Chapter 15:Flashback Part 2
As Xander, Lillia, and Sophie left the old sage's house, the sage approached them and introduced himself as Rigard Strova, a renowned swordsman and warrior.
"I couldn't help but overhear your conversation, young ones," Rigard said. "I sensed a great power within you, especially in you, Xander. I have a proposition for you."
"What is it?" Xander asked, intrigued.
"I challenge you to a duel," Rigard replied. "If you defeat me, I will give you my blessing and any advice you may need for your journey. But if I defeat you, you must promise me to continue training and honing your skills until you become a true warrior."
Xander nodded, accepting the challenge. Lillia and Sophie stood back and watched as Xander drew his sword, ready to face the old sage.
The two warriors circled each other, their swords glinting in the sunlight. Rigard was fast and agile, despite his age, and he easily parried Xander's first few strikes. But Xander was determined to prove himself, and he continued to attack with all his might.
The sound of metal clashing against metal echoed through the forest as the two swordsmen fought. Xander's youth and strength proved to be a formidable match against Rigard's years of experience and expertise.
As the duel continued, Lillia and Sophie watched in awe as the two warriors battled it out. It was clear that both Xander and Rigard were skilled fighters, but who would emerge victorious?
After several minutes of intense swordplay, Xander finally managed to land a blow on Rigard's arm, causing him to drop his sword. The old sage smiled and congratulated Xander on his victory.
"You are a true warrior, Xander," Rigard said, extending his hand. "You have my blessing, and I am certain that you will succeed in your quest."
Xander shook Rigard's hand, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment. Lillia and Sophie both hugged him, happy that he had emerged victorious.
"Thank you for the duel, Rigard," Xander said. "Your advice and blessing mean a lot to me."
"It was my pleasure," Rigard replied. "Now go, young ones, and continue on your journey. You have much ahead of you."
As Xander, Lillia, and Sophie left the old sage's house and continued their journey to the kingdom of the east, Xander couldn't shake the feeling that he had seen a figure of Amara in the distance. But before he could investigate further, the figure had vanished, leaving him wondering if it was just his imagination.
A while later----
After bidding farewell to Rigard Strova, Xander, Lillia, and Sophie continued their journey to the east kingdom of Frata. Along the way, they encountered two demons named Zara and Mephisto. The two demons were known for their mischievous nature, but they seemed to be friendly towards Xander and his companions.
As they walked through the dense forest, Zara, the female demon, approached them with a wide grin on her face. "Well, well, well, what do we have here?" she said, eyeing the group. "You look like you're lost."
Xander glared at her, "We're not lost. We know where we're headed."
Zara chuckled, "I bet you do. But do you know the way to the underworld?"
Lillia looked at her in surprise, "How did you know that we're looking for the entrance to the underworld?"
Mephisto, the male demon, spoke up, "We demons have our ways of knowing things. And we also know that you can't find the entrance to the underworld on your own."
Sophie looked at him skeptically, "Why would you help us?"
Mephisto shrugged, "We're not entirely evil, you know. And besides, we like a good challenge."
Xander raised an eyebrow, "What kind of challenge?"
Zara smiled wickedly, "We'll lead you to the entrance of the underworld. But in return, you have to defeat us in a battle."
Xander narrowed his eyes, "What's the catch?"
Mephisto chuckled, "No catch. Just a simple fight between us and you. If you win, we'll show you the way. If you lose, well, let's just say you'll have to find the entrance on your own."
Xander looked at Lillia and Sophie, and they nodded in agreement. "Alright, we accept your challenge."
Zara clapped her hands excitedly, "Excellent! Follow us, and we'll take you to our battleground."
They followed the two demons through the forest, which led to a clearing where Zara and Mephisto had prepared a makeshift arena. The battleground was surrounded by trees and tall grass, providing enough space for them to fight.
Zara and Mephisto took their positions on the other side of the arena, and Xander, Lillia, and Sophie stood ready on their side. The battle was intense, and both sides fought fiercely. Xander used his Excalibur, Lillia used her archery skills, and Sophie used her magic to ward off the demons.
After what seemed like hours of fighting, Xander managed to strike the final blow, and Zara and Mephisto fell to the ground defeated. Xander walked towards them and offered them a hand.
"We won," he said. "Now show us the entrance to the underworld."
Zara and Mephisto got up and dusted themselves off. "Very well," Zara said. "But first, we need to warn you. The underworld is a dangerous place. It's crawling with all sorts of creatures, and you'll need all the help you can get."
Mephisto nodded in agreement, "We'll take you to the entrance, but after that, you're on your own."
Xander thanked them and the group continued their journey with the two demons leading the way. As they walked, Xander couldn't shake off the feeling that someone was watching them. He looked around but saw nothing out of the ordinary.
Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of a figure in the distance. It was Amara. again and now Xander was sure of it. But before he could react, the figure suddenly vanish.
See you at chapter 16