As I knocked on the door, I steeled myself for the confrontation that was sure to follow. And then, I found Maria in her private quarters, a lavish room filled with the rich scents of herbs and incense. She looked up from a table covered in vials and scrolls, her eyes narrowing as she took in my presence.
"Ah, the Luna herself," Maria said, a hint of amusement in her voice. "To what do I owe this visit?"
Her casual tone grated on me, but I forced myself to remain calm.
“My daughter... Lyra has been poisoned,” I said, my voice steady but urgent. “The Healers identified it as Shadowbane. We need the antidote, and you’re the only one who can help.”
Maria leaned back in her chair, a calculated smile playing on her lips as if she relished my desperation.
“Shadowbane? That’s a rare poison,” she said thoughtfully. “Are you sure it was Shadowbane?”
“That was what Jacobs found out,” I replied, trying to keep my frustration at bay. “I have no knowledge of poisons.”
Maria tilted her head slightly, as if weighing her words. “And I do. That’s why I’m asking if you are certain because that kind of poisoning is quite difficult to counter.”