Alex went back to Atreksos, where the villagers looked confused about the disappearance of the extremely thick smog and the relief some of the younger resident had in their symptoms. The healthier villagers paced around and were helping the under-staffed village hospital to care for the elderly, it wasn't an extremely happy scene as it was reeking of death everywhere but nonetheless, at being given hope to live, the healthier residents wanted to impart that good to others. It was a great show of human empathy in hard times.
Alex also went to the village hospital to see if there was any way he could help. When he entered the extremely crowded place, he noticed the local he asked earlier for directions turned to him suspiciously and whispered to another resident next to him while giving medicine to a patient on the floor.
The local then stumbled carefully to him and asked him quietly "Sir, did you go to the mountains to the north?"
Alex nodded, perhaps he wanted to be truthful or maybe he just wanted recognition so he answered "Yes. There was a Nightmare Lizard born in the cave to the north. It was responsible for the disease plaguing the citizens and farmland."
When Alex pronounced the words 'Nightmare Lizard', it seemed like the entire hospital went quiet and the villager's faces became even more pale than they were already, It seemed like they knew something about it, he'd have to ask Athena later.
One of the locals who heard him, stood up, and asked him "And.....you took care of it?"
Alex nodded "It's in the Underworld now."
When they heard him, the villagers all kowtowed deeply and thanked him, and some ran out, seemingly to bring other villagers.
Alex blushed. He didn't do much, he only external help to send off Lucky, but on the interior, he was very happy, it always felt good to be the hero of the the day, and even though he wasn't the hero of the day during the fire that happened in his middle school, he decided to help these villagers and now he is their hero.
While he was contemplating, a young woman came up to him. She bowed deeply and said "Greetings, Lord. I am the village chief's daughter. He is currently under medical aid so I'm managing the village in his stead. The whole village would love to thank you with a banquet to celebrate your feasts but due to the recent farmland situation, produce is now rationed and we don't have a lot to offer to you. Please accept our apologies, and if you want to punish someone, punish me, the interim chief of the village"
Alex thought that she sounded like a good leader. When it came to their gratitude, she expressed it on behalf of the whole village, and when a situation turns dire, she's ready to face the consequences for her people.
"I didn't help you to get anything in exchange. I'm simply traveling and passing through Atreksos with the smog would have been quite hard." Alex said a little white lie. The villagers didn't buy his reasoning and they all smiled, making Alex rub his head in embarrassment.
Anyways, he thanked the village leader for her initiative. He came here to see if he can help the villagers. The younger ones in the hospital seemed to get better and were reactive but the elderly sick folk were unreactive and their high body heat was the only sign they were alive.
'How can I help?....Is there any way I can do something with my current capabilities?' Alex thought to himself.
Bingo. He found a way. For some of the elderly residents who were already half a step in the grave, they would just accept their demise and say their farewells to the mortal world. But, having reached this age, Alex thought these people deserved to die of old age, not poison. He would thus use the power over dreams he gained earlier to send them messages from their family, to rekindle hope in life. Although he felt like entering their dreams would be a hard task, sending a message is probably doable.
He started with the most sickly-looking person in the room. It was an elderly man with deep wrinkles and defined facial features, exhibiting his advanced age. He asked one of the volunteer nurses about his family, and she stepped out for 2 minutes before bringing in a middle-aged man and a woman who looked to be in her 60s. He was told they were his son and younger sister, respectively.
He asked them what they would want to tell him right now, and they two took turns responding.
"My father always been vulnerable to sickness and such. But it's not his time to visit the Underworld yet, my wife is pregnant and one of his dreams was to have a grandchild. I can't have him leave us before he can see her!"
"My brother, when he's not sick, is as lively as a young man. He might appear old, but in my eyes he's still in his 30s and has much much time left to live."
Alex blocked the tears creeping up in his eyes and nodded. He was going to try this for the first time. He put his hand on the man's head gently, and visualized sending him the messages hiss family wanted him to hear. He felt his senses double, as if he had a new body, sort of like astral projection, and he spoke to words to the man.
When he finished and stopped the transmission, the man's thin and grey eyelashes started to flutter, and he slowly opened his eyes, looking around. When he saw his relatives, it seemed he wanted to stand up but he couldn't.
No need, though. His son and sister kneeled and started sobbing while thanking Alex fervently. Alex nodded and left their reunion in peace. He then moved and did the same to all of the other unconscious patients, after which the admiration on the villager's face turned to worship.
The village chief, who woke up too, thanked him personally, and decided as he officially gave his daughter the village chief position.
There was something else on Alex's mind though. When he helped all of the villagers, he felt a burst of energy in his body, it was extremely weird. The energy felt malleable and Alex could control it however he wanted and channel it anywhere in his body, but he decided not to use it and ask Athena what it was later.
Before leaving the village, a local who claimed to be an artist asked Alex if he could let draw him, Alex accepted. It took only a few dozen minutes before the drawing was finished and Alex was surprised at the quality of the drawing. The artist thanked him and left.
After stepping out of the village, he heard someone calling out and turned around.
It the formerly village chief's daughter, now the village chief, who asked him "Lord, what is your name?"
"It's Alex. The name's Alex"
The village chief then bowed deeply and left.
It seemed his time in the village was over, Alex made his way to the carriage where he found the crew eating, clear of their earlier bouts of sickness, and the mother was eating too, and she seemed to be completely recovered.
Alex told the driver to start the carriage and they resumed on their way, without any of the smog this time. The mother looked anxious but he told her there was no longer any danger and she somehow believed him, nodding and turning her attention to her baby.
When they reached the outskirts of Atreksos, the driver asked him whether they should make a stop there or not but he decided against it. The village was recovering and they had largely enough food and supplies for the remaining part of the trip. They also bade their goodbyes to the mother, who thanked them all for everything and left the carriage, walking in fast steps towards the village she calls home. It's nice to have somewhere you can call home.
The rest of the journey was uneventful, but Alex got to see the aquamarine waters of the Aegean for the first time, and he spent the 6 remaining days of the trip relaxing and writing on his diary.
By the sunset on the 8th day, Alex was able to distinguish human habitations in the distance.
In front of the sea, there were seven forts with short but sturdy-looking walls that made up the city of Abdera. They each held a different purpose.
'We're finally here' Alex sighed and felt happy looking at the sun setting on his first destination in this world...
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