The battle ended swiftly once Fladd finally stepped in. His flames surged forth with eerie precision, each bolt of fire seeking out elantreas and reducing them to a smouldering husk within seconds. It was as though his mind could command dozens of spells at once, each flame moving with individual intent, yet without hesitation or error.
For those who had never seen Ikshar's academy master in action, it was a terrifying spectacle.
Riniock swallowed hard, a cold realisation settling over him. He recalled the day he had openly wounded Rodgut and Frisian in the arena – how easily Fladd could have incinerated him on the spot. Had the professors not intervened, there would have been nothing left of him but ashes.
I offended this monster…he gulped, a shiver running down the length of his spine.
Some of the beasts began to retreat, easy prey for those swift enough to strike them down. Yet a few remained relentless, still targeting the Gorleans whilst continuing to ignore the Iksharis entirely.
One particular elantrea locked onto Niann. It tore down the hill, weaving through students from both factions, its gaze fixed solely on him.
The moment it reached him, the creature barrelled into Niann with bone-crushing force, slamming him onto the sand and pinning him beneath its powerful paws.
'Niann!' Riniock shouted, hastily gathering magic to intervene. But his hands trembled, and the spell fizzled before he could release it.
The elantrea reared back, maw wide open, ready to sink its fangs into Niann's throat – until a barrage of glacial spikes shattered against its face.
It was none other than Urael.
He had acted just in time. A second later, and Niann would have met the same fate as the fallen acolytes before him.
Wounded, the beast let out a guttural cry and attempted to flee.
Riniock, unwilling to let it escape unscathed, pulled his dagger and flung it towards the retreating creature. With both hands, he guided the blade through the air, steering it until it embedded deep into the elantrea's hind leg.
But it wasn't enough to slow or bring the beast down. It vanished into the desert, taking Riniock's weapon with it.
'It made off with my dagger!' he snapped, frustration boiling over. But his anger quickly shifted to concern as he turned back to Niann.
Niann lay sprawled on the ground, gasping for breath, his body rigid with pain.
With the last of the elantrea either dead or gone, the medicar rushed between the wounded, eventually kneeling beside him.
'Oh dear,' he muttered grimly. 'He's lucky. Any worse, and he would've been crippled for life. Here, give him this while I tend to the others.'
Niann tried to speak, but his words were lost beneath his laboured breaths. When neither Riniock nor Urael could understand him, he turned his head to the nearest slain elantrea.
Faint sparks still crackled around its lifeless body.
With a weak lift of his hand, Niann pointed towards the beast's neck. Deep, coiled ligature marks were clearly visible against its leathery skin.
'They were tamed?' Urael deduced, eyes narrowing. Niann gave a slight nod. 'Someone set them on us,' Urael continued. 'But who?'
Riniock had a strong suspicion, but he masked it with feigned ignorance. 'No clue.'
'We should tell Siegmun.'
'I'll do it,' Riniock cut in quickly. He, more than anyone, understood what the Iksharis were up to.
Urael scoffed, eyeing him mockingly. 'Cold, even for you. Not staying with your friend?'
Riniock glanced down at Niann, who clung to consciousness by the thinnest thread. He had nearly died, and they had been at odds when it happened. Their friendship had formed quickly, yet the sight of him so close to death made Riniock's heart pound in ways he wasn't used to.
Unfamiliar emotions stirred in his chest.
Then, just as suddenly, Niann's eyes fluttered shut – the medicar's remedy had taken effect, sending him into a deep sleep.
'I have to do this,' Riniock finally said. 'He wouldn't have shown me the marks if he wanted me to stay.'
'Suit yourself,' Urael shrugged, 'but I'm coming too.'
'No, you're not.' Riniock stopped him with a shove.
Urael pushed past him. 'Try and stop me.'
Siegmun stood at the centre of the aftermath, issuing orders with practiced efficiency. The medicar moved between the wounded whilst Noidron remained close, listening intently.
'Seven casualties, all from our college. Thirteen injured – also ours,' the medicar reported. 'The delegation's acolytes suffered only minor wounds from their own confusion and panic.'
Siegmun frowned, his suspicions hardening with each passing moment. 'So only we suffered losses. That's troubling.'
'Don't dwell on it too much,' Noidron advised. 'It could just be a coincidence.'
'Maybe,' Siegmun admitted. 'But morale will take a hit.'
'I'm sure you'll find a way to fix that,' Noidron said confidently, ever trusting of Siegmun's leadership.
Both turned as Riniock and Urael approached.
'Riniock!' Siegmun greeted, visibly relieved to see him. 'What brings you here?'
'We meet again!' Noidron added.
Riniock nodded slightly. 'Greetings, Sir Noidron. Niann found ligature marks on the elantreas' necks. We believe they were tamed and commanded to attack us.'
Siegmun and Noidron exchanged tense glances.
'That explains their unnatural coordination,' Noidron murmured.
'Indeed,' Siegmun agreed. 'We need to investigate this before our enemies cover their tracks.'
Before they could continue, Noidron's gaze sharpened as he noticed Riniock's companion.
'And who is this?' he asked pointedly.
'I'm Urael Flonderance, and I –'
'And he was annoyingly insistent on tagging along,' Riniock interrupted, subtly signalling Siegmun not to speak freely in Urael's presence.
Siegmun caught on. 'If you have no business here, return to the medicar and assist with the wounded.'
'But I –'
'The expedition leader gave you an order,' Noidron growled, his usual composure shifting into something sterner. 'Are you refusing it?'
Urael hesitated, his resolve wilting under the weight of authority. Without another word, he turned and walked away.
Once he was out of earshot, Siegmun refocused. 'Any ideas on how to track where the elantreas went?'
'I could follow their tracks,' Noidron suggested, 'but it would take too long.'
'We don't have that kind of time,' Siegmun said. 'They'll vanish before we get anywhere close.'
'We could try tracing their odh signatures,' Noidron offered, 'but that would drain too much of our own energy, and their abilities to turn invisible might interfere.'
They tossed around ideas, but none seemed practical.
Then Riniock spoke up, resting a hand on his empty scabbard. 'How hard would it be to track a weapon I'm attuned to?'
Noidron's furrowed expression shifted into a knowing smile. 'Not hard at all. That's the best suggestion yet.'
'What weapon?' Siegmun asked.
'My dagger,' Riniock said. 'I threw it into an elantrea's leg. If it's still lodged in the beast, we can use it to find them.'
'Brilliant!' Siegmun clapped his hands. 'That gives us a direct trail to follow.'
'Then, who are you bringing?' Noidron asked.
'I'll need a team of five. You'll stay behind and assume command in my absence though.'
'Understood,' Noidron nodded.
'As for the search party, I'll definitely take Balidor and Aikan. As for the remaining three, Ulred, Hadfarr, and Lodras will have to suffice. Riniock, you're coming too.'
Riniock blinked. 'I am?'
'Of course. You're the only one who can track the dagger.'
'I see.' He masked his excitement with a neutral nod.
Noidron gave them one final piece of advice before turning to his new duties. 'Be careful. We still don't know who or what we're dealing with.'
Siegmun and Riniock exchanged a firm nod.
'Let's gather the others,' Siegmun said. 'Then we'll begin the hunt. Ready?'