Phoenix Rising: From Heartache to Heroism

Chapter 134 Champion

In no time, Zeus returned with two rabbits in his claws.

Hayden caught the rabbits and tossed them into a cage. Zeus flew off again to catch more.

He moved back and forth, eventually catching nearly ten rabbits.

The game lasted only thirty minutes.

The eagles cried out as Violeta watched them through binoculars.

Every ten minutes, they released a new batch of rabbits, totalling three batches.

Once the three batches were over, so was the game.

Each falconer carried their cage, most filled with rabbits, though some had fewer.

Hayden's cage was almost bursting with his game.

The judge began to count.

When they saw Hayden's cage, the judge exclaimed, "Wow! That's a lot!"

Rabbits were pulled out and counted one by one, then placed into a larger cage nearby.

"Fifty-six rabbits in total! Not bad! You have the highest count so far."

The judge laughed heartily and held high expectations for Hayden. If all went well, Hayden was on track to win this year's Falconry Festival. Those waiting in line behind him saw how many rabbits Hayden's eagle had caught and cast envious glances at Zeus perched on his forearm. "Hayden!" someone called out.

Hayden turned.

He saw Violeta and her group riding towards him on horseback.

Zoren jumped off his horse, asking, "How many did Zeus catch?"

"Fifty-six," Hayden replied.

Sophia's eyes widened, and she exclaimed, "Wow! That's the most I've ever heard of!"

Jasper and Liam approached, fist-bumping Hayden. "Zeus is impressive!"

Violeta and Niall also dismounted.

"Impressive! Zeus is truly remarkable," Violeta remarked.

She patted Zeus, which was perched on Hayden's forearm.Property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

"Kee-eeeee-arr!" Hera suddenly screeched, as if disapproving of Violeta's attention to Zeus.

Violeta quickly pulled her hand back.

Niall laughed and teased, "It seems even eagles can be possessive."

Hayden cast a cold glance at Hera, which spread its wings.

"In a few years, Hera's size should surpass Zeus's," Sophia noted.

In the avian world, females are typically larger than males. Hera was still a young eagle, but it would grow significantly, possibly outgrowing Zeus. "Kee-eeeee-arr!"

Hera proudly screeched as if understanding Sophia's words.

Fifteen minutes later, the counting ended.

With fifty-six rabbits, Hayden was indeed the top scorer.

The host declared, "The one who caught the most rabbits for tonight's roast is contestant number 9, Hayden Frost!

"Hayden is this year's Falconry Festival champion!"

Clap! Clap! Clap!

The crowd applauded to celebrate his victory.

The game wasn't the most important part. The highlight was the process and the delicious rabbit feast that awaited in the evening.

After the game, people dispersed across the grassland to release their eagles.

Some set up bonfires, preparing to roast rabbits later.

Dale Reid, the head of the Reids, personally handed Hayden a ceremonial gift box containing the silver whistle prize.

Sophia said mysteriously, "This isn't just any silver whistle! My dad made it with special materials mixed with silver. It's said to have magical properties!"

Hayden glanced at the whistle in the box and asked, "What magical properties?"

Dale patted Sophia's shoulder,

saying, "Not as magical as she

claims. Actually, this whistle is made

from materials left by our family's

first falconer three hundred years ago. Legend has it he could summon a phoenix.

"The materials used in this whistle are what remained from his forge."

Of course, they didn't melt down his whistle to make this one. They only used about a fifth of the original materials.

The Reids held the Falconry Festival

every five years. It required a unique

gift. Thus, these precious materials were used to make a whistle identical to the original.

Everyone was amazed by Dale's story.

Zoren asked, "Could the first falconer really summon a phoenix?"

Liam remarked, "This whistle is definitely worth keeping. It has a high collectible value!"

Jasper gazed at the sky and remarked, "Summoning a phoenix would be a spectacular sight, like something out of a movie!"

For some reason, Violeta felt a sense of familiarity with the story.

In her past life, while learning beast-taming from her master, he had told her a similar tale.

Their forefather could command all

beasts on land, while a woman in

overe

the far north could control all birds in the sky. They were once lovers, but they sacrificed their union to save the world. After countless reincarnations, they might meet again somewhere in the world.

At the time, Violeta thought her master was just telling her a bedtime story.