There were plenty of risks that came with this. Humans were greedy creatures. He would know, he used to be one himself. The only problem was that Emre was totally unsure of Ragan's intentions. Did Ragan save him purely out of goodwill or was there another motive behind the actions?
Emre was a Faerie Dragon who could use radiant magic and although Ragan didn't quite know about the radiant magic, what would he do when he did know? Would he not care? Or would he try to lock Emre and ship him off to some Kingdom with a word of rare goods?
It was hard to tell. Emre already hinted that he knew radiant magic but Ragan thought he was messing around, right? He let out a sigh and glanced at his aching side. Ragan had used up herbs and bandages on Emre despite not knowing what Emre would do when he woke.
He really couldn't tell if it was generosity or greed. Ragan was strong enough to injure the corruption to near death with no signs of injury. Emre knew that the corruption was far from weak. The one Emre had killed was also decently strong. If he didn't have radiant abilities he would have for sure been wounded far worse.
That would only mean that Ragan was far stronger than Emre. If he was this strong, why did he live out in a cabin in the woods? Wait! Emre silently scolded himself. Why hadn't he taken a look at Ragan's mana? Wouldn't the size or density of his mana reveal his magical strength?
Sigh.
He would just have to look when Ragan came back into the room. While Dragon Detection allowed him to tell if something or someone's mana flow was around him, he still had to focus to actually see the mana flow.
He began to focus to see his own. It was flowing slowly due to the amount he had used to heal his ribs but then he noticed his Band of Protection was still there on his wrist. Ragan hadn't taken it nor asked about it. The mana flow around it was strong and flowing smoothly.
Emre shook his head. Ragan had said that he could leave at any time. For now, he should just regain some of his mana and heal the worst of his wounds. He would stay and when Ragan came to check on him, he would see that Emre had healed. His reaction would tell Emre whether he needed to run or not.
Looking around the barren room, there was one closed window. He could escape through there and fly away if he needed to since there was a small clip hatch with no lock that he could easily open.
Closing his eyes, he began to focus on the mana in the area and started to regain his energy. 20 minutes passed before he felt revitalized enough to use his Healing Touch again.
Twisting, he had to carefully remove the bandage and wipe the herb poultice off the gashes on his side. Looking, there were three large black scratch marks scoring down his flank.
While his whitened scales had stopped the spread of the smoky ooze that the wounds created, the reminisce of the battle was obvious.
It was ugly compared to his beautiful shining blue and white scales. With a grumble, he reached and gently touched the irritated flesh. He held back a wince as he cast Healing Touch. The warm radiance spread from his fingertips and began to eat away at the blackness.
The radiance in the spell was eating the corruption that remained in his body and he felt relief as the wound sealed somewhat. It was at the point right before an open wound would start to come back together. It would take days still before it could close completely with a scab.
With a sigh, he decided to use Healing Touch again to heal it to the point where it would not reopen but it was still obvious that a wound was there. The scales had returned to whites and blues, the black was gone with only a clean golden-red looking flesh remaining.
Without healing like this, it would have taken a few weeks to heal. Especially with the black remains of corruption. He imagined how a wound like this would affect a human with no resistance to it. They would surely suffer a greater risk of infection and it would probably take longer to heal.
And to think these dark creatures were becoming more active around this area. And with a village only about 30 minutes away by flying speed, that was close. Especially if the corruption were close enough to be killing livestock.
His eyes narrowed at the thought before he turned his body to the other side. The bandaged scratches on his hind leg were next. He would be able to use Healing Touch one more time before he had to regain his mana again.
Removing the bandage and poultice, he healed the two gashes on his hind leg. With this, moving around wouldn't be so painful. He still wouldn't dare to put weight on his leg, but now he could stand without much pain on his side.
He slid off the bed, being able to walk around a bit while favoring his right hind leg. It was lifted off the ground but he was able to move with his three other legs. His shoulder that was burned by the touch of the corruption ached though.
Emre didn't know how long Ragan was going to nap though and quickly began to regain his mana while sitting on the floor instead. He would need to heal his wing enough for him to be able to fly.
Another 20 minutes ticked by. Ragan still wasn't around and Emre couldn't hear any footsteps in the next room so he quickly got to work. Removing the bandage and poultice, he realized his wing was actually roughly sutured together with what looked like a thin string.
He would leave the sutures there for now as he slowly stretched his wing down for him to touch. Casing Healing Touch, the separated wing membrane healed together. It was different from a deep flesh wound so after casting Healing Touch again for a second time his wing was practically fully healed with barely the remnants of a scar.
Carefully, he cut the string sutures with his claw and pulled them out. There were tiny holes where they once were but he was sure that it wouldn't affect his flight. Stretching out his wings upward, he felt the relief of no pain in this movement before scrambling him way back onto the bed.
Having healing abilities was truly a cheat. Everything on him would have needed to take at least a week to heal and here he was healing most of it in a few hours. The last Healing Touch he had in him went to his hind leg. He could put weight on it now with just a sore ache.
[ Healing Touch has leveled up ]
What? Oh… So he didn't gain experience from healing himself, but if he used it, the skill still leveled up by itself. That was handy but he didn't intend on hurting himself just to level up the skill. It was just a good note.
Laying on the bed, he stretched himself out. The only remaining bandages and herbs that remained on him were on his burned shoulder. The bandages he used to get the herbs off were sitting in a small mess on the nightstand.
Now he could only wait and regain his mana again for when Ragan came to check on him. His nerves only increased as time went by.
Soon enough he could hear the footsteps and creaking wood in the next room. Ragan was up and moving around. Emre sat up and scampered to the end of the bed. If he reached he was able to flip up the hook from the hatch that kept the window closed. It only opened a tiny bit as Emre carefully made sure it didn't swing open.
It was better if it was less noticeable that the window was open. He then sat in the middle of the bed with his wings folded and his sitting posture straight. Soon enough after a bit of movement, the doorknob turned and Ragan entered with a small tray. There were plants along with a small wooden bowl on it.
Ragan paused as he blinked in surprise. Emre was sitting with a fully healed wing and relatively healed side and leg.
"Looks like I didn't need this many herbs." He said as he closed the door behind him and walked into the room.
Emre was still a bit tense, causing a bit of aching to run around his body. Ragan didn't seem to care. How could he be so nonchalant? Focusing on his Dragon Detection, he could see the large, dense pool of mana surrounding him. It was tons of times better and larger than Emre's. He had to stifle his shock.
"So you do have radiant magic." Ragan added as he walked by and brushed the bandages on the nightstand off and placed the tray onto it.
'You don't mind?' Emre asked cautiously.
"Why would I mind?" He asked with a chuckle. "Less of my herbs being used up."
'You could gain a lot of money from capturing me and taking me to some Kingdom to be sold to a rich man.'
Ragan paused and Emre held back a flinch as he burst out laughing. He held his stomach as he wiped a tear from the corner of his eye.
"I don't need money! I have all I want and need here. I have no reason to use you for gain." Ragan told him as he pulled the chair over to sit in. "Besides, if I really wanted something from a Kingdom I could just go and get it. I'm not unknown in the Gaia Kingdom."
Emre couldn't help but relax as disbelief crossed his dragon features. He spoke as if he could do anything he wanted in this Kingdom.
'What? Are you some influential person here?' Emre scoffed.
"I wouldn't say influential, but I am respected to a point." Ragan answered as he placed the tray onto his lap and began to pick through the herbs. "A few years ago the same dark creatures that have been appearing around here invaded a small village to the northwest. My company of soldiers was sent off to help and we became the heroes of the light destroying the darkness."
'Why are you out here then?'
"They offered me a higher rank and title, but I rejected it. I didn't want to be tied down by the Kingdom anymore so instead of a rank I requested a piece of land and retirement." He began to grind the herbs with the mortar and pestle. "Even so, it was granted reluctantly and I'm still looked upon by the Kingdom. They want me to come out of retirement still after two years of nagging."
'Why didn't you want to climb the ranks? Wouldn't something like that guarantee a life of wealth and riches in the future?'
"I don't care about wealth and riches. What I do care about is the well-being of the people. Had I thought I could make an influence and make the Kingdom better, I might have stayed. But the system is already too corrupt for me to try and alter. The moment I tried something I would surely find myself torn down before I could start."
'I see…' Emre didn't get the chance to think about it as Ragan continued.
"That's another reason as to why I wouldn't sell you off to some noble. The last thing this Kingdom needs is a corrupt someone who can enable their longevity to oppress others."
Emre could see how he could enable that. Having a dragon under their clutches would certainly put a person in a place of power over others. Imagine how it would turn out if this dragon could heal as well. Emre had no intentions of helping someone with ill will. He would rather die again than do so.
"Dragons are the highest beings of nature; of everything. As the elves say, there is no reason for a Dragon to listen to the will of any being lower than them."
'Ah, are you saying you're lower than me?' Emre asked with a smug look on his face.
"As you are now? Absolutely not." Ragan scoffed back as he beckoned Emre closer. "Now let me see that shoulder of yours."
Emre rolled his eyes. He was convinced now. There was no reason for Ragan to use him. He felt he might be able to trust this human. With little hesitance, he scooted to the bed's edge and allowed Ragan to gently remove the bandages and poultice.
Underneath was an ugly-looking black burn in the shape of the corruption's paw. Emre looked away with a scrunched nose. Corruption. Ragan had fought against an invasion-sized amount of these dark creatures. Even if it was with more people, Emre, as he was now, was no match for something like that.
'I'm too weak right now…' Emre muttered not realizing that he was still speaking through his Telepathy.
"You are." Ragan responded as he rubbed a new herbal poultice upon his burn.
The herbs quickly cooled the irritated wound and Emre felt a bit of relief despite Ragan's truthful yet harsh response.
'Ragan?' Emre's voice became serious.
"Hmm?" Ragan's was just nonchalant.
'You're strong, right?' He started. 'Can you teach me?'
Emre had turned his head to look up into Ragan's brown eyes. His golden gaze shined in determination. Ragan could see this and couldn't help but furrow his brows. He tore his eyes away from Emre's and focused on bandaging his shoulder back up.
"Yeah. I have nothing better to do."