Suddenly, Thessalia felt a sharp pain in her stomach, causing her to stop in her tracks. She leaned against a nearby tree, trying to catch her breath and ease the pain.
As she closed her eyes and focused on her breathing, she heard a rustling in the bushes nearby. Instinctively, she reached for the dagger in her bag, ready to defend herself if necessary. But to her relief, it was only a small group of deer passing by.
Once the pain subsided, Thessalia continued on her journey, now even more determined to find a healer. As the day turned into night, she found a small village and decided to rest for the night.
She approached an old woman who was sitting at the porch and asked, “Excuse me, Ma’am. May I ask if you know the Shadowvale town well?”
The old woman gaze her with concern as she
