The cavern no longer trembled but the air remained tight with cold tension. Eldric held the newly stilled relic in a containment cloth woven with stabilizing runes. The disc still pulsed faintly against his palms as if alive beneath the frost.

Lyra checked the entrance tunnel. We need to move now There are voices above the ravine more than one group And they are close

Torren picked up his satchel with shaking hands. I felt three mana signatures earlier but the currents are shifting Someone is masking their presence

Garron lifted his shield. Whoever they are they are not here to congratulate us Let’s go

They climbed through the frozen passage that led back to the surface. The whisper of the relic echoed softly in Eldric’s thoughts guiding him upward as if urging speed.

When they reached the mouth of the ravine the sky had dimmed into pale twilight. Snow drifted down in lazy spirals. But the calm atmosphere was deceiving. Across the narrow ridge stood a small group wrapped in black furs and masks.

Syndicate hunters

Lyra muttered. Great They beat the nobles here

Eldric recognized their attire. The Deep Night Order mercenaries hired by Nocturne himself. Their spear tips glowed faint blue with poison enchantments.

One of the hunters stepped forward. His mask was bone white carved with jagged fractures. His voice came out smooth and steady.

Master Vanton
Nocturne sends his respect
and his request
Hand over the relic you found inside the spire
and no blood will stain the ice today

Garron scoffed loudly. Over my frozen corpse

The hunters raised their weapons in unison.

Eldric remained calm. If Nocturne wants the relic he should have come himself instead of sending masked thieves with rehearsed threats

The lead hunter tilted his head slightly. A pity You misunderstand our patience

Lyra whispered quickly. Eldric There are at least eight more hiding in the mist High ground behind the ridge and two on the left slope Theyre surrounding us

Torren tightened the protective wards around their group. We are outnumbered But not outskilled, I hope

The lead hunter lowered his spear. You cannot escape the ravine You cannot outfight us Nocturne will have the relic

Eldric held the disc under the containment cloth. It pulsed faintly. Shadows shifted. The air grew colder.

The relic was reacting to something
not to the hunters
but to something behind them.

Lyra sensed it too. Something is moving behind them Not human footsteps

A distant rumbling rolled through the frozen walls. The hunters glanced around nervously.

Torren shouted. The sentinel We stabilized the seal but the spire is still reacting

Garron lifted his shield high. Whatever is coming is big

The ice cracked behind the hunters and a massive shape burst through the ridge wall. Not the sentinel from below but something smaller and sharper A frost wraith guardian creature shaped like a wolf with crystalline bones and glowing silver eyes.

The hunters panicked.

Lyra seized the moment. Eldric Move Now

Eldric sprinted across the ravine path with Lyra guiding the way. Garron covered the rear smashing aside shards of ice as the wraith lunged at the hunters. Torren threw a spark sigil that burst into a flare blinding their pursuers long enough to break through.

They reached the northern ridge breathless.

Lyra turned back. The wraith is still down there It bought us time but hunters will regroup soon

Garron wiped frost from his beard. Then we need to keep moving before the next group arrives

Torren looked at Eldric with urgency. Where now Eldric Where does the relic want us to go

Eldric held the disc close. A whisper stirred in his mind.

Southwest
toward the mountain chain
toward the Third Seal

He whispered aloud. The next beacon calls from the Shattered Range We must reach it before anyone else

Lyra nodded. Then we move fast Snow hides tracks but slows us down We have maybe an hour before the first pursuit arrives

Garron cracked his knuckles. Good I’d like some warm ground before something else crawls out of the ice

As they descended the ridge the wind howled behind them carrying faint cries of hunters battling the frost wraith. Eldric did not look back.

The ancient network had awakened
and now every step forward
would be hunted.