Everyone is Watching

Chapter Sixteen: Burden of Proof | Part 5

Halfway through their last class, the news broke that Ambassador Taravian was missing. Professor Ryik stopped lecturing and let the students do as they pleased. His blank stare and twitching face suggested he was discussing the news with his fellow teachers.

That made it all the more unsettling each time his eyes fixed on Thirtyx.

“You’re still sure you want to do this?” Benn muttered on their way back to the dorm. “Literally everyone is watching you. That’s going to make this harder.”

“I just have to make it from the showers to the classroom where Rhea’s hiding. That’s far less dangerous than what I’d be facing if we don’t do this.”

They had about two bars until they needed to take their places. Benn mostly paced. Seerla picked at her braid so much a pile of dark hair accumulated beside her, and Rhea kept drawing and redrawing her nudge spell with an inert pencil. Thirtyx stared at the fingers he was wringing so hard they’d started to chafe.

Benn opened their mental chat line a few fractions before they left, a small mercy to Seerla, who still wasn’t used to communicating that way. She remained incredibly twitchy while they packed up their things.

“I’m sor—” She shook her head. I’m sorry. This is just so unusual to me. I’ve never been close with anyone who enjoys talking like this.

You’re doing fine, Thirtyx thought in a soothing tone that made Seerla flinch nonetheless.

Seerla nodded, but she didn’t look convinced. In fact, she looked more terrified than Thirtyx had ever seen her, casting him one last glance over her shoulder as she and Rhea headed one direction and he and Benn headed the other.

The showers were fairly empty at this time of day, but for added privacy, they’d selected the last two stalls, partially hidden around a corner. Benn settled in one and Thirtyx in the other. He turned on the water to support the ruse.

As he sat on the bench away from the spray, Rhea’s field of view entered his mind. She was tracing the final strokes of her nudge spell onto the surface of a desk. When her hand pulled back, the sigil faded, and Rhea’s sight line with it. And now we wait, she said.

With all the anxiety the day had brought, waiting wasn’t the easiest task. Every creak of the door, every squeak of a faucet made Thirtyx jump. With increasing frequency, Benn kept casting a spell that threw his vision into the main shower corridor to check whether Farish had arrived.

You’re in position, right, Seerla? Rhea asked after several such checks.

Yeah. No sign of him. Maybe today’s drama changed his schedule, and he’s coming from a different direction… or not coming at all.

Try looking around a little, Benn said. Maybe someone stopped him before he got to you.

Seerla’s doubt radiated through the chat, but she answered with a meek, Alright.

Nearly half a bar later, Seerla had yet to locate Farish. Thirtyx had long since turned off the water, the hypnotic pitter pat of the drops on the tile threatening to drive him insane. How about I look for him near the showers? he offered.

You sure you’ll be safe out there? Benn asked.

Thirtyx stood and rolled his neck, basking in the physical and emotional relief of no longer sitting still. It’s not like you’ll be far if I run into trouble. He pushed through the curtain and headed up the corridor. If Farish shows up, let me know, and I’ll—

His thoughts coalesced into a shocked garble. As he stepped through the door, a pair of hands grabbed his collar and pushed him against the wall.

A small pair of hands.

Mercuria’s hands.