The forest path stretched before Isla and Niven, bathed in the soft light of dawn. The hum of the relic—still safely tucked in Isla's pack—seemed louder now that they were alone. The steady rhythm of their footsteps filled the silence, broken occasionally by the faint rustling of leaves overhead.
Niven's long ears twitched, catching the faintest of sounds. "You're too tense," he said, his tone carrying its usual air of aloofness. "Relax. You'll scare off the wildlife."
Isla glanced at him, her grip tightening on the strap of her pack. "I'm sorry I'm focused on not dying. Maybe you should try it sometime."
Niven smirked. "I'm here, aren't I? Consider yourself lucky. You've got a genius at your side."
"Genius in healing magic," Isla shot back. "Let's see how you handle a sword."
"I'll leave the brute work to you," Niven replied with a shrug. "I'll just patch you up afterward."
The bickering continued, a strange comfort for Isla in the otherwise quiet morning. Despite their constant back-and-forth, she couldn't deny that having Niven around was reassuring. His sharp eyes and quick mind complemented her strength and determination.
By midday, the forest gave way to rolling hills, and the sun beat down on them with unrelenting warmth. They stopped at a small brook to refill their canteens and rest. Isla crouched by the water's edge, her reflection rippling in the clear stream. She caught a glimpse of herself—tired but resolute.
"What do you think this relic actually does?" she asked, breaking the silence.
Niven sat on a nearby rock, idly twirling a blade of grass between his fingers. "Something dangerous, obviously. If it weren't, Hana wouldn't have sent us with it."
"Dangerous how?" Isla pressed. "What if it's… I don't know, cursed or something?"
Niven's golden eyes flicked to her, thoughtful. "Cursed objects don't hum like that. If I had to guess, it's storing some kind of energy. Maybe even a piece of someone's mana. Whatever it is, it's powerful enough to draw attention."
Isla's hand drifted to her pack, feeling the faint vibration of the relic. "Let's just hope we don't find out the hard way."
As the sun began to dip below the horizon, they reached a small clearing surrounded by dense trees. Niven stopped abruptly, his ears twitching again. He held up a hand, signaling Isla to halt.
"What is it?" she whispered, already drawing her sword.
"We're not alone," Niven replied, his voice low. "Someone's following us."
The words had barely left his mouth when a rustling sound came from the trees behind them. Isla spun around, her sword at the ready, as three figures emerged from the shadows. Bandits, their faces obscured by tattered scarves, each wielding a weapon.
"Hand over the pack," one of them growled, his voice rough. "We won't ask twice."
"And if we say no?" Isla shot back, stepping in front of Niven.
The bandit grinned, revealing crooked teeth. "Then we take it the hard way."
"Your mistake," Isla said, her grip tightening on her sword.
The bandits lunged, and the clearing erupted into chaos. Isla moved instinctively, parrying the first attacker's blade and countering with a swift strike. The second bandit circled her, swinging a heavy club, but Isla ducked under the blow and knocked him off balance with a kick.
Meanwhile, Niven stayed back, his hands glowing faintly as he prepared a healing spell. "Try not to get yourself killed, would you?" he called out.
"A little help wouldn't hurt!" Isla shouted, deflecting another attack.
The third bandit broke away from the fight and charged at Niven, who calmly stepped aside and tripped the attacker with a well-placed kick. "I'm not completely useless, you know," Niven said with a smirk.
Within minutes, Isla disarmed the remaining bandits, who scrambled to retreat into the forest. She stood in the clearing, panting, as Niven approached.
"Impressive," he admitted. "But maybe next time, don't try to take on all three by yourself."
"Thanks for the advice," Isla replied, rolling her eyes. "I'll keep that in mind."
As they continued on their way, the tension lingered. Isla glanced at Niven, her earlier annoyance fading. "Thanks for having my back back there. Even if you didn't, you know, fight."
"I'm here to keep you alive," Niven said with a shrug. "You handle the fighting. I'll handle the fixing."
Despite his words, Isla couldn't help but feel a growing sense of camaraderie. They may have been an unlikely pair, but together, they were stronger than either of them alone.
As night fell, they set up camp under the stars. The hum of the relic seemed quieter now, almost as if it had been soothed by their determination. Isla stared into the flames of their campfire, the weight of their mission settling over her.
Their journey was just beginning, but with Niven by her side, she felt ready to face whatever lay ahead.