I immediately headed toward Snow White's castle. I didn't waste time doubting or observing the exterior too much. Something inside me told me I shouldn't delay, that every second that passed made that place more dangerous.
The castle was large, silent, and covered in ice. Its towers seemed made of frozen crystal, and the air around it was so cold that it hurt to breathe. Every step I took echoed, as if the place were empty… or waiting.
I began searching for her through the main corridors, crossing frozen halls and long passageways. There were no traces of normal life. No laughter, footsteps, or conversations could be heard. Only the sound of ice cracking from time to time.
Finally, I found one of the castle's guardians. He was still, almost motionless, with a lost gaze. When I approached and spoke to him, he reacted slowly. His voice sounded muffled, as if he had been tired for years.
He told me that Snow White was in the basement. That she had been there for a long time. That she almost never came out. That no one dared to follow her.
I thanked him for the information and continued on my way.
In one corner of the castle I saw some stone stairs descending into the darkness. They were ancient, worn, and covered by a thin layer of ice. Without thinking any further, I began to go down.
With each step, the cold increased.
When I reached the bottom, it felt as if I had entered a giant freezer. The air was so icy that my breath became visible. The walls were made of huge blocks of ice, perfectly carved, as if someone had placed them with care. The floor was also ice, smooth and shiny.
Walking on it gave the feeling that it could break at any moment. Still, the floor was thick, and although it creaked under my steps, it didn't break. That constant sound made me nervous, as if the place were alive.
I advanced carefully, keeping my hand close to my sword.
The corridor seemed endless, but finally I reached a wide room. Upon entering, my eyes opened in surprise.
There were seven little dwarves there.
They were still, forming a kind of circle, as if protecting something. Their gazes were serious, hard, and they seemed ready to attack at any moment.
In front of them, a few meters higher, going up some ice stairs, stood a familiar figure.
Snow White.
I climbed the steps slowly, without lowering my guard. She had her back to me, facing a large mirror attached to the wall. She wore a simple dress, with a light aquamarine button, white collar, and short puffed sleeves, her light blue hair reaching down to her shoulders.
Then I heard her speak.
—Mirror, mirror… who is the fairest… who…?
Her voice sounded tense, almost broken. I waited for a response from the mirror, but I heard nothing. I didn't know if the mirror really spoke or if she was just losing her mind from the cold and loneliness.
Snow White remained silent for a long while. So long that I began to think she wouldn't speak again.
But then she did.
—Still… here… my enemies… this is unacceptable… I must eliminate them all.
There was hatred in her voice. Contained rage.
I approached a little closer and decided to speak.
—Snow White?
Upon hearing my voice, she turned abruptly. Her eyes were cold, without a trace of warmth. She looked at me as if I were an insect.
—Who are you? —she asked.
—I'm sorry, I haven't introduced myself yet —I replied calmly—. I am a knight who was just passing by. I only wanted to ask if you could make a pact with me, if it wouldn't be too much trouble.
She observed me in silence. Then she smiled in a strange way.
—A pact… with me? I see… —she said after a brief pause—. You want to enter the Lost Empire.
I didn't respond. She closed her eyes for a few seconds, as if thinking carefully about each word.
—Very well —she continued—. But with one condition.
My body tensed.
—You will have to kill the other demonic princesses: Rapunzel, the Little Mermaid, and the Frog. Those three you will have to kill. Not only will I give you the pact, but I will also be your wife.
Her words fell like a blow.
I remained silent.
No… I couldn't do that. I couldn't just go and kill them. None of them had harmed me. Rapunzel only asked me for a rose. They didn't seem like heartless monsters.
What Snow White was asking of me was too much.
I gripped my sword tightly, feeling the cold metal under my fingers.
—I'm sorry, Princess Snow White —I said finally—, but I cannot meet your expectations. So I will have to kill you right now to enter the Lost Empire.
For a second, silence covered everything.
Then, Snow White began to laugh.
Her laugh was loud, cold, almost mad. It echoed throughout the entire room.
The dwarves reacted immediately. They moved quickly, positioning themselves in front of her, ready to protect her with their lives.
I didn't hesitate.
I drew my sword and activated my ability.
Dragon Roar.
An intense power coursed through my body. My sword shone brightly as I advanced. In a single quick and precise movement, I attacked the dwarves. The cut was clean, powerful.
They all fell to the ground at the same time.
Silence returned.
Now only Snow White and I remained.
She raised her hands and began to use ice magic. The air grew even colder. Fragments of ice flew toward me, but I moved quickly, dodging them.
I took advantage of the short distance and attacked her, slashing across her entire chest.
She fell to the ground.
For a moment I thought it was over.
But then her body began to move.
The ice around her shattered. Her form changed, growing, twisting, until she transformed into a huge ice dragon.
It roared so powerfully that the walls trembled.
It opened its mouth and unleashed an icy breath directly at me. I wrapped my sword in fire and blocked the attack. The clash between fire and ice filled the room with steam.
I attacked it again and again, but its scales were hard, almost impossible to break.
While fighting, I observed carefully.
Then I saw it.
Its neck was more fragile.
I waited for the right moment.
With a quick movement, I concentrated all my strength and delivered a direct cut. The sword pierced through its neck.
The head fell to the ground.
The dragon's body collapsed, and a loud cry of lament filled the place before disappearing at the same time, also leaving behind a fairy tale book and, as always, a few souls.
Everything fell silent.
I headed toward the exit. As I climbed the stairs, I noticed that the people who had previously been trapped in ice blocks were no longer there. Only puddles of water remained on the floor.
I left the castle and walked toward the bonfire.
Upon reaching it, I immediately teleported to the sacred forest.