The Moonlit Hollow seemed to hold its breath in the aftermath of the battle. The icy ground was scarred by burns and claw marks, remnants of the Shadowflame Serpent's fiery rage and the Abyssal Wolves' relentless attacks. The artifact's glow had dimmed slightly, its hum steady but quieter now, as though it, too, was recovering.
Aria lay near the edge of the hollow, her sharp blue eyes half-closed. Every muscle in her body ached, and her breathing came in slow, deliberate intervals. The Frost Mink rested against her side, its tiny body trembling as it chirped softly.
"Relax," she muttered, nudging the mink gently. "We got through it."
The mink squeaked, tilting its head as if to say, But for how long?
---
Xuan Hao stood near the artifact, his blade sheathed but his posture tense. His dark robes were streaked with ash and blood, but his expression remained calm. He studied the artifact intently, his dark eyes narrowing as he traced the faint cracks that had formed along its surface during the battle.
"It's changing," he said, his voice breaking the uneasy silence.
Aria growled softly, forcing herself to her paws. "What now?"
He glanced at her, his smirk faint. "This artifact of yours doesn't seem to like staying the same for long."
Her fur bristled, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "And that's supposed to mean something to me?"
He tilted his head, his tone thoughtful. "It should. Whatever it's doing, it's attracting more than just random beasts."
Aria's claws flexed against the ground. "Then it's my problem, not yours."
"Is it?" he asked, his dark eyes glinting. "Because it seems to me like it's becoming everyone's problem."
---
The Frost Mink scurried toward the artifact, its tiny paws leaving faint tracks in the snow.
"Stop," Aria growled, her sharp blue eyes snapping toward the mink.
The tiny creature froze, glancing back at her with wide, innocent eyes.
Xuan Hao chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You're more protective than you let on."
Aria growled, stepping between the mink and the artifact. "They're not here for you to observe. Keep your distance."
He smirked faintly, raising his hands in mock surrender. "As you wish."
---
The hollow remained eerily quiet for the rest of the morning, but the weight of the artifact's presence loomed over them like a storm cloud.
Aria patrolled the perimeter, her sharp senses tuned to every sound and movement. The snow had settled once more, covering the bloodstains and burn marks, but the jagged ice formations remained, their sharp edges reflecting the dim light.
"System," she thought, her tail swishing sharply. "Status update."
"Artifact resonance stabilizing. Hostile detection probability: 20%. Ambient energy fluctuations detected."
Her ears twitched. "Fluctuations again? Is it from the artifact or something else?"
"Energy patterns suggest external interference. Source remains unidentified."
Her fur bristled. "That's not good enough. Give me more."
"Insufficient data. Continued monitoring recommended."
Aria growled softly, her claws scraping against the frozen ground. "Of course."
---
Xuan Hao watched her from a distance, his dark eyes glinting with quiet amusement.
"You've been muttering to yourself all morning," he said, his tone light.
Aria spun to face him, her sharp blue eyes blazing. "And you've been standing there like an idiot. What's your point?"
He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "My point is, you're worried."
Her fur bristled, her tail lashing. "You don't know anything about me."
"Maybe," he said, his smirk faint. "But I know that whatever's coming, you're preparing for it."
---
The Frost Mink and its companions gathered near the stream, their chirps filling the air as they darted between the icy banks.
Aria perched on a nearby rock, her sharp blue eyes watching them closely.
"They don't even realize how close they came to getting wiped out," she thought, her claws flexing.
The smallest mink glanced back at her, chirping softly as if to say, You saved us. Isn't that enough?
Aria huffed, shaking her head. "It's never enough."
---
By midday, Xuan Hao had resumed his work on the barrier surrounding the artifact. Crimson threads of energy flickered faintly as they wove together, forming an intricate, glowing web.
Aria approached cautiously, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "Still at it, huh?"
He glanced at her, his expression calm. "Someone has to make sure this thing doesn't blow up in our faces."
Her claws scraped against the ground. "And what happens if it does?"
He smirked faintly, his dark eyes glinting. "We improvise."
Aria growled softly, her tail swishing. "You always make it sound so simple."
---
The artifact's hum grew louder as the day wore on, its golden glow flickering in irregular patterns.
"System," Aria thought, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "Is it stable?"
"Artifact resonance fluctuating. Stability: Marginal. External interference remains active."
Her fur bristled. "So something is messing with it. Can you pinpoint where?"
"Energy signature source unidentified. Range exceeds detection capabilities."
She growled, her claws digging into the ground. "Then we're blind."
---
Xuan Hao approached her, his blade resting against his shoulder. "You're tense," he said, his tone calm.
Aria glared at him, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "And you're stating the obvious."
He smirked faintly, leaning against a nearby ice shard. "I'm just saying, maybe you should take a break. You're not going to solve anything by pacing."
Her claws flexed against the ground. "If I take a break, I might miss something important."
"Or," he said, his dark eyes glinting, "you might finally figure out what's bothering you."
---
The Frost Mink scurried back to Aria, chirping nervously as it pressed against her leg.
She sighed, nudging the tiny creature with her paw. "What is it now?"
The mink squeaked, its wide eyes darting toward the artifact.
Aria's fur bristled as she turned her sharp blue eyes to the glowing orb. "System, what's happening?"
"Energy fluctuations increasing. Probability of hostile attraction rising. Estimated time frame: 12–18 hours."
Her tail lashed. "Great. More company."
---
As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the hollow, the artifact's glow pulsed steadily, its hum resonating through the frozen ground.
"For now," Aria thought, her sharp blue eyes blazing, "we're holding. But this thing won't stop pulling trouble our way."
Xuan Hao stood beside her, his dark eyes reflecting the artifact's glow. "Whatever happens next," he said, his tone calm, "I hope you're ready."
Aria growled softly, her claws scraping against the ground. "I was born ready."
He smirked faintly, his dark eyes glinting. "We'll see."