The oppressive darkness seemed to close in around him, each rustle of leaves or snap of a twig igniting his frayed nerves. Even the occasional hoot of an unseen creature set his heart racing. The great lidthrag's roar no longer echoed through the air, but the silence was no comfort – it only heightened the tension.
Riniock slowed his pace, his breaths shallow and quiet, his ears straining for any hint of movement. His wand remained firmly in his grip, though he knew he had exhausted his magick. If the beast found him here, his wits and surroundings would be all he had left.
The grove's stillness was deceptive, masking whether he had truly lost his pursuer – or if it was simply lurking, waiting for the right moment to strike.
His best chance was to find cover and hope the beast lost interest.
Scanning his surroundings, Riniock spotted the hollowed-out stump of a nearby tree. It wasn't perfect, but it would have to do. Hastily, he crawled inside, tearing up handfuls of red grass to obscure the entrance.
Settling into the cramped space, he pressed his back against the damp wood, straining to keep his breathing quiet. Then came the sound he dreaded – soft, deliberate footsteps approaching through the undergrowth.
Riniock froze, his body taut with tension.
As the steps drew nearer, he hugged his knees, his earlier decision suddenly felt foolish. 'What was I thinking?' he berated himself. A lidthrag's sense of smell was legendary. Even buried beneath layers of red grass, he might as well have been waving a torch in the dark.
A cold dread seeped into him.
The grass shielding the stump's entrance began to shift, and Riniock braced himself for the worst. Any moment now, he expected to see a beast's snout thrusting through the opening, sniffing him out.
Instead, the pile of grass parted on its own, pulled gently aside.
'There you are!' a stranger's voice broke through the tense silence. Relief flooded Riniock. 'Playing hide and seek, are we? We college staff have better things to do, you know.'
'College?' Riniock murmured, his voice betraying his mixture of surprise and disbelief.
The man created a soft orb of light, the glow illuminating his face and the immediate surroundings. His expression was warm, almost friendly.
'Who did you think it was?' the man chuckled. 'The shadow cult?'
'Heh…no,' Riniock exhaled deeply, a half-smile tugging at his lips. 'I'm just relieved the test is over.'
'Come on, then,' the man said, extending a hand. Riniock grasped it, and with a firm pull, he was lifted out of the hollow stump. 'Rough harvest?' the man asked, his tone tinged with sympathy.
Riniock offered a small, tired smile. 'It was…so-so. But I'm certain of my admission.'
'Well, that's what matters,' the man reassured him. 'Skill comes with time.'
'I guess so.'
'Name's Noidron,' he said, nodding. 'And you are?'
'Riniock, sir. Thanks for coming to find me.'
'Of course,' Noidron replied with a grin. 'Let's get you back. You look like you've been through the wringer.'
They moved through the glades under the cover of night, Noidron walking ahead with a purposeful stride and a destination in mind. Despite his apparent confidence, Riniock's eyes darted nervously to the shadows around them, scanning for any sign of the great lidthrag that had hunted him earlier.
His anxiety was impossible to hide, and Noidron, perceptive as he was, noticed almost immediately.
'Worried?' the older man asked, his tone light but curious.
Riniock nodded without hesitation.
'No need for that,' Noidron assured him with a grin. 'I can handle anything this place throws at us!'
'Can you slay a great lidthrag?'
The question brought an awkward pause to Noidron's bravado. He faltered, swallowing his pride as his confidence wavered. 'Is that what's got you so on edge?'
'Yes,' Riniock admitted. 'It was terrifying. That's why I hid.'
'You saw one?' Noidron's voice rose in astonishment. 'It's a miracle you're still breathing, boy. I'll be honest – taking down a beast like that on my own? Not something I'd want to bet my life on.'
His admission was a strange mix of comforting and unsettling. Whilst Riniock appreciated the honesty, the idea that even someone like Noidron might struggle against such a monster did little to ease his fears.
'Sir – if I may, can I ask you something?' Riniock ventured, curiosity outweighing his nerves.
'Ask away,' Noidron replied with an easy smile, waving off the formal tone. 'But drop the "sir." I'm only a few years older than you.'
Riniock nodded. 'How did you find me? In the grove, I mean.'
'Oh, that?' Noidron chuckled, pulling a small object resembling a compass from his pocket and holding it up. 'Quite simple, really. There's a tracking enchantment on the entry token the college gave you. Makes it much easier to locate participants, especially in a place like this.'
Riniock blinked, feeling a mix of relief and mild annoyance. 'So, I never really had to worry about getting lost, huh?'
'Not in the slightest,' Noidron replied with a grin. 'Though, judging by the state I found you in, the worry wasn't entirely misplaced.'
Riniock chuckled lightly, brushing off Noidron's earlier comment, but his thoughts lingered on something far more serious. The realization that the college could track him stirred fresh worries. Could they tie him to Odrean's murder if they investigated thoroughly?
'Was the college tracking our movements throughout the test?' Riniock asked, trying to sound casually curious.
'Oh, gods no,' Noidron replied with a hearty laugh. 'Too much effort for a minor event like this.'
Relief swept over Riniock, though he kept his expression neutral.
Noidron seemed like a talkative type, the kind who could unwittingly divulge useful information if steered the right way. Riniock pondered for a moment, probing for potential loopholes in the college's tracking system. A new question surfaced in his mind.
'But,' Riniock pressed, keeping his tone light, 'if they wanted to, could they retrace someone's steps? Like, track exactly where they went?'
Noidron paused mid-step, scratching his chin thoughtfully. 'Hmm…I'm not sure. Truth be told, this is my first time overseeing the admission tests. Everything's seemed pretty routine so far.'
Riniock nodded, hiding his relief behind a polite smile. 'Good to know. Just curious, that's all.'
For now, the lack of certainty worked in his favour, but he resolved to tread carefully. The less the college staff suspected, the better.
'Aha!' Noidron exclaimed, his voice brimming with satisfaction. 'This is where we're expected. And…it seems I'm not the last to arrive. Wonderful!'