The morning wakes Sely with a drizzle. The sky is grey and the grass sways in the wind.

Of course, it's still cold…

Sely turns over in her blanket, sore and with a stuffy nose. A feeling of hunger in her stomach warns her that she has to get up. She has to have breakfast.

“Yes, yes, I'm going-I'm going!” she moans.

The blanket is damp, Sely notices by folding it.

It must have rained recently, otherwise, it would be soaked. So lucky!

The sun, still low on the horizon, reminds Sely of the night light. Right, that's where she needs to go.

She takes out the telescope, climbs onto the rock next to which she has been resting and sits down. She starts looking around, it's easier in daylight.

AND…

Yes!

Perfect.

Joy fills her, it's right there!

In the end, with the telescope you can already see what it is. It's a small camp, consisting of some cloths, a large backpack and a campfire.

It won't be Vanoge, but it could be a local inhabitant. Sely could ask for information, or perhaps be escorted in exchange for some coins.

Thinking about the coins, Sely takes one out of her purse. It is a pearly piece of iron, similar to an oval scale. She doesn't know the meaning well; her mother only told her to use them in exchanges with humans.

How much was a coin worth? Will it be enough to buy information?

Mum took care to tell me not to trust too much... but she didn't give me an objective value to base myself on.

“Aah! Ma, how can I make a fair exchange if I don't know the value of what I can offer?” Sely playfully raises her fist to the sky.

She thinks back with nostalgia to her mother, to their hunting sessions, to the few times she told her something about herself.

But now I'm here and I can't waste time! Coin or not, I have to get to the humans before they leave camp!

⁂

Arriving near the camp, Sely recognizes a figure.

A human, bent over to pick a white flower. These are flowers scattered across the plateau, although not very common.

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Eh! But… he's so cute!

Sely only saw humans during her childhood, before her mother isolated herself from the rest of the world. For her, seeing the young boy's face with white skin is something rare.

The human hasn't noticed her yet. He stands bent over with a small knife in his hand, a bag slung over his shoulder, as he tries to uproot the flower.

He dresses in a simple suit, wool trousers, and leather shoes. His curled hair sways and Sely can't help but stare.

The girl approaches slowly, she doesn't want to disturb him, not yet.

But…

Plotch!

Foot in a puddle!

Damn!

The boy turns around, showing his eyes. One green, one brown. But he doesn't get up, as if paralyzed.

“Um, hi!” Sely nods, smiling.

The boy says nothing. He remains bent over, the dirty knife in one hand, the uprooted flower in the other. His muddy wrists are trembling.

“It's drizzling, eh” Sely continues, “thank goodness, look, I feared a very powerful storm would come, haha”.

Without saying anything, the boy takes a step back and raises the knife. He is shaking and starting to breathe heavily.

Hm? But what's wrong with this!? Do you want to see that mom forgot to tell me something important?

Maybe I offended him…

HA! Right!

I didn't even introduce myself! How silly!

And to think that in the Silver Chronicles we often talk about human uses!

Sely gives a little bow, and swings her antennae.

“Hello human who collects herbs, my name is Sely and…”

“Oh, no! You will not deceive me!”

“Huh?”

“You're a man-eater! You won't be able to fool me! I won't end up like..."

"Hey!!! But what you're saying!?" Sely reaches out and takes a step forward.

“Don't come closer! No! NO!" The young man drops the flower to hold the knife with two hands.

He holds it on his chest, scared as if faced with an arachnoid.

Sely doesn't know what to say, of all the possible reactions, she certainly didn't expect such a welcome. She needs to calm him down, perhaps by establishing a dialogue.

“Hmm… sorry if I scared you, but I'm not bad. I'm serious, I need directions.” Sely raises her hands, showing empty palms.

The boy blinks, and lowers his guard a little.

“Directions?”

“Yes, to get to Vanoge, I can also pay, wait” Sely starts rummaging in her bag, “I should have some coins…”

Plitch, Plotch, Plitch, plotch, plitch, plitch…

Hearing footsteps in the puddles, Sely raises her head.

The boy is running towards a creek.

No! Jeez!

“Hey, wait! Wait please!!!"

But the boy becomes smaller and smaller on the horizon, without ever turning around.

Sely watches him for a while, not paying attention to the fact that the rain has increased. Now it's a real downpour.

Ugh… who knows what I did wrong?

The water weighs down her long hair and she looks up to rinse her face.

“Aaah! I will find you again and apologize for my rudeness! I swear on my Chronicle.”

Approaching the boy's bag left on the ground, Sely recognizes some embroidered characters.

Oh, it's writing I know! Let's see…

Endya, Herbalist, apprentice of the alchemist Toslevi.

Reading those words, Sely's eyes widen. Did you read correctly? Does it actually say “apprentice of the alchemist Toslevi”!?

Dad…

New strength and enthusiasm flow through Sely's veins, and she sets off in pursuit.

“Hey, Endya! Endyaaa! Wait! Wait for me!!!”