His pace slowed just enough to sharpen his focus.
As he got closer, the outlines of the three figures became clearer.
Young.
They were young. Around his age, maybe slightly older. Their posture was relaxed in a way that didn't match the surroundings.
And their robes—
White, lined with silver threading that caught the fading light, clean and structured in a way that immediately stood apart from everything around them.
Riven's eyes narrowed slightly.
There was an emblem on their robes.
…Knight's Order.
I can't be this unlucky, right?
Riven kept walking.
He didn't slow any further, didn't turn away. At this distance, any obvious reaction would only draw more attention.
He could only hope these were just random traveling disciples of the Knight's Order.
It was a large sect.
Alric shouldn't be that well known.
But—
Riven's eyes narrowed slightly.
If they were the ones Alric had talked about... he would surely be recognized.
He was still dressed like Alric, having gotten used to the more fancy clothes.
His face wasn't covered either...
Riven kept walking.
And watched them, looking out for any reaction.
It was two boys and one girl.
They seemed slightly older than him, around 14 to 15 years old.
The boy in front was taller than the others, lean build, his hair loosely tied back. His posture was relaxed, almost casual, like he didn't take much seriously.
Slightly behind him was another boy. Broader, more grounded, his stance steady and unmoving. He didn't smile, didn't react.
Just walked in a straight line.
Sslightly to the side was the last of the three, a girl with bangs almost covering her eyes. Her expression was calm, almost indifferent, but her eyes were sharp. At least the parts he could see.
All three of them had already noticed him.
At first, there was a brief flicker of confusion on their faces.
It didn't last long.
The boy in front tilted his head slightly—
Then smiled.
Riven's eyes narrowed just a fraction.
…I have a bad feeling about this.
They kept walking.
Closing the distance.
Until—
"…Alric?"
Riven didn't react outwardly.
But internally—
Of course it's them.
They stopped in front of him.
Closer than necessary.
The taller boy's smile didn't fade as he looked him over.
"If I didn't know better, I'd think you were avoiding us," he said lightly.
His tone was casual, almost friendly.
Riven gave a small nod.
"Just out."
Short. Vague.
He didn't want to blow his cover.
The broader boy didn't say anything, but his gaze lingered on Riven longer than the others.
The girl's eyes moved over him more slowly, taking in details without any attempt to hide it.
"…You look fit again," she said after a moment.
Her voice was calm, without much emotion behind it.
It was just a statement. Not a compliment.
Riven didn't respond to that. Just a quiet "mm," enough to acknowledge it without adding anything.
The taller boy let out a soft chuckle.
"Not very talkactive are you?"
He stepped slightly to the side.
If Riven hadn't been in so many life and death situations recently he wouldn't have thought anything of that.
But he had some experience now.
The boy was shifting space in a way that made it harder for him to get away.
It wasn't just him.
The other boy and girl had also repositioned slightly.
"We were actually on our way to see you," the tall one continued. "Didn't expect to run into you out here. What are you doing here?"
Riven's gaze flicked between them briefly.
They spoke like they knew him well. Like it was nice seeing him.
But if that were true—
They should have noticed something by now.
His voice. His behavior.
It couldn't be that similar to the real one.
He'd already prepared some lies mentally, but it seemed like he wouldn't need them.
Riven's eyes narrowed slightly.
So they're not that close.
At least something worked in his favor.
He gave another small nod.
"Just taking a walk."
The excuse was weak, and he knew it.
But he wasn't sure if Alric used to do mission.
And he didn't want to have to explain himself if he didn't.
But the taller boy clearly didn't accept his answer.
"Out here?" he said, glancing briefly at the rough terrain around them. "That's a bit far for a walk."
Riven didn't respond.
He didn't explain himself.
The more he talked, the more he risked getting exposed.
He just held their gaze, letting the silence sit.
For a moment, none of them pushed it further.
Then the girl tilted her head slightly, her eyes still fixed on him.
"So," she asked calmly, "where are you taking your walk too?"
Riven held her gaze for a moment.
Then he looked past them, further down the path.
"…Just heading out," he said.
For a brief moment, it seemed like that might be enough.
Then the taller boy smiled again.
"Perfect," he said lightly. "We'll come along."
Riven's eyes narrowed just slightly.
"We were heading in that direction anyway," he added, already making way for Riven to pass him.
You were heading into that direction?
Who are you trying to fool?
You just came from there.
But Riven didn't say anything.
If he didn't realize by now that Alric and these three weren't on very good terms he'd be a fool.
He took a step forward, deciding to wait for the situation to play out.
If he didn't have to engage in a fight here he didn't want to.
A one versus three without any information on his opponents wasn't exactly favorable.
The broader boy moved without a word, shifting position naturally as he fell in step too. The girl followed a half-step behind, her gaze still resting on Riven for a moment longer before she turned forward as well.
Just like that—
They were walking together.
And Riven immediately noticed it again.
The way they positioned themselves.
The taller boy slightly ahead and to the side, setting the pace. The broader one drifting just behind him, close enough that turning back would be… inconvenient.
And the girl—
Offset.
Watching.
They weren't surrounding him.
Not obviously.
But there wasn't a clean path out anymore.
Riven kept his expression neutral.
…Politely trapped.
He adjusted his pace slightly, matching theirs without comment.
But he didn't change his destination.
He might have been heading toward the Blackweb Hollow to kill spiders...
But he didn't mind changing his goal.
And with how much spiders seemed to like him.
He was certain he'd be able to gain an advantage over the trio once there.
The path continued, the terrain growing rougher with every step. Jagged stone replaced most of the loose ground now, and the webs grew denser, stretching across rock faces and hanging low between uneven formations.
None of them commented on it.
For a while, they walked in silence.
Then—
"Would be nice if your walk had a proper destination," the taller boy said lightly. "You know… the one from that map you kept."
He glanced sideways at him.
"Would be a shame if it didn't."
Riven recognized a threat when he heard it.
"True."
He gave a simple answer.
Nothing much he could say without more information.
What is going on here?
It became quiet again as they continued on.
Then, after a while, the girl said something that almost made him stop in his tracks.
"You look… different."
But he didn't turn.
"Do I?"
A pause.
Then—
"A little," she replied.
The taller boy let out a quiet chuckle.
"Well he did lose an arm back then."
But before Riven could react, the girl spoke again.
"That must be it."
She didn't speak anymore.
Rivens thoughts spun.
They were there when Alric lost his arm?
He couldn't ask.
Step after step they approached his destination.
He wondered how they'd react if he didn't coincidentally aim for the same place they were apparently aiming for.
The terrain shifted again, the path narrowing as rock formations rose higher around them. The air grew heavier, threads of webbing now stretching across nearly every surface, some thick enough to be visible even from a distance.
His hand brushed lightly against the beast pouch.
The presence inside stirred.
More noticeably now.
It could sense other spiders.
They were close.
Very close.
Eventually—
The path opened slightly.
And ahead—
A dark entrance carved into the stone came into view, its edges lined with thick layers of webbing that clung to the surrounding rock like veins.
Blackweb Hollow.
Riven's gaze settled on it.
Then—
Shifted slightly.
He looked toward the trio.
Is this the correct place?
Or are we going to fight?