...compared to the other people whom had been recruited for their importance or took the mission much more seriously, Alicia was more than enough happy to be out on the roads and not stuck in some class lecturing over the same topic or same mixing techniques for the thousand time in a row. Or brewing up the same boring tinctures, poultices and medicine for injured soldiers whom would discard of the produce as soon as it had finished it's job. Nobody was eager to seek out the 'why not' - many were content to accept anything as 'just is'.
That was one of the reasons, when the King' Messenger had come looking for a skilled individual whom was skilled alchemy yet also had the necessary know-how in surviving beyond the walls of Oxenfurt. Granted, she hadn't been outside the walls for some time like many others - except she had the largest collection of knowledge either in her napsack or in her head at that. Plus, she was literally eager for anything to stop the monotony of Oxenfurt. While many else would've been excited to have access to such labs, funding and equipment it got dull after several years. When she had been studying in Oxenfurt - she had taken the idea of 'constantly seeking truth and knowledge' quite literally to her heart. For years, she had spent out in brewing the various potions from the various books - eager to see if what they produced was true or not. Danger didn't register much in her mind in those moments - she was careful, precise yet always seeking more.
Though, rather quickly things had gotten dull yet again. Some of the more 'potent' stuff were locked behind lock and key and forbidden to her. Mostly cause such items usually resulted in poisons or toxins that could likely kill half the school if allowed to settle for even a second - but also, cause the necessary ingredients were rare to come by. Having never traveled to Nilfgaard or any of their border territories, Alicia had been excited for a change of scenery. Taking what may be necessary, as her likely role as 'moral' and regular support for an expedition of this kind of undertaking.
Granted...being whom she was, her method of traveling took time and she had gotten lost twice on the way there. It had been some time, since she had traveled anywhere beyond Redania. Luckily Snowberry was smarter than her in some ways, as she and her mule managed to discover the stone 'boot' in the distance and soon enough approach the location.
"Hello there, are you all also part of the Foltest Expedition?" she asked, rather directly and openly. Considering, the last two times she asked - she got a weird look or told to 'go ride off a cliff'.