David stumbled to his feet, still half-asleep. "What's that?" he mumbled, his eyes squinting against the sunlight. The sound intensified, and David's eyes flew open as a shadow loomed overhead, casting a dark shape on the ground.
Dragons descended upon them, their scales glinting in the sunlight. Dark troll riders sat atop the beasts, their eyes glowing with an otherworldly energy. "David, wake up!" Xandros shouted, as he summoned a magical arm, Leviticus, lifting David off the ground and dodging the dragon's deadly attack.
David's eyes widened in fear as he stumbled, catching his balance. "Thanks for saving me," he said, awestruck. "Can you show me that later?" Xandros's expression turned grim. "First, we need to survive."
A dragon lunged, its jaws open wide. Xandros controlled a tree branch, striking the beast with precision. "Behind you, David!" he warned. David spun, dodging the dragon's claws by mere inches.
"Pass me my stuff," David said, his eyes locked on the riders. "What stuff?" Xandros asked, his voice laced with amusement. "My sword and dagger, duh!" David replied, his voice rising in exasperation. Xandros produced the weapons from his cloak, tossing them to David with a flourish.
As David caught his sword, he felt a surge of excitement. "How did you just do that?" he asked, his eyes wide with wonder. Xandros's gaze locked on the riders. "Focus, David. We need to fight."
The dark troll riders charged, their movements eerily synchronized. David dodged their attacks with ease, his agility surprising. But the riders wouldn't fall. Xandros summoned a rock-solid arm, punching one rider with a crushing blow. "Terrae Defendio!" he shouted, his magic coursing through the earth.
David landed a solid hit on another rider, but its armor refused to crack. "What is this armor?" he exclaimed, his frustration growing. Xandros's eyes lit up with inspiration. "Electrio!" he called upon the heavens, summoning an electric charge. "Get out of the way, David!" he shouted.
David leapt clear as Xandros unleashed the lightning bolt, sending the riders flying. The clouds cleared, and David rose to his feet, his sword still clutched in his hand. "Wow, your magic skills are amazing," he said, his voice filled with admiration.
Xandros smiled, a hint of pride in his eyes. "You're not bad yourself." The riders rose, their dark troll eyes fixed on David and Xandros. "Stick out your sword," Xandros instructed. "Imagine creating flames on it."
David's eyes widened. "What? You mean, like, magic?" Xandros nodded. "Just do it." David focused, feeling his mark's power coursing through his blade. His sword ignited, flames dancing along its length.
"Wow!" David exclaimed.
"Say this spell: 'Ignis Eximius'," Xandros instructed.
The battle raged on, David's magic and Xandros's guidance forging an unstoppable duo. "Ignis Eximius!" David shouted, unleashing a fireball that erupted from his sword. The rider shattered, its green blood splashing across David's face. "This is nasty," David said, his face contorted in disgust. Xandros chuckled. "Bravo, David. Nice work. You learn quickly."
But the fight was far from over. The two dragons, massive and ferocious, awakened from their slumber, unleashing a wave of putrid breath that sent David and Xandros stumbling backward. David covered his nose, his eyes watering from the stench. "Uuff, your breath stinks!" David exclaimed, his voice muffled.
The dragon's tail swooped down, striking David with incredible force. He flew through the air, his sword flashing as he tried to reduce the impact. Still, he crashed into a tree, the sound of shattering wood and snapping ribs echoing through the forest. David crumpled to the ground, coughing up blood.
Xandros rushed to his side, shouting, "David!" The dragons prepared to unleash their fiery wrath. Xandros raised his hands. "Glaciem!" he shouted. A towering wall of ice erupted from the ground, shielding David from the inferno. The dragons breathed fire, their flames engulfing the ice wall.
Xandros stumbled backward, his eyes locked on David. "Healing spell, Sanctus!" he chanted. A soothing green glow enveloped David, healing his wounds. David's eyes flickered open. "What's happening?" David asked, his voice weak.
Xandros's voice was laced with concern. "I've run out of energy, David. I healed your broken bones and shielded you with ice, but I need more time to recharge." The ice wall weakened under the dragons' flames.
Xandros's vision blurred. "David, I'm about to pass out," Xandros warned. "Use Glaciem on your sword like you did with the flames, okay?" Xandros collapsed, his magic ice wall crumbling.
As the dragons unleashed their fiery wrath, David leapt into action, his sword flashing with an inner flame. "Ignis Eximius!" he shouted, unleashing a barrage of fireballs that rained down upon the beast. The dragon's scales glowed like molten lava as it absorbed the flames, its belly inflating like a balloon.
The air was thick with the smell of smoke and charred flesh. David's heart pounded in his chest as he executed a daring backflip, his sword slicing through the air with deadly precision. The dragon roared, its voice like thunder, as it exploded in a blaze of fire and smoke.
David emerged from the inferno, his sword still aglow, his eyes burning with determination. But the second dragon would not be silenced. It breathed a stream of flames that threatened to engulf David. "Glaciem!" he shouted, his sword icing over as he summoned the power of the frozen elements.
The flames danced around him, seeking to consume him, but David stood firm, his sword a shining beacon of hope. He charged forward, his battle cry echoing through the forest. "Aaaah!" David screamed, with a fatal strike cutting through the flames with a precision that belied his exhaustion.
The dragon stumbled, its strength waning, as David sliced through its scales with deadly precision. The beast collapsed, its body crashing to the earth like a fallen titan.
David stood victorious, his chest heaving with exertion, his sword still trembling with the force of his final blow. The dragons lay defeated, their massive bodies motionless on the forest floor. As he caught his breath, David turned to Xandros, who lay weakened from his earlier exertions. David rushed to his side, gently lifting him onto his shoulders. "Let's get you to safety," David said, his voice filled with concern.
The forest air was crisp and clean, filled with the scent of pine and earth. David carried Xandros to the trunk of a nearby tree, carefully laying him down on the soft earth. The sound of leaves rustling and birds chirping filled the air as David made a campfire, its warm flames casting a comforting glow over the clearing.
Xandros lay down, his eyes closing in gratitude. "Thanks, David," he whispered, his voice barely audible. David smiled, his exhaustion forgotten in the warmth of the moment. He sat beside Xandros, watching as the older wizard drifted off to sleep.
As the night deepened, David's eyelids grew heavy. He soon followed Xandros into slumber, his dreams filled with visions of Serena, her voice whispering sweet nothings in his ear. "David, David, David," she whispered. David's heart skipped a beat as he felt her presence, his mind racing with thoughts of her.
But the dream was short-lived. David woke up, gasping, his heart still racing from the intensity of his dream. Xandros sat up, a knowing glint in his eye. "You're awake, young prince," Xandros said, a hint of amusement in his voice.
David rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the lingering fogginess. "Yeah, I'm up," he said, his voice still husky from sleep. Xandros chuckled. "You're a strange one, David," he said, a smile playing on his lips.
David smiled back, feeling a sense of camaraderie with the older wizard. "Thanks for helping me," David said, his voice filled with gratitude. Xandros's expression turned serious. "Rest, young prince. We'll start official magic training tomorrow."
The campfire crackled, casting flickering shadows on the trees. The mountain creatures quieted, their nocturnal songs dying down as the night deepened. The moon lit up the forest, casting an ethereal glow over the clearing. David slept, his dreams filled with visions of magic and adventure. Xandros meditated, his eyes closed as he focused on replenishing his energy.