Heron Lake Plateau you're an ancient ruin, a symbol of hubris and decay

His attempt led to failure. This was the real test: would he give up, or did he truly want to earn himself some knowledge? Veran settled among the reeds and Mag waited patiently to see what he might do.

In the dark, even with the moonlight upon his buttery silhouette, Mag had a hard time following him with her eyes. He hid among the reeds and the mud, much as a frog might.

Something moved among the grasses before her but Magnolia did not respond to it; she heard the plop that signaled something had splashed by in the water and knew from experience it was a frog, and that it was headed somewhere along Veran's eyeline.

There came a series of croaks from around them both, as if the frogs were singing a mocking song.