David groggily opened his eyes to find Xandros standing over him, staff in hand, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes.
"Wake up, David," Xandros said firmly, his voice like a gentle earthquake. "Time to rise and shine, young prince."
David rubbed his eyes, still half asleep, and muttered, "Five more minutes, please? Just five more minutes of beauty sleep."
Xandros chuckled, his patience wearing thin. "We can't afford to waste any more time, young prince. We need to reach the mountain's peak today. And by 'peak,' I mean the actual peak, not the 'I think I'm at the peak but I'm actually lost' peak."
David sat up, still disoriented, and protested, "But it's still dark outside. Can't we just sleep in and watch the sunrise from the comfort of our beds?"
Xandros sighed, his eyes narrowing. "David, we must go now. Pack your things and let's move. We don't want to be late for our appointment with destiny...or the mountain goats."
As David packed, he muttered under his breath, "Who does he think he is? Ordering me around like some kind of servant...or a particularly slow pack mule."
Xandros turned to David, a raised eyebrow and a hint of a smile. "What was that, David? Did you say something about the merits of servant leadership?"
David quickly covered, his voice innocent. "Nothing, absolutely nothing. Just admiring your...erm...staff."
The two of them set off towards the mountain's peak, the sun rising as they approached the summit, casting its golden light upon them. The peak was a majestic sight to behold, with a sprawling landscape of rugged rocks, sparkling ice, and wispy clouds that seemed to dance in the gentle breeze.
As they reached the top, David's eyes widened in confusion. "Wait, where's the sword?" he asked, his voice laced with disappointment.
Xandros's expression turned puzzled. "I don't know myself. Maybe it's hiding from us."
David's face contorted in anger. "Don't tell me I made my way up here for nothing! I'm starting to think I should just become a professional mountain climber instead."
David collapsed to the floor, his disappointment and frustration evident. Xandros moved to comfort him, his voice gentle. "All is not lost, young prince. Just think, it will come to you. Or maybe it's just playing hide-and-seek with us."
David slowly got to his feet, his determination renewed. "I know what to do," he said, his eyes sparkling with resolve.
Xandros's face lit up with encouragement. "That's it! Now lead the way, young prince. And try not to get lost...again."
David closed his eyes, focusing his thoughts. The mark on his head glowed, and a giant door materialized in front of him. The door creaked ominously, its hinges screeching in protest.
"Porta aperire clavis mentis!" David exclaimed, his hand glowing with a soft blue light.
The spell emitted a brilliant flash of light that illuminated the door. The air seemed to vibrate with energy, and the whispers grew louder. The door creaked open, revealing a swirling vortex that seemed to lead to another dimension.
Xandros's voice cut through the silence. "Don't be scared, David. It's just the entrance to the place where Valyndor waits for you. And by 'waits for you,' I mean 'will probably try to kill you.'"
David's determination returned, his face set with resolve. "Okay, I'm going in," he said, his voice firm.
Xandros shouted, his voice echoing across the mountain peak. "Wait!"
David turned to him, his eyes questioning. "Wait for what?"
Xandros moved closer, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Before you go, how about we have a duel to see how strong you have gotten? I promise not to hold back...too much."
David's eyes lit up with excitement. "Okay, I'm up for it!" he said, grinning. "I thought you'd never ask. Let's see who's the real master of sword and magic around here."
The two warriors took their positions, their eyes locked in a fierce stare. The air seemed to vibrate with tension as they prepared for an epic battle.
"Let's do this," David said, his voice low and deadly.
Xandros smiled, his eyes glinting with challenge. "Let's indeed."