The two boys stepped into the chamber, where they encountered a familiar face.
"Kai? Don't tell me you're joining us today" Lucenio exclaimed.
"Yes, as I mentioned earlier the captain ordered me to come. I'm here to show you just how
weak you are," replied Kai.
Lucenio grinned, replying, "Watch out when underestimating me. I'll prove myself one day. By
the way, where's Dad?"
"The captain told me to wait here and inform you that he'll meet us later," Kai explained.
As the three conversed, a well-dressed man and an elderly figure interrupted them.
"son, you're already here? Lucenio, how are you, and a the foreign assassin is also here, or
should I call you the sheath of death?" greeted the well-dressed man.
"Hello, Mr. Alaric. You're here too?" Lucenio asked, surprised.
"Dad, what's going on? Why are you here? Weren't you supposed to be away?"
Nolan questioned.
Alaric a tall man about 6ft dark hair black eyes clean shave strong physique at the age of
47 he is the richest man in this village and the whole empire
" Alexander Invited me, claiming something important is happening today. He also invited Edmund," explained Alaric.
“Hello Mr. Edmund” greeted Nolan.
“Hello young master apparently we have a long day ahead of us”
Edmunda master and who taught Nolan how to fight and use
his staff he is an elderly age of 81 employed by Alaric.
Suddenly a powerful aura filled the space. Alexander entered with a powerful presence, draped in a magnificent suit of armor that spoke of countless victories. The gray armor, blending artistry and functionality, featured intricate lion. His ensemble included grand shoulder plates, long leg covers for protection, and a practical leather boot. A billowing cloak displayed his family symbol with pride. In his right hand, Alexander held a formidable
spear,His left hand gripped a helmet designed just for him.
Kai immediately, kneeling and shouting, "At your command!" The two boys followed him, instinctively showing respect to their great captain.
Alexander approached Kai, saying, "Kai I’m not your captain anymore We're more than comrades now.
“You'll always be my captain and liege."
With an understanding nudge as he accepted what kai said He then addressed the boys, "Stand
up, you're not my soldiers."
Nolan, overwhelmed with respect, replied, "I couldn't help but show my full respect and gratitude."
Alaric interjected, "It's always an honor to meet the holder of the gate."
"That was a long time ago. Now, I've grown old and seek a peaceful life," Alexander replied.
Lucenio observed his father's attire, his eyes drawn to the majestic spear.
"Is that the famous spear, Father? It's the second time I've ever seen it," Lucenio remarked.
Alexander replied, "yes, the first time you touched it as a child, you started crying."
"They said the elder made it just for you, and the items to make it were impossible to find and obtain," Lucenio inquired.
"Yes, most of my scars are from the journeys to find those items. The elder blacksmith selected
six individuals at that time, and only two managed to find the required items—just two,"
Alexander explained, a hint of sadness in his voice.
Lucenio exclaimed with excitement, "So I need to prepare for when the elder decides to make me
my own sword!"
Nolan added, "We need to prepare. I'll ask for a special weapon. But what do you think, Captain?
Can we do it?"
Ignoring his son's question, Alexander responded, "Nolan, you will eventually do it, I am pretty
sure."
"Now, thank you all for coming. We'll be heading to a place I have the coordinates for, and I
want Nolan to lead us there."
"Me? Travel with all of you? I'm not sure I can," Nolan hesitated.
"Oh, you will prepare, and I will assist you," declared the old teacher. "It's time to show your
friend and your father the result of our training."
"But it's a big number, and..."
"Start preparing and leave the 'ifs' for me," Edmund interrupted.
While Nolan went to gather his belongings, drawing peculiar shapes on the ground, Lucenio
observed his friend. He glanced at the coordinates again and spoke to Nolan, "these are new. I don't know where they lead."
"We are waiting for a surprise then," Nolan reassured him.
Alaric couldn't help but ask, "What are you planning, Alexander?"
"nothing. You know how much I love to see where our sons are and the result of their
training," Alexander replied casually.
" stop putting your son in dangerous situations. Let him work with me and forget about it; he's a fast learner and can help me in the future. Stop wasting time; we're not getting any younger, you know."
"If my son fails today, he is all yours," Alexander conceded.
Kai, overhearing the conversation, was surprised at how his captain was no longer staunchly
defending his son, as he had in the past. Perhaps age and desperation had indeed taken their toll.
"I am ready," declared Nolan, breaking the contemplative silence.
" Nolan, focused and determined, performed his hand signs. As the drawing emerged, it formed
the same shape as a white compass, large enough to encompass all six individuals. The compass
started turning toward the coordinates: Approximately 40 to 50 degrees East, 35 to 45 degrees
South, 220 to 230 degrees West, and 280 to 290 degrees. The teacher took hold of Nolan as if cradling the
compass, and then, in an instant, it seemed as though they teleported to the destination.
As everyone prepared for the teleportation, Lucenio glanced at his house. He saw his mother
looking out of the window, her face yellow with worry, as if she sensed the impending challenge
awaiting the characters. The teleportation occurred, and everyone landed in a different spot but
close to each other. The teacher held onto Nolan, while Lucenio searched for his father while
they were landing. Attempting to reach him, Alexander unexpectedly pushed Lucenio away,
landing alone on his two legs with such force that it broke the ground beneath him.
Lucenio choked and fell into a valley reacting quickly, he used his dagger to steady himself,
calling for help. Strangely, no one came to his rescue. He began to climb, seeing his father and
Kai waiting for him, and Nolan unconscious nearby. Lucenio wanted to scream, but looking into
his father's eyes, he understood that the test had begun from the moment they teleported. "Lucenio, prepare yourself; the test will happen when Nolan wakes up." Said Alexander.
Lucenio began warming up until he decided to ask about the sword he chose. Approaching
Alexander, who stood with Kai, Lucenio heard them saying.
"Whatever happens, do as I told you, and the kid is the most important," Alexander instructed
Kai, who listened with a concerned expression, accepting his captain's order without hesitation.
Upon noticing his son coming he changed the subject by asking Lucenio "Is Nolan awake?"
before he could ask Alaric called them and saying that Nolan is awake signaling the start of the
test. "Nolan is well and awake. Now, today, I want to test my son to see if he's truly ready for the
life he's aiming for or if he needs to change it," declared Alexander, his words instilling a sense
of apprehension in Lucenio. He dared not say anything after hearing the tone of his father.
"But it's also a test to see how Nolan has developed and if these two can show us some quality
work," added Alexander.
Alaric responded, "Oh, my dear friend, so we are going to have a good time."
"I'm ready, Father. I can go through hell and come back if ordered to," said Lucenio, eager to
prove his worth. "It's time to show you all my hard work and make my father and master proud,"
added Nolan.
"Fine then, Kai, do it," commanded Alexander.
Upon his captain's command, Kai threw a long, sturdy rope towards the two kids, propelling
them into the valley that Lucenio had to climb. "The test cannot start if you do not even survive
this fall," said Alexander, leaving everyone shocked by what just happened.
Except for Alaric, who nonchalantly remarked, "Come on, Nolan, don't get hurt from this small
fall; I won't pay for medical care." Nolan swiftly used his staff to hang onto a small cliff and a
tree branch, while Lucenio kept falling without anything around him to use. then, a long chain caught his leg.
"Use the impact, Lucenio, hurry!"
With astonishing teamwork, Lucenio used the chain, swinging himself while Noland held the
chain to come closer to the mountain side and used his sword to embed it into the wall. He pulled
Nolan down in a fast and intelligent descent. Till they both land.
"We did it!"
"Good thinking using the chain."
"Okay, now the test really begins." While Kai was setting up the area, he discovered a
Fenwinder, a fast creature that could go underground but needed to surface occasionally. The
task assigned to the two of you is to catch it, taking as much time as you need. However, before
they started, Kai threw a sack containing about eight dates and a small flask of water, saying,
"This is the only food and water I'll give you. I didn't want to give you food because I knew you
ate some snacks, but I'll break the rules only this time. Also, if you want more food or water,
search for it.” Explained Alexande.” You can’t leave this area. We made sure this animal
wouldn’t leave, thanks to Kai's ability. Now, Kai, release it!" Alexander added.
After the boys laid eyes on the mysterious white creature, a small, four-legged being with a long
wavy tail, Lucenio impulsively sprinted towards it, driven by the desire to capture it, paying no
heed to Nolan's calls.
"I'll catch this creature, dead or alive!" Lucenio declared. However, as soon as the creature
noticed him, it vanished underground, leaving the boys in a predicament.
"I told you to wait! Why did you rush without thinking? Now we can't find him," scolded Nolan.
Lucenio, regretful, responded, "I wanted to end it fast. Now we need to strategize." The creature
reappeared after a brief hiatus, prompting Lucenio to throw a small rock at it. To their surprise,
the creature showcased remarkable flexibility, dodging the projectile effortlessly.
"Let's throw more, faster. I want to see what he'll do," suggested Nolan. The boys bombarded the
creature with rocks, yet it dodged every shot. "For a big body, he can dodge quite well,"
remarked Nolan.
“Keep on throwing ill combine it with my close-range attack.”
The boys mixed between Lucenio close range attack to catch him and the fast throwing of Nolan
to their surprise the animal dodged each stone and went to strike him with its tail before leaping
over him before vanishing again underground.
Even Nolan used his chain to try to catch it but this time the animal used his claws to hit the
chain and then bit it with his fangs. After a small struggle Nolan pulled his chain back noticing
bite marks on his chain.
"This is one clever creature," exclaimed Lucenio. Looking at the sun nearly going down and
looking at Nolan’s he called “Kai…kai what does this creature eats?” before Kai could answered
him Alexander prohibited by screaming in a strong tone “boy you can’t ask us pretend we are not
here learn to survive on your own this is not our fight”
Undeterred, Lucenio and Nolan continued their pursuit, employing various tactics, including
sand camouflage. Despite their efforts, the creature eluded them effortlessly. As night
approached, they took refuge under a tree to devise a new strategy. They both divided their food
and water so it last for a bit they ate and drank and continued their attacks deciding that they take
turns in attacking so they can reserve their energy and gather more information.
The attacks lasted the whole night till next day till both boys were exhausted.
Lucenio, concerned about their depleting resources, raised the issue of the creature's seemingly
boundless energy. “We rested and we even took turn catching him we are so tired even we ate all
the fruits, and we have one sip for each” “your point?” asked Nolan curiously.
“Like he still didn’t eat anything since yesterday and even did not drink.”
“maybe he eat nutrition underground or he saves some fruits”
“didn’t you see his fangs these fangs are not meant for an herbivore” explained Lucenio
“And I think he drinks underground because when I attacked him yesterday I was close to catch
him I touched his fur and it was kind of wet” added Nolan
“So he either drinks underground or have some kind of reservoirs “questioned Lucenio
the two boys
sat again under the palm tree and started talking.
“So, he can dodge long range attacks and short attacks and short-range attacks he can either
dodge it or even attack to escape.” Started Nolan
“He is so flexible have a strong tail sharp claw and fangs.” Added Lucenio
“He can either drinks water underground, or he saves it in his body like a camel.”
“Also, he needs oxygen to breathe because what makes him go to the surface where he is hunted
its safer for him to stay underground” “but also something is worrying me, Nolan.”
“What is it?”
“What if he will attack us? if he is scared or cornered, he will attack viciously
and being cornered is being hungry and we the hunters becomes the prey.”
“We need to think about a good plan to catch him before it’s too late.”
"Darken Key" is a novel that delves into the fight against mystery and the unveiling of dark secrets within its vast world.
Join its characters on a compelling journey through life, where they choose their paths, whether righteous or not.
Prepare to witness history unfold and mysteries unravel as you immerse yourself in this captivating tale. Adventure and fantasy fans will find themselves drawn to the powerful forces, stirring emotions, and legendary conflicts wars and Legendary battles that shape the very fabric of existence.
We await you to start this unforgettable journey through the vast and big world. The experience promises to be one you'll remember for a lifetime.
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