Something felt odd about following Auriel. Not that he didn't believe the other boy didn't know what he was doing, in fact he felt quite safe and assured. But all the same, it was an itch to be behind someone else. Of course he didn't [i]say[/i] anything to the matter; he wasn't about to start anything over egos right now, there would be time for that later. 

The new mountain was indeed a much easier climb. He set Mirror back around his shoulder and for the most part had no issues as they walked as far as stamina went. But Auriel's words stirred his mind. There wasn't actually a chance they [i]wouldn't[/i] find an artifact, was there? Of course they'd find one, that was part of the test. Wasn't it? He'd worked so hard to get here, could this actually just be another way of weeding out initiates? He was [i]not[/i] going to be a laughing stock to anyone. He'd earned his place dammit, that would not be taken away from him just when he was so close...

It took him a few moments to realize all of his thinking had stayed his feet along their path, and that he'd fallen a little ways behind Auriel. his cheeks grew hot, and he scrambled up after him until he was walking along side his partner. 

"No, no we certainly [i]can't[/i] afford that. We're going to find this artifact," he said, determination overcoming his own face too.