Seven days had passed since my mother discovered my secret, and each one had felt like a small eternity. Not because I was forbidden from seeing Pallet
Mother had kept her promise of controlled meetings but because the anticipation of that first approved visit gnawed at me relentlessly.
Every morning, I woke hoping today would be the day, and every evening, I went to sleep disappointed, knowing I'd have to wait at least another day. The longing was a fire that refused to be extinguished, and in the meantime, I threw myself into training, exercising my muscles and tendons until exhaustion dulled the ache.
"Rider, come here, please," Emberheart's voice called from across the chamber. My heart jumped. There was a weight in her tone, a gravity I hadn't heard in her usual instructions. Bounding over, I tried to appear calm, though my tail thumped against the stone floor like a drum of nervous excitement.
"Yes, Mama?" I asked, trying to steady my voice.
She studied me with those sharp, intelligent amber eyes, weighing my anticipation against the caution she must feel. "Tonight," she said simply. The single word lit up my world. My chest swelled.
"But first," she continued firmly, "we review the protocols."
For the next hour, she detailed every precaution I would need to take. How to mask my scent with volcanic minerals, which secret paths to take to avoid patrols, the precise timing of my departure and return, and most importantly, how to erase any trace of fire-fruit consumption before coming home. Every step, she emphasized, was essential. One misstep, one unusual scent, and the arrangement would end immediately.
"I understand," I said solemnly, the weight of her trust pressing on me. "Thank you, Mama."
"Don't thank me yet," she warned, shadowed with worry. "The little girl will be waiting for you. Follow everything exactly."
Evening came, and I adhered to every instruction. I rolled in the sulfurous volcanic dust she specified, letting it cling stubbornly to my scales. I took the longer, safer route through crystal canyons, eyes scanning constantly for patrols. Every step that once had been a confident stride now required careful planning, stretching the journey from fifteen minutes to nearly forty-five.
When I finally arrived, Pallet was waiting, radiant in the fading light. She had changed in the months since I'd last seen her—taller, more graceful, her scales glowing softly from within. The moment our eyes met, her warm smile hit me like a burst of sunlight through clouds.
"Rider Rex!" she called, bounding toward me. "I was worried! After your mother discovered us, I thought we'd never meet again!"
I quickly told her everything
Mother's discovery, the new restrictions, the safety protocols. Her expression shifted from relief to a serious, careful consideration.
"Your mother allowed you?" she asked softly.
"Yes, under strict conditions," I clarified. Pallet absorbed the information silently, then nodded thoughtfully. "We must be extra cautious now. We're not just protecting ourselves anymore."
We shared our modest meal fire-fruits again, fewer than usual and our conversation turned to matters I hadn't dared broach before. "The awakening ceremony is only six weeks away," Pallet said quietly, offering me a particularly bright fruit. "Are you nervous?"
I blinked. "Awakening ceremony?"
She raised an incredulous brow. "Seriously? You don't know what it is?"
"I… I heard my brothers talking about it," I admitted sheepishly, "but I wasn't paying attention. My mind was… elsewhere."
Pallet lightly tapped my head with a claw. "What could be more important than the awakening ceremony?"
"I… I don't know," I said, sheepish. "Can you tell me?"...
" What difference between awaken and unawaken t rex "
Her expression turned serious. "Unawakened remain stuck at the same evolutionary stage their whole lives. They survive on fruits and leaves, live only a few decades—like dinosaurs born without claws. They never develop past that."
She lifted her chin slightly. "But if you want to hunt magical beasts of the forest and taste raw flesh if you want your flame instincts to manifest you have to awaken. Flame skills are the foundation."
She leaned back slightly, voice low and sure. "The ceremony is how dinosaurs truly begin to grow. Consuming the sacred fruits awakens evolutionary genes, letting wyrmlings step onto the evolutionary path. Only an awakened wyrmling can produce real flame heat, hunt with formidable power , and unlock flame skills at evolution milestone .
Declare themselves with title predator of jungles .
Her gaze softened. "Now tell me… are you excited for the ceremony?"
"I… I'm worried," I admitted honestly. "What if I fail? What if I never awaken?"
Her warm claw gently patted my shoulder. "Stop overthinking. I believe in you, Rider. You will awaken."
But inwardly, her thoughts were far less certain.
I truly wish my words come true for him to unawaken during the ceremony, she thought. But it's unimaginable for a monster like him to fail. He'll probably awaken his destructive genes that day when his power blinds him and arrogance reveals his real nature. Then… it will finally be clear who he truly is.