra, Thanks for cheering me up.

Only did it 'cause I knew you'd shut up sooner. Umbra got up and retreated back to his own corner.

She whined, Are you trying to make me cry again? Words like that coming from Umbra should not hurt her—not after how he had shown his true colors by helping her. A few tears beaded to her eyes nonetheless.

Crybaby.

Hey! The insult was not fair. Fia was only seven years old. Plus, she was a fire dragon subject to intense emotions.

Umbra twisted his neck around and lifted his tail like a mischievous grin. I'll cheer you up in a different way.

R-Really?

Yeah, really. Do you want to know my real name?

All focus on her injuries evaporated. Fia's tail went straight up despite the pain, and her wings lifted in intrigue. Yes, please.

You earned your arena name today, Favilla. That means 'ember' in the language here. Mine is obviously Umbra Caligo, 'shadow mist'. My given name was Viliant.

The eerie name seemed to suit the black dragon. Fia marveled at his name, but he quickly downplayed its significance.

I'm not particularly attached to it. Call me whatever you like.

Obviously, he meant that she could keep calling him Umbra if she wanted, but Fia saw an opportunity. In that case…. She bounded a half step closer to him. Can I call you Vilie?

No. To further punctuate that one word, he snapped their telepathic link.

Fia blinked at the empty thoughts in her head. With so many questions to ask him yet, she could not ruin the conversation over a bad joke.

She moaned, "Viliant. Viliant! I'm sorry—"

I never should've told you my name. I already said everything I have to say to you, kiddo.

But I haven't shared everything I want to say! Can I talk to you now? she asked. We are friends, aren't we? Fia was impeccably eager to be on friendly terms with Viliant—or at the very least, not unfriendly terms.

Maybe tomorrow. Viliant gave her the cold shoulder and settled down to resume licking his wounds. The dark shade of his scales hid any discoloration from the acid.

Fia also licked herself quietly.

A proper feast for a carnivore was brought to them later that evening.

"Wow!" Fia said with her eyes growing wide.

Now that the food had arrived, Viliant prodded his way into her mind. Though he expressed nothing, his presence lingered with a weight of expectation.

This is a lot of food! she remarked. The way you were acting, I thought they didn't feed us enough—

They don't. I'm twelve years old.

Oh…. While Viliant was bigger than Fia, he was not five years bigger as he should have been. The food would have been plenty if they were both her size, but Viliant needed more to undergo his first growth spurt.

Fia bowed her head, staring at the thick cuts of meat which oozed blood between the cobblestones. However, she could do nothing to make more food appear.

Instead of dwelling on this unchangeable fact, she snapped her attention back to him. I can make the food tastier! Finally, Fia would get to impress him. Let me cook for us.

He snorted and said smugly, Fine by me.

Fia seated herself, talons on either side of their dinner. Her chest lifted in a deep inhalation. From there, she let a stream of flames blow from her mouth. Her puffy cheeks deflated as Fia held her fire breath as steadily as she could.

Her magic system felt exhausted, considering how much mana she had already expended today. The fire went out when her concentration slipped. Oops. She took a deep breath, recentered herself, and finished broiling the meat.

Ta-da!

Viliant offered no acknowledgement before he set to devouring the food.

Out of habit, she began to gobble it eagerly beside him. A wave of peace washed over her. Now that she had a friend, her imprisonment felt less like a dungeon. Dinner with Viliant reminded her of eating besides Arenis and the other baby dragons back home. Fia still missed home terribly.

While she reminisced on happier times, Viliant's bad manners flared up. The older dragon snapped his jaws at her and growled. You said I could have your food.

Not all of it… she whimpered.

Most of it! Viliant shouldered her aside and took her place.

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Fia fiddled with her claws in front of her. Not wanting to invite another fight between them, she figured that she had already eaten enough. Besides, Viliant needed the calories more than her.

The dragons slept, neither of their bellies quite full.

***

The next morning was a groggy one. Fia felt sore all over from the tip of her tail to the tip of her snout. She barely had the energy to crawl over and eat a raw breakfast.

Already too lazy to cook? Viliant asked with a sneer.

Yeah…. She ate hastily before Viliant would scarf the rest of her food for himself.

The dragons dedicated the far corner to relieving themselves. If Fia had more energy, she also thought to burn the excrement.

Humans will come to clean our cell, just not often enough, Viliant mentioned.

Good to know.

The only way their cell could be cleaned often enough was if a dedicated maid picked up after them the moment that they went. Dragons hated to bear the shame of wallowing in their own squalor. Yet here, they were forced to live like animals.

Fia dedicated the long, uncomfortable hours to picking Viliant's brain. Yesterday, you said we could talk more tomorrow. Now it's today! Can we, please?

I guess so. Before he had permitted something that he would soon regret, Viliant clarified, You can ask me three questions, and that already counts as one.

What? No!

With his mind already made up, Viliant did nothing to acknowledge her outrage.

However, Fia could be just as persistent, so she said, I will bug you more unless you take that back!

Now that’s a fearsome threat. He exchanged an ultimatum of his own, snapping his jaws and letting out a feral growl. I’m generous enough that I did not count that ‘What?’ as a question.

Fia felt as though she were treading on thin ice with Viliant. Carefully, she decided how to maximize the value of her two questions. First, she prioritized the information that she needed to know in the short term.

How often do fights happen?

Once a week.

The answer made Fia’s gut churn. Only six days were allotted for them to rest up. Ready or not, she must fight for her life again soon. Next, she asked the most crucial question—the way to survive in the long term.

How do we escape?

If I knew, do you think I’d be here? Viliant asked right back.

Well, no, Fia admitted. If she had spoken aloud, her voice would have sounded as small and silly as she felt inside. Just, I really have to get out of here, so I was wondering if you had any ideas. Tell me what you’ve tried so far and why it didn’t work. We can come up with something new!

The forked tongue flicked in and out of his mouth before he replied, If I had any bright ideas, I wouldn’t share them with you.

But I can help! Thinking her hardest, Fia offered, What if we make a break for it when the guards walk us to the arena?

Already tried that, Viliant said with a disinterested roll of his eyes.

What went wrong?

So many questions…. Though Viliant complained, he provided more details. The hired hands around here are more powerful than you'd expect. Even if we do leave the coliseum, they'll catch us before we find a way out of the city, nevermind the country.

Oh. Fia fell silent.

If she were added as another member to that escape attempt, the outcome would be the same. Perhaps it would go even worse if she caused them to get caught sooner. Aside from sharing her food and cooking it, she saw no other way that she could be useful.

This stinks! she said. Fia only had the fire in her belly to offer, but she could not burn past the metal bars. She wracked her brain, trying to come up with a way out of this mess.

Then, an idea dawned on her.

Viliant had not used any spells during his fight against the leo medusa. This would be understandable if he had no mana in his veins, however his scales were not brown like the common, unmagical dragons. The dull, black scales indicated some sort of elemental alignment, although she did not know what.

Fia became animated from sheer excitement. She would do what she did best: pester him with more questions. What’s your element?

Can’t you count? You already asked more than two.

Yes, but you never used magic during your fight. If you don’t know how, I can teach you! Fia sat prim and proper with a single talon pointing towards her chin.

You teach me? It wouldn’t work. Viliant got up and strolled over to the cell door. Sitting down, he closed his eyes and pressed his horns against the bars. For the first time, he let his thoughts flow freely from his mind to hers.

I’m a metal dragon. To channel my element, I need to center myself around a stoic, serious personality, unmoving and infallible like bronze. A blackfire dragon like you draws power from her rage, all-consuming like her flames. We’re opposites.

No matter what he said, Fia did not see it. Deep in her heart, she knew that they could not be so different from each other on the inside.

Bounding next to his side, she bent over in an attempt to enter his vision. Well, that’s heavy and dark, she stated. The elders told me a fire dragon receives strength from their bottomless passion and kindness! T-That’s why I need to stay cheerful no matter what so my fire doesn’t go out.

A leery gaze shot her way. Viliant snapped, Either way, that’s the opposite energy I need to bend metal. His horns banged against the bars thrice. If only I could make my magic work, then maybe I’d have a real chance at getting out of here!

While Fia had never heard of the metal element before, she could envision his frustration. The fabled metal dragon could effortlessly bend the bars in the dead of night and waltz out. The helpless Viliant had to turn his back on the iron door and retreat to the shadows of the dungeon.

Uncertain what to do, Fia shifted from one claw to the next. Viliant…! she whined with all her might. What about friends do you not understand? You’re not alone anymore. Let me help you!

The black dragon had secluded himself in the shadows. Never had one before, so I wouldn’t know. Leave me alone.

It seemed he would rather wallow in his own misery than accept her help. Viliant removed himself from their telepathic connection and continued to nurse his wounded scales.

A trembling pout crept up to Fia’s snout. “Fine!” she hollered aloud. She turned her back on him and tried to curl into a ball. I'll practice magic by myself. You're free to join me whenever you wanna grow up and act your age! Fia broadcasted those thoughts even if Viliant no longer bothered to listen.

A fiery passion had been sparked by her annoyance. She would demonstrate her value as a magic mentor, so she began to practice accumulating large fireballs between her jaws.

The flames danced in Fia's hopeful, blue eyes. She intended to escape and make it home no matter what, regardless if Viliant would make himself useful or not.