Class ends up going late

Your instructor pairs you up with a beginner and teaches you both as you practice in the fighting ring. For now you are only learning the basics of swordsmanship and there is no magic involved. You and your partner end up learning a lot throughout the day and exhaust each other out. With your instructor's permission you both remain there to practice by yourselves until well after dinner time practicing because you were having so much fun. You both decide it is a good time to go home now that it is nearing 7pm.

While sheathing her sword your partner Samantha says "that was a lot of fun. Oh my god I am exhausted". "yeah, let's go home. I can't wait for tomorrow to come. I wonder when we will start learning how to incorporate magic into this whole thing" you say. You start to head out of the classroom together. As soon as you both make it outside Samantha stops you by asking "wait, where do you live again?". "What do you mean? Are we not going back to the dorms?" you chuckled back at her. When Samantha didn't laugh you started to worry. "There are multiple dorms at this school aren't there?" you said as you start to realize what this means. "yeah um. Sorry I live in the coastal dorms. Please be safe on your way home. Do not stray off the path and stay where it is well lit and you should be fine " She said. You say your goodbyes and start heading home. You are scared at this point because you heard stories of how unsafe it is for someone like you to be out after dark. "Just stay in the light. Just stay in the light" you reassure yourself as you start walking back to your dorm by yourself.

After about five minutes of walking by yourself hugging the sources of light on the trail you hear something rustling in the bushes.