Riniock sat in the arch-maegi's office, perched in the tallest tower of the college. Familiar taxidermies of rare and mythical beasts loomed around him, their glassy eyes reflecting the warm glow of the room's magickal sconces.
Before him, two cups of tea steamed quietly on a wooden table, its aromatic tendrils coiling upward.
Karthen entered from behind, his robes trailing softly against the stone floor. He eased into his chair with a tired sigh. 'Comfortable?'
Riniock nodded, his gaze lingering on the room's only notable ornament: a hovering, polygonal star suspended above a delicate plate, from which shimmering particles lazily drifted away.
'Good.' Karthen's tone shifted, a hint of reproach slipping in. 'Now, about your little excursion with Miss Lotrielle.'
Riniock hesitated, his words briefly caught in his throat. 'What about it, sir?'
'I've heard the two of you vanished for quite some time, abandoning your chaperones,' Karthen replied, his fingers drumming a slow rhythm on the desk. 'I don't recall that being part of our arrangement.'
'I had to improvise,' Riniock explained evenly.
'Improvise?' Karthen leaned back in his chair, watching him closely. 'Elaborate.'
'It became clear early on that Linry was acting unusually cautious. I suspected she had noticed someone tailing me. To give her an opening to act – if she intended harm – I decided to take her somewhere she might feel more at ease.'
Karthen raised his cup, taking a deliberate sip of tea. 'And where did you take her?'
'The Berzinian Bazaar.'
Karthen raised an eyebrow, his surprise evident. 'Interesting choice. Were we correct to have our doubts about her?'
Riniock shook his head.
'Explain,' Karthen said, setting his cup down with a soft clink.
'There were ample opportunities for her to act against me at the bazaar,' Riniock began. 'Instead, when we were confronted by a group of gorens, she chose to stand by me and help fend them off.'
Karthen tilted his head slightly, considering this. 'Could it have been a ruse? If she harmed you, she'd naturally become the prime suspect.'
'If something happened to me there, she could have easily filed a petition with the authorities and involved the college in an investigation,' Riniock countered. 'That would allow her to appear innocent.'
Karthen studied him carefully. 'Is she clever enough to devise such a plan?'
'I believe she is, sir,' Riniock replied confidently.
Silence blanketed the room as the arch-maegi mulled over Riniock's account. The only sound breaking the stillness was the occasional slurp of tea, each one punctuating the growing tension.
Something about the arch-maegi's demeanour nagged at Riniock. Beneath the surface of his concern lay something unspoken. Now that he had a moment to reflect, the request to test Linry's animosity seemed odd. Was there a hidden motive behind it?
Karthen leaned back in his chair, fingers absently combing through his hair as he stared off in thought.
'Sir?' Riniock ventured, breaking the silence. 'Why exactly did you ask me to do this?'
Karthen's gaze shifted to Riniock, his expression darkening. 'I've had a premonition,' he admitted, his voice low. 'One that our college seer confirmed, albeit vaguely. The expedition is destined to witness bloodshed – potentially significant bloodshed.'
'You mean…people will die?' Riniock asked, his brow furrowing with concern.
'Possibly,' Karthen replied, his tone measured. 'The vision wasn't clear on specifics, only that danger looms.'
Riniock frowned. 'If that's the case, why not cancel the expedition?'
Karthen sighed, the weight of his position evident in his posture. 'Cancelling an expedition of this scale isn't so simple. I'd need substantial evidence or a clear threat to justify such a decision. Otherwise, it would strain our relationship with the Ikshari delegation – an embarrassment our college can't afford.'
'Politics,' Riniock muttered under his breath, the word slipping out louder than intended.
Realising his slip, he clamped a hand over his mouth, but Karthen only chuckled, the tension in the room softening momentarily.
'I wouldn't wish it upon my worst enemy,' the arch-maegi said with a wry grin, his humour cutting through the unease.
Riniock let out a faint chuckle, temporarily steering the conversation away from the grim revelation.
'Is that why you think the delegation might have violent intentions towards me?'
'Not just you,' Karthen replied swiftly.
'Excuse me?'
'I suspect they may be the ones to incite the bloodshed during the expedition.'
'That's…a serious accusation, sir,' Riniock stammered, his expression tense.
'Indeed. But without evidence, I can't justify withdrawing from the excursion.'
'What must we do then?' Riniock asked earnestly, his sincerity unmistakable.
Karthen smirked, clearly amused. 'Look at you – speaking like a grown man. Leave this matter to me and the other professors.'
Riniock recognised the attempt to shield him, but he couldn't ignore the arch-maegi's earlier disclosures. They had already drawn him into the web of concern, whether intentionally or not.
The exclusion irked him.
'Then why involve me at all, sir?' he pressed.
Karthen paused, his answer weighted with a rare moment of vulnerability. 'Why indeed…' He sighed, choosing his words carefully. 'I won't lie to you. Among the new acolytes, you, Riniock, might be the most gifted. I've been observing you ever since our first meeting in the hall. Despite what happened then, you stood your ground – resilient, diligent, and tireless. You're an example to your peers.'
'Th-Thank you, sir,' Riniock stuttered, caught off guard by the praise.
'Your temper, though, leaves room for improvement,' Karthen added with a smirk. 'But that's a separate matter.' His tone grew sombre again. 'The reason I've told you all this is because I trust that your strength will play a vital role in the challenges ahead. I can't place such a burden on the others – not when they've yet to lose their innocence. But you…I can rely on you to rise to the occasion.'
Riniock was speechless. No one had ever placed such trust in him – not his parents, nor anyone else he could recall.
'Now, off you go,' Karthen said, his tone shifting back to its usual commanding authority. 'I've much to prepare before the expedition.'
'Sir…' Riniock hesitated, lingering in his seat.
'Hm? What is it?'
'My reward?' he asked, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
'Ah, yes. That slipped my mind entirely,' Karthen admitted, pausing thoughtfully. 'Let me think –'
'Could you – perhaps – teach me the spell you used earlier?' Riniock interrupted, his voice eager yet polite.
Karthen stopped mid-sentence, his curiosity piqued. He already had a reward in mind, but Riniock's request intrigued him.
'Which spell?' he asked.
'The one you used to send me the letter,' Riniock clarified.
Karthen's brows lifted in surprise. 'Ah, my personal coffer spell.'
'If it's personal, I wouldn't want to intrude,' Riniock quickly added, his enthusiasm tempered. 'Please, forget I asked –'
'Nonsense,' Karthen interrupted with a wave of his hand. 'It is indeed a spell of my own design. I call it Karthen's Carting Coffer.'
'Your own spell?' Riniock's face lit up. 'It would be an honour to learn it, sir.'
'It'll take some time to draft proper instructions,' Karthen said, his tone turning thoughtful. 'Once I've done so, I'll send you the scroll via the coffer itself. When you have mastered it, send me the scroll back through your own.'
Riniock grinned, bowing his head respectfully. 'Thank you, sir. Good day to you.'
'Likewise, Riniock. Be well.'
Without looking back, Riniock carried on with his day, attending his lessons as usual. Later, the promised scroll from the arch-maegi arrived. Eager to begin, he took it to the library and diligently worked through the spell's inscription at an impressive pace. All that remained now was to practice it until he achieved mastery.