After the entire fiasco with the Primal Dragon of Fire at the peak of the volcano, me, Odale and the newest member to my side Frindel returned to the surface, before reuniting with Wezrall.
Of course I had to explain to him everything about Odale and more importantly Frindel, however he was shockingly understanding and even stated the classic:
[Wezrall] "I'd expect no less from you my Lord!"

Yeah....
Reminds me of some... Other subordinates of a different isekai story. They just have too much faith in me man.

Anyways— After we had gathered all our stuff, Frindel helped us leave the Village of Embers as well as exit the thick fog that we had found ourselves inside of - allowing us to be back on the track that led towards the final destination of Yiinao.

Honestly, at the time, I had thought to myself:
'Hopefully things die down for now...'.

Yeaahh.... Not a smart thing to do.
You'd expect me to have jinxed some bad event occuring, but surprisingly - nothing bad happened. If anything, it was actually kind of chill for a while.

The only thing that really was annoying, was Frindels constant... Tantrums lets just say. Okay, they weren't exactly tantrums - more just her acting like a child.
Which was very strange considering her identity. I mean - you'd never in a million years expect a god like dragon to act like a fucking child.

But that's besides the point....
All of that has passed anyway - so let me just get you caught up with the present now.

    6 Days after leaving
        the Village of Embers...

        I was peacefully resting, wrapped around Wezralls neck as he controlled the carriage. Odale was inside the carriage, reading away at some scrolls I had found inside the Primordial Volcano while I was exploring it.
I had tasked him with deciphering these scrolls, as the language in them wasn't one I could read.

What was Frindel up to?
Well—

[Frindel] "Come on Wezrall! Allow me to carry Master around my neck."

She demanded from the Wendigo King.
Wezrall looked a bit annoyed, however at the same time a bit nervous - almost like he didn't want to say 'no' to her.

[Wezrall] "I'm sorry Ms.Frindel but I cannot force Lord Faofa to go and rest around your neck.."

He replied with slight uncertainty in his voice.

Frindel exhaled loudly, looking at me.

[Frindel] "Come on Master! This is not fair! You have only rested around Wezralls neck every time you took on your true form!"

I looked at her for a moment with a slightly sour expression before looking away, closing my eyes. Frindel gasped, tearing up a bit.

[Frindel] "Don't ignore me!"

She then sighed heavily, dropping down into the carriage all gloomy and causing Odale to pick up his gaze towards her.

[Odale] "Oh, Lady Frindel - Would you care to help me decipher these scrolls?-?"

[Frindel] "Not now Odale... Can't you see I'm sad."

Odale laughed lightly and slightly nervously, before returning his attention back to the scrolls.

Wezrall remained silent for a bit, before sighing.

[Wezrall] "My Lord, why do you refuse to rest with Ms.Frindel? Surely there is a solid reason."

I didn't reply at first and simply opened one eye to look at Wezrall, before closing it again.
I then exhaled, lifting my head up to Wezralls head level.

"I simply don't feel really.... Safe resting with her... And besides, your neck is already comfortable enough."

Wezrall laughed lightly to my comment, before sighing.

[Wezrall] "Then I have no objections."

I smiled lightly to his reply, resting my head back down.
I gotta say, ever since Odale and Frindel joined us, it has been more lively. Before with just me and Wezrall, even though it wasn't the two of us for very long, it still managed to not feel as lively.

I mean-
Most of the time, we would only talk about some random things — Mainly related to Wezralls life and other things.

Actually-
Now that I mentioned it - I had learned something new about Wezrall from talking to him.
The {Curse of The Wendigo King} status that I saw on that cursed person in a dungeon, wasn't applied by Wezrall.

Well.... Not intentionally atleast.
Apparently it was something that would be applied at random, whenever somebody came in contact with Wezrall.
Upon touching even a small part of Wezralls body, a living being would have a 50/50 chance of being inflicted with the curse and not being inflicted with it.

So basically, it was like a 'defense mechanism' which would happen at random whenever someone touched him.

Now I know what you're asking—
If that's the case, shouldn't I be inflicted with the curse?

Well, I would be, IF it still functioned the same.
Yeah, it turns out that after becoming my Subordinate, this curse fell entirely under Wezralls full control, meaning that he could choose to inflict it or not.
Which definitely was useful, as it meant I could safely rest on him without being inflicted with it and if we ever encountered someone who deserved to be inflicted with it, we'd be able to use it agaisnt them.

Anyways-
That's enough history lessons.

Back to what was happening to us now.

       As we continued our way down the road, night time slowly began to fall over us. I, of course, didn't want to travel down the road at night, so we pulled the carriage off road into the small and spacious woods to the side of the road.

We'd then look around for a place to set up camp, before eventually stumbling upon a pretty big water source, which seemed to be... Steaming.

I hopped off Wezralls neck, shifting to my human form before approaching the water.

[Odale] "My Lord, be careful - the water seems to be hot."

"Yeah, I can see that Odale. Don't worry, I'm know what I'm doing."

I replied, kneeling down before plunging my left hand into the water - slightly freaking out Odale and Frindel.

I've successfully analysed the water and can confidently say, that this is a natural Hot Spring Master.

'Natural Hot Spring? You know what hot springs are Ancient One?'

Well, for the most part.
In this world, they're usually referred to as 'Mist Springs' or 'Mist Waters' where people come to relax and have some alone time.

However, seeing as they are something that appears to have been a thing in your world, but with a different name, I decided to call them what you called them in your previous world-
'Hot Springs'.

I see...
So basically these were Hot Springs in this world...

I'll be honest - I've actually never been in a hot springs before. I've always heard a lot of good things about them and how they can help you feel better, especially after a stressful day, but I never found the time to visit one myself.

Maybe I could take the liberty of indulging with the feel of hot springs now.
I took my hand out of the water before turning to face Wezrall and the others.

"We'll set up camp here. This is a 'Mist Spring', so feel free to take a dip."

[Odale] "Mist Springs? I didn't recognise them... It's been a long time since I've been in one."

[Frindel] "Is this the water source that you Mortals always rave about being heavenly or something?"

[Odale] "I suppose you could say so."

I laughed lightly - for a Primal Dragon that has been here pretty much since the beginning, Frindel sure doesn't know a lot huh...
I then looked towards Wezrall, who had backed up to a tree, slightly shedded in shadow and who also didn't't seem very fond of the Hot Springs.

I sighed lightly, before approaching him.

"Is everything alright?"

Wezrall looked at me.

[Wezrall] "Well Lord Faofa..."

"Let me guess - You don't do well with 'Hot Areas'?"

Wezrall nodded.
I had figured as much - Wezrall did live high up in the mountains where the temperature was extremely low, so it would be understandable that he wasn't good at handling things such as a hot springs.

"Well, you don't have to enter. You can maybe start cooking some of the Hydra meet we've got?"

Wezrall looked at me excited.

[Wezrall] "Why most certainly Lord Faofa!"

I laughed lightly, before using 'Shadow Manipulation' and bringing a few chunks of the Hydras meat out of the shadows.

"I'll be back in a bit, you start cooking and please look after Odale and Frindel for me."

[Wezrall] "Of course Lord Faofa - your wish is my command."

He stated, bowing towards me slightly.
I laughed again, before leaving him to do his task. Right before I left into the dark woods, I threw a gaze over at Odale and Frindel, who both seemed like they were preparing to enter the hot spring.

I might join them later - but for now, I simply smiled seeing them happy.
After that, I disappeared into the forest.

Inside the forest, I sighed, pressing my back against a tree before clenching my fist.
A sudden headache hit me - As I grabbed my head.

- Warning -
{Corruption of The Abyss}
Has taken Greater Effect
On your Soul.

'God damnit... Why can't this thing just stay under control?'

I thought, slightly groaning in pain.

The headache I felt was brutal - it genuinely felt like my skull was being ripped in half as I was trying to fight off the Corruption.

'Ancient One-'

Already on it.
Increasing the intensity of [Devourer].

As Ancient One increased the intensity of my skill, I felt some cruciating pain in my head, as the Corruption was slowly being pulled back under some what of a control.
Eventually, the pain faded, as I was able to finally let go of my head - breathing heavily.

This stupid corruption....
I had already felt it take slightly greater effect after my whole fight with the Hydra - hell, even before that.
I had felt it slowly increase in effect ever since the slaughter that I went on in the hidden lair of the Hand Sons that me and Wezrall raided.

However, I hadn't paid much attention to it till now, as the effect wasn't increasing by a lot.
But for the last 3 days, it felt like the Corruption was going into overdrive - suddenly spiking up in effectiveness.

It got to the point where I'd feel the effect of the corruption take greater effect and then show it off to Wezrall and the others - which made them worry, but I was luckily able to reassure them that it was nothing.

I then got back up onto my feet, before sighing heavily.

I should warn you early Master—
[Devourer] won't be enough to hold it back for much longer.

The Greater Effect the {Corruption of the Abyss} takes, the less effective [Devourer] will become.

'I figured as much... Looks like I'll have to find a new way to keep it under a lock and key, because my current method is slowly becoming... Dull.'

I thought, before taking in a deep breath and exhaling heavily.
At the very least, Odale, Frindel and Wezrall didn't see me in that pain - cause I'd have no idea how to explain it.

After a couple more moments, I turned back towards where the 'campsite' had been decided to be, before walking back to it.

Meanwhile, many pairs of eyes watched me from the shadows, whispering among one another.

'He has the Corruption... We must inform the Elder.'

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well then!
Seems like Frindel is truly making herself look more and more pathetic. Genuinely a disgrace to the Primal Dragon name!

I mean, seriously!
I'm starting to feel embarrassed about being a Primal Dragon just like her...

Hm?
Oh no... Seems like that Corruption is starting to catch up with Faofa...
That is not good. He won't be able to fool his friends for very much longer.

And his current method is becoming less effective? A truly horrendous situation he is in...

Next Chapter:
91. -
"Forest of Spirits Pt.1"