The Arcane Beast Tamer

The shouts outside the supply room grew louder, the heavy thud of approaching footsteps echoing down the corridor. Kael's chest tightened as Ember's flames flared brighter, casting flickering shadows on the walls.

"They're coming," Umbra murmured, his blue eyes glowing faintly as his small body tensed.

"No kidding," Lira snapped, her hands already tightening around her twin daggers. "We need to move—now."

Kael nodded, gripping the sigil in his satchel as though it might anchor him against the growing tide of fear. The golden thread pulsed faintly in his chest, urging him forward.

"We can't just charge out there," he said, his voice low but firm. "They'll cut us down before we even make it to the wards."

Lira smirked, her daggers glinting in the dim light. "That's why we make them come to us."

Kael blinked. "What?"

Before he could stop her, Lira darted to the door, cracking it open just enough to peer into the hallway. The sound of armored footsteps was closer now, the guards' voices sharp and commanding.

"Someone's here! Check every room!"

Lira grinned, throwing the door wide open and stepping into the hallway. "Hey, boys!" she called, waving one of her daggers in the air.

Kael's heart dropped. "Lira, what are you doing?!"

"Buying us some time," she said over her shoulder before sprinting down the corridor.

The guards shouted in surprise, their heavy boots pounding against the stone floor as they gave chase.

Ember growled. "She's insane."

"She's also right," Umbra said quietly, his glowing eyes fixed on the open door. "We need to move before they come back."

Kael hesitated, his chest tightening with a mix of fear and guilt. Lira was putting herself at risk to give them a chance—and he couldn't waste it.

"Let's go," he said, stepping into the hallway.

They moved quickly but carefully, staying close to the shadows as they made their way toward the heart of the estate. The sigils in Kael's satchel pulsed faintly, their energy resonating with the wards that loomed ahead like an invisible wall.

The corridor opened into a grand hallway lined with tall windows that let in slivers of moonlight. At the far end, Kael could see the entrance to the artifact chamber—the raised platform and glowing wards unmistakable even from a distance.

"We're close," Ember whispered, her flames dimmed to faint embers.

Kael nodded, his heart pounding. But just as they stepped into the hallway, a low growl stopped them in their tracks.

From the shadows emerged a massive beast, its body a twisted blend of flesh and metal. Its eyes glowed with an unnatural green light, and its teeth gleamed like polished steel. The air around it crackled with energy, and Kael felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.

"What is that?" he whispered, his voice barely audible.

"A guardian," Ember growled, stepping in front of Kael. "Venric's estate is crawling with them."

The beast snarled, its metallic claws scraping against the stone floor as it prowled toward them.

Kael's pulse quickened. "Can we take it?"

Ember's flames flared brighter, casting sharp shadows across the walls. "We don't have a choice."

The beast lunged, its claws slashing through the air with blinding speed. Ember darted to the side, her tails blazing as she released a stream of fire. The flames struck the beast's metallic hide, but instead of recoiling, it seemed to absorb the energy, its glowing eyes flaring brighter.

"It's feeding off the magic!" Kael shouted, his stomach dropping.

Umbra growled, stepping forward. "Then we'll use something it can't absorb."

The shadow wolf cub let out a sharp bark, and tendrils of darkness erupted from the floor, coiling around the beast's legs. The creature thrashed wildly, its claws slicing through the shadows, but Umbra held firm, his glowing blue eyes blazing with determination.

"Kael!" Ember shouted. "Now's your chance!"

Kael hesitated, his mind racing. The golden thread pulsed again, and he felt its energy surge through him, guiding him toward a decision.

He reached into his satchel, pulling out one of the sigils. The runes etched into its surface glowed faintly, their energy resonating with the wards ahead.

"Umbra, hold it!" Kael shouted, sprinting toward the artifact chamber.

The cub growled in response, his small body trembling with effort as he tightened the shadows around the beast.

Kael's heart raced as he approached the chamber's entrance. The wards shimmered faintly, an invisible barrier of energy that pulsed in rhythm with the sigil in his hand.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward. The sigil's glow flared, and the wards parted just enough to let him through.

The chamber was just as he remembered it from earlier—a massive room lined with shelves and artifacts, with the golden crystal hovering above the pedestal at its center.

Kael's chest tightened as he approached the pedestal. The crystal's light was mesmerizing, its energy filling the room with a warmth that was both comforting and overwhelming.

He reached out, his fingers brushing against its smooth surface. The golden thread pulsed brightly, and Kael felt a surge of power unlike anything he had ever experienced.

But before he could take the crystal, a voice echoed through the chamber.

"You've made a grave mistake, boy."

Kael froze, his blood running cold. He turned to see Calder Venric standing at the entrance to the chamber, his silver eyes gleaming with a dangerous light.

"You think you can steal from me?" Venric hissed, his voice laced with fury. "You think you can walk into my home and take what is mine?"

Kael's heart pounded, but he forced himself to stand tall. "This artifact doesn't belong to you," he said, his voice steady despite the fear clawing at him. "It was never yours to begin with."

Venric's lips curled into a sinister smile. "Bold words for a thief."

The collector raised a hand, and the air around him crackled with energy. The shadows in the room seemed to twist and writhe, coiling around him like living things.

Kael clenched his fists, the golden thread pulsing brightly in his chest. He wasn't sure how he was going to get out of this—but he knew one thing.

He couldn't fail.