Gala led Nimora to Dr. Thrain's residence. Along the way, she recounted the history of Nimora's parents, who had once helped the people of Tenebrous during times of war.
Nimora had no knowledge of this, as even her grandparents had never spoken of the elves in this village. In fact, she had nearly dismissed the existence of elves as mere myths until she met Gala.
"Oh, by the way, I still don't know why you're looking for an antidote for your sister. Was she poisoned by a wild beast?" Gala asked.
"No, she survived an attack from the most ruthless person in Eldoria," Nimora replied.
"Who? Who was it?" Gala asked, her curiosity growing.
"Kali."
The moment Gala heard that name, she stopped dead in her tracks.
"Don't tell me… you mean Kali, the Queen of Everia?" she said.
"That's right. Why?"
"You won't like what I have to say right now. We need to get to Dr. Thrain immediately. Let's go!" Gala took off running, with Nimora following close behind.
They arrived at Dr. Thrain's residence—a modest hut near the swamps, far from the village. Dr. Thrain rarely interacted with the villagers and only accepted visitors in cases of emergency, such as treating critically wounded patients. Even now, he kept turning them away.
"Dr. Thrain, please open the door! This is urgent—my friend's sister is dying! She needs your help!" Gala pleaded.
"She's a healer. She should be able to heal her herself," Dr. Thrain replied from inside, refusing to open the door.
"I tried, but the poison is too strong. I need to go to Mythren to find the antidote, but I can't go without your guidance," Nimora insisted.
This time, Dr. Thrain finally opened the door. The old man allowed them inside and asked Nimora to explain everything from the beginning.
"Kali… she must be Morgana's successor," Dr. Thrain muttered.
"What do you mean?" Nimora asked.
"I mean that your sister is in grave danger. If the antidote isn't administered soon, she will die within a day."
"Then what should I do? Do you know where to find the antidote in Mythren?"
"It lies in the deepest part of Mythren—Erebus Abyss."
"What's the name of the plant?"
"Mythril Moss. It's a type of moss with a silver hue."
"Great. Thank you for the information. I'm leaving now." Nimora turned to leave without waiting for a response.
Seeing her reckless behavior, Dr. Thrain immediately sealed the door with magic.
When Nimora turned back, ready to vent her frustration, Dr. Thrain used another spell to silence her.
He explained that Mythren was a perilous region, inhabited by more than just wild beasts—it was home to demons, goblins, undead, necromancers, and other dangerous creatures.
Moreover, even if she embarked on the journey immediately, her sister would not survive. Reaching Erebus Abyss was no easy feat and would take more time than she had.
Dr. Thrain gave her two choices. First, he could let her go now, ensuring that her sister would perish due to time constraints. Second, she could follow his guidance, and he would create a potion to slow the poison's effects. He then lifted the spell so she could speak.
"Don't be foolish, Nim. If you're reckless, not only will your sister die, but so will you. You wouldn't last a day in Mythren. Everything there is a predator—they even kill each other," Gala warned.
"But how? How will your medicine reach my sister in time?" Nimora asked, turning to Dr. Thrain.
"Gala will deliver it," he replied.
Gala was taken aback. She had never been assigned to travel to human territory before. After the war long ago, elves and humans had stopped coexisting.
"But she's an elf. It's too dangerous for her to enter my homeland," Nimora protested.
"Did you forget how you tried to stab me? My instincts are sharper than any human's. They won't catch me even if I run into trouble," Gala reassured her, though a slight unease lingered in her heart.
Nimora reluctantly agreed. She and Gala then helped Dr. Thrain gather the necessary ingredients to prepare the potion.
As the sun began to set, Dr. Thrain completed the medicine that would slow the poison's spread in Astraea's body.
"This won't last long—administer a dose every six hours. Don't be late, not even by a minute. You must protect her until Nimora returns with the antidote," Dr. Thrain instructed, handing a pouch of potions to Gala.
"So… I have to stay there until Nimora comes back?" Gala asked. They spoke privately while Nimora busied herself with preparations for her journey.
"Yes. But don't worry. Her family isn't ordinary humans—they each possess unique powers. You'll see for yourself."
Hearing this gave Gala some relief. She vowed to protect Astraea no matter what.
Before setting off, she made a stop at the El'ara tree to pray for her ancestors' blessing, as she would be leaving Tenebrous for some time. Then, she embraced Nimora.
"Thank you. I owe you," Nimora said.
"Thank me later. Be careful out there. I'll be waiting for your return. Don't be late—the potion I have will only sustain your sister for three days."
"I'll do my best."
Gala then mounted her beloved black jaguar. She pulled up her hood to conceal her pointed ears, ensuring she wouldn't be recognized as an elf.
"Let's go, Leo!" With that, she left Tenebrous behind.
"Head to the garden. Your team is waiting," Dr. Thrain said.
"My team?"
"Yes. I've arranged for a few people to assist you on your journey."