White Lion

As Lordhair and his soldiers approached the castle with the first light of dawn, the air warmed with every step. The wind blew gently everywhere, and the coolness coming from the forest brushed the ancient walls. The trees rising around them shed their cold, gloomy shapes and adopted a softer appearance. Everything seemed more alive in the daylight. Yet, this liveliness still carried the heavy burden of the past.

Among the soldiers, the sound of armor and shields clinking replaced the usual torch-bearing noises. Garen, the man walking at the front, pressed forward with each step, crushing the earth near the castle walls. His face was more defined by the light, his brow furrowed, as if he was aware of everything around him.

"For the first time, we're walking around this dark castle on such a bright day," Fox mumbled, his eyes roaming over the stones of the castle. "But still... something feels missing."

Stone, as usual, spoke without thinking, "See the day however you want to see it. This is the Black Castle. Without light, dark, always in the shadows, and it will stay that way."

Lordhair ignored his friends' chatter. Their teasing and joking had momentarily pulled him away from the bright atmosphere of the day. But he was carefully observing his surroundings. No matter how bright it seemed inside the castle, he felt something deep in the castle’s heart that needed to wake up. There was mystery in everything, an unknown.

When Garen reached the heavy gate of the castle, he adjusted his shield and studied the door. The sunlight illuminated the rusty iron, making it appear clearer. "There's something here," he said, pushing the door slightly, and the metallic creak served as a reminder to all the soldiers of how ancient the castle was. "But still... it feels like no one has used this place for years."

Lordhair noticed the ancient writing on the edge of the door. The inscriptions had become clearer in the sunlight. Though they were fading with time, they still whispered something meaningful. "These inscriptions," he muttered to himself, "might give us more information about the past of this place."

As Garen tried to fully open the door, a faint light appeared beneath the cold stone. "We'd better go in," he said. "The door's open, but waiting here isn't right."

Lordhair stepped in behind Garen, and one by one, the soldiers followed. As they entered, the sunlight from outside was cut off, and they were met once again by the familiar darkness. However, this time, as they entered, the darkness seemed softer, and everything in the castle appeared to take a breath.

The interior of the castle, with the soft transition of daylight, had gained a new identity. The light that filtered through the stone walls slowly began to fill the rooms. The traces of the past became more visible under this new light. The old tattoos on the walls, symbols associated with the castle, reminded them of the life that once existed in this land.

Lordhair, pretending as if he hadn’t learned anything, approached Solve with a hidden smile on his face and decided to lighten the mood. Everything in the castle seemed to be in its place, but deep in his heart, there was an underlying distrust. Still, he couldn’t let anyone sense it. As a leader, he always had to appear reassuring.

"Everything’s fine," he said in a calm, relaxed tone, quickly scanning the soldiers around him to see them at ease. "I think we were a bit too scared. I guess it's time for a cup of tea. The only thing missing right now is a little comfort."

Solve’s eyes drifted toward him, and a slight smile appeared. "When you need comfort, everyone else is panicking. That’s quite surprising," he said in a teasing tone.

Lordhair turned his gaze toward him carefully. "Don’t you want to have some fun? Everyone’s a bit tense, let’s give them a morale boost." He added with a playful tone, a small smile on his lips: "Or maybe I’ll tell you a story that’ll really surprise you. Though, perhaps it’s a subject you already know too well."

"I fought a dragon that looked like a snake with my soldiers, cut it in half."

Solve smiled and stepped closer. "It’s hard to surprise me. Dragons are interesting creatures even in this world. It’s fascinating that you came from the battlefield, but your demeanor is interesting. While everyone else is confused, you’ve decided to stay calm and secure. Still, it’s wise to be cautious. This place isn’t exactly safe, is it?"

Lordhair, though he didn’t feel the worry inside, had to reflect only a playful and calm demeanor outwardly. So he relaxed a little more, raising an eyebrow, "I can stay calm no matter the situation. I don’t stop smiling even in battle."

Solve smiled with a glimmer in his eyes. "That’s impressive. But be careful, things looking too relaxed can sometimes be risky."

Lordhair, looking into Solve's eyes, smiled lightly. "Risk is always there, but there’s never a moment in this world when everything is guaranteed. So, enjoy yourself, have fun. Staying alert is something that happens when necessary."

At that moment, the laughter of some soldiers could be heard from outside. As Lordhair glanced around, he heard their relaxed voices and cheerful conversations. He knew he had to keep his responsibility as a leader, but they also needed a little fun. "Alright," he said, placing a hand on Solve’s shoulder and giving it a light squeeze. "Let’s have some fun. There’s no reason to make the night gloomy."

Solve, looking into Lordhair’s eyes for a moment, smiled in a brief silence. "Of course," he said, taking a deeper breath. "But the darkness in your eyes tells me something else. No matter how hard you try to stay relaxed, something’s still inside, isn’t it?"

Lordhair smiled, but the dark feelings inside him suddenly became more apparent. However, he couldn’t let it show. Smiling, he said, "Sometimes that darkness makes you stronger," but he had to suppress his inner unrest.

Amidst the laughter and chatter from outside, Lordhair and Solve had managed to create a brief moment of relaxation. But Lordhair's heightened state was always just one step away.

As Lordhair conversed with Solve, he noticed an unusual silence around the castle. There was movement among the soldiers, but his eyes, as usual, missed the one person who roamed the area: Vermithor. Suddenly, he realized that the leader, who was always present, was missing and turned to Solve with curiosity.

"Where’s Vermithor?" he asked, a hint of concern in his eyes.

Solve smiled and tilted his head slightly. "Vermithor went on a mission with his team. He’ll be back tonight. Don’t worry, everything’s fine. Someone like him doesn’t just disappear," he said, finishing with a calming tone.

"I see," said Lordhair, taking a deep breath, his eyes now turning determined as they scanned the distant corners of the castle. "Then, let’s make the night better. Let’s keep having fun."

Vermithor, along with his team, had embarked on a long journey. Their mission was to investigate strange movements seen in the dark northern lands. They had set out to clear an area that had been infiltrated by Draugrs. Though he was always known for his legendary combat skills, there was an even greater threat this time: the Draugr King.

Many different creatures, the deadliest being the Draugr King, were after the other half of his soul. However, Vermithor and his team knew that winning this battle wouldn’t just come from strength—they would have to plan carefully with their minds as well. The right time and place to strike had been chosen. But there was one thing that Vermithor would need more than just his strength: transformation.

To kill the Draugr King, Vermithor would have to tap into his legendary wolf abilities. When the time came, he would transform into his wolf form and engage directly in the battle.

As Vermithor approached his enemies, he moved carefully through the area. His team was ready for battle, but at that moment, he noticed a change in his eyes. He quickly began his transformation, and in an instant, he took the form of the legendary wolf. His body, muscles, and skin shifted suddenly, gaining strength and size. The wolf claws extended, and with the energy surrounding him, he struck terror into the hearts of his enemies.

His appearance became one of horror. The Draugrs, instead of fleeing from the massive wolf-shaped warrior, felt even more encouraged and attacked him. But Vermithor, with every swipe of his claws, swiftly overpowered them. The wounds he inflicted with his claws left deep marks on the bodies of his enemies. His attacks were so powerful that even the opponents who staggered back with a single strike found themselves even weaker.

As the atmosphere of the battlefield grew more intense with every passing second, Vermithor's rage in his wolf form intensified the pressure on Draugr King. Every strike of his claws shattered the enemy’s armor, and his power was intoxicatingly effective. However, Draugr King’s patience was wearing thin.

Suddenly, Draugr King’s eyes flared, and raising his ancient staff, he roared:

"White Lion’s Dance of Death!"

With a blinding light, the staff shot out from Draugr King's hand and exploded into an energy blast. This high magic-powered attack surged forward, transcending time and space, enveloping his body as it burned through everything in its path.

Vermithor didn’t even consider escaping this attack. His strategist mind kicked in, and he calmly waited for the right moment not to block the Draugr King's direct assault but to divert his magic and attention to another point.

"Let’s go!" Vermithor muttered, taking a deep breath and preparing to face the attack.

The White Lion’s Dance of Death surged toward Vermithor like a massive wave of flame. But just at that moment, five ancient wizards hidden in different spots on the battlefield moved into action. They targeted Draugr King from different directions, combining their most powerful spells. Time seemed to stand still. The combined magical power could be enough to destroy Draugr King.

The bursts of light from the enemy's magic spells made it clear that things weren’t so simple. Draugr King’s body froze for a moment, his eyes darkened by the impact of the spells.

Vermithor smiled. "We’ve found the target," he thought.

But then, the explosions suddenly stopped. The wizards thought they had succeeded, but something was missing. After the magic dissipated, Draugr King was not there. Instead, there was only a reflection, an illusion. When the wizards opened their eyes to declare victory, a shocking reality emerged.

Draugr King was not on the battlefield!

At that moment, the ground and sky on the battlefield suddenly darkened. With a loud crash, Draugr King’s real army began to emerge. Silhouettes appeared against the dark sky and the earth, and the rustling of undead creatures could be heard. Behind them, the army of the dead, made up of humans, creatures, and Draugrs, appeared. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of warriors seemed to rise from the night, tearing through the heavens.

Vermithor, initially calm, quickly darkened his expression as the situation took a dangerous turn. "I wasn’t expecting this," he muttered to himself.

The speed and numbers of the enemy army had surpassed what he had calculated. These were not just ordinary warriors. Though the magical attack had scattered the enemy’s ranks, Draugr King’s trickery was based on an even larger, more experienced plan.

Vermithor realized that the time had come to retreat. Though he was strong enough to deliver the final blow as a legendary wolf, fighting such a vast army alone would be suicide. The strategy had to change.

"Fall back!" he shouted to his team, his eyes scanning the dark army as he carefully calculated every step. The wizards and soldiers behind him quickly began to retreat. However, the size and speed of the enemy army seemed poised to chase them down.

Vermithor had to make a quick defense to block the rear of the retreating group. In his legendary wolf form, he swiftly and ruthlessly defeated enemies, but against the countless swords and arrows raining toward him, he was forced to retreat at every turn.

The retreating group finally managed to get away from Draugr King's army and enter a passage created by the wizards. Vermithor, glancing back, gave one final look around. "This is just the beginning," he thought. "The real battle starts now."