As if in answer, a soft rustling sounded behind him. He froze, heart pounding, and turned. Emerging from the shadows, the little dragon stepped into the moonlight, tilting its head as if to study him. Felix's heart raced as he knelt, scarcely daring to breathe.
"Hello again," he whispered, his voice thick with relief and wonder. The dragon padded closer, its golden eyes glinting with intelligence. Felix extended his hand, and the creature edged forward until it rested its nose against his fingers, a faint warmth seeping into his skin.
A strange sensation washed over him, as though something ancient and powerful had stirred within him. He felt the dragon's heartbeat, strong and steady, echoing within his own chest. He realized, with a shock, that a bond was forming. He didn't know why the dragon had chosen him, or how the bond even worked, but he could feel its weight settling over him—a tether connecting him to this creature of legend.
The dragon let out a low, rumbling purr, and Felix felt a fleeting sense of happiness, a glimmer of hope that he could be more than the village's outcast. Maybe he wasn't a freak after all; maybe, just maybe, he was meant for something greater.