Varik moved between them, a shadow against the snow, steady as stone. He walked like the storm was nothing, his weight settling with each step as though he was carving a path into the world itself.
Lucen broke the silence first, because silence always itched at him. "You know, I'm starting to think these assignments are less about relics and more about free hiking trips. Elira should've sent us trail maps and hot cocoa."
Selindra didn't look back. Her voice carried over the storm, cold and flat. "You're laughing at what should terrify you."
Lucen tilted his head. "You're assuming I haven't been terrified the whole time. I just make better use of it."
She ignored him.
He smirked, half to himself. 'God, she's fun at parties.'
The relic pulsed again, steady, almost like it was syncing with his heartbeat. Every time, his system chimed faintly in his mind.
[Relic Integration Progress: 84%.]
[Corruption Level: 0%.]
