Page 62 of Tempest Awakening

Chapter 21

Tess

The insistent beeping of my alarm jolted me awake. For a moment, I lay there, disoriented, before the events of the past few days came rushing back. I wasn't just Tess the librarian anymore. I was Tess, the human bonded to a dragon.

My stomach did a nervous flip as I reached over to silence the alarm. 5:30 AM. My first official day as a dragon rider applicant was about to begin.

Whiskey, sensing my movement, leapt onto the bed with a soft meow. I buried my face in his fur, drawing comfort from his familiar presence.

"At least some things haven't changed, huh, buddy?" I murmured, my voice muffled.

As I sat up, running a hand through my tangled hair, my mother's voice echoed in my mind: "You're not special enough for this, Tess. Know your place." I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to banish the thought. No. I wouldn't let her doubts become mine. Not today.

"Good morning, little one,"Thalon's voice resonated in my mind, warm and reassuring."Are you ready for your first day?"

I took a deep breath, centering myself. "As ready as I'll ever be, I guess. Though I'm not sure two days of cramming is enough to prepare me for... well, whatever today brings. Will you be there?"

"No, little one. Most of the training for applicants happens without us dragons present."

"Oh," I said, feeling a twinge of disappointment and, if I'm honest, fear. Thalon had been my anchor these past few days. The thought of facing this new world without him by my side sent a shiver of anxiety through me. "I guess that makes sense. But it feels strange to be training to be a dragon rider without, well, the dragon."

"It may seem odd,"Thalon agreed,"but there's much you need to learn before you're ready to work with us directly. The weekday training builds the foundations you'll need."

I nodded, absorbing this new information. "The weekend has been a blur of books and scrolls. I've practically lived in the library, absorbing every scrap of information I could about dragons and riders. And our evening talks have been amazing. But now, faced with the reality of my first day of training, I feel woefully unprepared."

A small voice in the back of my mind whispered, "Because you are unprepared. You don't belong here." I pushed the thought away, focusing instead on Thalon's presence in my mind.

"You've learned more than you realize,"Thalon assured me."Trust in yourself, and in our bond. Even when I'm not physically present, I'm always with you."

I took a deep breath, trying to draw strength from his confidence. "I'll try. I just hope I don't make a complete fool of myself out there."

"You won't,"Thalon said firmly."Now, you should get ready. Instructor Alvarez doesn't strike me as the type who appreciates tardiness."

With a groan, I swung my legs out of bed. "No, I don't imagine she does."

As I dressed in my workout clothes—the best I could find on short notice—I caught sight of myself in the mirror. The woman staring back at me looked the same as she had a week ago, and yet everything had changed.

"I can do this," I told my reflection, my voice stronger than I felt. "I'm more than what Mom always said I was. I'm here for a reason." The words felt foreign on my tongue, but also right. I straightened my shoulders, surprising myself with the determination I saw in my own eyes.

Yet, as I turned away from the mirror, a flicker of doubt crept in. Was I really ready for this? Could a human librarian truly become a dragon rider?

With one last scratch behind Whiskey's ears, I headed out the door. As I approached the training grounds, the cool morning air raised goosebumps on my bare arms. The space was just as big as I remembered, but this time, instead of pure intimidation, I felt a mix of excitement and trepidation.

I tugged self-consciously at the hem of my faded tank top, suddenly aware of how out of place I looked. Around me, the other applicants were decked out in sleek, high-performance athletic wear, looking like they'd stepped straight out of a fitness magazine.

I glanced down at my well-worn sneakers, the treads almost smooth from years of use. Athletics hadn't exactly been a priorityfor me lately, and it showed. A wave of insecurity washed over me, threatening to drown out the determination I'd felt earlier.

"You belong here, Tess,"Thalon's voice whispered in my mind, a lifeline in the sea of my doubts."Your worth isn't measured by your clothing or your physical prowess."

I took a deep breath, clinging to his words. "Thanks, Thalon," I thought back. "I just wish I felt as confident as you sound."

"Confidence will come with time and experience,"he replied."For now, focus on doing your best. That's all anyone can ask of you."

As I steeled myself for the day ahead, I noticed the other applicants eyeing me with curiosity and, in some cases, disdain. Their supernatural grace and obvious fitness only heightened my sense of inadequacy. How could I possibly compete with beings who were literally born for this?

"Tess!" A familiar voice cut through my spiraling thoughts. I looked up to see Mason jogging towards me, and my breath caught in my throat. His broad, muscular frame easily parted the crowd of applicants, and the morning sun gleamed off his dark skin.

"Hey," I managed, forcing a smile and trying not to stare. "Ready for this?"

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