Amaris' POV
"...ris."
Someone's voice pulled me from the haze of slumber. A gentle tap followed, and I stirred with a soft murmur, one eye squinting against the morning light filtering through Hayley's Cyberspace. My head felt oddly comfortable—until I realized it was resting against Kira's shoulder.
'Ah.'
A flush of embarrassment crept to my cheeks as I quickly straightened, posture correcting itself with the grace of habit. "My sincerest apologies, Ms. Kira," I murmured, dipping my head slightly. "I did not mean to inconvenience you."
Kira chuckled softly, eyes warm. "It's alright, Amaris. You didn't. Honestly, I would've let you keep sleeping, but—" she gestured toward the café door, "your chauffeur's already here."
I turned and saw Mr. Toya standing at the entrance, his posture impeccable as always. His expression was calm yet sharp, surveying the area before meeting my eyes. He gave a precise bow—forty-five degrees, not a degree more or less.
I took it as my cue. Rising to my feet, I gathered my things and smiled faintly toward the group. "I must go now. I shall see you all tomorrow. Please have a pleasant day."
"Ha… I told you, you can take a day off," Hayley said with a shake of her head.
"Yo, rest that amazing head of yours, you hear?" Ethan added, flashing his familiar grin.
"Take care, Amaris," Kira said, her tone softer this time.
Professor Oliver smiled from his corner. "Don't forget to rest, alright?"
"I will," I replied, returning the smile before making my way out.
Warmth lingered in my chest as I left the Cyberspace. A quiet calm followed me down the street—well, calm and drowsiness, though I shall not admit which was stronger.
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The familiar sight of the Shin estate greeted me. Servants bowed as I passed, and I responded with a polite nod each time before ascending to my room. Once inside, the temptation of my bed was too strong to resist. I debated briefly whether to change first or not… but drowsiness won, as always.
Before lying down, I made sure to set an alarm for 3 PM. Trent's checkups had been postponed, but I still had a task to complete—finding that dino egg.
With that settled, I allowed myself to drift into sleep.
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–Buzz– –Buzz– –Buzz–
The alarm's insistence broke through the comfort of dreams. Groaning softly, I reached for the clock and silenced it. Sitting up, I stretched, feeling the mild stiffness fade. A calm exhale later, I walked toward my closet.
After some contemplation, I selected a simple yet harmonious outfit: a dusty lavender oversized sweater, beige pleated mini skirt, long white socks just below the knees, and mauve ballet flats. I tied my hair half up with a lavender ribbon.
When I looked in the mirror, I gave a quiet nod of approval. "Acceptable," I whispered to myself, before heading downstairs.
A servant handed me my bicycle, and I offered a soft "Thank you kindly." The afternoon breeze brushed my cheeks as I pedaled out through the gates, the rhythmic hum of the tires grounding me in serenity.
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Upon reaching my workspace in the western wing, I approached a polished silver suitcase resting on the table. With a click, it opened—revealing rifle-like gun.
Sleek and elegant, it shimmered faintly under the light. Its silver frame was etched with pulsing runic lines that glowed softly, each one resonating with faint temporal energy.
This is the Epoch Seeker—a handheld environmental scanner adapted from one of Father's prototype designs.
Where his prototype had been meant to survey paleobotanical structures through deep thermal mapping, mine was tuned to something much rarer: the microscopic thermal resonance of a living dino egg.
Each egg, infused with dormant chrono-energy, emits a faint, pulsing signature—a gentle heartbeat of time itself. The Seeker identifies that resonance, scans it through a laser-focused beam, and triangulates its position with precision. It does not harm the target; it only reveals what lies hidden.
With this, I would find the next egg. Hopefully, the one that would hatch into the Dragozord.
'If not… I would respectfully leave it where it belongs.'
"Well," I sighed softly, "that is a matter for future me to decide."
Still, I had to move swiftly. My gymnastics instructor, Madame Patricia, had a temper to rival a tyrannosaur's roar whenever I arrived late.
I turned my gaze to my left wrist, where my Morpher lay dormant. Moving my index finger in a slow spiral, the mechanical plates unfurled, forming a sleek gauntlet of polished silver and violet hues.
From my palm, a faint shimmer appeared—a hexagonal fossil disc, my Ankylosaurus Dino Plate.
I slid it into the Morpher's slot. The Temporal Core Dial began to rotate, the runes illuminating in rhythmic succession.
Click. Still.
Click. Slow.
Click. Flow.
Click. Heal.
Click. Strike.
Click. Balance.
When it stopped at Balance, the hum deepened into a resonant pulse, lavender light dancing around me. My heartbeat matched its rhythm.
I raised my right arm across my chest and spoke softly but clearly:
"If you would, Ankylosaurus… lend me your strength."
Light enveloped me, warm and weightless. My armor formed with a resonant chime, and the familiar comfort of the suit settled into place. The final click of my helmet sealed the transformation.
I picked up the Epoch Seeker and lightly tapped my left heel against my right boot. A faint hum responded—the Veloshade hoverboard materializing before me.
"Activate stealth mode," I murmured. The board adjusted its frequency, fading into a near-silent hum.
Stepping on, I hovered forward, slipping out through the open skylight. The wind pressed against me gently as I gained altitude—high enough to stay unseen, low enough to remain safe should something malfunction.
The air carried a cool, metallic scent. Below me, the city spread out like veins of light and shadow.
Eventually, I reached an abandoned factory—the coordinates where the Epoch Seeker detected residual temporal heat.
I held up the device. Its lens pulsed faintly, beeping in intervals that quickened as I drew closer.
Connecting it wirelessly to my phone, I began my sweep.
The interior was suffocatingly dusty. Every corner groaned with the weight of time. Rusted pipes, fallen scaffolds, spiderwebs thick as silk curtains—and the occasional mouse that nearly startled a scream out of me.
Bugs. I can handle monsters, but not bugs.
The Seeker's beeping accelerated, sharp and constant now. I glanced at my phone: a red dot pulsed just ahead.
I pressed onward. "Left... no, not here," I muttered under my breath, scanning beneath old tarps.
Then, under one final dust-shrouded cover—
There it was.
Nestled in a shallow crater of stone and ash lay a white egg with black stripes, its surface faintly glowing.
The Drago Egg.
My pulse quickened. I carefully pocketed my phone and lifted the egg with both hands, its warmth radiating gently against my palms.
With my hands occupied, I summoned the Veloshade through a gesture. It hovered near instantly, responding to my call. I stepped onto it smoothly and glided toward the exit.
The sunlight outside greeted me like a silent promise. I exhaled, allowing a brief smile to surface beneath my helmet.
"Fortune favors me today," I whispered.
I was about to ascend higher when—
"Hey, hey! Come back here!"
A voice rang out, sharp and echoing through the open air.
I froze mid-hover, the egg secure in my grasp, my heart tightening at the sound.