Earn my trust

The wind whipped around them as Eira clung tightly to the dragon's ridged back. The expanse of the island below seemed endless, but her eyes remained locked ahead, on the mountain that housed the island's dying core.

After several moments of silence, Eira couldn't hold back her curiosity. "Why did you come to this island?" she asked, her voice rising above the wind.

The dragon's reply came with a low growl, laced with both disdain and a flicker of something unreadable. "I will not tell you why. You don't need to know."

Eira's brow furrowed, sensing the refusal in his tone but deciding to let it go for now. She pushed forward with her next question. "The balls of fire that fell onto the island—do you know anything about them?"

The dragon was silent for a long moment, but she could feel his immense gaze shift towards her. "I arrived after they fell. I do not know what they were, only that they brought ruin to the land. But their power still taints this island."

Eira nodded, understanding now that the dragon, despite being a creature of immense power, had no knowledge of the mysterious flames. She couldn't help but wonder how much of this situation was out of his control.

As they reached the outskirts of the dragon's lair, the mountainous range looming before them, Eira could see the darkened core below. The air was heavy with the island's dying energy. Her heart pounded as she reached into her satchel, pulling out the glowing replacement core the system had provided.

The dragon's gaze snapped to it immediately, and she felt the weight of his scrutiny. There was a long, tense silence before the dragon spoke again, his voice deep with suspicion.

"How did you come by that?" he asked, his tone sharper now. "It is not easy to obtain such a core. Few can even dream of acquiring one."

Eira's hands tightened around the core, but she did not falter. "It was given to me."

The dragon's eyes narrowed, but he didn't speak for a long while. Internally, he was already contemplating her.

He could not put his finger on it, but there was something about her, something hidden beneath the surface. His suspicion grew, and for the first time in a long while, the dragon began to wonder about the girl who had the audacity to seek him out—and to possess something so rare.

"I see," the dragon finally murmured. "Then let's see if your actions are as certain as your words."

Eira stepped forward, holding the core carefully, ready to replace the island's corrupted heart.

With one final glance at the dragon, Eira knelt down, holding the glowing core before her. The energy pulsed softly in her hands, a steady rhythm that felt almost alive. She could feel the island's suffering, a slow, painful death caused by the corruption festering in its heart.

Her fingers brushed the cracked, darkened surface of the old core. As she did, the earth around her trembled, the weight of centuries of decay pressing in on her. She could hear the dragon's low growl behind her, a warning, or perhaps a sign of impatience.

Eira took a deep breath. She could do this.

Carefully, she placed the replacement core into the hollow left by the old one. The moment the new core made contact, the entire island seemed to hold its breath. The corrupted core shuddered, its malignant energy swirling around the area, as if it were trying to fight back. But Eira's hands never faltered, and her gaze remained steady.

The dragon watched closely, his sharp eyes tracking every movement. There was something familiar about her composure—like she had done this before, or perhaps like she had been destined for this moment. Yet he could not recall ever encountering someone like her.

Eira's heart raced, the power of the core beginning to surge through her, filling the air with raw, untamed magic. A low hum emanated from the ground beneath her, and she felt a strange pull, a magnetic force drawing her deeper into the task.

The dragon, sensing the energy shift, took a few cautious steps forward. "What is this?" he muttered, as a gentle, but undeniable wave of energy began to ripple outward from the core. The island's dying heart was stirring once more, the corruption beginning to retreat. The power of the new core was overwhelming the old.

Eira closed her eyes, focused on the task at hand. She could feel the magic within her, a distant whisper from the system, urging her on. The energy was now coursing through the island, and she could feel the dragon's curiosity shifting from suspicion to something else—perhaps respect.

"Is it… working?" she whispered, half to herself and half to the dragon.

The dragon studied her closely, his piercing eyes scanning the area around them as the land seemed to heal. The corrupted aura surrounding the island began to dissipate, slowly giving way to the revitalizing pulse of the new core. The air felt lighter, fresher, as though a long-forgotten weight had been lifted.

As the island's life force began to return, something else stirred deep within Eira. The system—her mysterious guide, the one that had been silent for so long—finally awakened. A soft, yet unmistakable voice echoed in her mind.

"Core replacement successful. Island stabilization commencing."

"You are the owner of this island," the voice continued, its tone neutral but firm. "Designation confirmed."

Eira blinked in confusion, her heart racing. "Owner?" she echoed softly, a sense of disbelief filling her chest.

Previously as Athena Grant,she was supposed to inherit a small school from her father before her unfortunate death,now suddenly her death didn't feel unfortunate at all.

"Name?",the system asked.

After careful thought she replied, " Eldora"

Meanwhile the dragon silently stared at Eira,the little human kept muttering to thin air for some reason. She just kept getting more interesting.

After naming the island a screen popped up in front of Eira,showing her current information:

>Host's name : Eira Liora

>Age : 16

>Status: Current owner of Eldora

>Level : Beginner

>Current situation : Unhealthy

Eira was about to exit the screen when a box wrapped up like a gift popped up,startling her.

"System Rewards:

1 Health vial

Knowledge on the introduction to farming unlocked: "Knowledge database available. You may access guides on soil enrichment, crop rotation, and irrigation systems. All resources have been adapted for the island's unique environment."

Eira quickly clicked on the package and immediately felt a wave of knowledge burst through her brain. After a few seconds the pain disappeared, and all that was left was a small vial.

She swallowed hard,faced the dragon and drew the small vial from her pocket. Its crystalline surface shimmered faintly, the liquid inside glowing a soft gold.

The dragon's eyes narrowed. "What is that?"

"A health vial," she said plainly. "It's meant to heal me."

The dragon's gaze flickered to her pale, sickly face, then back to the vial. "And yet you're offering it to me?"

"I need your help,If you take this,you would be healed" she admitted, gripping the vial tightly. She had thought long about it,sending off such a potential ally would be very stupid considering her situation.

The dragon let out a low, rumbling laugh, though it lacked true humor. "You? Heal me? Do you hear yourself, little human? You can barely stand without trembling, yet you think you have the luxury to help me?"

"I've already survived things no one else has," Eira shot back, her jaw tightening. "I walked into your lair when everyone else stayed far away. I found the island core and replaced it. So, yes, I think I can heal you.

You know nothing about me"

The dragon blinked, taken aback by her sudden fierceness. For a moment, silence stretched between them, broken only by the faint rustling of the wind.

Finally, he leaned down, his massive head lowering until his golden eyes were level with hers. "And why," he rumbled, "should I trust you?"

"You shouldn't", Eira continued not leaving his eyes for a second, " You're here for survival aren't you? So are we,so instead of going on and having a one sided war where you slaughter us all why don't we just try to co-exist, and you might never know,I might just keep surprising you." She ended with a smirk.

The dragon tilted his head, his gaze lingering on her face. The weight of her words hung heavy in the air. Finally, he let out a low growl. "You're reckless, little one. But fine. Let's see if your gamble is worth anything."

With that Eira uncorked the vial with trembling hands, the golden liquid inside catching the faint light of the cavern.

Eira tipped the vial, letting half of the golden liquid flow into her mouth. It was warm, almost soothing, as it slid down her throat. Instantly, she felt a surge of energy, her vision sharpening and the heaviness in her limbs lifting slightly. But only slightly. She could feel it—her body wasn't fully healed.

Without hesitation, she stepped closer to the dragon and held the vial up. "Your turn."

The dragon eyed her for a moment, then lowered his massive head, opening his mouth just enough for her to pour the remaining liquid onto his tongue.

As soon as the liquid touched him, a ripple of light coursed through his body, illuminating his scales in a dazzling display. The wounds on his flank began to knit together, the scars fading until they were nothing more than faint lines. His breathing grew stronger, deeper, as though he had just shed the weight of centuries.

The dragon rose to his full height, towering over Eira with a renewed vitality that seemed almost otherworldly. He stretched his wings, the cavern trembling slightly as their sheer size filled the space.

"I feel... whole again," he rumbled, his voice carrying a note of wonder. He looked down at Eira, who was leaning against the wall for support. Despite the partial healing she'd received, she still looked pale and fragile.

"And you," he said, narrowing his eyes. "You're still weak."

Eira shrugged, managing a faint smile. "I'll survive. I've made it this far, haven't I?"

The dragon let out a low, rumbling chuckle. "Very well, little scholar. You have my attention. Let's see if you can earn my trust."