Chereads / The Arcane Beast Tamer / Chapter 21 - Chapter 21 : Into the Northern Wilds

Chapter 21 - Chapter 21 : Into the Northern Wilds

The air grew colder as the group traveled north, the forest thinning into rocky terrain dotted with patches of snow. The distant peaks of the Frostspine Mountains loomed on the horizon, their jagged silhouettes cutting sharply into the sky.

Kael tightened his cloak against the biting wind, his breath misting in the frigid air. The golden crystal in his satchel pulsed faintly, its warmth barely enough to stave off the cold.

"It's getting worse," Lira muttered, pulling her scarf tighter around her neck. "Why does every path we take lead to freezing our tails off?"

"Because danger doesn't like to be convenient," Ember replied dryly, her fiery eyes scanning the path ahead. Her flames burned faintly, providing a small pocket of warmth in the icy wilderness.

Umbra padded close to Kael's side, his shadowy form contrasting starkly against the snowy patches that dotted the ground. "The thread feels stronger," he said softly, his glowing blue eyes flicking toward Kael.

Kael frowned, focusing on the faint pulse in his chest. The golden thread's energy was steadier now, as though it were guiding him toward something. He glanced at the satchel, where the crystal's light seeped faintly through the fabric.

"The crystal knows we're getting closer," Kael said, his voice barely audible over the wind.

Ember's flames flared slightly. "Let's hope we don't attract anything else before we get there."

The group stopped at a small outcropping of rocks to rest, the wind howling around them as the sun dipped lower in the sky. Kael crouched near Ember, his hands outstretched toward her flickering flames.

"We need to find shelter soon," Lira said, leaning against a boulder. "This cold will kill us faster than anything Venric could send after us."

Kael nodded, though his thoughts were elsewhere. The Frostspine Mountains were said to be home to ancient ruins, forgotten temples, and creatures as old as the world itself. The idea of walking into such a place both terrified and fascinated him.

"We're close," Umbra said suddenly, his voice cutting through the wind.

Kael turned to the cub, his brow furrowing. "How can you tell?"

Umbra's glowing eyes narrowed. "I can feel it. The crystal's energy… it's resonating with something ahead."

Ember growled softly, her gaze sweeping the snowy horizon. "That could mean the artifact—or something guarding it."

Lira sighed, pulling her daggers from their sheaths and examining the blades. "Let's hope it's not another one of those shadow wraiths."

Kael's stomach churned at the memory. The encounter with the wraith had been too close, and he didn't want to face something like that again so soon.

"We'll deal with whatever's ahead," he said, trying to sound more confident than he felt. "We don't have a choice."

By the time night fell, the group had found a small cave nestled in the side of a rocky hill. The entrance was narrow, but it widened into a sheltered space large enough for all of them to rest.

Ember lit a small fire near the center of the cave, her flames casting flickering shadows on the stone walls. Kael leaned against the rough rock, his legs aching from the day's travel.

"We'll reach the temple tomorrow," Umbra said quietly, his small body curled up near the fire. "I can feel it."

Kael nodded, his mind racing. The temple—the location of the second artifact—was so close, yet he couldn't shake the growing sense of unease that hung over him.

"What do you think we'll find there?" he asked, glancing at Ember and Lira.

"Trouble," Ember said bluntly, her fiery eyes meeting his. "If the first artifact had a guardian, the second one will too. Maybe something worse."

Lira smirked, spinning one of her daggers between her fingers. "Worse doesn't scare me. As long as we get what we came for, I'll deal with whatever's waiting."

Kael frowned, his gaze drifting to the satchel beside him. The golden crystal pulsed faintly, its light illuminating the edge of the fire. "What if we're not strong enough?" he asked softly.

Umbra lifted his head, his glowing eyes filled with quiet determination. "We'll find a way. We always do."

Kael nodded, though the weight of the crystal's power pressed heavily on his chest.

The next morning, the group set out early, the wind biting at their faces as they climbed higher into the mountains. The path grew steeper and more treacherous, the rocky terrain slick with ice.

Kael's heart pounded as he focused on each step, the golden thread pulsing faintly in his chest. The closer they got to the temple, the stronger the thread's energy became, guiding him forward like an invisible beacon.

"There it is," Ember said suddenly, her voice cutting through the wind.

Kael followed her gaze and felt his breath catch in his throat.

The ruins of the temple lay nestled in a narrow valley below, its crumbling walls and broken spires shrouded in mist. Snow covered much of the structure, but faint golden light glowed from within, pulsing in time with the thread in Kael's chest.

"That's it," Umbra said, his voice filled with awe.

Kael nodded, his stomach tightening. The temple was ancient, its weathered stone etched with runes that seemed to hum with energy even from a distance.

As they made their way down into the valley, a low, guttural growl echoed through the air, stopping them in their tracks.

"What was that?" Lira muttered, her daggers already in her hands.

Ember growled, her flames flaring. "Something's guarding the temple."

Kael's chest tightened as the growl grew louder, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps crunching through the snow. From the mist emerged a massive creature, its fur matted with frost and its eyes glowing with an eerie blue light.

"A frostbound sentinel," Ember said, her voice tense. "They were created to guard ancient places like this."

The sentinel let out another growl, its massive claws digging into the ground as it fixed its glowing eyes on the group.

Kael swallowed hard, his hand tightening around the strap of his satchel. "We have to get past it."

"Easier said than done," Lira said, her voice sharp.

The sentinel roared, the sound reverberating through the valley. Kael felt the golden thread pulse wildly in his chest, its energy surging in response to the creature's presence.

"Get ready," Ember growled, stepping forward with her flames blazing.

Kael clenched his fists, the crystal's energy burning against his skin. The battle for the second artifact had begun.