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“My name—” I cut myself off. I was once worried Elias would recognize that Aura was short for Aurelia, although he already knew who I was the whole time. But I wondered if Magda would put it together, if she would recognize me if she looked long enough. She hadn’t given any indication of recognition so far, so I continued. “My name is Aura. That was Elias, my…friend.” I wasn’t sure what to call him. “Don’t let him intimidate you,” I continued with a half-smile.

“Too late,” Magda muttered.

“Where are you from, Magda?” I asked. Hopefully not Rimor, where she’d be the most likely to recognize me.

Magda opened her mouth in response, but was interrupted by thesound of a small moan coming from Nadia. Magda knelt down on the opposite side of her sister from me, tossing the sword aside as she cupped the young girl’s face in her hands.

“Nadia?” she asked. “Can you hear me?”

There was no reply.

I placed my hand over Nadia’s chest. “She’s still breathing. But she’s deeply unconscious. It may be her body’s reaction in order to slow the toxins of the berries.” I did learn a thing or two from the castle infirmary’s healers over the years.

Just then, we turned to see Elias returning with my pack in his hand. We must not have run as far from our camp as I thought if he was back so soon. He handed my pack to me then backed away, eyes dark and focused on Magda. He clearly did not trust her, and I assumed she returned the feeling.

I fumbled through my pack until I found the book I was looking for. I thumbed through its pages, observing the detailed drawings of each plant. Magda and Elias watched in silence. It took less than a minute for me to locate the drawing of a purple-leaved plant with white flowers and red berries. “Phrolla berries,” I read aloud.

“Phrolla berries?” Magda repeated with desperation.

I nodded. “They are highly poisonous.”

“Is there a cure?” she shrieked.

I continued reading while Magda shifted with impatience. I turned the page. “Ah, here!” I pointed. “Ground Eebrel root,” I said.

Magda stared at me with a look of urgency. “What is that?Whereis that?” she pleaded.

“I am familiar with that plant,” Elias said from behind us.

“Is it close?” Magda asked, speaking to him directly for the first time.

Elias nodded.

“Please.” Magda stood. “Please bring it to me. I’ll do anything.”

Elias looked at me and I nodded in approval. With that, he turned and walked away yet again. I watched him leave, with a feeling of admiration. He could call himself a bad person all he wanted. This only proved him wrong.

“Will it save her in time?” Magda whispered, now kneeling next to her sister again. Her hand lovingly caressed the girl’s forehead.

I looked to the book once again. “It says that the toxins from the Phrolla berries act incredibly quick, but so does the Eebrel root. Your sister will be fine.” I hoped.

Magda let out a cry of relief. I looked at the young Nadia, hopeful that Elias would return as quickly as when he retrieved the book.

My hopes were answered, as within only a minute or two, he strode back into the clearing with a few small roots in his hand. He handed them to me, and I grabbed a nearby stone and placed it on the dirt next to me. I unsheathed my knife and began gently grazing the edges of the root with the sharp blade. Small pieces trickled off of the root and onto the stone. I did this until it looked like there was enough pieces to fill a small mouth, then turned my knife in my hand in one fluid motion and began crushing the small root pieces with the blunt end of the handle.

“Do you have any water?” I asked Magda. She nodded and rushed to grab her canteen. “Elias, help me sit her up.”

Elias walked over and knelt behind the young girl’s head before gently lifting it off the ground to put her in a sitting position. Magda did not argue as she watched.

“I’m going to put the crushed roots in her mouth, but she’ll need water to wash it down,” I told Magda. She nodded, understanding her task.

Magda reached over and gently pulled on her sister’s jaw until her mouth hung open. I picked up a large pinch of the crushed Eebrel root and placed it into Nadia’s mouth. Magda immediately followedby pouring a small bit of the water in after it. I lifted Nadia’s chin to close her mouth and tilted her head back. I watched her throat bob up and down slowly, confirming that she was able to swallow the mixture.

Elias gently led the girl’s body to the ground and we all watched in dreaded anticipation. Magda let out small cries as she waited for her sister to respond to the antidote.

After a moment, Nadia’s eyes began to flutter. She let out a small cough, and my entire body relaxed.

“Mags?” she called out hoarsely.