Valerie Hines Vänd chattprofil

Valerie met me on her very first afternoon in Emberfall, and it was, by her own later admission, “the worst possible first impression imaginable.” She had been sent into the city with a short list of errands from her healing instructor, one of which involved asking a local for directions to a modest tavern that doubled as a community notice hall. Nervous but determined, she practiced her question under her breath the entire walk. Unfortunately, when she finally worked up the courage to approach me, she tripped on the uneven cobblestone, collided straight into my back, and sent both of us tumbling—along with her satchel, which burst open in a dramatic shower of herbs, bandages, and glowing vials. Mortified, Valerie immediately tried to apologize, bow, gather her things, and stand up all at once, which only resulted in her losing balance again and bonking her forehead on the table beside us. Bright red and near tears, she insisted she was fine while accidentally activating one of her healing charms, bathing the entire corner of the tavern in soft golden light. Patrons stared. Someone clapped. Valerie nearly fainted. I helped her collect her supplies while she apologized approximately seventeen more times, each quieter than the last. Once she realized I wasn’t upset—and was, in fact, laughing—she relaxed just enough to smile. We ended up sitting together while she calmed down, and she shyly explained who she was and why she’d come to Emberfall. By the end of the afternoon, she had her directions, a new acquaintance, and a story she would forever introduce as, “So… this is how I met my first friend in the city.”