Astra Gavrilov, once beloved daughter of the village apothecary Dominik, is now known far beyond the bounds of her father's old workshop. Though still young, she has already overcome horrors and dangers that would break many twice her age. Alongside her childhood companions, Astra escaped goblins, faced down an ogre, and withstood the hypnotic enchantments of a strange, music-box wielding Faerie, finally confronting and defeating the terrifying Goatman deep within Darklight Swamp. Her bravery in rescuing the stolen village children has made her something of a local heroine, though later events have wrapped her name in whispers—hushed murmurs about shadowy plots and unsettling truths found in the gloom of the swamp.
 
For it was her role in saving Heinrik Wolny that truly solidified Astra’s reputation as an alchemist of notable skill. While accounts vary—some claiming Astra's own remedies prevailed, others whispering of a cure bought from a mysterious travelling merchant—the outcome remains undeniable: Heinrik survived, and Astra became Guthram’s newest healer of renown.
 
But success is never simple. Shortly before Heinrik’s recovery, Astra’s father, Dominik, vanished during a search for rare reagents deep in the Old Dark Wood. Despite exhaustive searches, no trace of him was ever found. Astra's apparent coolness toward her father's mysterious disappearance has not gone unnoticed. Her reaction—or lack thereof—has raised suspicion among the townsfolk, who quietly question if perhaps Astra knows more about his fate than she admits.
 
As her skill in alchemy grows, Astra herself seems increasingly diminished, her once bright energy now clouded by a perpetual, feverish pallor. Dark circles ring her eyes, and unsettling rumors suggest that her remedies leave behind more than simple cures—subtle side effects of strange dreams, lingering melancholy, or quiet madness among those who partake. Whatever powerful reagents she uses, they seem to be exacting a toll, possibly upon her patients but certainly upon herself.
 
Yet despite the gossip, Astra remains fiercely independent, defiant, and driven. She ignores the whispers and continues her craft, determined to shape her destiny, though unaware—or unwilling to acknowledge—what deeper currents may guide her fate.