The Arcane Beast Tamer

The dim glow of a lantern illuminated the small back room of the Rusty Kettle, where Kael and his companions huddled around a rough wooden table. The map of Calder Venric's estate, hastily sketched on a piece of parchment by Lira, lay at the center.

"Alright," Lira began, tapping the map with the hilt of her dagger. "The artifact is in the main chamber, here." She circled a spot in the center of the estate with a quick motion. "But getting to it won't be simple. Venric's got guards posted throughout the property, and the chamber itself is warded with arcane defenses."

Kael frowned, studying the map. "How do we get past the wards?"

"That's the tricky part," Lira admitted. "The wards are designed to repel anyone who doesn't have Venric's permission to be there. But I've seen enough of his setup to know he uses a sigil system. The guards wear enchanted sigils that let them pass through the wards without triggering them."

"So we need a sigil," Ember said, her fiery eyes narrowing.

"Exactly," Lira replied. "And luckily for us, I know where we can get one."

Kael raised an eyebrow. "Where?"

"There's a supply room on the estate's east side," Lira explained, tracing a path on the map. "The guards keep extra equipment there, including sigils. If we can sneak in and grab one, we'll have a way to bypass the wards."

"And the guards?" Kael asked.

"We'll avoid them if we can," Lira said. "But if we get spotted…" She twirled her dagger, the glint of the blade catching the lantern light. "We'll deal with it."

Kael's stomach churned. The plan was risky—too risky. But he knew they didn't have a choice. The artifact was too important to leave in Venric's hands.

"What about the artifact itself?" Umbra asked, his small voice cutting through the tension. "How do we get it out once we have it?"

Lira hesitated, her grin faltering slightly. "That's… something we'll figure out once we're inside. The artifact's energy will make it hard to hide, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it."

"Great," Kael muttered, running a hand through his hair. "So we're winging it."

"That's the spirit," Lira said with a wink.

Ember growled softly. "This is reckless, even for you."

Kael sighed, leaning back in his chair. The golden thread pulsed faintly in his chest, a steady reminder of what was at stake. "We don't have another option," he said. "If we don't take this chance, Venric will keep the artifact—and who knows what he'll do with it."

Umbra nodded, his glowing blue eyes filled with quiet determination. "We'll succeed. We have to."

Lira clapped her hands together, her grin returning. "That's the spirit! Now, here's the plan…"

The group moved through the shadows outside Venric's estate, their steps silent on the cobblestone path. The moon hung high in the sky, casting faint silver light over the imposing mansion and its sprawling grounds.

Kael's heart pounded as they approached the eastern side of the estate, where the supply room was located. The air was cool and crisp, but a faint tension hung over the group like a storm waiting to break.

"Stay low," Lira whispered, crouching behind a row of hedges. She peeked over the top, scanning the courtyard ahead. "Two guards. We'll have to time this perfectly."

Kael followed her gaze, his stomach tightening at the sight of the armored figures patrolling the area. The guards carried spears, and faintly glowing sigils hung from chains around their necks.

"How do we get past them?" Kael whispered.

Lira smirked. "Leave that to me."

Before Kael could protest, Lira slipped out of the hedges, her movements swift and silent. She darted behind a statue, then tossed a small pebble toward the opposite side of the courtyard. The pebble struck the ground with a faint clatter, and the guards immediately turned toward the sound.

"What was that?" one of them muttered, raising his spear.

"Probably just a rat," the other replied.

"Go check it out," the first guard said.

With a grumble, the second guard walked toward the sound, leaving his companion behind.

Lira motioned for the group to follow, her expression focused.

Kael crept forward, his breath caught in his throat. Ember and Umbra moved silently beside him, their steps as quiet as shadows. The remaining guard stood with his back to them, completely unaware of their presence.

As they reached the supply room door, Lira produced a small set of lockpicks and went to work. Kael's pulse raced as he glanced back at the guard, who hadn't moved from his post.

"Hurry," Ember whispered, her fiery eyes darting nervously.

"Relax," Lira muttered, her fingers working deftly. After a moment, there was a soft click, and the door creaked open.

They slipped inside, closing the door behind them. The supply room was dimly lit, its shelves lined with weapons, armor, and other equipment. Lira immediately began searching for the sigils, her movements quick and efficient.

"Here," she said, pulling a small wooden box from one of the shelves. She opened it to reveal several glowing sigils, each one etched with intricate runes.

Kael exhaled in relief. "That's it?"

"Almost," Lira said, handing him one of the sigils. "Keep this close—it'll let you pass through the wards. But remember, it won't protect you from Venric's guards."

Kael nodded, tucking the sigil into his satchel alongside the crystal. "Let's get out of here."

As they turned to leave, a loud shout echoed from outside.

"Over here! Intruders!"

Kael's blood ran cold. "They found us."

Lira cursed under her breath. "No time to sneak out. We'll have to fight our way through."

Ember's flames flared, lighting the room with a fiery glow. "We're ready."

Kael gritted his teeth, the golden thread pulsing in his chest. He didn't know how they were going to get out of this—but they had come too far to fail now.