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The creature burst into the clearing, and we all staggered back. Not Guard. Not Aossí at all. A massive stag stood before us, its coat pure white, antlers branching toward the sky. It regarded us with no hesitation. Even the Vördr seemed locked in place, a drastic contrast to the last time they'd chased a deer through Draxon's territory.

"Esprithe," Effie breathed.

The stag's gaze swept over our group.

"Fascinating," Tamir said, his tone tinged with awe. "The white stag is the symbol of Riftdremar."

"I've never seen anything like it," Vexa whispered.

The stag's head tilted slightly, as if considering Tamir's words. Then it turned, taking three deliberate steps toward the cliff face before looking back at us.

But the stag was already moving, picking its way through the undergrowth. Without thinking, I started after it.

Aether's arms caught me before I could follow, my eyes tracing the path it took until it disappeared into the thick brush. "It's best we don't separate," Aether hummed against my hair.

"Of course—I don't…" I stammered. "I don't know what I was thinking."

Aether helped balance me, his arm lingering on my back.

"The mining entrance should be nearby," Tamir said, unfolding his map again.

"Well that was interesting," Dannika muttered, scanning the treeline where the stag had vanished. Her hand hadn't left her weapon. "But we should move quickly. Daylight won't last forever."

She was right. Though Riftdremar's sun blazed bright compared to Umbrathia's endless eclipse, it had begun its descent toward the Western peaks.

"This way." Tamir pointed toward a ridge of dark stone jutting through the foliage. "The main shaft should be just beyond that rise."

We moved carefully through the undergrowth, boots catching on twisted roots and remnants of what might have once been a path. Every sound seemed amplified—branches creaking overhead, leaves rustling in the breeze, the occasional snap of twigs beneath our feet.

"That looks promising," Tamir called out softly, pointing to where two weathered pillars emerged from thick vines.

Dannika stepped forward, pressing her palm against the stone behind the pillars. Her eyes went distant for a moment. "It's stable. The tunnel should be structurally sound, at least near the entrance."

"How far down do they go?" Mira asked, peering into the darkness beyond.

"The records mention three main levels," Tamir said, squinting at his notes. "But there could be more. These operations weren't exactly... transparent."

"We should split into teams," Vexa said, already pulling out her weapons. "Cover more ground."

"Agreed." Aether's voice carried authority as he assessed our group. "Vexa, take Dannika and Effie. Mira and Theron together. Rethlyn, you're with Tamir. I'll go with?—"

"Me," I finished. No one argued.

"The rest of you start with the upper levels," he continued. "We'll take the lowest tunnel. If anyone finds anything?—"

"Or runs into trouble," Vexa added.

"Three sharp whistles," Aether said. "That should echo through the tunnels."

Dannika and Tamir lit their torches, the flames casting an uneven light across the carved pillars. The rest of us wouldn't need them. Our eyes could navigate the darkness easily enough. I took a deep breath, trying to ignore how the shadows beyond the entrance seemed to dance with something more than just absence of light.

The lowest level opened into a vast expanse, empty save for abandoned mining equipment scattered across the floor. Support beams stretched up into darkness, their weathered wood creaking softly in the stale air. No sign of arcanite yet. I tried not to let my disappointment show.

"Well," I said, trying to distract myself, "at least this cave isn't trying to freeze us to death."

Aether's lips twitched. "No ice veins to rescue you from this time."

"Rescue me?" I raised an eyebrow. "I seem to recall handling the cold just fine."