Chapter 10: 10
Nina whispers a quick command to Rex, "Heel," and the hounds settles obediently at her side. She takes a moment, feeling the tremor of the humming resonating from the hollow in the oak tree's base. Her hands tremble slightly as she focuses her will, drawing on the meager magical reserves she possesses. The illusion spell she conjures is simple, a fleeting image of a small, harmless rabbit hopping towards the darkness. It's a rudimentary test, a scout sent ahead to check for any immediate dangers.
She watches with bated breath as the illusionary rabbit disappears into the gaping maw of the tree. Silence hangs heavy in the air for a long, agonizing moment. Then, a faint rustling sound echoes from within the hollow, followed by a soft, almost inaudible yelp. The illusion is gone. Rex whines softly, his body tense, his ears flattened against his head.
He nudges Nina's hand with his nose, a low growl rumbling in his chest. The humming from within the oak seems to have intensified, now carrying a distinctly menacing undertone. The sweet, cloying scent of the herbs from the box is almost overpowering, laced with a sharp, metallic tang that makes Nina's stomach churn. Clearly, whatever lies beyond is not welcoming. The rabbit illusion revealed something - something dangerous, something that reacted to the illusion as if it were real.
The simple test confirmed the presence of hostiles or traps; the nature of the threat remains, however, shrouded in the darkness of the ancient oak. The question now is - how to proceed?