Riniock froze beside Linry, his lips pressed tightly together.

‘Linry, I –’

‘Save it, Riniock,’ she cut him off, rising to her feet and gathering her belongings. ‘I’ve helped you cover up a murder. I’ve hidden your things. I don’t know what else I need to do to prove you can trust me.’

Her words struck him like a dagger, each one sinking deeper into the recesses of his guilt. Riniock’s mind raced through a whirlwind of memories – moments of embarrassment, betrayals, and his mishaps with trust. Yet none of those compared to the weight of her disappointment.

He knew their relationship had been hastily forged. Its foundation lay on a fractured and bloodstained past. Yet, despite the chaos, their bond had grown, rooted in a mutual fascination – perhaps even an obsession – with the raw, untamed power of fire.

‘I don’t have to take this,’ Linry said, her voice cold and resolute. She turned towards the exit. ‘Figure out where you stand in all of this. When you do, maybe we’ll talk.’

‘Wait.’ Riniock’s hand shot out, catching her wrist. He wasn’t one to leave things unresolved, no matter how uncomfortable they might be. ‘I admit it. I’m paranoid. About everyone. And given the nature of what I do, and…my experiences here at the college – it hasn’t been easy for me to trust.’

Linry paused, her sharp expression softening just slightly as she studied his face.

‘And what’s your plan, then?’ she asked, her tone challenging. ‘To shut everyone out so you can’t get hurt?’

‘No.’ Riniock hesitated, searching for the right words. ‘I misspoke earlier. I don’t want to shut you out. I don’t want you to leave. Please…stay.’

Linry’s scowl began to waver as she looked into his eyes, searching for insincerity and finding none.

‘Are you saying this just to placate me?’ she asked, her voice quieter now, tinged with scepticism.

‘I’m not,’ Riniock replied earnestly. ‘I mean it.’

She placed her sack back on the table and sank into her chair with a resigned sigh. ‘Fine. Then tell me – what exactly do you plan to do with that creature of yours?’

Riniock’s lips curled into a satisfied smile, pleased with how the tension had eased.

‘I’ve brought these,’ he said, pulling out a pair of gloves, tweezers, and a small glass vial. ‘I want to try collecting its spores. See if I can use its hallucinogens.’

Linry raised an eyebrow, examining the tools he laid out. ‘And what uses do you have in mind for them?’

‘They could be useful in battle...or maybe as a drug,’ Riniock replied, his tone thoughtful.

‘Those ideas are ridiculous,’ Linry said, though there was a flicker of amusement in her voice. ‘But not entirely implausible.’ She gave him an approving nod. ‘So, what's the next step?’

Riniock began packing the equipment back into his bag. ‘We’ll need a safe, quiet, and discreet place to experiment. But aside from the beast-handling classroom, I can’t think of anywhere suitable.’

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Linry stood abruptly, her expression shifting into one of determination. ‘Follow me,’ she said, grabbing his arm and pulling him to his feet. ‘I know just the place.’

Riniock had little choice but to let Linry pull him along.

Unbeknownst to them, Piddruin emerged from behind one of the towering bookshelves, utterly flabbergasted by everything he had overheard.

Not only was Linry tolerating Riniock’s presence, but she also seemed to enjoy it – walking arm in arm with him, no less.

‘I’ve got to tell Irgod about this…’ Piddruin muttered, panic creeping into his voice as he darted out of the library. ‘He’s not going to like this at all!’

Meanwhile, on the far side of the college grounds, still within Gorlea due to the border lockdown, Linry led Riniock towards a secluded pier. The dock was quiet, with only a few boats moored nearby – most of them in disrepair. Only one vessel appeared seaworthy, its banners suggesting it wasn’t under the college’s ownership.

‘Over here,’ Linry beckoned, guiding Riniock a few steps away from the pier to a moss-covered wall. She pressed a hand against the stone. ‘There’s a passageway here.’

Riniock glanced around in curiosity, marvelling at the hidden nature of the spot. ‘How did you even know this place existed?’ he asked, his tone laced with both surprise and intrigue.

‘That ship is ours,’ she replied, gesturing towards the lone vessel. ‘But I stumbled across this passage yesterday while looking for a place to dump the null dust I had.’

‘Ah, I see,’ Riniock said, nodding as he inspected their surroundings.

They moved cautiously along the wall, hugging against the cobblestone, as Linry deftly manipulated a few weathered bricks, triggering a hidden mechanism.

With a low rumble, the stone wall groaned and shifted, splitting apart to reveal a concealed entrance.

‘This way,’ Linry instructed, snapping her fingers to summon a small, flickering spark at her fingertips to illuminate the path ahead.

Riniock followed closely as they descended a moss-covered stone stairway. Behind them, the faint sound of bricks sliding back into place signalled the passage’s closure, ensuring their secrecy unless someone else managed to uncover the hidden mechanism.

Linry paused at the bottom of the stairs, snapping her spark towards a nearby brazier. The flame leapt to life, spreading quickly to other torches and bathing the underground chamber in warm, flickering light.

‘Well?’ she said, gesturing to the room with a sly grin. ‘Cosy, isn’t it?’

‘It’s perfect,’ Riniock replied, his voice filled with admiration. ‘Safe, quiet, and completely hidden from prying eyes.’

The chamber was a long-abandoned underground boathouse, defunct, forgotten, and untouched by time. A large vessel was moored inside, gently rocking against a cobblestone hatch that led into the river running beneath the town. Despite the overgrown moss and missing sails, the ship remained structurally sound, with only a few fallen planks hinting at its age.

‘Then let’s get to work,’ Linry said with a playful smile. ‘No sense in lingering without making some progress.’

With a wave of her hand, she summoned a collection of tools and appliances across the boathouse, readying the space for their task ahead.

‘You’ll have to teach me conjuration someday,’ Riniock remarked casually, his amazement evident as he observed the various tools and furnishings Linry had summoned with just a few gestures. ‘You’ve practically outfitted an entire workspace in minutes.’

‘Sure,’ Linry replied with a small smile. ‘I can teach you.’

‘Alright then, onto the real purpose of this little adventure,’ Riniock said, pulling out the storage card from his belongings. He placed it on the table as the two of them began gearing up, carefully arranging their equipment.

‘What do we do if it tries to make us hallucinate?’ Linry asked, a hint of concern in her voice. ‘We don’t have anything to counteract that.’

Riniock scanned the room, his mind racing for a solution. Spotting a piece of cloth, he grabbed it and dipped it into the river water nearby.

‘Here,’ he said, handing it to her. ‘Drape this over your face – cover your mouth and nose.’

‘This rag?’ Linry responded, wrinkling her nose in distaste.

‘It’s better than nothing for now,’ Riniock replied matter-of-factly.

With a reluctant pout, Linry followed his suggestion and tied the damp cloth around her face. Once both were masked, Riniock carefully activated the storage card.

The celseed emerged gracefully, its cotton-like form floating and twisting through the air in playful, fluid motions.

‘Don’t make any sudden moves,’ Riniock cautioned, his voice low and steady. ‘It hasn’t harmed me so far, so let’s not provoke it.’

‘Got it,’ Linry whispered, her eyes fixed on the creature, her movements careful and deliberate. ‘I’ll follow your lead.’