David's Encounter With The Guardian Of The Woods

David urged his horse onward, the mountains looming before him like sentinels of doom. His riding skills were honed to perfection, but even the most skilled rider couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. The forest seemed to grow darker, the trees twisting into grotesque, skeletal fingers reaching for the sky.

As David approached the mountain, the air thickened with an eerie, unnatural silence. The trees seemed to loom over him, their branches tangling together like a ghastly, ghostly embrace. The wind died, leaving an oppressive stillness that made David's skin crawl.

Suddenly, David's vision began to blur, his head spinning with a sickening, vertiginous force. He stumbled from his horse, landing hard on the forest floor. The earth seemed to writhe beneath him, as if alive and hostile.

"David, David, turn back or perish!" Voices whispered in his mind, their tone like icy fingers tracing his spine. The words echoed through his thoughts, growing louder, more insistent.

David's eyes scanned the forest, searching for the source of the voices. That's when he saw it: a dark, hooded figure drifting from tree to tree, its presence seeming to draw the very light out of the air. The figure moved with an unnerving slowness, its dark cloak billowing behind it like a specter of death.

David's scream was primal, torn from his very soul. "Aaaaah, get out of my head!" He curled into a fetal position, his hands clamped over his ears as if to block out the voices.

But the voices wouldn't silence. They grew louder, more menacing, echoing through his mind like a chorus of the damned. David's vision began to fray, his consciousness unraveling like a thread pulled from a tapestry.

Just as darkness claimed him, David saw a figure emerging from the trees. Its features were indistinct, shrouded in shadow, but its presence seemed to radiate an otherworldly power.

David's eyes rolled back, his body going limp as the figure's footsteps approached, slow, deliberate, and menacing. The last thing David heard was the sound of his own heartbeat, pounding in his ears like a death knell.

Then, nothing.

David's eyes fluttered open, shut, and open again, his gaze blurry and unfocused. Each time he surfaced, he caught glimpses of himself in someone's arms, being carried through a dense forest. The rustling of leaves, snapping of twigs, and heavy breathing filled his ears.

"Where...where am I?" David whispered, his voice barely audible.

The figure carrying him didn't respond. David's head lolled back, his vision fading to black.

When he came to again, he was staring at the sky, the canopy of trees above him swaying gently. A faint humming noise, like the buzzing of insects, filled his ears. David tried to sit up, but his body felt heavy, unresponsive.

The figure lifted him again, and David saw the old cabin in the distance, its wooden walls weathered and worn. The door creaked as they approached, the sound echoing through David's mind like a death knell.

"No...where are you taking me?" David pleaded, his voice faint.

The figure remained silent, its grip tightening around David.

As they stepped into the cabin, David saw the figure's face, and his heart skipped a beat. The man's features were chiseled, rugged, and eerily familiar. The same mark on his forehead, the same symbol that had haunted David's dreams.

David's eyes widened in terror. "Who...who are you?"

The man's gaze locked onto David's, his eyes burning with an otherworldly intensity.

David's vision began to blur, his strength fading. He tried to struggle, but his body felt like lead.

"No...stop," David whispered, his voice barely audible.

The man's grip tightened, his arms wrapping around David like a vice.

David's world went dark, his consciousness slipping into a deep, abyssal sleep.

The last sound he heard was the creaking of the cabin door, the humming noise growing louder, as the man slowly placed him on a mat to rest.

David's dark abyss transformed into a vision, and he found himself standing in the midst of Adia. The atmosphere was serene, with people milling about, unaware of the horror that was to come.

"How's this possible?" David wondered, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm home."

But his confusion was short-lived, as the sky darkened and an eerie, unnatural silence fell over the kingdom. David's skin crawled as screams pierced the air – men, women, and children crying out in terror.

He stumbled towards his castle, his heart racing with foreboding. From the balcony, he witnessed unimaginable carnage: undead soldiers slaughtering everyone, fire engulfing every house, and people begging for mercy.

David's voice trembled. "What happened here while I was away?"

As he turned, he heard his father's voice, weak and pleading. David's eyes widened in horror as he saw his father begging for his life on the floor, a dark figure looming over him.

"Father, no!" David screamed, but his voice was drowned out by the sound of steel slicing through flesh.

The dark figure turned, its eyes locked onto David with an unyielding intention to kill. David's overwhelming fear drove him to flee, hiding in a nearby room.

Footsteps echoed outside, growing louder, and David heard Serena's voice, laced with desperation. "David, David, where are you?"

He flung open the door, embracing her tightly. "Are you okay? What happened while I was gone?"

Serena's response sent chills down David's spine. "Where were you? You told me you wouldn't die."

David's voice shook. "But I'm not dead, Serena. I'm right here."

Serena's gaze was empty, her eyes gone, replaced by dark, hollow sockets. David's scream was trapped in his throat as Serena's voice transformed into a witch-like cackle.

"You lied to me, David. You're dead."

The footsteps stopped outside the room, and David warned Serena, "Please, don't scream. It's coming."

But Serena continued to wail, "Why did you have to die, David? I don't know what you mean. I'm still here."

The dark figure emerged, its presence suffocating. David shouted, "No, not you again!"

The thing grasped Serena's hair, lifting her off the ground. With a swift, merciless motion, it sliced through her neck, separating her head from her body.

Serena's head rolled towards David, her face twisted in agony. Her voice barely audible, she whispered, "The end is near, David. You have no time."

David's horror was absolute as the head came to a stop at his feet, staring up at him with empty sockets.

The dark figure drew closer, its sword raised, ready to strike. David's eyes snapped open, and he shouted, "Noooooh!"

David sat upright, gasping, his heart racing. Tears streamed down his face as he wiped them away, still reeling from the nightmare. The calm fire in the room offered little comfort, and David's mind struggled to shake off the lingering horror.

David's ragged breathing slowed as he struggled to shake off the lingering fear from his nightmare. Suddenly, footsteps echoed outside the cabin, growing louder with each passing moment. David's instincts kicked in, and he frantically searched for his sword or dagger, only to realize they were nowhere to be found.

"Where are all my stuff?" David muttered, panic creeping into his voice.

With no other options, David grasped a broken wooden plank on the floor, its splintered edges jagged and menacing. As the footsteps approached, David's grip on the plank tightened.

The door creaked open, and a towering figure loomed in the entrance. David swung the plank with all his might, aiming for the man's head. The wood shattered upon impact, sending splinters flying everywhere.

The man didn't flinch.

Instead, he grasped David by the neck, lifting him off the ground and slamming him against the cabin wall. David's air was cut off, his vision blurring.

"Stay back!" David choked out, scrambling backward as the man released him.

The man's grip on David's clothes halted his retreat. David's terror-stricken eyes locked onto the man's, expecting death.

But the man's voice, low and soothing, surprised David. "Come down, I'm not your enemy. Calm down."

David's racing heart slowed, his grip on the broken plank relaxing. The man's words, though reassuring, didn't erase David's wariness.

As the man removed his hood, David gasped. The man's face was chiseled, ageless, with piercing blue eyes that glowed like embers. His bald head seemed almost skeletal, contrasting with his robust physique. A dark cloak, resembling a reaper's, billowed around him.

"I heard you scream," the man said, his voice calm. "I came to see what was happening."

David swallowed hard. "I'm okay... just a bad dream."

The man's gaze lingered on David before nodding. "I am Xandros Erebos, Harbinger of Shadows."

David's eyes widened at the elaborate name. "I'm David."

Xandros's gaze never wavered. "David, what haunted your dreams?"

David hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "Just... visions of my kingdom, destroyed. My loved ones, slaughtered."

Xandros's expression turned grave. "I sense darkness gathering around you, David. You are not safe here."

David's grip on the plank tightened, his mind reeling with questions. Who is this Xandros Erebos guy? What does he want with me? And what darkness is he talking about?

David's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with questions. "What do you mean I'm not safe?"

Xandros Erebos's expression turned grave, his blue eyes glowing with an otherworldly intensity. "A great evil has reawakened, threatening the lives of your people."

David's grip on the broken plank tightened. "My dream... it wasn't just a dream, was it? It was a vision of the future."

Xandros's gaze lingered on David before nodding. "Not exactly, but almost true. The threads of fate are complex."

David's voice rose. "What is this great evil you speak of?"

Xandros's voice dropped to a whisper. "You might know him as Vonhelsine, the King of Eresia."

David's eyes widened in horror. "Not him again."

Xandros's gaze never wavered. "I knew he was the one because I see all and know all. I am the guardian of these woods."

David's eyes narrowed. "How did you know I'm in danger?"

Xandros's smile was enigmatic. "I patrol these woods, watching for signs. Your presence was... anticipated."

David's curiosity got the better of him. "What do you want from me, Xandros?"

Xandros's expression turned serious. "What do you want in my woods, Prince David?"

David's eyes widened. "How do you know I'm royalty?"

Xandros gestured to David's sword. "The royal crest tells me all. And, as I said, I see all and know all."

David's voice was laced with determination. "I came seeking Valyndor."

Xandros's eyes sparkled with interest. "Valyndor, the Sword of Legend. What business do you have with it?"

David's gaze locked onto Xandros. "As you can see by my forehead, I was chosen by Eris, the eldest of the Divine siblings, to wield Valyndor."

Xandros's expression transformed from curiosity to surprise. "Now I understand why we share similar marks on our heads. Eris told me a young man would come, bearing a mark like mine. I am to guide you through the mountain to Valyndor and train you to overcome all obstacles."

David's eyes narrowed. "Train me?"

Xandros nodded. "Yes. The mark on your head led me to you weeks ago, when I patrolled the forest. The light shone brighter than anything I've ever seen."

David's voice rose. "What did you just say? How long was I asleep?"

Xandros's expression turned somber. "A week or two. The mountain tried to scare you away with illusions and voices, but your mark prevented it from driving you mad. However, it drained your energy, leaving you unconscious for so long."

David's gaze locked onto Xandros's forehead. "What does that mark on your head mean?"

Xandros's smile was enigmatic. "I have been assigned to guide you through your journey and teach you magic."

David's eyes widened. "Magic?"

Xandros nodded. "Yes. You have much to learn, Prince David."

David's voice was laced with gratitude. "Why did you help me in the forest?"

Xandros's expression turned serious.

"Because I knew you were the one I'd been waiting for. If I'd left you there, wild animals would have eaten you. Don't make the mistake of thinking you're safe, Prince David. If not for your royal status and the mark on your forehead, I would have disposed of you long ago. Be grateful you live to see another day."

David's eyes locked onto Xandros, his mind reeling with questions and doubts. But one thing was certain: his journey continues, and Xandros Erebos would be his guide.