Jayce followed the hand drawn map made by Cyril the alchemist, tracing the river Tyne upstream into the Demon darklands.
He avoided the main road that led to Bardune, the nearest demon city, and instead took a right turn into a narrow path that was barely visible among the trees. He reached a small village called Agnimon, where he saw a few huts and a well. He did not see any signs of life, but he felt a sinister presence lurking in the shadows. He quickened his pace and found a path that led directly to the cave.
He entered the cave, holding his breath. He recited a chant that made him invisible, hoping to evade the blind ice wraith that guarded the first chamber. He heard its hissing and felt its cold breath, but he managed to sneak past it without alerting it.
He reached the second chamber, where he saw several skeletons clad in armor and wielding iron swords. They were the tomb walkers, the undead servants of the half-demon alchemist. As soon as he stepped into the chamber, they detected his presence and attacked him with ferocity. He dropped his invisibility and drew his own sword, ready to fight. He was easily able to defeat them, as they were slow and clumsy. He slashed and stabbed them, breaking their bones and sending them to the ground. He looted their bodies and found a key among their belongings. He wondered what it was for.
He proceeded to the third chamber, where he expected to find the golden chalice. He tried to open the door, but it was locked. He used the key he found and heard a click. He pushed the door open and entered the room. He saw a pedestal with a golden chalice on it, shining in the dim light. He felt a surge of excitement and ran towards it. He grabbed the chalice and lifted it up, admiring its beauty and craftsmanship. He had found it, the legendary artifact that could cure his father. He smiled and thanked the gods for his luck.
But his luck was short-lived. As soon as he took the chalice, he triggered a trap that caused rocks to fall from the ceiling. He heard a loud rumble and saw the cave collapsing. He cursed and ran towards the exit, hoping to escape. He lightened his body with a spell and increased his speed. He dodged the falling rocks and debris, barely avoiding being crushed. He made it to the entrance before it completely fell. He breathed a sigh of relief and looked at the chalice in his hand. He had done it. He had completed the quest. He hoped it was worth it.
Jayce exited the collapsed forgotten cave with the golden chalice. He opened a small black void and placed the chalice inside his interdimensional storage. He felt a wave of relief wash over him. He had succeeded in his quest. He turned around and prepared to fly back to the log cabin on the other side of the border, where his father was waiting for him.
But as he did, he suddenly felt the sinister presence all around him again. He sensed a danger lurking in the shadows. He recited a chant that unleashed lightning in all directions, hoping to reveal his enemies. He saw six flashes of light as his lightning made contact with six demons who were hiding in the trees. They were now visible, and they looked angry and surprised. Two of them lay on the ground, stunned by the unexpected lightning. The other four glared at him with red eyes and bared fangs.
"Who are you?" Jayce asked, holding his sword in his hand. "What do you want?"
"We are the guardians of this land," one of the demons said, his voice raspy and harsh. "We do not tolerate intruders. You have trespassed on our territory and stolen our treasure. You must return the golden chalice or face our wrath."
Jayce shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I can't do that," he said. "The golden chalice is the only thing that can save my father's life. He is dying of a rare disease, and no other cure can help him. I have to take it to him. Please, let me go. I don't want to fight you."
The demons snarled. "Humans only understand force," another demon said. "You have no right to take what is ours. You have no respect for our culture and history. You have no compassion for our people. You are selfish and greedy. You must pay for your crimes."
Jayce sighed. He knew that reasoning with them was futile. They had different values and beliefs. They saw him as an enemy and a thief. He had no choice but to defend himself. He looked at them with determination and said, "I'm sorry, but I won't give up the golden chalice. It is the only hope for my family. If I have to choose between your lives and theirs, I will choose theirs. And if you try to stop me, I will kill you."
The demons exchanged glances. They saw the resolve in his eyes. They felt the power in his voice. They realized that he was not an ordinary human. He was a healer, a rare and powerful gift. He was also a fighter, a skilled and brave warrior. He was strong, and he was honest. They respected that.
They nodded and backed away. They said, "Very well, human. We will let you go. But do not come back here again. This is our land, and we will protect it. Go, and take your chalice with you. But remember, you have made enemies today. And we will not forget."
Jayce nodded and thanked them. He did not waste any time. He recited a chant and flew away as quickly as he could. He hoped that he had made the right decision. He hoped that the golden chalice would work. He hoped that his father would live.