The night and darkness envelops the land. It is when the northern borders truly shine, but in these cases, a snowstorm ravages the air, destroying the pristine view that I had predicted for it as I was traveling to my destination. 

My body feels numb, my fingers and toes feel like they're going to fall off if left idle for even a few seconds, but I digress and continue on without a hint of hesitation. Not that I have anything to hesitate about anyway. I've made my mind long ago, discarding the very image of my past, trading it for hopefully something new. 

Thirty minutes seems to have passed quickly, and at this point, my other senses begin to dull and I am left trudging aimlessly with a coat fashioned from an animal's hide. I have no complaints as it keeps me warm, but unaccustomed to this weather, my indomitable will seems to shake at every step of the way. 

"Just keep going forward in this direction, and you'll eventually run into their fortress in a matter of hours."

I severely underestimated the many faces of nature, that one face being winter. I had assumed that I could overcome the encumbrance brought forth by the impending weather, but due to my lack of experience with the northern lifestyle, forcing my way was the only thing left to do. Not unless I burn the entire forest to the ground for warmth.

I began to slowly weaken, falling to the cold embrace all around me. I started to shiver, holding it all back at first, but ended up bursting out eventually. 

Then my teeth rattled, my sight was beginning to fade almost instantly, but then again, there was really nothing to look at in the first place. 

The only thing that kept me awake was my struggle for warmth which was to exhale as much as I can onto the palm of my hands, cupping them, then rubbing it along my body every five minutes or so. 

After another while, maybe thirty minutes, I began hallucinating. I heard faint voices of grown men, but then disappeared. Assuming that their voices have been blocked out by the blizzard, a faint ray of hope welled up from inside me. 

I tried to be optimistic, thinking that it may be around here somewhere, and that the dark was just camouflaging it.

Then I heard the voices once more. This time, it was more audible, and it seemed close to me, but still uncertain to where I should be facing.

But it seems that my worried were not needed. The voices seemed to get louder and louder, and I could make out the words easily enough as cries for help. 

I assume that they also lost their way. I had just thought about an idea as my mind started spewing out various things that I could do. I chose one that I sure would have the highest chance of success and risk. 

I approach the men slowly as to not alert them. Braving the cold weather, I raise my arms up in surrender, yelling to catch their attention.

"Help! You there. Will you help me?"

I plead innocence and cry for help as well. I cover the rest of my body with the fur coat, concealing my arms to the unaware soldiers. 

Their hands first touch the hilts of their blades once I close in on them, now in optimal distance to strike, but I refrain.

"Halt! Who are you and what are you doing here?"

There are two of them. Both are quite well armed but ignorant and rather incompetent just by looking at both of them. They look to each other, confused and bewildered by my sudden entrance. 

Sure enough I am certain that they find me a treat and are cautious right about now. 

"Help, I've lost my way. I've nothing to offer, but if you help me, then I can compromise."

"Eh? What are you on about? Get on out of here, You're not supposed to be here."

"Wait, let's listen to the man for now, arguing will get us nowhere. We're already lost, so I don't think things will get worse."

As his companion chides him, the brutish man calms down. I myself am surprised to know that there's some sense in at least one of them. I had just assumed that they'd attack at the first sight of an unfamiliar face, but who knew that there were some brains to support these useless lugs of muscle.

"Come, let us find our way out of this blizzard together. I am certain that we have chance at it if work hard enough."

The calm one gestures for me to follow. The brute stands beside me while the timid, but competent one leads in front. 

The only one hostile to me at this moment is the one beside me, eyeing me over, suspicion arising. 

Well, it's good enough that I had taken advantage of their confusion, joining in with them so that they might bring me to their fortress. 

"I have my eye on you, remember that alright stranger?"

"I will keep your words to heart my friend."

"Hmph! You better show some respect."

The only way to deal with these types are to feed their egos, slowly but surely making yourself a good person to them without much effort. 

Soon I won't have to deal with those kinds anymore. I found these kind of people irritating overtime. All bark but no bite. best I can do is to clench my fists in exasperation, thinking of the best way to deal with Pahldor once I arrive.

These soldiers are beneath me, so I don't really need to worry about them. The magus is my priority first and foremost.

Another grueling ten minutes have passed, and the blizzard begun to take its toll on all of us. You could say that braving this weather for the first hour alone is an achievement enough, but being alive to tell the tale was another thing.

"Hey, are we there yet? The damn weather is killing me here."

"Not q-quite, I don't think so, but I b-bet that we're on the r-right track."

"Wait... Please be quiet for a while."

"Ha? What are you on about now rookie?"

"There! Do you see that? The large shadow over there. It's the fortress!"

Indeed, he was correct. Their fortress lies meters away from us. Under the darkness did it stand out like a mountain, looming over the fields of pure white snow. 

Then they began to run as if being chased by a wild animal, so I followed suit, just so I could regain some warmth before beginning. 

"Hey! Over here!"

They begin screaming for help, forcing their voices out, thinking that help might come from those squeamish cries of desperation. You could almost hear their voices being cut off, out of energy, near passing out as they turn pale.

A small unit of soldiers comes running up to the poor sods who'd passed out once their allies arrived. 

They then took a glance at me, gesturing me to follow them into the fortress. 

Who am I not to oblige.

After a few odd exchange of greetings, I am finally inside. 

The interior itself wasn't quite that bad, everything was well lit up, the walls and pillars gave off an old medieval vibe.

Old rusted chandeliers, wooden tables and chairs scattered everywhere, the walls were pure white granite but a bit ruined to be called a marvel.  It would be an understatement to say that this place could be refined, but in reality, it could only be left rotting away with the passing of time.

I look to my surroundings, trying to find a route that would possibly take me to Pahldor. I'd thought about dealing with him first, and whatever comes next, last.  

It made things complicated seeing as guards are scattered everywhere. Just in this small lounging room, there must be a hundred of them already.  And if you place yourself in the shoes of a guard, wouldn't it be odd to see a stranger sulking around your fortress? 

If that wasn't bad enough, I already looked shady as one could be at this situation. I'm still wearing my fur coat, and underneath is my set of thin leather armor and sheathed longsword. The fur coat was big enough to conceal my weapons, but it doesn't look like my ruse will keep up much longer as it catches the attention of even more guards, eyeing me from the corner of their eyes.

... Might as well begin. It's not as if Pahldor will come running outside in fear, not the he has a choice anyway. I can take this as a bit of a practice run on the bright side. 

I unveil my coat; it slips off without much restriction as I was just draping it over me anyway. 

The coat makes a loud thud, turning the lounge room silent, and turning all their attentions towards me. 

Sure enough at this point, the soldiers have their hands near their waist, ready for almost anything. 

Without any words, I unsheathe my sword, it makes an echoing screech that further heightens my notoriety. 

I give a few practice swings, cutting air with quick speed. Every motion makes a sound *woosh* 

"Well I assume you all know what comes next, or are you still not understand the situation you're all in."

They all slowly unsheathe their weapons as well after a few good provocations. 

A few menacing guards emerge from the main corridors wearing intimidatingly large thick pieces of armor. It seems to be that they brought out the elites without a moment's notice. 

They begin a crowd charge, a circular pit of blades running towards the center, the center being me. 

I jump with a lateral inhuman height, my head coming in close contact with the chandeliers hanging by the ceiling. 

The timing of my jump was timed right before we collided with each other. Instead, the soldiers clash among themselves, unable to halt their charge as it was too late.

I descend lightly. 

I sense the presence of someone coming up from behind. I glance at him with the corner of my eye, his sword rises overhead, carrying no shield to guard with. "You're wide open."

My back remains faced to him. I reverse a lunge with my sword ready to be drawn in an arc once I get into striking range. I assume that he'll predict me backing away, then he'll flurry with his weapon. Nice tactic, but it won't work on me. 

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

I swing my sword from the right, my back facing him, and using my momentum I twist my body rapidly, cutting horizontally right by his chest, creating a crevice in the marrow of his ribs. 

Blood gushes out, spilling on the ground as the soldier kneels down, slowly losing his life. Then his body flops on the stone floor, lifeless.

In a fit of rage, the other come rushing me once again. I count at least a dozen, maybe twelve or so coming at once. "I can do this."

As all this happens in a fast pace, in the confines of my mind however, everything is slowed down. I use this opportunity to assess the situation, thinking of the most effective way to dismantle this order of soldiers. 

To my left, I count three, easy pickings, scattered meters away from each other. 

To the right and near the middle, four, clustered, one heavily armed knight.

Behind me, five, the most difficult choice out of the three, but not impossible. Decimate with a blast of fire, then follow through with a one hit one kill. 

The left it is then. 

Everything returns to normal. I clog out the sound of the soldiers making a ruckus, ignoring their voices and focusing on mine and mine alone. 

I face my left, blocking the first soldier's downward slash as he brings it down furiously. 

Lifting the blade, carrying his as well, I twist my body, rotating in full to slash his chest upwards, shifting my body's weight in the process, getting ready for the next soldier's arrival in a few milliseconds.

He tries an uppercut with his long blade, failing miserably as I jump a few meters away, blocking a different soldier's attack as I glance behind me from the corner of my eye. 

I kick him away, focusing on my primary target. 

I leap towards him, both my hands placed tightly on the hilt, ready to plunge downwards at the soldier who recoils from striking the solid ground with his sword, now unarmed because of it.    

He tries to defend with his arms, but my steel cuts through his vambraces with ease, slicing his arms off, blood streams out, making a grueling scene in reality. 

I give no quarter, slashing downwards with all my might, enough to shatter the ground beneath him as I cut the man in two.

*Throb* "Gah! Damn," I feel a heart wrenching sensation welling up from my chest, making me convulse in the middle of battle. Sure enough the soldiers take this chance to attack, their charge become louder and louder, but the loud beating of my heart blocks the sound out. 

While on all fours, I feel it once more, but this time it becomes painful, making me clench my chest with my hand in response. 

This seems familiar. No, I can't succumb to this. I made an oath to not use this power again, but I'm being denied by my own body. 

Next thing I knew was that I exhaled flames, and everything around me moved at a slow pace. 

I could see every sensitive detail that my eyes lay on, my other senses also sharpened in turn. 

"Ha... Ha ha ha ha," Damn, I began laughing for some reason, but he he, I can't quite stop myself. I'll admit it, but my powers never weakened with the passage of time, rather it became stronger, waiting for the time when it'll be used once more. I never planned to use it, but It came to without my permission. 

Then I just began to grin, petrifying all those around me. 

I hadn't noticed it earlier, but now I seem to be veiled by blue flames, my eyes glowing a gold hue, my skin begins to stiffen, ignoring the cold weather. 

"Now this is something else." 

I count a hundred fifty in total gathered in this room. What my normal form of eyes couldn't see clearly can now be seen with ease. I had forgotten how great this power was, even without knowing what it was exactly. I didn't mind anyway

I guess this is the time to finish it. 

I begin to form a giant blue ball of flame on the palm of my hand as I hold it up facing the ceiling. It grows at an excelling rate, growing to the size similar to a large boulder, requiring for me to raise my arm up due to the massive ball that still continues to amass itself. 

"W-what is that thing?"

"A demon! T-there's a demon here!"

"Run away! Retreat!"

My body trembles as I hear their cries of terror. I seem to grin without my notice, laughing hysterically afterwards. 

Unable to hold my excitement any longer, I release the giant ball of flame towards the fleeing soldiers.

In an instant it explodes, destroying everything around it, incinerating the poor souls unfortunate enough to be caught by the supernova of an explosion. 

Soon the entire fortress is filled with a glorious blue light acting like a beacon under the dark demented night. 

The fortress implodes, its walls bursts open, turned into rubble instantly. And soon the entire fortress had been redecorated to have a wide open ceiling where the snow slowly drifts in. The walls as well are not spared, and any other furnishings are either burnt of destroyed without a trace.

"Ha~ I had forgotten how much power I possessed, yet still weak in the end. What is strength in truth?"

A clear rift of silence had just formed after my display of prowess. All that remained was to seek Pahldor, the magus whose death I seek for the exchange of unfathomable power. 

Speaking of the devil. 

"Quite the entertainment these incompetent men have brought to my attention. Not once, but twice have they disappointed me. Now, state your business stranger."

"I've come for your head...."

"Intriguing. Straightforward and honest. I think we can compromise at least. Come, I will show you something that might change your mind."

Without another word, Pahldor leaves with his back turned to me, wide open and free for the taking. But what he said... it's quite tempting. 

I've might as well follow him. His life is as good as mine at this point. No guard of his seem to remain, and his fortress lie in ruins.

I'm surprised he hasn't lost his sanity yet.

I follow him through an arch where ample lighting by torches illuminate the descending flight of stairs that seem to go on forever.

having not let my guard down, I remain wary of the old man slowly stepping on each staircase delicately. If I wanted, I could take his life now and just be on my way, but what's the harm in finding out. 

"With just this, I can find out where the crypt lies. I don't need that weak old man to provide me that. All I needed was someone else who knew. Even with a tight lip, they cannot hope to best my prowess when it comes to sorcery."

He rambles on by himself, his questions don't seem to be pointed at me. But what catches my attention the most was his mention of the crypt. 

What does he want with it? What does he hold here under these dark lifeless bowels of stone and rubble. 

Does he really have everything to discover the truth about the millennial crypt and the secrets that it holds?

The seemingly endless descent ends, and now we reach the very base of the fortress's underground chambers. 

What stands before us now is a well lit, large arched corridor with torches hanging from both sides like a grand entrance into the unknown.

"Come, let us not keep her waiting then shall we?"

He gives me a menacing, and ugly smile form the side as he glances to me. It seems that he's got me under his control due to curiosity. 

My blood slowly begins to boil, but I let it dissipate for a while. 'irritating bastard' a whisper escapes my mouth, but it doesn't seem to reach the person itself.

I continue to begrudgingly follow the old man to my discretion. I'll end him once I find out what he wants to show me.

The smell is damp, the air is cold, and the darkness of the corridor seems to grow as we go further. Though now that I've used up my power again, I don't feel even the slightest chill from it

In front of us now is gigantic metal barred door. If you laid eyes on it, the first thought that you might have would be 'what is behind that door' the curiosity seeps in further, drawing me in, but not that much as I try not to show it in my face.

"Magnificent eh? But it's not what's on the outside, it's what's on the inside."

"What is this?"

"You will know. It may explain itself as you venture inside."

"Then how do you get in. Surely someone like you with a sickly body and now apparent strength can hope to open this my hand."

"Mhmm. You seem to catch on fast young lad. Stand back, I have no use for strength, I revel in the arts of the mystic."

I heed his words, still wary of anything he might be pulling from that ruse. 

He begins to chant while he extends his arms open, producing a green glow along with floating unfamiliar symbols around him, pulsating with light as his words sustain through the halls, bouncing here and there.

The seemingly impossible to open door is pushed open by Pahldor through an unseen force. it is followed by a deafening screech of stone and metal, halting only a few seconds after it opened. 

Unable to tear my sight away from it, I stand with my attention glued to the inhumane act before me. 

A girl who looks like the same age as me has her clothes in tatters, and is bound up in the air by several chains constricted to her limbs where she is in the middle like a main attraction, but for a gruesome crowd. 

There, a dim white light shines over her.

Her face looms down expressionless as if dead. Her long white hair sways as the air coming from outside breezes through. Her body is painted with scars and parts of it are painted with blood. 

Pahldor looks back at me with a wide grin on his face, making my blood boil as I stare at the girl. 

"I hope you have as explanation for this. Even if you don't though, you know that you won't leave here alive, monster."