Lords

--Lordhair took another step forward, trying to feel the powers within him. Fixing his gaze on the woman’s eyes, he accepted that he was inside the test. To dive deep into his soul, to understand his power... He had to do this.--

--Suddenly, the orb continued to shine, and an intense light spread throughout his body. For a moment, Lordhair thought everything had frozen.--

--His mind traveled through the darkness at a mesmerizing speed, blending memories of the past, possibilities of the future, and inner chaos all together. Everything was quickly blurring, but inside, there was a sense of power and resistance.--

--Just before the orb dimmed, the woman's voice echoed again: “You’ve passed this, Iron Prince.”--

--As Lordhair took a deep breath, he had found the balance between darkness and light. The woman smiled but spoke again before taking another step forward:--

“This is only the beginning. The real test will be about how you use the power within you. The castle may let you in, but other forces await you inside.”

--The gates of the castle slowly opened. The knights stepped back, and the tension gave way to silent acceptance. Lordhair and Snow, accompanied by Nira, stepped inside. The cold stones of the Black Fortress radiated an ancient but unbreakable power under the pale light falling on them.--

--As they passed through the corridors, guards in heavy armor watched them carefully. The atmosphere ruling the castle was grim yet majestic. After a short walk, they were brought to a great hall. A massive stone hearth burned in the center, and the castle warriors sat quietly around large wooden tables. However, all eyes were on the man standing before them.--

Vermithor.

--In his black-blue attire, with white hair falling to his shoulders and black eyes, he stood before the throne. Even his shadow radiated authority. He wasn’t just a ruler—he was a warrior, a guardian.

Lordhair stepped forward to meet his gaze.

“I heard you were expecting me,” he said directly.

Vermithor slightly tilted his head. "Yes," he said, his voice deep and clear. "I knew you would come, Lordhair. Fate has brought us here."

--Taking a few steps forward, he continued speaking.--

--"It is intriguing to host a prince from an unknown land. But I know you came here seeking refuge, Lord Iron."--

--Lordhair narrowed his eyes. "I didn’t just come to seek refuge," he said. "I’m here to learn more about this world, to fight, and to survive—and, of course, to find a way back to where I came from."--

--Vermithor looked at him with a slight smile. "Then, welcome," he said. "But know this... The Black Fortress does not grant loyalty easily. If you wish to exist here, you must also bear the burdens of its battles."--

--Lordhair smiled and nodded approvingly. "Do not doubt my skill and wit, Lord Vermithor," he said.--

Vermithor replied, "If you can complete your duty here, I will summon the finest sorcerers I know to help send you back home."

Lordhair responded, "I would be grateful."

--As Lordhair spoke with Vermithor, his eyes involuntarily shifted toward the woman administering the test. Her beauty emanated not only from her appearance but also from the grace in her bearing and the wisdom shining in her eyes. Her name was Solve. As she slowly approached them from the ramparts, the cold air of the dark corridor warmed for a brief moment.

"Seems the test didn't tire you out," Solve said with a gentle smile and a hint of playful sarcasm in her voice.

Lordhair smiled slightly and nodded, replying, "I expected a stern welcome, but... encountering such a beautiful face makes it even more challenging. By the way, I am Lordhair, the sole heir of the Iron Kingdom, though here I will behave as any ordinary man."

Solve responded, "My name is Solve, too," and then added seriously, "A prince is a prince, wherever he may be." The castle is formidable, but sometimes there's room for a bit of fun.

At that moment, Vermithor interjected coolly with a smile, "Lordhair's engagement in such matters is exactly what this cold fortress needed."

Solve then winked at Lordhair and said, "Perhaps, but sometimes something far more enticing than mere practicality exists—like lights that shine in the darkness."

Lordhair grinned softly and replied, "Sometimes the brightest light is hidden in darkness, just like you," he said with a slight nod of acknowledgment.

Vermithor shook his head and added, "Unfortunately... we have no time to waste, but I must say, I do enjoy this banter."

           These Are the Events in Lordhair’s World During These Two Turbulent Days

--Unstable waves emanating from the depths of the Iron Kingdom had long troubled the magic sensors of the Crystal Kingdom. Initially dismissed as a mere illusion, these waves grew steadily stronger and occasionally distorted reality, becoming a threat that could no longer be ignored.--

---Lord Cypron, the ruler of the Crystal Kingdom, decided to send an agent to locate the source of these waves. Aethor was chosen. He wasn’t a genius by any means, but he was capable of completing his tasks, possessing strong intuition and agility. His greatest asset was his ability to behave like an ordinary human.---

Aethor encountered little difficulty crossing the borders of the Iron Kingdom, as there was no active war environment. However, as he approached the region where Phantom resided, he began to feel the strange undulations of time and space.

To access the laboratory, he had to descend into the city center and blend in with the locals. The stringent security systems of the Iron Kingdom immediately detected any unknown individuals. Therefore, he started using a small holographic projector to disguise himself as one of the Iron people.

The laboratory itself was heavily guarded. Powerful mechanical sentinels, aerial scanning systems, and unseen neuro-sensors constantly monitored the entrances. Direct infiltration was impossible. Instead, he decided to impersonate one of the scientists working inside.

Aethor tracked one of the lab employees in the city. He observed the person’s movements, speech patterns, and daily habits, and, at an opportune moment, incapacitated them, taking over their identity. In a short time, he obtained the identity card that allowed him to access the area inside the laboratory without anyone noticing his true identity.

Upon entering, he was momentarily breathless at the sight of the magnificent laboratory: enormous machines, screens blinking in every corner, and complex energy circuits interconnected everywhere—clearly, something far beyond ordinary human ingenuity was being constructed here.

However, the most striking thing was Phantom. Its gray metallic body, glowing red circuitry, and the intense energy field surrounding it were unmistakable.

As he approached, he experienced a brief rupture in reality. In that moment, he saw the past, the present, and the future all at once. Phantom was no ordinary device.

He couldn’t stay any longer. He had to immediately relay the information to Cypron.

While leaving the laboratory, he acted like an ordinary worker. Once outside, he merged into the crowd, remaining unseen for a while, moving as if he were just another city dweller to avoid drawing attention.

When he found an opportune moment, he activated one of the teleportation seals of the Crystal Kingdom. In an instant, his image blurred, and his body vanished in a beam of light.

Within seconds, he arrived at the center of the Crystal Kingdom. Inside a palace adorned with towering marble columns and imbued with magical craftsmanship, Lord Cypron awaited him.

"Task complete, my lord," Aethor said, kneeling.

I have successfully infiltrated the Iron Kingdom’s laboratory and gathered critical intelligence on Phantom. The device exhibits unprecedented properties—its energy field caused a brief but intense distortion of reality, merging past, present, and future into a single, fleeting moment. I assumed the identity of a laboratory employee undetected and acquired the necessary credentials to access the facility.

Phantom’s capabilities exceed our expectations; its unstable energy fluctuations and anomalous behavior suggest that it poses a far greater threat than initially anticipated. I have safely exited the laboratory and activated a teleportation seal to return to the Crystal Kingdom.

I recommend an immediate, thorough analysis of this data and preparation for potential escalations.

But the information he had uncovered revealed a truth far greater than what the Crystal Kingdom had imagined…

--The security systems of the Iron Kingdom always operated flawlessly. To protect a device like Phantom, not even the slightest anomaly could be overlooked. However, something had gone awry.--

--When the real scientist, whose identity Aethor had assumed, regained consciousness, he found himself outside the laboratory, at an unknown location. When questioned, he revealed that his identity had been stolen, that someone else had infiltrated the facility, and that he had gathered information about Phantom.--

--This news quickly reached the Iron Palace. When Iron King Jorah Iron understood the situation, he immediately decided to convene an emergency council.--

--Emergency Council at the Iron Palace--

In the great hall of the palace, built of dark stone, five key figures had gathered. Iron King Jorah Iron stood at the head of the table, scrutinizing everyone with his powerful, authoritative gaze.