Magick, Monsters & Murder

Riniock awoke to a clamour echoing through the dormitory. Several members of his cohort had stumbled into the room, their faces smeared with soot and their clothes reeking of smoke.

 'Why in Murat do we have to help the senior students put out the fire?' one of them grumbled, vigorously rubbing soot from their skin.

 'Did they find anyone inside?' another asked, voice low with morbid curiosity.

 'Probably,' came the grim reply. 'I heard tell of a charred body – so burned it's unrecognisable.'

 'Gods! And we didn't even get a chance to rest,' another complained. 'I hope the arch-maegi cancel lessons today.'

 Riniock's pulse quickened as he pieced together the details. The fire hadn't gone unnoticed; the incident was already the talk of the dorms.

 Determined to learn more, he changed his attire and slipped out, heading towards the site of his crime. When he arrived, a crowd of maegis had gathered around the torched ruins. The fire had been extinguished, but embers still glowed faintly amidst the blackened remains of the structure.

 Dozens of people milled about, some combing through the ashen debris, whilst others whispered amongst themselves. A group of staff members emerged from the wreckage, their faces grim as they carried what was left of Jorian's body – a mangled, charred corpse.

 Near the scene, a woman stood trembling. Her tear-streaked face was red, her sobs heavy with grief. Hilida.

 'Noidron,' she pleaded, reaching out desperately. 'Please, step aside. I need to see him…one last time. Please!'

 Noidron blocked her path, his expression firm yet compassionate. 'Hilida, you shouldn't. Not like this.'

 'I have to,' she begged, her voice cracking. 'Please let me through!'

 But Noidron remained steadfast, shielding her from the heartbreaking sight behind him. He pulled Hilida into an embrace, pressing her face against his chest to cover her eyes. She struggled against him, her sobs wrenching the air, but he held her firmly, refusing to let her witness the remains of her brother being carried away. Only when the staff disappeared from sight did he loosen his grip.

 Riniock stood nearby, his expression hard and unyielding.

 Though Hilida's cries pierced the air, they failed to stir him. In his heart, he felt no remorse. Jorian had brought his fate upon himself, Riniock reasoned. The man never should have involved himself in that investigation.

 From the corner of his vision, Riniock noticed the Ikshar delegation standing near the wreckage, being questioned by a group of Gorlean officials. Amongst them was Linry. Their eyes met, and a subtle smile curved across both their faces.

 'Meet me in the main hall later,' Linry mouthed silently.

 Riniock gave her a small nod before his attention was pulled elsewhere. The investigators had finished with the delegation and were now approaching him.

 'Good morning, acolyte. Do you have a moment to answer a few questions?'

 Riniock glanced back at Linry, who subtly gestured for him to stay calm. Turning back to the investigators, he replied, 'Yes, sirs. Of course.'

 One of them unrolled a piece of parchment. 'Your name is Riniock Ev Tolgir, correct?'

 'Yes,' Riniock answered, puzzled by how they already knew his name.

 The investigator jotted down the confirmation. 'It was brought to our attention by another acolyte that the deceased had attempted to contact you. Is that true?'

 Riniock's fist clenched slightly, certain it was Urael who had informed them. 'Yes, that's correct,' he admitted.

 'Any idea why the victim would want to speak with you?'

 'I have a vague idea.'

 'Please elaborate. Any detail might help.'

 Riniock hesitated, then offered, 'During our admission test, I had a disagreement with a group of people. Things got…heated. Verbally, of course.'

 The investigator's quill hovered over the parchment. 'Names?'

 'Urael Flonderance, Abrant Loyri, Kieg Klattos, and Odrean Zigo,' Riniock listed. He tthen continued, 'as you may be aware, Odrean Zigo was found dead later that same day.'

 'Killed by a great lidthrag, if I recall correctly,' one of the investigators interjected.

 'Correct,' Riniock confirmed. 'After our return, I was informed that a senior student, who also held a staff position at the college, wanted to speak with me.'

 'And why do you believe he wished to discuss the incident?'

 'I honestly don't know,' Riniock replied. 'That's simply what I was told.'

 'Why were you unavailable to meet with him at the time?'

 'I was in training with Professor Gieller. Both he and Niann Nodahr can confirm this,' Riniock stated confidently.

 The investigator nodded, making a final note. 'Very well. Thank you, acolyte. You're free to go.'

 Riniock thanked the investigators but lingered nearby, hoping to overhear details not meant for public knowledge.

 Experts moved through the remains of the site, using intricate devices strapped to their eyes and hands, clearly searching for the fire's origin. Accompanying them was a strange creature on a chain – a canine-like beast that seemed to have been resurrected after death. Its skeletal frame was completely exposed in some parts, a grotesque display of bones visible to all.

 A moment later, the beast's handler called the team over, motioning towards a specific area. The group gathered, focusing their attention on the spot.

 'What do we have here?' one of them asked, crouching for a closer inspection.

 'It looks like it was a candle,' another replied. 'This could be the source of the fire.'

 'So it was an accident?' someone speculated. 'A candle falls over, ignites the floor, and the blaze consumes the tenant along with the structure?'

 The handler narrowed his eyes, clearly unconvinced. His beast, known for its extraordinary sense of smell – able to detect traces even after a year – snorted and sneezed violently, as though agitated by some unseen irritant.

 'Hey, over here,' the handler called to the experts operating the devices. 'Can you check this area thoroughly?'

 'Check for what?' one asked, adjusting and calibrating their equipment.

 'Null dust,' the handler said firmly.

 'Null dust?' another echoed, eyebrows raised. 'You think someone was trying to cover their tracks?'

 'It's a possibility,' the handler replied, his gaze fixed on the spot. 'Let's see what your devices uncover.'

 Later, the team froze in place, stiff, their expressions shifting from routine concentration to stunned realisation.

 'Well?' the beast's handler prompted, his tone laced with anticipation.

 'You were right,' one of the experts confirmed grimly. 'There are traces of null dust throughout the chamber. This wasn't an accident – it was deliberate.'

 The revelation cast the entire incident in a new and sinister light.

 'Keep searching,' the handler ordered, his voice sharp and authoritative. 'This case is now classified as premeditated murder. Lock down the college grounds immediately and notify the arch-maegi!'