"Elyria is really beautiful at this time of year" Leo commented with a smile, he adjusted his hood and took another bite from the free bread courtesy of an elvish baker who had refused to collect so much as a coin from him, which was why he had decided to continue his tour incognito.
Normally he would have started his little tour from the elven capital itself but this time around Leo had decided to start from the kingdom's outskirts since it had been only a three hour walk from the Night.
A decision that he was currently glad on taking, the outskirts unlike the capital had a serene atmosphere with pleasant low fogs that gave the elven lands the name 'The Dusky meadows'.
Thankfully, it seemed like the inhabitants of the outskirts had been spared the carnage from that night and some hadn't even known that the elven kingdom was attacked.
The outskirts as he had been told were quite known for their high number of bakers, carpenters, painters and most importantly alchemists.
Leo stopped in front of one of the many alchemist shops, he had decided to visit here just to find out a little more about the art that if not for the leaf would have gone extinct a long time ago.
Alchemy in the ancient times was once a revered act; everything from love potions to life saving drugs were produced by dedicated elves who cherished this art well and sometimes accepted disciples from other races in order to share their techniques.
However, all this changed when a certain mage, a grand mage in fact had perfected light magic to the extent that it could heal all extremities.
This was a welcome breakthrough and along with enhancement spells and healing magic, many people no longer saw the use of alchemy and just like that the art began to die out with only a few members of the leaf still practicing it.
And that was also why the Leaf became despised among the three top clans for unlike other elves, they had a rare mutation that left them with little mana making them unable to become mages and their artisan backgrounds prevented a lot of them from becoming warriors.
"Anyone around" Leo knocked for what would be the second time. A little time passed before a small voice ushered him to come in.
"Your shop is really nice" Leo complemented the orange dressed elderly female elf before him. On hearing the complement her small eyes twinkled from behind her pince-nez.
"Oh this old piece of junk, it has been standing here long before even Camhyr arrived on this realm".
Leo nodded, obviously impressed while he ran a hand against what looked like oak though it had a certain reddish hue to it.
"That's from a spirit oak" the old lady answered his questioned look, with pride.
Leo's eyes widened a little on hearing that.
"Spirit oak? I thought those things were extinct.
"Yes" the elf replied as she sunk into a small chair that stood in front of the potion shelves to Leo's right.
"I'm surprised you know about this, not much people your age or race have so much as a clue on anything regarding forgotten creatures".
Leo only smiled while for a brief moment he scanned the rest of the shop.
The shop was a little small but what it lacked in size, it certainly made up for it in aesthetic and design.
Above the wooden counter at the back was what looked like a dracolizards skull and on close observation he noticed a small golden curtain which would mean that there was probably another room behind the shop.
"Probably where she sleeps" Leo concluded when a glance with the Azure eye revealed a bed and closet.
"Though I wonder why only her stays here, or doesn't she have any kids?
The sides of the shop also had various potions on display with small labels but yet something seemed to be missing and so out of curiosity Leo asked:
"You don't brew your potions here?
The elf got to her feet before replying "No I don't, though if I may ask what actually brought you here assassin?
"Your perception is quite good" Leo said, shocked that the elf was able to discern that much.
"The news of arrival of any visitor to this village travels fast but somehow it seems you managed to avoid everyone and I know only one group of humans who train that hard to go unnoticed.
"So what do you seek? It's not like you came here for something like a love potion.
"Well, ever since I was young, one of the things I had always wanted to see was how potions were brewed and so I was hoping that you could probably give me the honor of seeing such a sacred art.
"That's good to hear" the elf clapped her hands. "It's quite rare for people especially humans to show interest in such a forgotten art.
"Come with me assassin? The elf scratched her head for the two hadn't introduced themselves.
"Fanghyr".
The elf couldn't even hide the look of shock on her face but then she did something that Leo didn't expect.
"We at Leaf are really grateful for the sacrifice your order made towards protecting this kingdom on that fateful night" She smiled as her hunched back bent with a bow. "I am Matilda by the way".
"Nice to meet you, ma'am" Leo bowed too as he followed her through the curtains.
To his surprise, a small alchemical lab laid behind the golden string curtains.
"I could have sworn that I saw a bed and closet". Leo scratched his head but eventually kept his thought to himself for if he had asked it would only raise a lot of questions; questions that he would rather avoid.
"So do you have any potion in mind" Matilda asked before she placed her right hand on the massive iron cauldron.
Leo touched his chin in thought for some time before he replied with a smile.
"I think a strength enhancing potion would be okay".
"Good choice". Matilda smiled, squinting her eyes from the bright green flames that appeared beneath the cauldron.