Page 60 of Tempest Awakening

“Tess,”he said, his mental voice tinged with wonder, “there's a faint scent of ancient magic about you. Like embers and stardust. And I can feel... a pulse. A rhythm that's not quite in sync with your heartbeat.”

I blinked in surprise, my hand instinctively moving to my chest. "Really? I... I think that might be the pendant the Library gave me. But how can you sense it? It's invisible."

“Dragon senses are quite keen,”Thalon explained, a hint of pride coloring his thoughts. “Especially when it comes to magic. Would you mind showing it to me?”

Curiously, I reached up to my neck, feeling for the invisible pendant. With a gentle tug, it materialized in my hand—a raw, uncut fire opal set in delicate silver filigree. As soon as it left my skin, it blazed to life, radiating heat and sending fiery tendrils around my wrist.

Thalon's eyes widened, the molten lava in them swirling faster. I felt a surge of recognition through our bond. “By the ancient skies,”he breathed. “That's the Draconis Heart.”

A jolt of anxiety shot through me, and I instinctively closed my fist around the pendant. Ciaran's words echoed in my mind: "Keep this to yourself, Tess. It's not something to be shared lightly."

I bit my lip, conflicted. Thalon must have sensed my unease because his mental voice softened. “What's wrong, little one?”

"I... I was told to keep this a secret," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "Someone told me it wasn't something to be shared lightly."

Thalon's head tilted slightly, a wave of understanding flowing through our bond. “That person was wise to advise caution. The Draconis Heart is indeed a powerful secret.”

I nodded, still uncertain. But as I looked into Thalon's eyes, feeling the depth of our connection, I realized something. We were bonded now, our souls resonating as one. If I couldn't trust Thalon, who could I trust?

Taking a deep breath, I slowly opened my hand, revealing the glowing pendant once more. "The Library gave it to me, but I don't know much about it. Can you tell me more?"

Thalon's eyes focused intently on the pendant. “The Draconis Heart is a legendary artifact, Tess. It contains the essence of an ancient dragon, though the specifics of its creation and full capabilities are largely unknown to me.”

I felt a ripple of excitement through our bond as he continued, “What I do know is that it hasn't been seen in hundreds of years. Its appearance now, with you, is significant.”

"Do you think it's been helping me?" I asked, looking down at the gleaming opal.

“Almost certainly”,Thalon replied. “It's likely been aiding your acclimation to our bond and to dragon magic. The ease with which you've adapted is remarkable, even in this brief amount of time.”

I nodded, feeling a newfound appreciation for the pendant. "Is there a way to learn more about it?"

“I'll see what I can discover,”Thalon promised. “There may be ancient texts or knowledgeable beings who can shed more light on its history and powers. For now, though, I think it's best if you continue to keep it secret from others.”

As I slipped the pendant back around my neck, watching it fade from view, I suddenly realized how low the sun had sunk in the sky. The forest around us was bathed in golden light, long shadows stretching across the clearing.

"Oh!" I exclaimed, startled by how much time had passed. "It's getting late. We should probably head back, shouldn't we?"

Thalon's mental chuckle warmed me. “Indeed, little one. Time does seem to fly when one is discussing ancient magical artifacts and the depths of a dragon bond.”

As I stood up, brushing grass from my clothes, I felt excited and nervous about returning to the Dragonne Library. So much had changed in just one afternoon.

Thalon must have sensed my conflicting emotions because he gently nudged me with his snout. “Remember, Tess, whatever comes next, we face it together.”

I smiled, resting my hand on his scales. "Together," I agreed.

???

The sandwich plate clattered softly as I set it aside, my stomach finally satisfied after the day's exhilarating events. I sank into the plush armchair by the window, my muscles aching pleasantly from the unexpected flight. Whiskey, sensing my need for comfort, leapt onto my lap with a soft meow.

"Hey there, buddy," I murmured, scratching behind his ears. His familiar purr vibrated against my chest, grounding me in the midst of my new reality.

My gaze drifted to the ornate wooden table where a crisp piece of parchment lay, its edges gilded with gold. My new schedule. I'd found it waiting for me when I returned, along with the delicious sandwich that could only have been made by Twiggle, the brownie I'd befriended.

The memory of Thalon dropping me off at the training grounds just an hour ago felt like a dream. His scales had shimmered in the fading sunlight as he'd taken off towards the dragon housing.

With a deep breath, I reached for the schedule, Whiskey adjusting on my lap to accommodate the movement. My eyes scanned the meticulously written lines:

Monday/Wednesday:

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