The warm sunset was in contrast with the frosty wind that ruffled the tress. In a small clearing there was a peculiar jewel. It was the Crescent Glasshouse sparkling in the waning sunlight, it's windows shiny as a crystal.
It’s been some years since she had last been here, never thought she’d have the chance to return, much less under these circumstances. Though the glasshouse was abandoned, the plants were thriving in the magically hydrated soil. Their leafy tendrils spread over the floor tiles and completely covered the glass tables.
The hero hurried through the plants, searching for the one that she was after, hoping it would heal her. As she reached the final table, the flower was nowhere to be seen, she glanced around with a gut wrenching feeling, and growing panic. The pain kept crashing over her like waves, coming and going, she felt lightheaded and disoriented - the poison was spreading.
Steeling herself, she took a deep breath between the sharp pains and considered the alternatives, she knew these plants well enough. Remembering her dear friend walking her past these tables, explaining each plant's properties and uses. Many of them held incredible healing powers, for all kind of ailments, but there were also some of the more dangerous toxic ones and only a trained eye could discern the plants from each other.
A handful of hornworm, a pinch of grabwood, a prickly pum and leaf of silvertyme was what she needed. There was no time to brew a potion, she crushed the herbs and the fruit with a small rock and added the mixture to her water flask, shaking it frantically. She downed the whole contents of the flask, ignoring the burning bitter taste. The pain subsided almost immediately, leaving a dull throbbing soreness in its stead.
She dropped to the floor in relief, leaning her head against a table's leg. A she looked up - there it was. Right in front of her all along, in her panic she had missed it - The Moon’s essence. Its white crescent flower was tucked away just getting ready to bloom, it was easy to mistake it for any other shrub. The hero gently plucked a couple of its leaves, careful to not damage the sensitive plant, pocketing them away inside her cloak, couldn’t be too careful, but she hoped she wouldn’t need them.
From one of her pockets, she pulled out a purple eye shaped crystal, the source of this trouble. It was really lucky that the glasshouse was nearby, she'd have to be more careful next time. She was safe for the moment, but would have to keep moving soon, she just needed to catch her breath. Her eyelids were heavy so she closed them, just for a moment, she thought to herself, as she dozed off into a deep sleep.
