The further north they traveled, the harsher the landscape became. The rocky terrain gave way to icy cliffs, and the wind howled like a living thing, biting at Kael's skin even through his cloak. The golden and silver crystals pulsed faintly in his satchel, their warmth the only thing keeping the cold at bay.
Lira walked beside him, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon. "I don't like this," she muttered, pulling her scarf tighter around her neck. "The air feels... wrong."
Ember, walking ahead, growled softly. "You're not imagining it. Something's watching us."
Kael's chest tightened. He glanced over his shoulder, his heart pounding. The golden thread in his chest pulsed erratically, as if trying to warn him.
"We haven't seen any creatures since the altar," Umbra said, his small voice barely audible over the wind. "But the energy from the crystals... it's like a beacon. Whatever's out there, it's closing in."
Kael nodded, his hand tightening around the strap of his satchel. "We need to stay alert. If we're being followed, we can't let them catch us off guard."
"Easier said than done," Lira said, her voice low. "The snow's covering our tracks, but it's also hiding theirs."
The group fell silent, their footsteps crunching softly on the frozen ground. The towering peaks of the Frostspine Mountains loomed ahead, their jagged spires disappearing into the clouds.
Kael's mind raced as he tried to make sense of everything—the altar, the vision, the connection between the artifacts. The image of the robed figure and the shattered circle of crystals lingered in his thoughts, a puzzle piece that refused to fit.
"What do you think the vision meant?" he asked quietly, his breath visible in the icy air.
Ember didn't look back. "It's hard to say. It could be a memory of the past, or a glimpse of the future. Either way, the artifacts are at the center of it."
Kael frowned. "Do you think... do you think that tower is real?"
"It's real," Umbra said firmly, his glowing blue eyes narrowing. "And I think the artifacts are leading us to it."
Lira raised an eyebrow. "Great. Another ominous destination to add to the list."
Kael let out a slow breath, the golden thread pulsing faintly in his chest. "If the artifacts are leading us there, maybe it's because we're meant to stop whatever's happening."
"Or maybe," Lira said darkly, "we're just pawns in someone else's game."
As night fell, the group found shelter in the shadow of a rocky outcropping. The wind howled around them, but the overhang provided enough cover to keep the worst of the cold at bay.
Ember lit a small fire, her flames casting flickering shadows on the stone walls. Kael sat near the fire, his hands wrapped around the satchel. The crystals' light glowed faintly through the fabric, their energy pulsing in time with the golden thread in his chest.
Lira leaned against the wall, her daggers resting on her lap. "So, what's the plan when we reach Venric's estate?" she asked, her tone casual but her eyes sharp.
Kael hesitated, his stomach churning. "We need to find a way in. If he has the third artifact, we can't leave without it."
"And how do you plan to get close to him?" Lira pressed. "He knows your face, Kael. He'll be ready for us."
"We'll figure it out," Kael said, though doubt lingered in his voice.
Lira sighed, shaking her head. "You're too optimistic for your own good, kid. Venric isn't just some collector. He's dangerous. If we make one wrong move, we're dead."
"We've faced worse," Ember said firmly, her fiery eyes meeting Lira's. "We'll find a way."
Lira smirked. "If you say so."
Umbra padded closer to Kael, his small body trembling slightly. "We don't have a choice," the cub said softly. "If we don't get the third artifact, we'll never break the curse—or find the truth about what's happening."
Kael nodded, his jaw tightening. "We'll find a way," he repeated, more to himself than anyone else.
The fire crackled softly as the group settled in for the night. Kael closed his eyes, but sleep refused to come. The golden thread pulsed faintly in his chest, its energy restless.
Suddenly, a faint noise cut through the wind—a whisper, barely audible.
Kael's eyes snapped open, his heart pounding. He sat up, straining to hear.
"Did you hear that?" he whispered.
Ember's flames flared as she lifted her head, her ears twitching. "Hear what?"
Kael hesitated. The whisper had already faded, leaving only the howling wind. "I don't know," he said. "It sounded like... a voice."
Lira sat up, her daggers already in her hands. "A voice?" she repeated, her eyes narrowing.
Umbra growled softly, his glowing blue eyes scanning the darkness. "Something's out there."
Kael's chest tightened as the golden thread pulsed wildly, its rhythm frantic. The crystals in his satchel hummed faintly, their energy resonating with the thread.
"We're not alone," Ember said, rising to her feet. Her flames blazed brighter, casting long shadows across the rocky ground.
Before anyone could respond, a low, guttural growl echoed through the darkness.
Kael's blood ran cold as the shadows beyond the firelight seemed to shift and writhe. The growl grew louder, joined by the sound of heavy footsteps crunching on the frozen ground.
"Get ready," Ember growled, lowering her body into a defensive stance.
The fire flickered as the wind howled, and a massive figure stepped into the light.
It was a beast unlike anything Kael had ever seen, its body a twisted blend of flesh and ice. Its glowing white eyes burned with an unnatural light, and frost clung to its jagged claws.
"A frostwrought construct," Ember hissed. "They're created to track and destroy anything tied to arcane energy."
Kael's heart pounded as the beast let out a deafening roar, its breath visible in the freezing air. The golden thread pulsed wildly in his chest, its energy surging in response to the creature's presence.
"Protect the crystals!" Kael shouted, his voice breaking as the construct charged.
The battle had begun.