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Chapter 16: The Visitor In The Night
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2024-10-29 19:42:56The days played by torturously into a week. Sethlzaar found himself wondering if he would survive the test.
Maybe I'm not cut out for this life, he thought as he picked up the last of his traps and found a single rat. How the rat had gotten to the trap in the midst of all the snow was a question he did not have the brain power to ponder.
Another week went by in such a manner.
Each day he found an insignificant catch and had himself eating meat of measly quantity. It ranged from rats to lizards and other small creatures.
Sethlzaar made his way back to his shelter, discreetly surveying his surroundings with each step. It was a habit trained he was yet to lose. It was in his second day of the test that he had first felt he was being watched.
At first his mind had gone to Cenam, but such a feat in such an environment was something he couldn't imagine his brother capable of,
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"What are you doing here?""I could ask you the same thing, but I fear the answer would only sadden me." The old man smiled. "So, rather, I would ask: why are you sleeping in this blizzard without a fire?"Sethlzaar frowned. "I already told you. The wood was wet.""Oh well, it's a good thing I ran into you then. I've been told luck tends to favor me."Sethlzaar doubted luck had any hand in it.The man took out a piece of dried meat from his cloak and offered it casually. "Are you hungry?"Sethlzaar's stomach growled at the invitation. But his brain, understanding there was a reason it was called a test, and why it was done individually, shook his head.The man shook his head too. "Just like last time," he said blandly. "Still pulling crazy stunts. First, a misty forest. Now, a raging blizzard." He cocked his head to the side questioningly
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Sethlzaar woke to the smell of roast meat wafting through the shelter as well as the absence of the old man. He stepped out, wondering if the old man had gone on his way.He found the snow elevated at least three feet high. A small path waded through it, an obvious track left behind by the man in his departure. Yet, the smell of meat followed through, up to the high ground. It left Sethlzaar with questions.Wondering what was going on, he cautiously climbed up to see what was above him. There he saw the old man.The man sat, roasting a snow hare over a flame in a small clearing. The smell was torture to an empty stomach, and Sethlzaar wondered if the man did it intentionally."I didn't wish to wake you," the man called out, "but since you're up, I could use the company."No use hiding, Sethlzaar thought. He climbed up and joined the man at the fire.
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The hall back was long, demarcated by constantly repeating archways that went on forever.It was new to Sethlzaar, and he had no memory of ever being in this part of the seminary. In fact, neither was the room he had stepped out of. But what caught his attention was the ever present mist that spanned the floor, covering it so that his feet disappeared beneath it. He was surprised it hadn't overrun the seminary.The test had taken up the whole day, but the darkness proved more of a shock. The night was pitch black, without star or moon.Sethlzaar increased his pace and soon found himself in a panicked run as the darkness seemed to chase him. The archway went on forever, heralding something new with each passing. The mist rose above the ground. It wetted the calves of his trousers, and crawled up his knees.Then he heard it. The growl, accompanied by the sound of paws on the ground.
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