Purple

--And be very careful, for as you defend the Dark Keep, a great darkness will emerge to devour all--

As Lordhair reflects on Nira’s words, he takes a deep breath. Something inside whispers that this place is truly different—and that this woman speaks the truth. Snow stirs lightly within Lordhair’s cloak, while the wind outside the cave never ceases, howling relentlessly.

"Alright, we must reach the keep before this darkness awakens," says Lordhair, securing his swords at his side.

Nira nods. "Then we must hurry. But be cautious—this world is awakening..."

As they step toward the cave’s exit, the icy wind slams against Lordhair’s face. The sky remains a dark gray omen of doom, and the snowstorm rages on. But this time, something feels... different.

There’s a voice within the wind.

A hollow, strange whisper—the wind is speaking.

Lordhair pauses for a moment. "What is that?"

Nira raises her hand slightly, listening to the air. "We’re being watched," she whispers. "They’ve noticed us..."

Suddenly, Lordhair’s Mikroeye activates, revealing dark silhouettes moving within the blizzard. At first, it seems like nothing more than a trick of the wind. But then… pairs of glowing red eyes appear in formation.

"Shadow Hunters," Nira murmurs. "They’re coming to kill us here."

Lordhair immediately draws his swords, gathering his energy.

"Let them try."

Nira senses something off about the Shadow Hunters’ aggression it feels like magic.

"Lordhair," she warns, "from what I know, they don’t usually hunt humans. But this group is different they’re fighting... They’re being controlled. Their eyes... They’re red. Be careful. This is only the beginning."

Gripping his swords tightly, Lordhair watches as the shadows become clearer through the storm. The Shadow Hunters, with their thin, elongated forms, glide silently through the snow, their crimson eyes burning with hunger and rage. They make no sound, leaving only eerie whispers lost in the wind.

"I know how to fight them," Lordhair says coldly.

But Nira raises her arm to stop him. "No. Here, your sword means nothing. They don’t hunt flesh—they hunt the soul."

Lordhair frowns. "What are you saying? My swords won’t work?"

Nira closes her eyes and opens her palms. "This world obeys more than just the laws of physics. The only way to fight here... is to speak the language of this realm."

At that moment, the leading Shadow Hunter lunges forward at terrifying speed! Lordhair’s reflexes kick in—he raises his sword, ready to counter—but Nira’s voice echoes through the wind:

"Stop! Don’t reveal your blade yet. Feel the magic first!"

Every warrior instinct inside him screamed to fight back, but Lordhair knew he had to understand the rules of this realm. Gritting his teeth, he lowered his sword.

"How do I do that?"

Nira’s voice echoed like a prayer. "Open your soul. Feel the energy of this world. Don’t fight the cold  surrender to it!"

Lordhair took a deep breath. The cold seeped into his skin, chilling him to the bone—but there was something else. He felt it. This world was alive.

In his palms, faint violet sparks began to form.

Purple Storm

At first, the sparks were faint  barely noticeable. But within seconds, they intensified, transforming into a vibrating wave of raw energy.

Lordhair stared at his palms in shock. This wasn’t his power  at least, not the kind he was used to.

"That’s it," Nira whispered softly. "Feel it. You’re no longer just a warrior, Lordhair. You must learn the language of this dimension."

At that moment, the Shadow Hunters launched their attack  all at once!

The first creature lunged toward him like a tidal wave of darkness. Lordhair instinctively reached for his sword, but then—he felt it. The energy in his hands began to move, shaping itself of its own will.

As he twitched his fingers slightly, a wave of violet flames surged from his palms and shot toward the Shadow Hunter!

TSSSS!

The creature let out a shriek of agony, as if its very soul was burning. Its shadowy form began to dissolve slowly.

"What... this power...?"

Nira smiled. "Shadow Hunters absorb physical attacks. But this magic  it strikes their essence."

As more shadows approached, Lordhair raised his hands, unleashing the energy within. The violet storm began to spiral through the raging blizzard, gathering force.

Then... it exploded!

BOOOOM!

A massive wave of energy burst forth, obliterating three Shadow Hunters in an instant. Lordhair’s eyes burned with newfound confidence he was beginning to understand this magic.

But suddenly… a shadow appeared behind him!

Nira whispered a warning, but Lordhair had already sensed it. "Magic isn’t enough."

"The sword is still a part of me."

Spinning swiftly on his heel, Lordhair drew his blade—now glowing with violet energy—and cleaved the shadow in two with a single, powerful strike!

SCHAAAK!

The creature let out a final scream before vanishing into nothingness. The wind stilled. Silence fell.

Nira approached him. "Well done… You’re starting to learn how to fight in this world."

Lordhair looked down at his sword and the lingering remnants of violet energy crackling in his hands. Then, he raised his gaze toward the dark horizon.

"Then let me be ready to face this dimension’s true enemies."

Nira smiled but with a hint of unease. "No human in the history of this realm has ever learned magic at this level so quickly."

Lordhair turned to her, his voice steady. "You say no human. Has any other being learned this fast?"

Nira’s face tightened with a shiver, not just from the cold but from fear. "Yes," she whispered. "And the terrifying part is—they’re still learning. And they have no limits."

"The prophecy speaks of this: A force equal in capacity and terror to the Spell King will arise from nothingness, becoming the temporary guardian of this world."

Lordhair turned back toward the Dark Keep, determination burning in his eyes. "No matter what stands in my way, I’ll crush it and return to my dimension. But first, Snow and I need to eat."

With that, he stepped back into the cave for shelter.

As Lordhair stepped into the cave with Nira, the weight of deep snow and cold exhaustion settled heavily over him. 

--Snow, as always, moved quietly within his clothes, unable to stop trembling. Nira paused for a moment in the depths of the cave, then moved toward a corner and drew a few mystical symbols on the ground. Instantly, the air's temperature shifted, and the cave grew noticeably warmer.--

--"We should rest here for a while," Nira said, glancing toward the darkening sky outside. "Otherwise, pushing forward will only wear you down further."--

--Lordhair rubbed his arms for warmth, pulling Snow out from his coat and turning to him. "Good idea," he said, trying to ease the chill from his stiff body. "Staying here for a while sounds best."--

--He took a tent cover from his inventory and spread it across the cave floor, placing Snow gently beside him. Nira pulled out some stones from deeper within the cave and sparked a fire. --

--The flames quickly grew, warming the space and casting a comforting glow across the cavern. As Lordhair watched the flickering fire, he noticed Snow still shivering, so he picked him up and held him close.--

"Don’t shiver," he whispered, keeping Snow warm. "Let’s rest here for a bit."

--Nira retrieved a small pouch from her pocket, sprinkled some herbs over the fire, and set up a small cooking area using the heated stones. "If you’d like, I can prepare some food," she offered, seeking Lordhair’s approval with a glance. "You won’t find much to eat in this place. Best to take advantage of this moment."--

--Lordhair set aside his swords and shield before sitting down and trying to soothe Snow. The smell of Nira’s cooking soon filled the cave, wrapping them in an almost serene atmosphere. The fire’s glow danced on the walls, and her magic seemed to create not just warmth but also a sense of safety.--

"Thank you, Nira," Lordhair said quietly, glancing at Snow. "Resting for a while will help."

--Minutes passed in silence as Nira finished preparing the meal. Together, they began to regain their strength, finding a brief reprieve from the cold and darkness outside. In this moment, for the first time since entering this strange world, Lordhair managed to take a deep breath and feel at ease.--

While eating, Lordhair suddenly paused and turned to Nira, his eyes lost in the cave’s shadows, ready to ask a question that had been lingering in his mind.

"I need to ask you something," he said, his voice cold but filled with curiosity. "Can you see anything about my own dimension? Anything happening there—changes, maybe?"

Nira met his gaze, falling silent for a moment before taking a deep breath.

"This dimension doesn’t reveal much," she replied. "My power is limited to this world. But I can feel certain vibrations. I can’t see your world clearly... but I can sense the darkness awaiting you there."

Lordhair considered her answer but remained silent, reflecting on her words.

The three—Lordhair, Nira, and Snow—found refuge in the cave’s depths, seeking shelter from the cold darkness outside. Nira began teaching Lordhair how to light a fire using magic. Slowly, a small flame flickered to life, casting a trembling glow on the cave walls as their breath hung in the air like mist.

Lordhair, as always, kept a watchful eye on his surroundings, ensuring both himself and his small companion were safe. Nira, on the other hand, moved a little farther away, creating her own space before settling down to rest.

                                                                   To be contunied