The next day, as he arrived at the clearing, he found Ember waiting, but something felt different. The dragon's usually playful expression was replaced by an intense focus. Felix knelt down beside Ember, sensing the shift.
"What's wrong, Ember?" he asked, reaching out to touch its scales. A strange heat radiated from them, warmer than usual.
Ember didn't respond in the usual way. Instead, it let out a low rumble, turning its head toward the deeper part of the forest, where Felix had never dared to go. Without hesitation, Ember padded forward, glancing back only once to make sure Felix was following.
Felix's heart raced as they moved deeper into the forest. The trees grew denser, blocking out the light until only a few rays slipped through the canopy. The air was thick, filled with the scent of moss and ancient wood. The silence was absolute, broken only by the soft crackle of leaves under their feet.
Suddenly, Ember stopped, and Felix found himself standing at the edge of a large, circular clearing he'd never seen before. In the center of the clearing stood a stone altar, covered in moss and etched with strange symbols that seemed to pulse faintly. Felix felt a tug in his chest, as if something inside him was reaching out to the altar.
Ember padded forward and climbed onto the altar, settling there with a calm, regal air. Felix approached slowly, feeling a sense of awe and fear mingling within him.
As he reached the altar, the symbols flared to life, glowing with a soft, golden light. Felix stepped back, his heart pounding. Ember looked up at him, and he felt the weight of the dragon's gaze, the intelligence in its eyes sharper than ever.
Without warning, a voice echoed through his mind, deep and resonant, ancient as the forest itself.
"Felix, do you seek to walk the path of the Tamer?"
The words seemed to fill the air, and Felix stumbled, unsure of where the voice had come from. He looked at Ember, who met his gaze steadily, and he realized the voice was not just from the forest. It was within him, something linked to the bond he had with Ember.
"I… I don't know what that means," Felix stammered, fear rising within him. "I just… I just want to belong. I want to be something more."
The voice spoke again, this time softer, almost comforting. "To tame is to understand, to hold power and gentleness in equal measure. The path is not easy. Once walked, it cannot be undone. Will you choose it, Felix?"
Felix looked down at Ember, who nudged him with its nose, almost as if encouraging him. He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his loneliness, his anger, his longing. For the first time, he felt that someone—or something—saw him, that Ember understood him.
"I'll do it," he said, his voice shaking but certain. "I'll walk the path."