The winds howled as Kael and his companions descended the mountain, the second artifact now safely tucked into his satchel. The silver crystal hummed faintly, its energy intertwining with the golden one in a way that made Kael's chest feel warm and heavy all at once.
Each step was slow and deliberate. The battle with the frostbound sentinel had drained them all, and the biting cold seemed even harsher now that the adrenaline had worn off.
"We're sitting ducks out here," Lira muttered, pulling her cloak tighter around her shoulders. "No cover, no shelter, and now we've got two glowing beacons of arcane energy screaming for every predator to find us."
"She's not wrong," Ember said, her flames flickering weakly in the icy wind. "We need to find a place to regroup—and soon."
Kael nodded, though his mind was elsewhere. The weight of the two crystals in his satchel was more than physical. Their combined energy was overwhelming, pulsing in perfect harmony with the golden thread in his chest.
It felt alive.
"Kael," Umbra said softly, padding closer to him. "Are you alright?"
Kael glanced down at the cub, his glowing blue eyes filled with concern. "I'm fine," he said, though his voice lacked conviction.
"You're not," Umbra said, his voice barely audible over the wind. "The crystals… they're changing you. I can feel it."
Kael's chest tightened, but he didn't respond.
The group found shelter in a narrow crevice between two rocky cliffs. It wasn't much, but it provided enough cover to shield them from the worst of the wind. Ember lit a small fire, her flames barely flickering as the cold sapped her strength.
Kael sat near the fire, his hands wrapped around the satchel. The golden and silver crystals pulsed faintly, their energy resonating in a way that both comforted and unnerved him.
"What's the next step?" Lira asked, breaking the silence.
Kael looked up, his mind sluggish from exhaustion. "The third artifact," he said. "Orlin said it's in the hands of a collector—Calder Venric."
Lira raised an eyebrow. "Venric? Again? Didn't we just barely escape from his estate?"
Kael nodded, his jaw tightening. "We don't have a choice. If he has the third artifact, we need to get it—before someone else does."
"And how do you plan to get close to him again?" Lira asked, her tone sharp. "He knows your face, Kael. He knows all of us."
Kael's stomach churned. She was right. After their last encounter, Venric would be on high alert—and he wouldn't show mercy if he caught them again.
"We'll find a way," Kael said, though doubt lingered in his voice.
Lira shook her head, frustration flashing in her eyes. "We're not invincible, Kael. The crystals are powerful, but they can't protect us from everything. We need a real plan—something better than sneaking in and hoping for the best."
Kael clenched his fists, the golden thread pulsing faintly in his chest. "I know it's dangerous," he said, his voice rising. "But what else can we do? If we don't get the third artifact, Umbra's curse won't be broken—and everything we've done so far will mean nothing!"
The cave fell silent, Kael's words hanging heavily in the air.
Ember sighed, her flames dimming. "Lira's right, Kael. Rushing into Venric's estate again would be suicide. We need time to think this through."
Kael let out a slow breath, his anger fading into exhaustion. "You're right," he admitted. "We'll figure something out."
As the fire crackled softly, Kael's thoughts drifted. The golden thread in his chest pulsed steadily, its energy intertwined with the crystals in his satchel. He closed his eyes, letting the warmth wash over him.
But the warmth was fleeting. In its place came a cold, gnawing presence—a shadow that seeped into his thoughts like smoke.
Kael's eyes snapped open, his breath hitching. "Did you feel that?" he whispered.
Umbra lifted his head, his glowing blue eyes narrowing. "Feel what?"
Kael glanced around the cave, his chest tightening. The golden thread was pulsing erratically now, its steady rhythm disrupted by something he couldn't see.
"There's something out there," Kael said, his voice barely audible.
Lira's hand went to her daggers, and Ember's flames flared brighter. "What kind of something?" Ember growled.
Kael shook his head, his heart racing. "I don't know. But it's close."
Before anyone could respond, a low, guttural growl echoed from the darkness outside the cave.
Kael's blood ran cold.
"It's found us," Umbra whispered, his small body trembling.
The fire flickered, and the shadows seemed to close in around them.
Kael clenched his fists, the golden thread flaring brightly in his chest. Whatever was coming, they had to be ready.