The group scrambled to hide even quicker than when they had seen the inquisitor. Medurio led them behind a patch of tall bushes and plants in the very back of the garden. His mind now wandered through terrible possibilities again. If someone were to find them hiding it would be far worse than if they were just wandering around the place. But he knew that he could not face the inquisitor again, knew that if he did he would be shaken a magnitude greater than before. So he hid, hoping that it was anyone but the inquisitor.

Medurio looked through the crevices of the bush in front of him as footsteps approached the center of the garden. Visibility was poor from where he looked. All that could be seen was a faint outline, not enough to even tell if it was a person. As they neared the back the group moved closer to the corner. They could move no further now, if they did then they could easily be seen if someone came through the door nearest.

Medurio held his breath as the footsteps stopped. Looking behind him, he found that the others were just as frozen as he was. Although Livia and Siegfried were crawling back as much as they could, Medurio felt a bit daring. His mind, as it always was during these times, was highly curious. He slowly crawled forward, intending to move as smoothly as an animal stalking their prey. Once he had reached the point where he could see the visitor again, he split the two bushes in front of him apart. More plants ahead blocked some of his sight but his eyes still caught a minor glimpse of the person. Just enough to realize that they were facing away from him. They were doing something to the Swiftweed! Medurio’s heart pounded faster. Even if it was covered in beans he was paranoid that they would know that one went missing.

He was already regretting what he was about to do. But if this person was the inquisitor, it would be a death sentence to leave the garden with the bean. Slowly letting go of the bushes, he moved up to a height from where he could see their face. They looked familiar, very familiar. Medurio could not tell who it was from just the back of their head though. Slowly, he inched closer so that he could get a glimpse of the side of their face. Finally, the man turned his head for a moment. He was looking to the side, but still Medurio felt a fearful pressure within himself. Of course the man was familiar. It was his alchemy instructor!

Just before Medurio could perform some compromising feat the door flew open again and he instinctively crouched down. As he went down his instructor promptly shot up. The other three crawled to where they could not be seen. Medurio tried to take a peek at the newcomer, but his nerves could not take it and he decided to stay where he was. “What luck!” He thought sadly. “So close, but the gods have decided to throw everything they have.” He brushed aside thoughts that put him at fault for this, because if he did, he would surely throw himself into the inquisitor's arms to end the uncomfortable anxiety of it all.

“Inquisitor!” His instructor said to the newcomer, presenting Medurio with the fact that he was now doomed.

“Hello again, instructor,” The inquisitor responded, his approaching footsteps increasing Medurio’s stress with every step. “What brings you to the gardens?”

“Just preparing for tomorrow, teaching alchemy requires one to spend much time around plants,” the instructor responded with an awkward laugh.

“And you will be presenting them in your classroom as well?” The inquisitor asked with a tone meant more for an interrogation than a question.

“This?” Medurio could see that the instructor moved somewhat through the brush. “This is the bean of a Swiftweed plant. And yes, the best way for students to learn is to see it for themselves.”

The inquisitor grunted in agreement, “Yes, I’ve never been a fan of learning through textbooks. Through my line of work, the true path of knowledge is through experience. And through that knowledge I have come to learn that when someone sees an inquisitor, they are immediately curious as to what happened. I’m assuming you are thinking of the same instructor?”

“Yes, I may have been somewhat curious.” The instructor said meekly.

“Well it is something you will most definitely want to hear.” The inquisitor crossed his arms. “I’ve been informed by the head of the academy that someone has been stealing from the archives. And to make matters worse, they have been stealing texts on ancient alchemy. I am still unsure as to who the culprit is. Do you know of anything relating to this?” The change of topic made Medurio panic, he wished above all else that he could jump over those great walls behind him. Then his mind did a double take, pondering what the conversation meant. Since he could not sigh in relief he did so in his mind. He was far less guilty than he thought. He looked back towards the others, they seemed just as confused as he. It was as if the fear had been quickly ripped out of them.

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Medurio would have stood up to leave now if it weren't for the fact that he was still very much guilty of carrying text that the inquisitor was likely prepared to kill over. Also, he was quite curious about how this interaction would end. Perhaps his instructor was even more similar to him than he thought.

The instructor responded, "Well uh- I had heard about it. Truly awful! But, I cannot help you. Besides, I am prohibited from entering that place without permission,” he delivered his words shakily.

"I'm aware," The inquisitor told him. "But I have seen the place myself, any instructor is able to access the room with their key, permission or not. Have you seen any of your fellow coworkers acting suspiciously at least. Perhaps any students?"

The instructor was silent for a moment. Medurio was somewhat excited to see how far he would go. "Well there was this student…" Medurio froze again, his poor heart.

"Oh," the inquisitor responded with great interest. "Do tell."

"You bastard," Medurio fearfully repeated in his mind over and over as his body tensed.

“He came up to me after class, asked about the archives. I believed he took a special interest in the alchemical ones,” the instructor lied gracefully. Although his voice did not seem all too confident, Medurio could only curse the man even more.

“Do you happen to know his name?” Nadosta asked with extreme curiosity.

“I believe he went by Medurio Antonius.”

Medurio couldn’t take it any more. He had been entirely jeopardized by a man no better than him. Surely there was not much of a way out of this plight. Perhaps if he killed the man? But, he had already said his name. It was over. He looked towards the others, they looked at him with the same defeated frowns.

“Ah, I believe I met him this morning. Seemed quite shaken, but that’s usually how everyone is. I’ll look into him.”

“Good. I’m afraid I must be going now, sir inquisitor, I have to prepare for my next class.”

There was movement, then the instructor stopped again, “One more thing before you go.”

The instructor spoke hastily, “Sorry, but it’s nearly night, I-”

“Please, just one more question. I’ll be quick,” The inquisitor tried to say politely.

“Alright,” the man was sounding anxious now.

“One of the librarians saw you enter the archives two days ago, is that true?”

“Uh- well.” The instructor stuttered unflatteringly.

“They also say they saw you doing the same last month,” Nadosta pressed.

“You se-” the man started in a weak protest.

“And the archivist said that you had not requested a document in either instance,” The inquisitor now began to speak scoldingly.

Medurio could not stop listening, could not stop experiencing this moment. It was as if his emotions flipped themselves over and over again every minute.

“Yes bu-”

“And it just so happens to be that these were on the days that theft had occurred.”

“I WAS JUST VISITING!” The man yelled loudly enough to nearly make the four onlookers jump out of hiding. “I have no time for your accusations, good day sir!” The instructor finally went away, leaving the other five to process what had just happened.

“Good day to you as well!” The inquisitor responded in an unusually cheerful way before one of the doors was violently slammed shut. He sighed, then went for the exit as well.

Finally, there were only four people left in the garden. Medurio looked over the brush to make sure that they were truly safe. Seeing that they were alone, he picked up his now sore legs, then stretched. Being motionless took a greater toll than he expected.

“I believe this will be the first and last time I associate with you,” Siegfried joked tiredly. “My body and mind can only take so much abuse.” Medurio wished that he did not agree with him.

“Can we leave?” Livia asked. “Standing here is making me nervous.”

“I believe this is called a learning moment,” Scrulo said. “Although, it would have been better for all of us if it had not happened twice today.”

Medurio nodded his head and turned to leave. He was tired, hungry, and unsure if he had enough energy to complete the concoction itself. But most of all, he was sure that he hated this more than the gods allegedly hated him for doing it.