My Lord looks so strong and handsome!

As I stirred from my deep slumber, a profound sense of change washed over me. Days had passed since I last opened my eyes as a small wyrmling, barely the size of a wolf. Now, I emerged from my rest transformed into the "Very Young" age stage—a significant growth that left me as large as a moose.

My body felt distinctly different, more robust and powerful. Muscles rippled beneath my scales, and my limbs stretched with newfound strength. Each movement was deliberate as I tested the limits of my larger frame. My claws scraped against the rocky floor of the cave, echoing softly in the stillness.

Wings that had once been mere stubs now spread wide, revealing intricate patterns of iridescent scales that shimmered in the dim light filtering through the cave's entrance. These wings, now fully formed, felt strong and capable of bearing me aloft into the skies. I instinctively knew that I could fly for hours now without much difficulty.

The color of my scales had deepened, reflecting hues of midnight black with hints of metallic sheen, especially under the ambient light filtering through the cave. They were firmer now, tougher and more resilient against the elements.

My head had grown larger and more angular, adorned with horns that swept back from my brow. Sharp ridges ran along my spine, leading to a tail that had thickened and lengthened, ending in a pointed tip that twitched with newfound sensitivity.

Eyes that had once been bright and curious as a hatchling had matured into deep pools of yellow, reminiscent of molten gold. They surveyed my surroundings with keen intelligence, taking in every detail of the cave that had become my sanctuary during my transformation.

This chamber felt smaller, almost to the point of being suffocating. Its walls now gave off a sense of threat, feeling oppressive rather than protective.

"Kyaa!" I heard a high-pitched sound.

From outside the smaller chamber I used as my sleeping room, Scarlet peeked adorably inside, only half of her head visible. Her wide eyes sparkled with joy and admiration, and as she let out a low squeal, I could hear the words she whispered. "My Lord looks so strong and handsome!"

I moved my legs, slowly approaching her with calculated steps. I focused my attention on my body, especially its inner workings, noticing how different every one of my muscles, bones, and organs felt.

I felt powerful.

I flexed my muscles and sensed a great deal of strength surge throughout my entire being, ready to exert force at a moment's notice with an amount I could only dream of before.

I changed my focus from my wonderful new self to my red-scaled servant. Well, red-scaled where she happened to have them, as most of her exterior was made up of weak, mushy skin. I felt a bit of pity toward the woman. I couldn't imagine how hard it must be living in such a weak, frail vessel. One good swipe of my talons and she would surely be reduced to a pool of blood, especially after my evolution. Unless she has some defensive measures I'm not aware of.

She did cast a nice healing spell on me, though. Combined with how devoted she is to me, I feel the urge to protect her. I don't know why—perhaps her subservient and cheery antics stroke my draconic ego just right, or maybe I feel she can become much more useful later. Perhaps both. I can't really tell, but I do feel that Valdrakar's Hold is better off with her in it. I'm better off with her cheering me on. I don't think I should take her to battle with me, though. I can't go all out like I always used to without a care for my surroundings.

Although I still don't really understand why she is so devoted to me, perhaps all dragon-kin look at us true dragons in such a light. Or is she a special case? I hope that everything is alright in her skull. I will make sure to find out later.

Before, I had to look up at her standing form, angling my neck if she was too close. It didn't feel good. Not that I had any physical issues with using my neck, but… it evoked a humiliated emotion in me. Not that she showed any signs of looking down on me in a bad light, but I felt like her domesticated little pet when it was me who was supposed to be the master in our relationship. I didn't let it show, though, and mustered through all the bad emotions as I knew I would soon evolve and hoped I would grow big, which thankfully happened. Now I towered over her by more than half her head.

It felt amazing seeing Scarlet tilt her neck upwards this time in order to be able to look into my eyes. This is how things were meant to be.

As I glanced at her awe-filled form, I noticed something troubling. Scarlet appeared sickly, malnourished and exhausted. Her once vibrant scales were dull, and her usually energetic demeanor was subdued. It struck me then how frail she looked, and a small pang of guilt washed over me. I had told her to stand guard over my evolving form, a task that had clearly taken its toll on her. I forgot to give her any of my stocked-up meals which rested in my Bottomless Stomach. She obviously didn't leave the cave to even gather some fruits. What a devoted individual. Every dragon needs someone like her.

I faintly remembered an ability I'd unlocked with my evolution during my slumber:

[Telepathy: The ability to one-way converse with a person through your mind, circumventing the need to use any known sensory channels or physical interaction to converse. The ability range is limited to the holder's close proximity. The ability holder can decide whether their telepathic link only connects to a specific individual or everyone within its range can hear their voice.]