When The Darkness Calls You

When Vermithor returned to the castle in a wounded state, the entire castle became agitated with concern. The healers quickly tried to treat his wounds as Vermithor struggled to breathe and approached Lordhair and Solve. "The Draugr King and his army... were much stronger. We realized their attacks were just an illusion; the real threat came with a much larger army. We had to retreat, but... this is just the beginning."

Lordhair and Solve entered the room prepared for Vermithor to rest and recover, and Solve began to speak: "I hope you heal quickly, brother, but why didn't you tell me about such an important mission? Maybe you wouldn't have gotten so badly injured."

Vermithor smiled and said, "Brothers don't want their little brother to get hurt, and that was one of those moments. That's why I didn't tell you."

Solve smiled and said, "I won't accept that excuse again." Then he added, "Who will lead the missions while you're injured?"

Vermithor turned his gaze to Lordhair and said, "The soldiers are pleased with Lordhair's leadership. Even though he's still a stranger, maybe we should assign him to lead so he can show his skills more."

Solve nodded and said, "You're right, that's possible. I'll guide him on what to do."

But Lordhair, unsure about the situation, preferred to withdraw based on his observations and confidently spoke, "As Vermithor said, I'm still a foreigner. Even if you accept me, not all of the soldiers will accept me right away." He then looked at Solve, confident in his decision. "I think Solve should take the lead."

Vermithor and Solve were surprised. Vermithor nodded and said, "Normally no one would refuse a Lordship, but you gave a very good answer and passed my test." From the very beginning, Solve had been temporarily appointed as Lord by the Kingdom.

"We have missions to do, Lordhair," said Solve. "Tomorrow, we'll go on two missions with a group of soldiers. If we're lucky, we can finish them in one day."

Lordhair replied, "You really think of me as just a regular soldier. Well, let's go then."

Exploring the Unknown Region:

Lordhair, Solve, and their group of experienced warriors gathered in the shadow of the castle’s high walls. A light mist spread into the depths of the snowy forest. Early in the morning, the golden light of the sun touched the leaves of the trees, and shadows danced within the forest. Knowing they would encounter stronger Shadow Assassins, they proceeded cautiously.

Lordhair, aware of the truths he had learned, continued to act prudently and decided to observe everyone around him. The key point was that no one should notice, so he kept his Microeye ability active at all times. Like a hawk, his eyes missed nothing.

Solve, feeling the energies, warned, "There's something here in this area." Lordhair used his Microeye ability to track the movements around them. "We can follow the enemy's tracks," he said.

As the group moved silently, the atmosphere in the forest became more ominous with each step. The rising mist seemed to coil around the trunks of the trees. Solve paused for a moment and, moving his hands in the air, sensed the energy. There was a dense, dark energy in the air.

Solve said, "There’s a concentrated energy deeper in the forest. Something is hiding here."

As the group ventured deeper into the forest, the silence grew heavier. Sinister whispers between the branches of the trees began to distract the group. Each one was alert, ready with their swords and magical abilities. Even the sudden flight of a bird was enough to distract them.

Solve warned, "We could be attacked at any moment. Stay alert."

Suddenly, Shadow Assassins moved swiftly from the shadows. These creatures were deadly enemies that moved quickly through the shadows, silently tracking their prey. The group took defensive positions and began to fight.

Lordhair shouted, "Attack! These are just the beginning!" He drew his sword and charged at the first assassin.

Solve used his magical abilities to incapacitate the enemies. The purple flames emanating from his hands burned the enemies, rendering them powerless. "Hold your shields tight! They're coming!" shouted Solve.

Lordhair saw one assassin charging toward him and swiftly swung his sword, slicing the creature in half. However, from the shadow of the assassin, two new assassins emerged and attacked. Lordhair, using his technological tools, detected the weak points of the enemies and activated his "Microeye" ability, using the purple light in his eyes to track the enemies.

The group fought in coordination, with Solve's magical abilities and Lordhair's technological tools giving them a significant advantage. As one assassin attempted to attack Solve, Lordhair quickly stepped in front of him and stopped the assassin with his sword. Solve, with gratitude in his eyes, smiled and said, "Thank you, Lordhair. As long as we're together, we can win this war."

Solve then twirled his hands and cast a spell, sending purple flames toward the surrounding assassins. The assassins screamed as they were consumed by the flames and disappeared. Solve took a deep breath and turned to Lordhair. "More will come," she said.

The intensity of the battle increased with every passing minute. The Shadow Assassins emerged from the shadows, launching their attacks, while the group repelled each assault and pressed forward. The group members worked in perfect harmony, managing to defeat the enemies. Solve's magical abilities and Lordhair's technological gadgets gave the group a significant advantage.

One assassin swiftly approached from behind a soldier and attempted to attack. With a quick reflex, Lordhair intercepted the assassin's path and stopped him with his swords. The soldier, out of breath, said, "Thank you, Lordhair."

Lordhair turned to the soldier and said, "As long as we stand together, none of us will be harmed. We must support each other."

While gathering his energy, Solve looked at Lordhair. "This journey is not just a physical battle, it's also a mental trial," he said. "What we’ve achieved together has strengthened the bond between us."

Lordhair smiled sincerely, "It’s an honor to work with you. Together, we can overcome any challenge." This moment deepened the connection between them.

Lordhair noticed the increasing intensity of the battle and the growing number of Shadow Assassins. "Retreat!" he commanded the soldiers. "We can’t stay here any longer. The enemy outnumbers us."

The soldiers obeyed Lordhair's command and began to fall back. However, Lordhair refused to retreat and, gripping his swords tightly, moved forward toward the enemies. Combining his twin swords and magical abilities, he began to fight the Shadow Assassins alone.

As Lordhair swung his swords toward his enemies, purple flames erupted from his hands, burning and destroying the assassins around him. Each strike targeted the weak points of his foes. When an assassin attempted to strike Lordhair, he quickly pulled back and sliced the enemy in half with his blades.

For a brief moment, everything went quiet. Lordhair was alone amidst the shadows. However, the silence didn’t last long. More Shadow Assassins emerged from the shadows, rushing toward him. Lordhair gathered his energy, combining his twin swords and striking with a powerful blow. The purple flames obliterated all the enemies around him.

Lordhair paused for a moment to catch his breath and looked around. He had proven that even alone, he could survive. The soldiers, watching from afar, marveled at Lordhair’s courage and strength. Lordhair tightened his grip on his swords and advanced toward the enemies again. "We will win this war," he murmured.

Although they fought together and defeated each enemy, Solve's face still held concern. He approached Lordhair, taking a deep breath before speaking. "We may have defeated the Shadow Assassins, but the intense energy in the forest still lingers."

Lordhair listened carefully to Solve’s words. "What does this mean?" he asked.

Solve continued to feel the energy, his hands swirling in the air. "There’s still something in the depths of the forest. This energy source hasn't disappeared. A greater danger may be lurking here."

Lordhair narrowed his eyes, scanning the surroundings. "Then we must go deeper," he said with determination. "We need to eliminate this threat once and for all."

Solve nodded in agreement. "Yes, we must find and destroy this energy source. But we need to be careful. This mission could be far more dangerous than we thought."

The group, under Solve's leadership, began to venture deeper into the forest. With every step, the presence of the intense energy became more palpable. They didn’t know what kind of dangers awaited them in the depths of the forest, but they pressed on with unwavering resolve.