Chapter 7: The Warrior Hidden in Darkness: The Elder's Swordsmanship
In the previous chapter, you read that Draxon and his companions reached the mysterious elder's house and waited patiently in silence,
The elder's house was hidden deep beneath the ground, where there was a secret mysterious staircase to reach,
Meanwhile, two dangerous soldiers of DarkZael secretly reached that hidden staircase. Draxon and his companions were unaware of this deadly threat.
These were the same two men who had previously attacked Draxon.
Now ahead...
DarkZael's men enter the elder's house.
In the silent quietness of the dark room, DarkZael's two soldiers were standing, their eyes searching for some danger, thinking how to enter this hidden house.
The first soldier whispered: "Come on, let's go down the stairs and find out what is hidden below."
As soon as they stepped down the last stair, a shiver-like wind touched their cheeks.
Dim light was flickering all around, and in front, ancient maps were engraved on a huge stone wall, telling the story of some hidden history.
Surprise was reflected in the voice of the second soldier:
"Just look at this! Who could have thought that beneath this broken roof such a magnificent secret would be hidden!"
First soldier (in a serious tone):
"Absolutely right, they must be hiding somewhere here. We must proceed very carefully."
Second man (fearfully but gathering courage):
"If they are hiding somewhere here, then we must watch every step carefully."
[Both draw their swords and move towards the door on tiptoe, eyes scanning all around.]
First man (cunningly and greedily):
"The door is already open... seems like luck is with us. Today the chief will reward us!"
[Both silently enter the house and quietly move towards the room where Draxon and the others are hiding.]
First man (peeking through the window, startled):
"Look there! Draxon and his people are right here! And that old man too... who refused to tell us anything in Azamgarh."
Second man (with excitement and confidence):
"Absolutely! Today they won't be able to escape. We will present them straight to the chief."
First man (with arrogance and impatience):
"Why don't we attack directly? They don't even have weapons!"
The Plan Begins
Second man (with seriousness and wisdom):
"No! Never underestimate anyone. Even an ant can bring down an elephant. And Draxon... he is the last heir of the empire. Any mistake could cost us heavily."
First man (a little nervous but eager to know):
"Then tell me now, what have you thought? What will we do?"
Second man (calm but thinking cunningly):
"We will make the sound of a cat. As soon as Draxon or Kevin comes out to see, we will immediately catch him."
First man (a little confused):
"But we have to catch all of them, right? What's the use of catching just one?"
Second man (angrily but explaining):
"Don't be a fool! As soon as one comes out, we will immediately rush inside. We will draw our swords and the rest will surrender out of fear."
First man (with surprise and joy):
"Now I understand! This is a very clever trick."
---
Execution of the Plan
[The first man slowly and loudly makes the sound of a cat, as if there really is a cat.]
Draxon (softly and attentively):
"Kevin, go outside and see, maybe there's a hungry cat. I have some milk, give it to her."
[Kevin comes out and carefully looks around.]
Kevin (surprised and thinking a little):
"I don't see any cat here..."
[Suddenly both men jump out from hiding and draw their swords, placing them at Kevin's neck.]
First man (angrily):
"Don't even think that you can escape!"
[They grab Kevin tightly and drag him inside the room.]
---
The Danger Increases
First man (in a low, rough voice, with a slight laugh):
"Draxon... do you still not recognize us...? Time has changed... but our enmity hasn't..."
Draxon (in a sharp and firm tone, hiding his worry):
"How did you reach here? Let Kevin go... or you will regret it!"
Second man (in a bitter tone):
"If that old man had told the truth, we wouldn't have to do all this, now he too will come with us!"
Draxon (in a serious and firm voice):
"Let Kevin go!"
First man (boasting, with a slight smile):
"Draxon, the fear is clearly visible in your eyes. If you want to save your friend's life, act wisely... and quietly come with us."
Draxon (silent, lowering his gaze, heavy-hearted):
"Alright... we accept what you say. But remember—Kevin should not get even a scratch. We will go with you."
The Mysterious Elder Takes Action
[Meanwhile, a frightened servant comes running to the elder's room. Fear is clearly visible on his face. His breath is heavy, his voice trembling.]
Servant (with panic and fear):
"Master! Two men of DarkZael have entered the house... they have attacked Draxon and his companions!"
[Hearing this, a spark appears in the mysterious elder's eyes. His face becomes serious. He slowly rises, as if an Old Warrior has awakened again. Silence spreads in the room.]
[Then he quickly looks towards the servant.]
Mysterious Elder (in a firm tone):
"Bring me my sword... the same old sword that I had vowed to put away. Today, I will have to pick it up again."
[The air in the room becomes heavy. In the elder's words, the zeal of years past returns.]
Mysterious Elder (squinting eyes, with confidence):
"At any cost, we need the heir of the Empire alive. I will not let the last hope of Azamgarh fade before my eyes. Come... do not delay!"
Servant (in a panicked voice, gasping):
"They have caught Kevin... placed a sword at his neck! If there is delay, his life may be lost!"
[Hearing this, anger sparkles in the mysterious elder's eyes. His face becomes stone-like stern. In his walk, the glimpse of the old warrior appears.]
Mysterious Elder (in a firm tone, slowly but determinedly):
"They must surely be hiding inside the room. One of them will be keeping watch... we will strike from behind, so that they don't get a chance to react."
---
The Mysterious Elder's Swordsmanship and the Defeat of DarkZael's Men
[The mysterious elder drew out his old sword. He moved towards the room with slow steps but with confidence. The sword was gleaming in his hand.]
[The elder suddenly attacked from behind — snatched the weapon of one attacker, who shouted in surprise. At the same moment, Kevin stepped back and was saved.]
Draxon (with surprise and relief):
"Kevin!"
[The second attacker attacked the elder, but the mysterious elder easily blocked the strike with his sword. The swords clashed, sparks flew. The attacker's hand trembled, but the sword was still in his grip.]
Mysterious Elder (with a slight smile):
"Did you think I was just an old man?"
[The enemies were astonished by his speed. Every strike of the elder was precise, giving them no chance to counterattack.]
[The first attacker lunged, but the elder stepped back and struck with lightning speed—
"Shrrrr!"
His sword broke and fell to the ground.]
[The second had not even realized when the elder's sword was at his neck.]
Mysterious Elder (in a low voice):
"Don't make a mistake... the next strike will be direct."
[Draxon and his companions were stunned. They were looking at that elder with amazement, whose Swordsmanship had defeated both enemies in the blink of an eye.
There were questions in their eyes —
"Who exactly is this elder? How does he have such power?"
Silence filled the room.]
The Elder's Warning
Mysterious Elder (in a calm but warning tone):
"Did you really think that you could enter my house and take away the last heir of the Azamgarh empire… and I would not stop you?"
[Both attackers lower their eyes. Their breaths were heavy. Sweat glistened on their foreheads.]
First man (with fear and regret, in a low voice):
"We did not know that someone like this was here... this was our biggest mistake."
[The elder took two steps towards them. The sword was still in his hand, but its tip now touched the ground. There was no hatred in his eyes, but a warning glow.]
Mysterious Elder (voice firm but controlled):
"The dream that DarkZael is seeing will never come true. His dream of ruling the world will end here. It is better he gives up his desire to rule the world."
[Then he turned and called his servant.]
Mysterious Elder:
"Lock both of them in the back room. Now they will learn the right lesson."
[The servant immediately left and ran to call another elderly servant, so that both prisoners could be taken away.
The mysterious silence returned to the room — but now every face wanted answers.]
[Draxon was shocked when he saw the elder standing before him. He was none other than Old Kaifon.
Draxon's eyes widened. His breath became heavy. 'N…No! This cannot be true!
I saw with my own eyes...'
But on the face of the standing Old Kaifon, there was a slight smile, as if he had been waiting for this moment.
In his eyes floated the shadows of countless unfinished tales."]
--
:- Is he really Old Kaifon?
:- What Draxon saw that day... was it an illusion? Or a big deception?
:- Why was he hiding his true identity? And what is the truth of ShadowRix...?
Find out in 'Chapter 8' — where the truth will be revealed, a truth that changed the fate of the entire Azamgarh empire!
To be Continued…