Page 51 of Tempest Awakening

Questions raced through my mind, but beneath the confusion, there was a sense of... rightness. As if some part of me recognized this unseen dragon, trusted it implicitly.

“Trust me. Stay.”

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. Every logical part of my brain screamed at me to run, to get as far away from here as possible. But something deeper urged me to stay.

As my anxiety peaked, a sudden wave of calm washed over me, soothing my frayed nerves. It was like a gentle caress to my mind, easing away the tension and replacing it with a sense of peace. My eyes widened in surprise. Was this coming from the dragon?

I'd never heard of dragons using empathic powers with just anyone, let alone a human like me. It should have been impossible. Yet, I couldn't deny the sense of serenity flowing through me.

I nodded imperceptibly, focusing my thoughts inward.Okay,I projected, hoping the dragon would hear me.

A warm chuckle resonated in my mind.Good job,the voice replied, amusement coloring its tone. I felt a flutter of excitement at the successful communication, mixed with a strange sense of comfort from the dragon's approval.

The challenge continued around me, applicants facing the daunting obstacles with varying degrees of success. But my attention was drawn away from my thoughts, to Selena and Valen's conversation.

"Look at that one," Selena sneered, nodding towards the largest dragon on the field. "The gold and obsidian beast. I bet our little librarian here would love to try her luck with him."

I followed her gaze, and my breath caught in my throat. The dragon she referred to was breathtaking. Its scales shimmered like polished metal, a mesmerizing blend of rich gold and deep, glossy black. It stood head and shoulders above the other dragons, its presence commanding and regal.

I felt an inexplicable pull, as if an invisible thread was tugging at my very core. I'd read countless books about dragons, but nothing had prepared me for this visceral reaction.

Valen chuckled darkly. "Oh yes, that would be a sight. The most powerful dragon here, and he hasn't partnered with a single rider since this whole process began two months ago."

Its movements were fluid and graceful, belying its enormous size. But there was an edge to its demeanor, a coiled tension that spoke of barely restrained power.

"And in the last three weeks," Selena added, her tone mockingly thoughtful, "hasn't he been even more... temperamental?"

"That's putting it mildly," Valen confirmed, his grip on my arm tightening painfully. "He's seriously injured half a dozen applicants. All of them disqualified, of course. Can't be a Rider if you can't even approach the dragon."

As if sensing our attention, the gold and obsidian dragon turned its head in our direction. Its eyes, I noticed with a start, were a striking amber color, seeming to glow with an inner fire. For a heart-stopping moment, I thought those eyes locked with mine, and I felt a jolt of... something. Recognition? Curiosity?

I found myself holding my breath. The dragon was undeniably dangerous, yet I couldn't help but be drawn to its beauty and power. Was this the dragon that had spoken to me?

Before I could ponder further, Selena's cruel laughter cut through my thoughts. "Why don't we give our little librarian a closer look?" she sneered.

Panic surged through me as I realized their intent. "No, wait—" I began, but it was too late. With a forceful shove, Selena and Valen propelled me forward.

I stumbled, arms windmilling as I fought to regain my balance. The world tilted and spun, and suddenly I found myself in the last place I wanted to be—the starting area of the course, where applicants paired with dragons.

Acutely aware of how out of place I was, I noticed the applicants around me turning to stare. They were a diverse group—elveswith their pointed ears, broad-shouldered orcs, lithe fae, and beings I couldn't even identify. All wore sleek, form-fitting attire that put my simple jeans and blouse to shame.

"Hey, isn't she human?" a voice called out from nearby, belonging to a young elf with silvery hair.

Another applicant, a muscular orc, chimed in, "What's she doing here? This area is for dragon riders only!"

I wanted nothing more than to disappear, to rewind time and never have left the safety of my library. The curious and judgmental gazes of the applicants felt like physical weight pressing down on me.

But then I saw him.

The gold and obsidian dragon was moving, his massive form cutting through the crowd of applicants and smaller dragons with ease. And he was coming straight for me.

I stood rooted to the spot, equal parts terrified and awestruck. Up close, he was even more magnificent—and overwhelmingly large. Each scale gleamed like a work of art, the gold and black creating mesmerizing patterns across his hide.

His long neck stretched up, his head alone probably larger than my entire body. Those amber eyes, now unmistakably fixed on me, seemed to glow with an inner fire.

"Look!" someone shouted. "It's Thalon! He's approaching her!"

"But she's not even an applicant," another voice added, incredulous.

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