Probably

The air smell of iron.

Collapsed roofs,broken walls,and shattered glass everywhere.Blood mixing with dirt,painting patches of earth dark red.Bodies dropped like flies one by one—blood pooling out of the corpses.The place,a wreckage and now a carnage.

With wide purple eyes.

A young girl stood frozen in the middle of collapsed walls,glass and debris around her.She stared at her awful surroundings,unblinking,expression horrified as she watched more bodies drop,releasing that sickly iron smell.Blood creeped towards her foot,staining her sandal,toes sticky wet with that red liquid.

The girl flinched,chills ran through her spine as the temperature dropped,making the hairs on her neck stand.Gray mist appeared out of nowhere,obscuring the surrounding,hinting to the destruction with vague silhouettes.

Her breathing ragged,blood rushing to her ears as it ringed.The air grew heavy and an overwhelming sense of dread as mist drifted to the front,making a giant dense gray—heading towards her.Arms stiff,her sweaty palms grasped her dress.She whimpered,a tear dropped on her chin.

She wanted to—no—she needed to move away from that mist.But her feet were glued to the ground.She can only grasp her palms to her side,that,her body can only permit.

"No—no—no—please—no..."

The girl pleaded silently,desperately.Palms tightly clasping her dress,wrinkling it.She can only think,she can't even speak,her throat felt something was binding it.But does it even matter?

What use of it if no one hears her frightened pleas?

The mist was approaching,creeping fast.
Whooshing.

No,it was whispering,an amalgamation of voices growing louder as it neared.

She shut her eyes.

Darkness.

Silence.

Then,a soft gasp.

...

The bats were back hanging on the ceiling.Thin smoke slowly rising from the campfire's ashes.

Sitting on the sheepskin,her back against the cave wall and journal on her lap.She breathes in.

GASP!

Then out.

Hand on her chest,she can feel her heart beating rapidly.Her palms sweaty and neck sticky.

She looked around,making sure what she did last night happened.Her bag on her side,colorful potion bottles beside it,and the dead campfire in front.

She rubbed her nose bridge and mumbled,wearily.

"I need more caffeine."

She stepped outside of the cave and the sunlight greeted her good morning.

Sigh.

Little did it know...

She pulled the straps of her towering bag against her back,glass clinking inside.She left the lovely grove like the waters of the streams flowing out.

Long blades of grass softly poked her as she walked through the forest.Leaves rustling as breeze flew through foliage.

She abruptly stopped,standing.

The grass,now silent,slightly swaying.Leaves continued to rustle.

"It's quiet."

She thought.

The shades of towering trees blotched sunlight as it pierced through,patches of warm lighting on the swaying long grass as she stood in the middle of it.

CRACKLE!

A twig snapped.

She looked back—nothing unusual amidst the greenery.The swishing of grass continued as she picked up her pace and hurried through it.

The grass grew shorter by the distance.From the swishing to soft muffled steps.Her sandals leaving marks like stamps against the ground.Mushrooms started appearing individually,then in patches,until it covered the ground like grass.

Someone perched on the branches was carefully watching as she entered.

Further in the forest where trees are towering and their foliage thicker,banishing sunlight leaving the plants below the forest floor deprived.

The plants,cold,for they have never felt the sun's warmth.It is always humid,from the air to the ground beneath their roots,at least they have water.However,as you continue,you will see white tendrils snaking on some of the stalks.If those plants were capable of human speech they'd be screaming.

Who would want to end up like those plants?For those who have flesh it's the equivalent of having your blood slowly drained.Its cruel,the same ground,a constant supply of nourishment,also a danger.

So if you were traversing this area,you will see stalks wrapped with tendrils,but not all.Fortunately,those plants managed to grow high enough to reach for sunlight.

Even in the depths of oceans,some animals have light,that is no different in this part of the forest.Floating small blue lights were in the air,blinking,helping her to not bump her face on giant stalks.If you squint your eyes,those blue blinking lights are actually insects.

She continued to walk and a swarm of blue lights were on the ground.She knelt,picking up a jar full of those insects.

She left that part of the forest,leaving that dark humid miserable area full of mushrooms and long plants.

Now,she was walking on a path,still in the forest,jar on hand.Blue lights faint against sunlight.

Two men,armed with bows and quivers were walking in the opposite direction.Dressed in tunics with leather breeches and belts with daggers.Their boots thumped on the dirt path.

They were talking but why care.They were heading towards the forest armed,with this it is easy to infer.Suddenly,they stopped talking and stared at her.

It isn't because of awe but more of interest,but not that kind of interest when a man likes a woman.

Was it because of her gigantic leather bag?

Was it because of her attire?For she was covered from hair to toe in white.

Perhaps it was the jar she was holding that sparked interest?

Or maybe because of her purple eyes?

She kept walking ahead while the hunters finished their staring then moved on.

To each to their own.

She was now in a place full of multiple voices,as people greet each other and vendors call out to attract people to buy their goods.Some convincing why their sales were superior with either discounts or saying the word "fresh".

The scent of meat,fruit,and street food alongside human sweat and animal manure,as they also sell livestock,all mixed in the air.Folks are used to it but others wrap cloth over their mouths and noses.

"That is expensive."She said straight to a big muscular man wearing an apron.

Butchered carcasses hung and displayed on the stand.

"Listen travelah,meat is becoming a luxury these days."He said,his beard slightly bobbing.

She sucked her teeth.

"If ya don't have any money,leave,come back if ya have enough."He said while he turned to his butchering table,lifting a chunk of meat with his left hand and with a slash,he cut it to 2 with the same hand.

She remained in front of the stand,watching the butcher.

The butcher felt her gaze on him.He felt uneasy,her purple eyes didn't help,it made the feeling worse.He continued working,thinking if enough time passed she would eventually leave.

She did not.

He stared at her with knitted eyebrows,wrinkling his forehead.

She spoke.

"Is your arm broken?"

"It's none of ya business."

He continued butchering,knife loudly against the chopping board.

"Did you go see a doctor?"

He clicked his tongue,she was getting on his nerves.He didn't respond instead he continued on his work.

Not getting her answer,she lowered her bag and she rummaged through it,bringing out a small bottle.She clasped it on her palm then turned back to the butcher.

"I can help you with your arm?"

His eyes flicked to her then back to his work,he smiled while shaking his head.

"What?Ya a healer,travelah?"

A lone travelling healer,now that seems unusual.What does she do?Travelling from town to town offering services,that sounds shady.

"No."

The butcher paused.He can see a bottle poking out of her hand.

He sighed."Yah an alchemist."

She didn't answer.

"Whatevah ya selling,I am not interested.Ya should leave."He continued on his work with a creased forehead.

Why can't this woman just leave already?Does she need meat that bad?Can't she not stand a damn day without shoving one down on her throat.

On top of that,she's an alchemist!She's also selling her "potions" to him.

"I ain't trusting alchemy."

He thought.

"You don't need to drink it."

She said it like it's a matter of fact.

Oh?You don't need to drink it,now it's starting to look like a scam.No it is,it has to be.

He sighed,exhausted.

"Leave or I'll kick ya out myself."

"Apply it."

She said. You don't need to buy it."

He raised his eyebrows.He was taken aback,of course he was who offers free in this economy?But it was tempting and he was tempted.

He heard what she said,he doesn't need to drink it.He only needed to apply it and if it worked?Oh,by the pantheons!He will be able to lift his child again!

The thought of hearing his child laugh while he spins them up in the air and teaching them how to wield a bow,oh,he would do anything for it!

Even trying alchemy?

He completely stopped,his large back going up and down as he sighed heavily.He looked at the woman's purple eyes.

"Dear Oriel!Why does she look like she already knows my answer?"He thought.

But deep down he knew,he already knew ever since that "thought",that possibility again,crossed in his mind.He was foolish to think he can fight the temptation,oh so foolish!

What can beliefs do against wishes?

He offered his hand forward,palms outstretched.She can see calluses,scars,and blemishes on his large palm.She looked at him,she can tell he has no choice even if he wanted to.

"Please,just do it."He softly said.He wanted it to be over,to get it done already so he can forget that this happened,soon as possible.

She poured the small bottle.Green liquid on his palm.He carefully applied all over his arm.After that,he looked back at her.

What was he thinking?Trusting an alchemist,trying alchemy!But it was too late.

"Move your arm."

He did,he simply lifted his arm.He did it like any healthy being but he isn't—no—he wasn't!

He let out a gasp,smiling,turning his arm in awe.

He can't believe it,he can't truly believe it!But he has too because he was awake.If this was a dream,then what a cruel joke the gods were playing on him.

"I."

He looked at the woman with eyes shining.He can't tell if she was happy or if she had any emotion at all."Thank you,travelah,really!Here—"

He quickly unhooked a large chunk of meat and carefully wrapped it with paper.He enthusiastically offered it to her,even with his bushy beard he can't hide that big smile.

"I thought I have to say it myself."She thought.

She nodded,took the meat and put it in her bag.

"So,ya a mage.I'm sorray for mistaking ya."He said guiltily.

"No."

She simply said.

He knitted his eyebrows,with a frown he said seriously.

"Alchemy is no magic."

Silence.The sounds of the market between them.Without looking at him she responded.

"Probably."

She left.