Houses made out of wood, there was no road or sidewalk and trees are everywhere, the village looks like something you'd find 700-900 BC.
"I think my expectations were too high.."
"I mean, it looks like most kobold villages but you will see some beautiful cities once we arrive at the Dragonfolks territory."
"Okay."
Emilia was walking right behind Dawn, the nice smell of nature was stronger here than on the Tainzer Planices where the smell was rather bland. Emilia looked around, there were small wolf-humanoid kids running around and having fun though there werent as much people outside now as it was high noon but of the few people outside they were looking at Emilia wondering what she was. Not many people knew what dragons were as they were just mentioned in ancient books as creatures of destruction and in rare times they were the ones who helps out the hero.
Emilia kept on walking but Dawn suddenly stopped, she looked behind and saw her shaking..?
"Is something wrong?"
Dawn turned around and grabbed Raenir, he tried to grab his sword out of instinct but Dawn was faster.
"The hell-"
Raenir was surely shocked by Dawn sudden actions, but she let him go after a quick look into his eyes.
"Where is the chief?"
"H-he should be at the center but why did you-"
Dawn shot forward towards the center without paying attention to Raenir. Emilia was confused by her sudden actions, maybe she is just happy about being here?
Emilia decided go after Dawn and quickly caught up to her.
"Dawn, What's wron- Oof!"
But sadly Emilia wasn't used to run at full speed in an rather uneven ground so she tripped and fell down to the muddy ground head on.
"Ugh.."
Emilia slowly got up, she raised her head to see Dawn slamming open the door and entering a building that was more well built than the others and a little bigger, she guessed it was the chief's house. Emilia shook her head to get off the dirt and an annoyed expresion made way to her face, her scales were dirty with the mud on the ground.
"..That was quite a hard fall, are you okay?"
Raenir asked Emilia, though they didnt know each other for long he was a little worried about her.
'Though he is timid he is also quite empathetic.'
"Ahem, I'm fine, let's just see why Dawn dashed towards the chief's house now."
Raenir nodded and took the lead, once they reached the chief's house Raenir opened the door. A small wooden table with a few small and round wood logs for chairs, in the wall there was a shelf with 5 small totems wich each looked like a diffrent race. An elf, kobold, dwarfes, shroomnies and an orc.
More far into the house, was were Dawn and the chief of the village was, Dawn was crying while the chief looked out of the window with a sad expression.
"S-shouldn't you tell them?"
"It would be better if we passed on without any worry."
"What- who is dying?!"
Raenir rushed in as he heard that people were going to die? Emilia was staring at the crying Dawn trying to wipe her tears, she felt bad looking at Dawn but she didnt know how to comfort her.
"..Raenir, was it?"
"Yes! It's me!"
"You were out the day of the feast right?"
"Yes? I was increasing my elemental power at that time. Did something happened while i was not there?"
"Young one, dont you wanna leave to explore the world?"
"Yes, but why are you saying that so suddenly? What is happening?"
"The tribe is infected."
"Wha- No- How? When did it happen-"
"Calm down Raenir."
"How the hell can i calm down? You are saying that everyone is going to die!"
"How did this even happen?!"
"The fungus has mutated, now it stays hidden in the body of people without any symptom for a few days then they take over."
"I-isnt there anything i can do?!"
"Yes, leave the Tainzer Planices."
"I wont-"
"We can still get a Concentrated Nucleos to cure them!"
Dawn that was quiet suddenly shouted, she remembered of an old book that she read that deep within the infected forest there is a divine crystalized water that can cure any disease.
"But venturing into the land of the infected is too dangerous and we dotn even know if it exists!"
"I am a full aura and you are also very aware that i have a dragon by my side, and i wont abandon you like i did with them!"
"Dawn, if you are doing this to 'repay debt', it is better to leave. I dont want you to die."
"The same goes for you! I wont leave you to wait for your death! And this isnt about making up for what i did in the past, it is about saving a friend!"
"What's going on?"
While Dawn, village chief and Raenir were discussing the future death of almost all residents of the wolf tribe and how to possibly save them, Emilia was confused as she didnt quite get the whole situation yet.
"Chrono! Let's go we dont have time!"
"B-but we just got here!"
Dawn rushed out the door and headed towards the Tainzer planices.
"Wait Dawn!"
"Village chief, if you arent going to tell me what i can do to save everyone i will find my answear with that kobold!"
With that, Raenir tightened his fists and rushed out to follow Dawn, they quickly left while Emilia was standing still not quite understanding anything. The chief sighed and approached Emilia.
"So you are a dragon?"
"Ye- I mean, no! I am a Spiritual Fire Fly!"
The village chief gently laughts when he heard Emilia.
"You dont seem as bad as the legends describe."
"..."
"My name is Trek."
"Chronos."
Both of them stayed in silent for a while.
"..Aren't you scared of me?"
"I'm too old to be scared. I might even die tomorrow so there is no time to be scared."
Trek slowly walked out of the door and looked at the sky, Emilia followed right behind.
"Mistress Dawn already told you about the fungus that can take over the body little one?"
Emilia nodded her head.
"We are infected, all of the village less some that were already sent away are. And your friend, Dawn, is trying to reach the core of the cursed forest to find an item that is said to be able to cure any disease in the body, but i doubt it even exists."
"What?! Isn't that place dangerous? Is it even worth chasing something that might not even exist?"
"..Dawn was always like this. She never think of the worst in dangerous situation aswell as being the first to help people in need."
"But the place that she is going to, even those at Full Aura would step in the cursed forest without caution."
Emilia turned her head around towards the place Dawn and Raenir were running, Emilia was thinking of convincing Dawn to just avoid this whole situation but..
"Wait young dragon."
Emilia looked towards Trek and saw him throwing something at her, it was a necklace with a purple gem in shape of a wolf teeth.
"Since this might be the last time i meet Dawn, once she returns to see this desolate place, give this to her as then, she atleast might not feel as guilty."
Emilia looked deep into Trek eye and answered him with determination.
"Dont worry, the worst wont happen and we will find a way to save everyone!"
Though Emilia didnt know Trek, she knew that he meant something to Dawn and just seeing him in this state could shake her, she doesnt want to know how she will react if almost all of this tribe gets annihilated to a fungus. But even if that does happen, she can just rewind time and bring them back, right? Though she didn't do it now to not reveal her cards, afterall not everyone is a good person, she once saw some old man on tv hat sued the same guy that donated an organ to him. And he won. Moral of the story, just because you saved someone doesn't mean they will be nice to you, they might even try to take advantage from your kindness.
Trek smilled at Emilia response and went back inside. Emilia jumped as hight as she could and started flapping her wings to fly and catch up with Dawn.