The trio left the chamber, stepping into the twilight of the forest. The air was cooler, the mist thicker, as if the land itself recoiled from the events within the ruin. Nessa walked ahead, her youthful curiosity mingling with unease as she clutched a faintly glowing relic she had retrieved from the altar.

Kaelen glanced at Sigrid as they walked. She moved with her usual grace, her eyes scanning the surroundings with unyielding focus. For a moment, he considered breaking the silence but thought better of it. He had pushed his luck enough for one day.

They set up camp just before nightfall, the faint crackle of a fire pushing back the creeping cold. Sigrid sat opposite Kaelen, sharpening one of her daggers with meticulous care. Nessa, perched on a fallen log nearby, stared at the relic in her hands.

“Are we just not going to talk about it?” Kaelen finally asked, breaking the silence.

Sigrid didn’t look up. “Talk about what?”

“The giant smoke beast we just turned into dust. The glowing shard. The fact that Nessa’s holding something that might curse us all.”

“It’s not cursed,” Nessa said defensively, though her voice wavered. “I think.”

“Comforting,” Kaelen muttered, leaning back.

Sigrid sighed, setting her dagger down. “The entity was ancient, likely bound to that altar for centuries. Its destruction was necessary. As for the shard and the relic...” She glanced at Nessa. “We’ll figure it out.”

“Not exactly a ringing endorsement,” Kaelen said, tilting his head toward the relic. “What is it, anyway?”

Nessa hesitated, holding the object closer to the firelight. It was small and intricately carved, depicting a serpent coiled around a crescent moon. Strange symbols glowed faintly along its surface.

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“It’s... a key,” she said slowly. “I think it opens something. Or maybe it seals something away.”

Kaelen groaned. “Great. That’s exactly the kind of ambiguity I love to hear.”

Sigrid shot him a warning look. “Let her finish.”

“I found something like this in another ruin,” Nessa continued, her voice quieter now. “It was part of a larger design—a map, maybe. But I never figured out what it led to.”

Kaelen frowned, his curiosity piqued despite himself. “So what you’re saying is, we just stumbled onto a puzzle no one’s solved in centuries?”

“Seems like it,” Nessa admitted.

“Perfect.” He leaned forward, grinning. “I love a good mystery. Especially when it involves ancient, potentially deadly artifacts.”

Sigrid rolled her eyes. “You’re impossible.”

“Impossible and intrigued,” he corrected. “What about you? Feeling adventurous?”

She didn’t answer immediately, her gaze lingering on the relic. “If this leads to something dangerous, we’ll need to be prepared. That means gathering information and resources before diving headfirst into another ruin.”

Kaelen smirked. “See? That’s why we work so well together. You plan; I dive headfirst.”

“It’s a miracle you’re still alive,” she muttered, though there was a faint trace of amusement in her tone.

As the night deepened, Nessa fell asleep near the fire, the relic tucked safely in her bag. Kaelen sat on watch, his eyes scanning the darkened forest. Sigrid joined him after a while, her steps so silent he barely noticed her approach.

“You don’t trust her,” she said quietly, sitting down beside him.

Kaelen raised an eyebrow. “Nessa? She’s a kid. I’m more worried about whatever that relic’s tied to.”

“You think it’s a trap?”

“Maybe. Or maybe it’s just bad luck. Either way, I’d rather not leave her alone with it.”

Sigrid nodded, her expression thoughtful. “She’s braver than I expected.”

“She’s got that scrappy survivor thing going for her,” Kaelen said with a shrug. “Reminds me of someone.”

Sigrid glanced at him, arching an eyebrow. “Me?”

“Maybe. Minus the ‘scrappy’ part. You’re more... regal.”

She blinked, momentarily caught off guard. “That’s not what I expected you to say.”

Kaelen grinned. “I like to keep you on your toes.”

She shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. “You’re exhausting.”

“And yet, here you are,” he teased.

Sigrid didn’t respond immediately, her gaze drifting to the firelight. “You’re different than I thought you’d be.”

“How so?”

“When we first met, I thought you were just reckless and arrogant,” she admitted. “But you’re more than that. You’re... capable. Resourceful. Even if you refuse to take anything seriously.”

Kaelen tilted his head, studying her. “That almost sounded like a compliment.”

“Don’t let it go to your head.”

“I won’t,” he said lightly. Then, after a pause, he added, “For what it’s worth, you’re not so bad yourself. I mean, sure, you’re terrifying and probably the most stubborn person I’ve ever met, but you’re also...”

“Also what?” she asked, her tone cautious.

“Reliable,” he said, his voice softening. “And smarter than anyone I’ve ever worked with. I don’t say that lightly.”

Sigrid looked at him, her expression unreadable. For a moment, the barriers she kept so firmly in place seemed to waver.

“Thank you,” she said quietly.

Kaelen smiled. “Don’t mention it.”

They sat in companionable silence for a while, the crackle of the fire t

he only sound. Though neither would say it aloud, the tentative bond forming between them was undeniable.