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[Day 81]
Today we woke rather eagerly, we had finally reached the other side of the mountain, and ahead of us, aside from the beautiful and boundless blue sky, there were finally a clear path, no more annoying forests!
Well, there were still some here and there, but there was a clear path and a long river that led to somewhere a few kilometers away.
And the sky was mostly clear, there were no annoying wind slimes or birds, so Huginn and Muninn went ahead and flew ahead of us, while we slowly moved through the long river.
"This is it! This river is the one that leads to my town, usually, towns are villages are built at the side of rivers so we can have fresh water every day… My tribe used to be nomadic until they settled down at the side of this river, since generations that they had been here," said Benladann.
"I see… I have always wondered how much does your race lives?" I asked.
"Hmm… I think I've heard that we live around 300 years, or a bit less or a bit more," said Benladann.
300 years…
Meanwhile, I will never grow old.
Ah…
Does this means that… Benladann will slowly grow old as I… stay the same?
What...
Ugh, I shouldn't think of such stuff.
"Drake?" she asked.
"Oh, nothing… I was just wondering… How long do other races live… I think I might not grow old as a dragon, kind of like… being ageless," I said.
"Oh… That's so cool!" said Benladann.
"Is it?" I wondered, glancing at the floor.
Benladann tilted her head while wondering why I was feeling so down, but I quickly decided to forget about these thoughts.
"Anyways! For now, go take a bath so you can be well presentable for your parents! You said the village is near, right?" I asked.
"Oh right!" Benladann quickly ran back to the bathroom I had made, as she boiled water and took a bath over the bathtub.
As she went to bathe, I decided to watch over the crows as they flew ahead of us, the day was rather beautiful.
The sky was blue and boundless, there was barely any cloud, but… even this natural beauty couldn't calm down my nervousness… Ugh, I shouldn't really appear, I might end up scaring them…
Maybe if I hide for now and I let Benladann be with her parents… and after she talks about me previously with them before meeting me… and then they meet me… Yeah, that would be better, so they don't have a heart attack after seeing such a terrifying dragon like me.
After Benladann took a bath, she quickly got into her best clothes possible, which were all made of leather, but she still looked rather gorgeous.
She sat over my back as we decided to fly and reach the crows.
"Alright, let's go!"
I quickly flapped my wings and used wind magic to impulse myself through the skies, reaching high above.
"Take care!" said Fuyu.
"We will!" said Benladann, as we flew into the distance.
We flew through the skies, soaring above everything, we really feel free from everything.
As I flapped my wings, we finally reached the two crows, who squeaked after seeing us.
Suddenly both of them began to fly around us, as if ding acrobatics, making Benladann a bit happy… although I am sure that these two waited for some prize, Benladann didn't bring any meat.
We felt the wind cross through our faces, it was rather refreshing.
"Haha! We are so up above, Drake!" said Benladann, as I smiled.
"Indeed… Do you like to travel like this?" I asked.
"I love it! Especially because you… you carry me," she said.
"I see… I also like to carry you over my back," I said.
"I wonder how my parents might be… It has been so many years…" sighed Benladann.
"I am sure that they should be fine, after all, you said they live long lives, right?" I asked.
"Yeah! You're right! I bet they might be a bit older, but nothing much should have changed…" said Benladann.
"That's right, let's hope for the best! Oh, look!"
As we chatted around, I suddenly spotted something, it seemed rather fuzzy from the distance, but as I flew faster towards it using wind magic, we quickly reached it and I was able to see it better… it was plain that had a bunch of houses made of wood, there were even corrals where animals were held.
"Oh! T-That's it! That must be it! My tribe! Fly down, fly down, Drake!"
"Alright!"
I quickly began to slow down my charge through the skies, slowly descending.
As we descended more and more, we began to see things in more detail.
How odd… Why… there is no one around?
And then, a sudden scent hit me… this scent… is the scent of burnt… wood?!
"Eh? Why there's no one around? Are they all sleeping?" wondered Benladann, as we quickly reached the surface.
She jumped right off my back and began to run into the town, as I slowly walked behind her.
She seemed to not notice the smell, or perhaps she did and was… pretending to not.
She ran around the houses, calling everyone to come out, but no one came out.
"T-That's my house!"
She ran pointing at her house, which was a bit separated from the others.
But… as I walked around, I saw a lot of dust around the houses, painting the snow black and gray.
What happened here?
Who did this?
Some houses were made into ruins, covered by snow and dust, and… Benladann's house.
It was… the ceiling had fallen over the house.
She ignored it and she ran into the house, knocking on the door.
"Dad! Mom! I am back!"
Knock, knock.
"I am back! Mom? D-Dad?"
CLASH!
Suddenly, she used her strength and broke the door open, as I walked at her side and glanced at the interior from behind her.
It was all burnt down.
The beds… everything.
And…
This…
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