The End is Where We Begin

The Black Keep’s Walls

Vermithor took a step towards Lordhair. His voice was deep and resonant: "Do not think of me as a mere guardian. I carry the noble blood of the Northern Kingdom. This keep is not just made of stone and iron... It stands on the shadow of ancient secrets."

Solve enters the conversation and says, "He’s right. According to Kurem, this keep was built with an ancient magic."

Lordhair narrowed his eyes, listening carefully.

Vermithor paused for a moment, then continued with a stern expression: "If you are to have a place here... then there is a task for you. You will go to a place where the echoes of questions without answers resonate. Dangerous, ancient... filled with things that should be forgotten."

Vermithor lowered his head towards Lordhair: "Be ready. For there, what awaits you... may very well whisper the end of this world."

Lordhair took a step back after Vermithor’s words. A questioning glint appeared in his eyes. "Why?" he said, his voice cold and controlled. "Why send me on a dangerous task where I don’t even know what I will face? If it’s so risky... trust should go both ways."

A brief smile appeared on Vermithor's face, his eyes glowing with appreciation for Lordhair’s resolve.

Lordhair continued: "I can’t go alone into such unknowns. I need two strong men and fifteen elite soldiers. You must trust not only me but the mission and the safety of this kingdom."

Solve, sensing the tension between the two, intervened in a soft tone: "Trust... is not easily earned here, Lordhair. But if you take the right steps, no one will leave you."

Vermithor bowed his head in acknowledgment. "Fair request. I will give you my most skilled warriors and the bravest soldiers. But remember... this is only the beginning."

Lordhair’s gaze hardened. "Then let’s begin. If this task is as dark as you think... no preparation is ever too much."

Lordhair, noticing something on his mind, spoke in a determined and questioning voice: "Why would someone who carries the blood of a kingdom... be tasked with guarding an ancient keep? With such power, why stay here, in these cold walls?"

Vermithor’s face hardened for a moment, then his eyes glimmered with ancient wisdom. "In the Northern Kingdom, every generation a prince is chosen," he said in a deep voice. "And this prince is tasked with guarding the Black Keep for his entire life. This is our oldest tradition... the kingdom’s most sacred oath."

Solve, silently listening, lowered his head, feeling the weight of the tradition.

Vermithor continued: "There is only one reason I would leave this keep: my kingdom is in peril. If that day comes... even these walls cannot hold me."

Lordhair, pausing to consider the meaning of the words, was silent for a moment. "Are you abandoning your true duty just because the kingdom is at war?" he asked in a harsh tone.

Vermithor answered with the same resolve: "I am first and foremost a prince, bound to protect the people of my kingdom."

Lordhair turns to Nira and asks what she thinks about this.

Nira was silent for a moment. Then, she slowly lowered her head, her voice almost a whisper, but sharp: "Right and wrong... they change shape with the flow of time. This path is not just a choice. Fate has brought you here."

Lordhair, after receiving Nira’s answer, sank into thought. His eyes slowly turned to Solve. His voice, softer this time, but still with a questioning tone, asked: "Solve, what do you think? Do you believe it’s the right path for us to take?"

Solve slowly lifted his head, his eyes meeting Lordhair’s violet ones for a moment: "Sometimes, seeing the future doesn’t just take intuition. To be sure… I’ll need to use the orb."

Solve slowly pulled out a small, misty crystal orb from his pocket. As he held it in his palms, the air in the room suddenly grew cold, and the shadows deepened.

In a whisper: "This shows only the echoes of possibilities. But... if you ask the right question, it may show you the way."

Solve closed his eyes and began to turn the orb in his hands. As the orb slowly began to glow, indistinct shapes danced inside it—a dark mountain, a crooked passage, and an ominous whisper from deep within.

Solve’s voice was almost prophetic: "This task… is not just a journey. If you choose it, know that at the end of this road, not only answers but darkness will await you."

Lordhair listened carefully to Solve’s words, and a determined expression appeared on his face: "Then, I won’t return without the answers."

As Lordhair and Solve were having a quiet conversation, suddenly Vermithor launched an attack to test him. Surprisingly, he swiftly moved with a wolf claw strike towards Lordhair.

Lordhair reacted quickly; he wielded his sword and skillfully deflected the attack.

"I didn’t expect that," Lordhair said, coolly.

Vermithor smiled faintly and said, "You’re earning your keep," and the battle began as they tested each other.

Lordhair and Vermithor faced each other. Lordhair, with his dark blue hair and violet eyes, drew his swords; Vermithor stood ready, his stance solid and reflexes sharp.

The first move came from Lordhair, as he charged forward with sword strikes, each blow quick and sharp. Vermithor skillfully parried the attacks but attempted a sudden wolf claw strike to deplete Lordhair’s energy. Lordhair, saying "Let them try," activated his micro power and countered with his swords.

Both warriors showcased simple but impressive skills, their fierce moves blending together. Vermithor said, "Your power is interesting, but to see your true strength, you must show me more," while Lordhair smiled and responded, "Maybe I can teach you a thing or two."

This brief, intense training battle showcased both warriors' abilities, resolve, and friendly rivalry; each strike and defense was like a silent word about their shared fate.

Vermithor approached and said, "Trust me, I am the lord of wolves, White Wolf Vermithor. I will never leave you stranded. I swear it, for my kingdom and my honor."

Lordhair nodded and confirmed, "I swear it too, for my kingdom and my honor. Prepare the men. I accept the task."

Vermithor gazed at the dark walls of the Black Keep and began selecting his soldiers. He carefully measured each one’s courage, skill, and loyalty, choosing only the strongest and most experienced. These selected soldiers, clad in shining armor and armed with swords, were symbols of discipline and resolve. Vermithor, examining each one, said, "This journey will be tough and dangerous. Only the brave will not make a fatal mistake out of longing."

The selected soldiers lowered their heads and took their positions, feeling the overwhelming intensity of the trust and security surrounding them.

Vermithor, amidst the armored guards of the Black Keep, observed the most courageous and skilled soldiers one by one. After a brief, intense look that tested their resolve and discipline, he said, "Those who will show the nobility and loyalty required by this mission, step forward."

The elite soldiers silently and orderly gathered around him; each one was determined to protect the kingdom’s future.

Solve approached Lordhair with a hesitant voice: "Be very careful. You are the one in the prophecy. Not just here, your own dimension needs you. According to Kurem, your real battle begins after you leave this place."

Lordhair smiled and said, "Don’t worry, I’ll always find a way to overcome it."

Solve replied, "Remember, behind every victory lies sacrifice and courage."

"I have my own words," he said. Vermithor, "A calm ocean cannot produce a skilled sailor."

Lordhair, as he made his final preparations behind the cold stone walls of the Black Keep, felt the tension in the air, reflecting onto himself.

He quickly began dressing. He chose attire that was durable against the harsh weather conditions, in dark blue and black tones. His armor was made of lightly shining metal plates, each piece fitting his body in perfect harmony. The armor balanced his agility and defense. Thick furs suited for the weather covered his arms. His boots, strong and the color of the earth, stood out.

A hood that would shield him from the cold wind was on his head. His eyes, glowing even in the violet light, grew more certain with every step. His swords were tightly secured at his waist, not just as a symbol but as a reflection of his power.

Looking at his soldiers, he began to introduce them. “You all know the names from the Black Keep, but I’d like to briefly introduce myself. I am Lordhair, the heir of the Iron Kingdom, and I am aware of my responsibility as I accept this mission. We will move forward together on this journey, fully aware of our responsibility.”

The soldiers bowed their heads in respect, signaling both their trust and their loyalty to him.

Lordhair took one last look at his soldiers and stepped outside the gates of the Black Keep. The howl of the wind behind him, and in front, the unknown journey awaited. This was only the beginning.