The Moonlit Hollow was steeped in tension, a stillness that felt like the calm before a storm. The jagged ice formations stood as silent sentinels, their sharp edges reflecting the dim golden glow of the artifact. The Frost Mink clung tightly to Aria's leg, its small body trembling.
"Relax," she muttered, nudging it gently. "You're going to give yourself a heart attack before anything even happens."
The mink chirped softly, its wide eyes filled with nervous energy.
Aria sighed, her tail swishing sharply. "Yeah, I know. I feel it too."
---
Xuan Hao stood near the artifact, his dark robes blending into the icy backdrop. His blade rested lightly against his shoulder, and his dark eyes were fixed on the glowing orb as if trying to decipher its secrets.
"You're staring at it again," Aria said, leaping down from her perch to approach him.
He glanced at her, his faint smile returning. "It's fascinating, don't you think?"
Her sharp blue eyes narrowed. "It's a giant glowing problem. What's fascinating about that?"
He chuckled softly. "Sometimes problems are the most interesting things."
Her claws scraped against the frozen ground. "You're insane. You know that, right?"
"Maybe," he said, his smirk widening. "But I'm not wrong."
---
The Frost Mink scurried toward the artifact, its tiny paws leaving faint tracks in the snow.
"Stop," Aria growled, stepping forward to block its path.
The mink tilted its head, letting out a curious chirp.
Xuan Hao chuckled, his dark eyes glinting. "Your little friend's braver than you give it credit for."
Her fur bristled as she turned her sharp blue eyes to him. "And you're more irritating than usual today."
He raised his hands in mock surrender. "Noted."
---
The sun climbed higher, casting a pale light over the hollow, but the tension in the air remained. Aria patrolled the perimeter, her sharp senses attuned to every sound and movement. The snow was undisturbed, but her instincts screamed that something was about to change.
"System," she thought, her claws flexing. "What's the status now?"
"Artifact resonance stable. Energy fluctuations minimal. Hostile detection probability: 20%."
Her ears twitched. "That's lower than I expected."
"Residual instability remains. Continued monitoring advised."
She growled softly, her tail lashing. "It always is."
---
Xuan Hao was seated near the artifact, his dark eyes studying the faint crimson threads of energy that encased the glowing orb.
"You're working hard on that barrier," Aria said, her tone sharp as she approached him.
He glanced at her, his expression calm. "Better to be prepared."
Her sharp blue eyes narrowed. "You're starting to sound like me."
Xuan Hao smirked faintly, tilting his head. "Is that a compliment?"
"Don't push your luck," she growled, her claws scraping against the ground.
---
The Frost Mink and its companions gathered near the stream, their tiny chirps filling the air as they darted between patches of snow.
Aria watched them from a distance, her sharp blue eyes softening slightly.
"They're too carefree," she thought. "They don't even realize how dangerous this place is."
The smallest mink glanced back at her, chirping as if to say, Come play!
She huffed, shaking her head. "Not a chance."
---
By midday, the artifact's hum began to shift, its steady vibration deepening into a low resonance that made Aria's fur stand on end.
"System," she thought, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "What's happening now?"
"Energy fluctuations detected. Artifact resonance stabilizing. No immediate anomalies identified."
Her claws flexed. "That doesn't sound reassuring."
"Probability of hostile attraction remains unchanged."
Aria growled softly, her tail swishing sharply. "It's never quiet for long."
---
Xuan Hao approached her, his dark eyes glinting with quiet amusement.
"You're pacing again," he said, leaning casually against a jagged ice shard.
Aria glared at him, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "And you're still stating the obvious."
He smirked faintly. "You're more predictable than you think."
Her fur bristled. "Keep talking and see what happens."
Xuan Hao chuckled softly, shaking his head. "As you wish."
---
The Frost Mink scurried back to Aria, chirping nervously as it pressed against her leg.
She sighed, glancing down at the tiny creature. "What is it now?"
The mink squeaked, its wide eyes darting toward the artifact.
"System," Aria thought, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "Is it destabilizing again?"
"Artifact resonance remains stable. No anomalies detected."
Her claws scraped against the ground. "Then why does it feel like something's wrong?"
---
The first sign of trouble came as a faint ripple of energy that swept through the hollow, causing the jagged ice formations to shimmer faintly.
Aria crouched low, her sharp blue eyes blazing. "System, report!"
"Energy fluctuations detected. Probability of environmental disturbance: 30%."
Her fur bristled. "Environmental disturbance? What kind?"
"Unconfirmed. Continued monitoring recommended."
She growled softly, her claws flexing. "I hate waiting."
---
Xuan Hao stood beside her, his blade resting lightly against his shoulder. "It's building up again, isn't it?"
Aria nodded, her sharp blue eyes fixed on the artifact. "Looks like it."
He smirked faintly. "Good. I was starting to get bored."
Her tail lashed. "Then you can fight whatever comes next by yourself."
Xuan Hao chuckled softly. "You wouldn't let me have all the fun."
---
The Frost Mink scurried behind Aria, chirping nervously as it huddled against her leg.
"For now," she thought, her sharp blue eyes blazing, "we wait. But when it starts, I'll make sure we're ready."
---
As the sun began to set, casting the hollow in hues of orange and gold, the artifact's glow pulsed steadily, its hum a quiet warning of the storm brewing just beyond the horizon.
Xuan Hao stood beside her, his dark eyes reflecting the faint light.
"Whatever happens next," he said, his tone calm, "at least we'll be ready."
Aria growled softly, her claws scraping against the ground. "We'd better be."