And with that, he charged at me, sword drawn.
I gulped, my heart raced with fear. But then I remembered something he had told me earlier.
"Trust your instincts, Richard. They will guide you."
I took a deep breath and focused my mind. And then, without thinking, I reacted.
My sword flashed in the light, deflecting the man's blow with a loud clang.
I stumbled back, my heart pounding with excitement. "Whoa, did I just...?"
Nicholas grinned "Yes, Richard. You did. You're a natural."
I was filled with pride and excitement.
Maybe, just maybe, I was going to make it through this after all, I felt invincible like a knight cause of the blow I was able to dodge.
All that being said in my mind,with a big smirk on my face,I received a punch and fell to the ground like a bag of potatoes.
Nicholas laughed,lending me a hand up.
"Over confidence is a warriors greatest enemy,a fighters greatest strength is not their skill but their ability to remain humble,do not let your ego get in the way of your Technique,get up!"
"Atleast I almost had you the first time"
I said with little excitement on my face,but he replied"A true warrior remains humble in victory and gracious in defeat."
Back in the kingdom of Norrich
Helen the queen,sat upon her throne, after she had just attacked Richards town in search of the journal,her eyes fixed on the map of the land before her. Her kingdom, Norrich was in chaos, and she knew the source of the trouble: the prophecy of the Dragon's Tooth. The legendary artifact was said to have the power to bring peace to the land if only it is with the right bearer, but Helen had her "truth." The Dragon's Tooth was a weapon, and she would stop at nothing to claim it.
As she thought about her next move, a dark figure appeared before her. "Your Majesty," the figure said with a low voice. "I have information about the journal."
The queen narrowed her eye. "Speak."
The figure stepped forward, revealing a hooded face. "He bears the name Richard, the young man who possesses the journal, is hiding,he's being trained,I see him in a temple" she said waving her fingers over an old mystic wooden bowl of water,. But he is not alone. A stranger, a powerful warrior,stands with him."
Helen's eyes flashed with anger. "Nicholas ," she spat angrily as she stood up with a moulded fist. "I should have known he was involved."
The hooded figure bowed. "I thought you would want to know, Your Majesty. But there is one more thing. Nicholas Worral was once a senior Knight of your father's court and a very powerful magic warlock. He was trusted and loyal, but he fled with the Dragon's Tooth and the journal, betraying your father's trust."
"I know that Bastard" Helen said with low voice filled with pain and anger.
Helen's mind raced with memories. She had once loved Nicholas Worral, but he had betrayed her. He had refused to give her the Dragon's Tooth, and she had vowed to never forgive him.
But there was more to the story. Nicholas Worral had been in love with Helen, but he had made a promise to Richard's grandfather, a promise to protect the Dragon's Tooth and the journal at all costs. He had kept that promise, fleeing with the artifacts and leaving Helen heartbroken.
Now, he was an enemy of the queen, and Helen would stop at nothing to destroy him. She would take the journal to find the sword, and she would use its power to make the world bow to her feet.
On a strategy table in the palace the with Queen Helen's elders and kins men,she called for a meeting.
With a wave of her hand, "We ride at dawn," she commanded. "We will take the journal, and we will bring Nicholas Worral to justice."
Her kins men murmured and whispered his name to each other in fear,they knew how powerful he was and what he could do to them if they try to attack him,so one of her most trusted and skilled knights,Sir Marcus Kane spoke up" but my queen, we've all heard of the destruction this man in question can cause, and you send mere men with Steel to face a wizard? That's impossible!", everyone murmured in agreement with sir Marcus. Just a thought my queen" he added
"Are you trying to challenge me? You all are trained and equipped he is only one man!
I can send a whole legion with you if you wish since you seem scared of him!".
As Marcus was about to reply the queen with uncertainty of a successful mission the dark figure which is the queens witch echoed from behind "have this"!
She pulled out a tiny bottle of mysterious black paste giving it to Sir Marcus.
"We need to capture a wizard,not give him drugs!" Marcus said.
The witch answered him with a creepy smile,"this isn't just a potion,use this on your arrows before you shoot and watch him fall.
He took it from her, looking towards her and the queen with suspicion on his face, before the queen told him "you shall March with your men at sunset,you can leave now".
"Your majesty" Marcus bowed and left,he was leaving to prepare his men for the attack.
But Marcus didn't want to kill the wizard as he deeply felt the dragon's tooth would be safer anywhere away from his wicked queen.He has no option than to follow orders,if not she would have his head on a plate.
The sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the temple grounds. Nicholas and Richard in the middle, training as they normally do,he said in laughter"get up Richard,you can't save the world by laying on the floor like a toddler". Suddenly there was a noise coming from all sides of the temple.They were sounds of horses,steel and marching soldiers.
"Richard wait!,do you hear...."with that being said he pulled out his sword, an arrow was coming towards his direction, which he effortlessly split in half and was trying to find who was watching them.
"Who is there!",he said
Sir Marcus voice rang out, his voice carried by the wind. "You are surrounded! Surrender now to the queen of Norrich or suffer the consequences.
Nicholas had a stance ready for battle, his hand on the hilt of his sword. "Why don't you come and take me!, your queen must be a fool to send you here but it seems you all are more foolish".
With a fierce roar, the knights charged, their swords flashing in the fading light. Nicholas and Richard stood firm, their blades clashing with the attackers.The sound of steel on steel echoed through the temple grounds, the scent of blood and sweat hanging heavy in the air.
Marcus, the queen's most trusted knight, led the charge. His sword sliced through the air, aimed straight for Nicholas's heart. But the wizard was no pushover. With a swift move, he sidestepped the blow and countered with a blast of magic. Marcus stumbled back, his armor scorched and blackened.
The battle raged on, the two sides exchanging blows and spells. Richard fought ferociously, his sword slicing through the enemy ranks. But he was no match for the sheer number of knights. Just as he fell to the ground, a victim of the queen's treachery, Nicholas was struck by the poisoned arrow.
The wizard stumbled, his eyes wide with shock. He tried to speak, but his voice was barely a whisper. "Richard...run..."
With a final glance at his friend, Nicholas fell into the nearby river, the poison coursing through his veins. Richard, helpless and enraged, was dragged away by the queen's knights.
Marcus, victorious but wounded, stood on the riverbank, his eyes fixed on the spot where Nicholas had fallen.