After some more time travelling, it gets a little darker. About late evening, with the sky turning a deep blue colour. But there is still plenty of "sunlight" before you start getting nervous. Fungi, however, is already showing signs of impatience, increasing its pace every few seconds before slowing down to stay even with you and your pace.
You ask it what Negi are and how they relate to whatever "Synergy" is.
'Oh--what?' It ives you a confused look which lingers for a few seconds before answering. 'Airith must be a weird and faraway place. To explain what Negi are, I gotta explain Synergy. Which works out because you wanted to know what Synergy is anyway. Synergy is living energy. It's a presence. I don't know that much about it, but basically . . . it lets us do things. Manipulate our reality. It's made up of two halves: Light and Dark.'
'Sounds like magic', you put in.
'If that's what you call it in Airith, then I guess so? Anyway, Negi are creatures totally controlled by Darkness. I think they operate on pure instinct--something like that. They like to prey on souls, especially those of Light. Synergy allows their vitcims to defend themselves. Do you see where I'm going with this?'
'So, you're saying I need ma--Synergy to make sure I'm not munched on by these Negi things.'
'Basically, yeah.'
'I . . . have a lot more questions', you reply. 'One of them being: Is your village actually safe?'
'Of course! I mean, my village still exists, if that tells you anything! You should hold on to those other questions until you meet our Sage. He's far more knowledgable than I am.'
.
.
.
You reach a clearing in the woods surrounded by large trees, with many
odd looking huts dotted here and there in the clearing. 'Well, we're here!', Fungi chirps. 'Sage Village.'
'I thought you said you were from Viridian.'
'Just . . .' It facepalms before continuing. 'Just come with me.'
A short walk later and you're outside a hut that is clearly more grand than the others. Its roof is a brilliant green, rather than the pale reddish colour of the others, and it's draped in dark green flags. 'This is the Home of the Sage. I can come with you if you want if, you know, you're shy. He won't bite though. Just try not to be too weird. I know you're from Airith and can't help it but . . . try? Though I think you're from a much closer place and just want to mess with another tribe. Maybe you're into that sort of thing.' It shrugs.
'I'll try not to', you state sarcastically before rapping lightly on the door. You hear a voice telling you to enter, and you comply.
You're met with the sight of another talking mushroom--this one with a sunken face, seemingly-closed eyes and a knowing smile. It has a long staff with a colony of mushrooms growing from it here and there. The Sage is dressed in red and green cloths, and not much else. It raises its head slightly before speaking. 'Fungi, you have done well to offer hospitality to this strange lifeform. Come, sit. Would you like a cup of Chloro?'
> What say/do?