Page 52 of Tempest Awakening

Thalon. So that was his name.

"Thalon," I whispered, testing the name on my lips. It felt right, somehow.

“Don't be afraid,”his voice resonated in my mind, and I knew without a doubt that this was the dragon who had spoken to me earlier. “I won't hurt you.”

Despite his reassurance, I couldn't help but tremble as he drew near. The ground seemed to shake with each step he took, his very presence radiating power and ancient wisdom. I had to crane my neck to maintain eye contact, feeling impossibly small in his shadow.

The crowd's murmurs grew louder. But contrary to everyone's expectations, including my own, there was no aggression in the massive dragon's demeanor. His movements were careful, almost gentle, as he lowered his head to my level.

“You're safe with me,”his voice echoed in my mind, warm and reassuring.

Hesitantly, I raised a hand, stopping just short of touching his scales. Thalon's amber eyes, so fierce moments ago, now regarded me with what I could only describe as fondness. Then, to my astonishment, he slowly lay down before me, his enormous body settling onto the ground with surprising grace.

A collective gasp rippled through the onlookers.

"Impossible," someone whispered. "He's never lowered himself for anyone!"

I stood there, frozen in awe. He was still immense, but no longer towering over me.

“You honor me,”I thought, hoping he could hear me.

A low, pleased rumble emanated from Thalon's chest, vibrating through the ground beneath my feet. His eyes never left mine, holding an intensity that took my breath away.

But not everyone was pleased by this unexpected turn of events. From the corner of my eye, I saw Selena's face contort with rage and jealousy.

"No!" she snarled. "This isn't right. You're nothing! A pathetic human!"

Before I could react, Selena's hands began to glow with an ominous purple light. She thrust her arms forward, sending a bolt of crackling energy straight towards me.

Time seemed to slow. I saw the spell racing towards me, felt the malevolent intent behind it. In that moment, a tidal wave of emotions crashed over me—fear, yes, but also a fierce determination to protect, not just myself, but Thalon.

Surprisingly, I sensed the exact same emotions emanating from him.

Our eyes locked, and suddenly, I wasn't just feeling my own emotions—I was experiencing Thalon's too. His protective instinct surged through me, powerful and primal. My own determination to keep him safe mirrored back.

“Protect,”we thought simultaneously, the word echoing between us with crystal clarity.

Without conscious thought, I raised my hands as if I could somehow stop her, just as Thalon's wing swept around me protectively. In that split second, my palms pressed against his wing, and the last barrier between our minds crumbled.

A brilliant golden light erupted from where we touched, expanding outward in a shimmering dome. Selena's spell hit the barrier and dissipated harmlessly, but neither of us really noticed. We were lost in our newfound connection.

Shared sensations flooded us—the cool air on my skin, the warmth of the sun on his scales, the pounding of my heart, the power thrumming through his body.

As the light faded, I found myself breathless, my hand still pressed against Thalon's scales. The bond between us pulsed with life, a bridge connecting our very souls. I could feel his every thought, his every emotion, as clearly as my own.

“Hello, little one.”

Thalon's voice resonated within me, filled with deep satisfaction, as if a long-held suspicion had finally been confirmed. There was a warmth to his thoughts, a profound contentment at our connection, and underlying it all, a hint of amusement at my wide-eyed shock.

“You seem surprised,”he added, a touch of dry humor coloring his mental voice. “Did you truly believe our meeting was mere chance?”

"Soul Resonance," someone in the crowd whispered in awe. "It can't be..."

The whisper seemed to break a spell of silence that had fallen over the crowd. Most faces reflected confusion, while a few onlookers wore expressions of stunned disbelief. A tall, lanky applicant stumbled backward, nearly knocking over a smaller candidate who stood frozen, mouth agape.

“What the hell just happened?” A gruff voice boomed from somewhere in the crowd. The exclamation was echoed by a dozen others, their words overlapping.

The voices blurred together. I felt dizzy, my mind still reeling from the intense connection I now shared with Thalon. His thoughts brushed against mine, a soothing presence.

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