The eerie silence was palpable, and David's fear was almost tangible. He turned to Xandros, his voice low and urgent. "Xandros, what does it mean? The dream I had – was it a glimpse of the future?"
Xandros's expression turned somber, his eyes grave with concern. "The dream wasn't a prediction, David. It was a warning. A possible outcome if you fail to claim Valyndor and return home in time."
David's eyes widened as he processed the weight of Xandros's words. "The army of the dead... and the figure that killed my loved ones... who was it?" His voice cracked with emotion.
Xandros's jaw clenched, his eyes flashing with anger. "Vonhelsine. He's the one who summoned the dead army and took everything from you."
David's face contorted in anguish, his eyes welling up with tears. "Why? Why does he hate my kingdom so much? What did my father do to him?"
Xandros's expression softened, and he took a deep breath before responding. "It's rooted in the past, David. The God of Fire, Eris, chose your kingdom, Adia, to wield Valyndor. Vonhelsine's bloodline may have descended from Eris, but the god favored your lineage, deeming it worthy to wield the sword."
David's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with questions. "And that's why Vonhelsine wants to destroy everything my father built?"
Xandros nodded. "Vonhelsine seeks to rule the world, erasing the legacy of the divine siblings and claiming dominion for himself. He can't allow a hero to emerge and stop him. That's why he corrupted the king of Tigrasia, using him as a spy to gather intelligence on Adia."
David's face twisted in disgust. Xandros continued "And when the time was right, the king informed Vonhelsine about my father's sword, Argent, given to him by Eris?"
Xandros's eyes clouded over. "The king knew about the sword because your father shared the information with him, trying to build trust between their kingdoms."
David's expression fell, his voice laced with disappointment. "My father can be... trusting to a fault."
Xandros continued, his voice measured. "Vonhelsine learned about the sword and knew he couldn't defeat Adia without dark magic. He sought out Elsa, the Witch of Calamity, and made a terrible pact."
David's eyes widened, his voice barely above a whisper. "The Witch of Calamity? What did he sacrifice to gain her power?"
Xandros's expression turned grave, his voice dropping to a whisper. "His wife and daughter. He traded their lives for the power of the Skull Knight."
David's face paled, horror etched on his features. "The Skull Knight? What is he?"
Xandros's eyes seemed to bore into David's soul. "A warrior from the underworld, cursed by the gods for his cruelty. He serves only those who wield dark magic, and Vonhelsine has become one of them.
Xandros's voice was laced with an air of foreboding as he continued, "Vonhelsine's thirst for power led him to summon a dead army, conquering Diama and Tigrasia with ease." David's eyes blazed with anger, his fists clenched at his sides. Xandros's expression turned somber, his eyes clouding over like a stormy sky. "But your father finally defeated him, bringing a temporary end to his reign of terror."
David's face twisted in disgust. "And then Elsa, the Witch of Calamity, brought him back to life," Xandros said, his voice dripping with disdain. "Vonhelsine lost his powers, but he continued to rule over the kingdoms he had captured with an iron fist."
David's eyes narrowed, determination etched on his face. "What drives a man to sacrifice his own family for power?" he asked, his voice laced with contempt. Xandros's expression turned grave, his eyes seeming to bore into the soul of the darkness that lurked ahead. "The lust for power can corrupt even the purest of hearts, David."
The forest fell silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of the two men. David's face contorted in anger, his jaw clenched in disgust. "He disgusts me," he spat, his words hanging in the air like a challenge.
Xandros's eyes locked onto David's, his expression intense. "The dream you had, David, it's connected to Vonhelsine. He had a dream too, one where Eris, the God of Fire, appeared to him."
David's eyes widened, his face pale. "What did Eris tell him?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Xandros's voice was laced with a hint of sadness. "Eris foretold of a young boy, the prince of Adia – that's you, David – who would defeat Vonhelsine and put an end to his evil reign."
David's eyes blazed with determination, his jaw set in resolve. "Vonhelsine's rage knew no bounds," Xandros continued. "He sought out Elsa once more, sacrificing his soul for the power of the Skull Knight."
The air seemed to grow heavier, the shadows deepening as Xandros spoke. "Elsa imbued his soul with half of her remaining power, transforming him into the Enhanced Skull Knight." David's eyes narrowed, his brow furrowed in concern. "What does that mean?"
Xandros's expression turned grave, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Vonhelsine's power has grown exponentially. His sword, Wolfgang, can transform into Crimson Requiem, slicing through any magic with ease." David's face paled, his eyes wide with fear.
The forest seemed to hold its breath as Xandros delivered the final blow. "Vonhelsine has summoned another army of undead, marching towards Adia with the intent to destroy it and capture your loved ones." David's eyes blazed with anger, his fists clenched at his sides.
Xandros's eyes locked onto David's, his expression intense. "You have no time, David. You must retrieve Valyndor before Vonhelsine reaches Adia." The forest fell silent once more, the only sound the heavy breathing of the two men.
David's face was set in determination, his jaw clenched in resolve. "We must leave now," Xandros said, his voice firm. David nodded, his eyes burning with a fierce determination. "Let's go."
As they left the cabin, the morning sunlight filtered through the trees, casting a warm glow over the forest. The cool breeze rustled the leaves, creating a soothing melody that filled the air. David stretched, admiring the breathtaking view. "Ah, what a beautiful morning!" he exclaimed, his eyes shining with wonder.
Xandros moved ahead, his dark cloak billowing behind him like a shadow. David rushed to catch up, calling out, "Hey, wait for me! I'm not exactly built for marathons." Xandros turned, his piercing blue eyes sparkling with amusement. "We're heading to the mountains, David. Time to put your mark to use."
David's eyes widened as he glanced at the towering peaks. "But how? The mountains are treacherous! I'm more of a 'get lost in the woods' kind of guy." Xandros's expression turned serious. "Use the mark on your forehead. Focus, and you'll see the way."
David's face contorted in skepticism. "Can I really do that?" Xandros's voice was firm. "Stop doubting yourself, David. You've got this." David's face flushed. "Sorry, sorry. I'll try."
With a deep breath, David closed his eyes and concentrated on the mark on his forehead. A strange energy coursed through his veins, and suddenly, his eyes snapped open. He was transported to a new perspective – the forest from an animal's point of view. The trees towered above, the underbrush rustling with hidden creatures. A clear path unfolded before him, winding up the mountain.
David's vision faded, and he stumbled backward, gasping. His eyes snapped back into focus, and he grinned. "I saw the path! I'm like a superhero now!" Xandros's expression turned approving. "Good job, David. Step one of your training is complete."
David beamed with pride. "Thanks! I know I'm amazing!" Xandros's eyes narrowed. "Don't get too cocky, kid. That's just step one out of a thousand. You've still got a long way to go."
As they climbed the mountain, the forest grew denser, the trees twisting and turning in impossible ways. The air thickened with mist, and the sound of rushing water grew louder. David followed Xandros, his senses on high alert.
The sun beat down on them, casting long shadows across the rocky terrain. David's legs ached, and he stumbled, gasping for breath. "Xandros, can we take a break? My legs are turning into jelly."
Xandros nodded, his expression stern. "We don't want you dying before reaching Valyndor. That would be... inconvenient." David collapsed onto a nearby rock, his eyes closing in exhaustion. Xandros sat beside him, meditating to recharge his energy.
The tranquility was short-lived. A thunderous roar echoed through the valley, growing louder by the second. Xandros's eyes snapped open, his gaze locked on the horizon. "Danger approaches," he warned, his voice low and urgent.