As her consciousness slowly returned, the world seemed to refocus, swirling from darkness into fragmented clarity. Sounds that were initially muffled gradually sharpened, transforming into distinct whispers, like echoes bouncing off the walls of a cave. Her eyelids fluttered like weakened wings, struggling to free her from the remnants of sleep. With a painful effort, she lifted her head from the soft pillow and gently opened her eyes, taking in her surroundings with growing awareness.

Looking around, Shalyn saw a variety of vials filled with different kinds of liquids blooming in many colors and shades, numerous books, and what appeared to be precious crystals, all neatly arranged on wooden shelves and racks.

The room had a warm, inviting glow, with candlelight casting flickering shadows on the walls, illuminating intricate tapestries that depicted ancient, mystical scenes. Looking around, Shalyn saw a variety of vials filled with different kinds of liquids blooming in many colors and shades, numerous books, and what appeared to be precious crystals, all neatly arranged on wooden shelves and racks.

She looked around for a few moments, trying to remember what had happened and how she ended up there. After several long moments, she decided to get up. She gently placed her feet on the dark, wooden floor and then quickly stood up from the bed, which caused a slight dizziness.

Shalyn grabbed her head, which turned out to be bandaged, and then took a hesitant step towards the window, bypassing the large table. When she looked out, she saw a small garden with a pond in the center.

The garden was full of multicolored flowers, trees, and shrubs that Shalyn had never seen before. In the pond swam creatures that looked like eels and small jellyfish. Her attention was also drawn to the large number of birds perched on the branches of the larger trees. The gentle rustling of leaves and the soft chirping of birds created a serene background sound, accompanied by the distant trickling of water caused by the movement of eels.

For a while, the girl lost herself in the splendid view, feeling a sense of peace wash over her. Then she noticed a familiar silhouette. It was the same woman they had both encountered in the forest. Right, "both" for it was only at this moment that Shalyn remembered Sylleth, and a pang of worry shot through her.

The woman approached one of the bushes, which was a beautiful crimson color, and gathered a handful of its leaves, along with a few thorns from the blue bush next to it. Shalyn watched her with growing curiosity and a hint of apprehension, when she heard the familiar voice again, sending a shiver down her spine.

"Peeking isn't very polite, my dear." the woman said softly, turning towards the girl. With a slow motion of her hand, she placed the gathered leaves and thorns into a basket nearby. "I thought it would take you longer to recover." she remarked, picking up the basket from the ground.

She wore a flowing robe of soft gray, adorned with intricate black accents that added a touch of dark elegance. The robe was cinched at the waist with a silver cord, enhancing her graceful silhouette. Around her neck hung a glowing azure crystal, pulsating with an otherworldly light that seemed to resonate with her very presence.

The woman began to walk slowly towards the wooden door to the right of the garden, which likely led to the cottage where Shalyn currently found herself.

"Wait a moment, I’ll join you shortly." The woman said before disappearing behind the wooden door.

"Y-yes!" Shalyn replied in a slightly embarrassed and tired voice, then walked over to the bed and lay back down, contemplating where Sylleth might be now.

Several minutes passed before the woman reentered the room, holding a clay cup filled with what appeared to be tea.

"Drink this, but slowly—it’s still hot." the woman instructed as she handed Shalyn the cup, then sat down on a small wooden chair beside the bed.

"Thank you, ma’am—"

"Lazare." the woman interjected with a soft smile. "That’s my name."

Shalyn took a cautious sip of the tea, grimacing at its exceptionally bitter taste. "I’m Shalyn," she replied, her voice heavy with exhaustion.

"And your friend?" Lazare’s question made Shalyn’s eyes widen, jolting her to full alertness.

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"Oh, right! What about him?! Is he okay?!" She leaped from the bed, her face a mix of worry and hope.

"He’s resting in the next room; he should be alright." Lazare said with a shrug. "Well, except for his hand—it’s in pretty bad shape, but he’ll survive."

Shalyn sighed in relief, took another sip of tea, and then asked, "Ms. Lazare, thank you so much..." The girl knew that in these post-war times, few people would dare to help strangers, especially an elf and a shapeshifter.

"Oh, it’s nothing." Lazare said, gently patting Shalyn on the head. "But if I may ask, what were you doing in this part of Austeria?"

"We’re trying to get to Naso... our families were captured by hunters, and our last hope was Sylleth’s aunt." Shalyn explained, sipping her tea intermittently.

"Naso? That’s quite far from here..." Lazare rose from her chair and walked over to one of the shelves, where a large black book sat with a black serpent embossed on its cover.

The woman carefully removed the thick, black book from the shelf and carried it over to Shalyn with deliberate steps.

"Normally, traveling there on foot would take you just over three weeks." she said, her voice calm but carrying an edge of gravity. She opened the book and began flipping through the pages with practiced ease, her eyes scanning the text as if searching for a specific passage.

"Three weeks?" Shalyn’s face registered clear surprise. "I was under the impression it was only a few days' journey..."

Lazare closed the book with a soft thud, a faint frown creasing her brow. She then rose from the chair with a graceful motion, her robe flowing around her.

"Please wait a moment, I’ll be right back." she said, her tone carrying a hint of urgency. With that, she exited the room, leaving Shalyn alone with her thoughts.

Shalyn sighed softly, her eyes following the retreating figure of Lazare. After a moment of contemplation, she took a sip of her tea, savoring the warmth and trying to calm her racing thoughts. Setting the cup down, she slowly got out of bed and made her way to the window.

Gazing out, Shalyn watched as birds flitted among the branches of the vibrant garden outside. The sight was calming, the gentle rustling of leaves and the cheerful chirping of the birds providing a soothing contrast to the turmoil of her recent experiences.

Shalyn spent the next few minutes watching the birds, their cheerful chirping providing a fleeting sense of home. Just as she was about to sink completely into her nostalgia, Lazare reentered the room, holding a scroll.

"I have a small proposal for you." Lazare said, unfurling the scroll to reveal a complex pattern of overlapping magical circles.

Shalyn turned her attention to her, placing her now-empty cup on the windowsill.

"Yes?"

Lazare's eyes sparkled with a hint of excitement. "I could use this magical circle to send you to Naso." she explained, rolling up the scroll with care. Shalyn's eyes brightened with hope. "However, I lack the magical energy to activate it myself."

The hope flickered out as swiftly as it had come, leaving Shalyn’s spirits to sink.

"Do you know someone who might have enough?" Shalyn asked, her voice tinged with desperation as she made her way back to the bed.

"I actually do." Lazare answered, turning toward the door with a hint of resolve. "But first, would you like to visit your friend?"

A spark of excitement ignited in Shalyn’s eyes. Despite the pounding pain in her head and joints, she leapt from the bed with renewed energy.

"Has he woken up yet?!" she asked, her voice full of anxious hope.

"Unfortunately, not yet." Lazare said, stepping into the corridor, which was lined with wooden bookshelves that served as walls. "He’s in worse shape than I initially realized."

Shalyn hurried to follow her, taking in the vast array of books that filled the shelves. Lazare stopped before another set of wooden doors and opened them slowly.

Shalyn entered the room, which was modest in size. Bookshelves flanked either side of the door, and a rich brown leather rug covered the floor. At the center of the room, next to a small desk, was a large bed.

"Sylleth!" Shalyn rushed to the bedside where the boy lay.

His head and left arm were encased in thick bandages, starting from his fingertips and extending up to his forearm. From the bandages, faint wisps of purple smoke drifted upward. Shalyn settled into a small wooden chair, identical to the one in the previous room, and leaned over the unconscious boy.

"What’s happening to his arm?" she asked, her voice quivering with concern.

Lazare moved closer, positioning herself next to Shalyn.

"It appears that the fire you encountered was cursed." she said gently. "It’s causing his hand to rot."

"Cursed? Rotting? By whom?!" Shalyn’s voice was a mix of alarm and desperation as she clutched Sylleth’s right hand. "Sylleth…"

Lazare approached the desk on the right side of the bed, bent down, and picked up a small, ornate vial, which she tossed gently toward Shalyn.

As Shalyn caught the vial, she noticed it contained a swirling, hypnotic purple flame.

"The fire was caused by a wyvern." Lazare explained, her tone steady. "However, their nearest nest is located north of Ilythyrra."

"S-So, how did they end up here?" Shalyn asked, her voice quivering with fear.

"It’s likely that someone brought them here," Lazare said, stepping closer to Shalyn. "This person also enchanted the fire."

"But I saw arrows..." Shalyn extended her hand, handing the vial back to Lazare.

"The arrows were probably used to spread the fire across a wider area..." Lazare took the vial from Shalyn’s hand. "But we have a more urgent issue now." She nodded towards the unconscious Sylleth. "I can't treat him on my own; he needs a medic."

"We have to get to Naso quickly... But wait, who is this person you mentioned?" Shalyn released Sylleth’s hand, her concern evident.

"Well, it is you..."