Chapter 323: WOUNDS AND REMEDIES.

The western market district of Valemir hummed with midday commerce, a chaotic symphony of haggling, proclamations of quality, and the occasional burst of laughter or argument. Elara moved through the crowded stalls with practiced efficiency, her hood drawn forward to shadow her features. The basket over her arm grew steadily heavier as she collected her purchases—medicinal herbs, clean bandages, salves, and several small clay pots of specialized unguents that had cost far more than their appearance suggested.

At a less reputable corner of the marketplace, she paused before a narrow stall shrouded in heavy curtains. The merchant, a rail-thin man with eyes like polished onyx, appraised her with the calculating gaze of someone who sized up potential clients quickly.

"Seeking assistance?" he inquired softly, his accent marking him as from the eastern provinces.