The air was still thick with the heat of Ashveil Ridge as Kael and Riven returned to Pathforge Guildhall, the second relic secured in Kael's satchel. The moment they crossed the threshold, the temperature dropped slightly—as if the relic knew its next destination and was adjusting already.
The guild buzzed with low conversation and crackling hearths, but the moment the relic's power pulsed, the room quieted.
Volen, the Pathforge guild leader, stood waiting.
"You've done it again," he said, stepping forward. "That hum… the second shard. The Flameheart. I can feel its pressure. You're one step closer to awakening the gate."
Kael unhooked the relic from his pack and placed it on the rune-forged pedestal Volen had given them. Flame met metal with a hiss, and the disk with the first relic began to spin faster, absorbing the heat and converting it to energy.
[World Gate Progress: 40% → 60%]
Volen narrowed his eyes. "The gate's energy is growing stronger… but it's also attracting attention. If I were you, I'd be ready for anything."
[Status Update – Player Menu]
Kael opened his glowing blue menu. The interface flared alive, pulsing with notifications:
Kael – Level 29
Class: Bladed Vanguard
New Trait Unlocked: "Flame-Eater"
- Temporary fire resistance after defeating a flame-based enemy.
Passive Bonus: +10% Critical Strike against elemental foes
Riven opened hers beside him:
Riven – Level 29
Class: Shadowshot Hunter
New Ability Unlocked: "Phantom Step"
- Dash through a short distance, leaving a fading image behind to confuse enemies.
Passive Bonus: +15% Evasion when under 50% health
Both now glowed faintly—the relics' energy was fusing with their systems, prepping them for more than just high-level battles.
Gear Up for the Frost Temple
They stopped at the Arcane Smith's forge to prepare for the next quest. With their earnings from the last dungeon and extra loot sales, they bought:
• Frostguard Cloaks – Reduces cold-based status effects
• Wintercore Elixirs x10 – Prevents freezing during long exposure
• Enhanced Grips – Increases weapon handling in slippery terrain
• New Arrows for Riven – Icepiercer batch, enchanted to pierce frozen armor
Kael also reforged his dual blades with cold-breaker runes—not for damage, but to break through environmental ice barriers.
Outside the Guild – Departure
Volen gave them a final nod. "The Temple of Frozen Echoes is not just a ruin—it's a graveyard of failed champions who sought to control the gate. Be careful. The cold has memory."
Kael strapped his blades and turned toward the snow-capped peaks to the north.
Riven grinned, flipping her new frost arrow between her fingers. "Let's go melt a glacier or two."