The other professors stared at him in disbelief. Vastion’s brow furrowed. “A single night? That’s impossible.”
“It’s the truth,” Van Dijk said, his tone leaving no room for doubt. “Ludwig has an exceptional talent for deduction and rapid learning. What takes others weeks, he can accomplish in hours.”
Cymoria shook her head, clearly impressed. “It took me three weeks to learn Vow of Silence, and I considered that an achievement. To do it in a single night… that’s unheard of.”
Vastion’s gaze returned to the screen, where Ludwig was still running from the stone lion. “There’s something else that bothers me,” he said slowly. “How is it that he’s still not exhausted? He’s been running, fighting, and strategizing nonstop for hours. Even the most physically fit students would be on the verge of collapse by now.”
Van Dijk’s expression remained neutral, though internally he was weighing his words carefully. He couldn’t reveal the truth—that Ludwig was an undead, incapable of feeling fatigue. Instead, he offered a plausible explanation. “I’ve often wondered the same thing,” he said. “Ludwig’s stamina is… unusual. I suspect he may have barbarian ancestry. Their bloodlines are known for producing individuals with extraordinary endurance.”
Vastion nodded, though his expression suggested he wasn’t entirely convinced. “Perhaps. Though his skeletal frame doesn’t exactly scream ‘barbarian.’ Still, it’s the most logical explanation.”
Van Dijk’s eyes flicked back to the screen, where Ludwig was now navigating a narrow passageway, the stone lion momentarily out of sight. “There’s something else you should keep an eye on,” Van Dijk said, his voice low. “Notice the shadow trailing behind him.”
Vastion and Cymoria leaned closer to the screen, their eyes narrowing as they spotted the faint, almost imperceptible shadow that seemed to move independently of Ludwig’s movements. “Is that…?” Cymoria began, but Van Dijk cut her off.
“Yes,” he said. “And the fact that Ludwig hasn’t noticed it yet is both concerning and instructive. This trial will teach him a valuable lesson: always be on guard, even when you think you’re safe.”
***
Ludwig finally managed to break away from the relentless pursuit of the stone lion, his undead legs carrying him swiftly through the labyrinth’s twisting corridors. The maze’s ever-shifting walls, hidden traps, and sudden pitfalls had worked in his favor this time, allowing him to lose the lion in the chaos. He paused for a moment, leaning against a cold stone wall, his breath steady despite the exertion. For an undead, physical fatigue was a foreign concept, but the mental strain of constantly being on edge was another matter entirely.
“What’s wrong?” Thomas’s voice echoed in Ludwig’s mind, breaking the silence. The lantern spirit had been unusually quiet, likely giving Ludwig space to focus during the chase. “I completely forgot you’re here,” Ludwig replied mentally, his tone a mix of amusement and exhaustion.
“Yeah, with all the tension, I’d assume you’d forget about poor ol’ me,” Thomas said, his voice tinged with mock offense. “But you look a bit distracted. Something on your mind?”
Ludwig frowned, his sharp eyes scanning the dimly lit corridor. He turned his head, glancing over his shoulder, but there was nothing there—just the eerie stillness of the labyrinth. “Yeah, I just have this… feeling,” Ludwig said, his voice low. “Feels like I’m being watched.”
Thomas chuckled, the sound echoing faintly in Ludwig’s mind. “Well, that’s obvious. I mean, the whole damn arena is watching you.”
Ludwig blinked, momentarily caught off guard. “What do you mean?” he asked, his brow furrowing.
“Oh, you probably didn’t know,” Thomas said, his tone casual. “The trials are being displayed. Everyone in the arena is watching your every move.”
“Ah, right,” Ludwig muttered, his lips curling into a faint smirk. “But no, it feels different. Something closer… more personal.”
Thomas’s tone shifted, becoming more serious. “I’ll keep a lookout behind you then. You focus on what’s ahead.”
“Appreciate it,” Ludwig replied, his voice steady as he pushed off the wall and continued moving forward. The labyrinth was eerily quiet now, the only sounds being the occasional distant ringing of bells—hunters on the move. Ludwig moved with purpose, his steps light and deliberate, his senses heightened. He made sure to peer around every corner before crossing, not wanting to be caught off guard like he had been with the lion earlier.
His bracelet, the cursed beacon that marked his location, flared to life every five minutes, its glow piercing the dim light of the labyrinth and it sounded like the horns of hell. Each time it activated, Ludwig had to move, knowing that hunters would be drawn to the light and noise like moths to a flame. The event had settled into a strange lull, with most of the action happening elsewhere. A few students had lost their bracelets, their status shifting from prey to hunter, while others had managed to claim new beacons. Ludwig, however, remained untouched, his skills and instincts keeping him one step ahead.
At one point, a hunter emerged from the shadows, his eyes locking onto Ludwig. Ludwig tensed, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his scimitar, ready to defend himself. But to his surprise, the hunter simply raised his hands in a gesture of surrender and backed away. “Sorry, not interested in hunting you,” the hunter said, his voice tinged with resignation before he disappeared down a side passage.
Ludwig stood there for a moment, slightly annoyed. He wasn’t that strong, was he? Why was everyone avoiding him? The answer, though unbeknownst to him, was simple. Ludwig was a formidable opponent—a swordsman and a mage with a sharp mind and quick reflexes. He wasn’t an easy target, and the hunters knew it. Why risk chasing him when there were weaker, more vulnerable prey to pursue? The thrill of the hunt was reserved for real predators, and Ludwig was anything but easy prey.
Soon, the sound of bells grew louder, and Ludwig turned to see a familiar face approaching. It was Minerva, her expression a mix of frustration and relief. “Oh, you got caught,” Ludwig said, his tone light but sympathetic.
“Yeah, ambushed even…” Minerva replied, sighing heavily. She had two bells left on her, signaling that half the time had passed in the event. “Don’t worry, I’m not gonna hunt you,” she added, though her tone suggested she wasn’t entirely happy about it. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire