MLTE- Part 8

This is the eighth and final Part of "Miracula Luxia: The Exiled".
It was released on 18.11.2023.
== Plot ==
Six months after the defeat and imprisonment of the vile mafia boss known as Damien Grayson, society starts to reform itself. Despite the fact that the mafia forces managed to destroy numerous territories in their vengeful wake, the noble people of the world managed to send them back into the dark underworld where they belong. Heads always held high, they were able to forget their differences and fight back against a common enemy, just like they did decades ago.
Meanwhile, Will and his allies decided to relocate in Rainbow Keep- the sacred sanctuary of Alwyn's mother- for the time being. And yet, despite the fact that they swore not to stay for long, they soon turned it into a safe haven for all of those who wished to escape the destruction and despair in the world all around them.
Perhaps there is still hope for the future, after all.
== Story ==
Will and Geralt stare at each other, barely believing that Rainbow Keep- a radiant, beautiful place- is now their sanctuary against the forces of darkness. This means one thing for certain- they will no longer be on the run. At least until the next group of mischievous villains shows up.
"In all my years of fighting and carrying on, I have never seen such a place of light."- Geralt says and turns to his son- "If your parents were here, they would have loved this place as much as we do."
Will nods.
"This is what our parents truly wanted- a land of harmony and hope, far away from the chaos of the world."- He says- "They might not be here to witness this, but the fragments of their souls are carried by us. We are the ones who finished what they started."
Aurelia grins.
"And that's why we should be proud of what we accomplished this week!"- She exclaims- "Come on, family! Let's party!"
Geralt rolls his eyes.
"Sure, honey."- He says- "If you say so."
As the group settles in the glorious Rainbow Keep and basks in its infinitae gloriae, Will and his friends next to each other, enjoying a brief respite from the chaos that recently unfolded before their eyes.
"I have to admit, Will. When I met you, I thought that you were going to defile nature, just like everybody else."- Aya admits- "But, from what I saw out there, I realized that you're far more than just another disrespectful youth. The way nature resonated with your power when you fought to keep it alive... perhaps you truly are something special."
Will smiles.
"So."- He says- "Does this mean that we are friends now?"
Aya grins.
"Are you kidding? Of course we are!"- She exclaims- "Destiny decided to meet us. And I'm really glad that she did."
To signify their strong friendship, Will and Aya gently press their foreheads against each other, in a way that shows that their minds will always remember. Then, they stare at each other for a few moments, smile, and look away.
"You know."- Alwyn admits- "She might be obsessed with nature, in an unhealthy way, but I think that I'm falling for her."
Will smiles.
"Really? You are falling for a girl?"- He says and chuckles- "Gosh, Al. You're such a simp."
Will's sarcastic behavior prompts Arnaud to chuckle along with him, making Alwyn feel slightly embarassed for admitting his thoughts out loud.
"Stop it!"- Alwyn exclaims- "This isn't a joke! I'm serious!"
Hearing about Alwyn's interests, Aya leans close to him and smiles.
"You know. If you're gonna come clear, I'll do the same."- She says- "Alwyn Grayson, I think that you're pretty cute. Perhaps I'm falling for you, too."
Choked by his inability to respond properly, Alwyn simply leans forward and hugs her.
"Yep."- She says and rests her head on his shoulder- "That's exactly what I'm talking about, hero boy."
Will raises his eyebrow.
"Well, this was... unexpected."- He says to himself- "What is next? A kiss? Ew. I hope not."
As if hearing Will's words, Aya smiles at Alwyn and kisses him on the cheek.
"Ugh."- Will says to himself- "Why did I even mention it?"
Arnaud grins.
"You two look great!"- He says and pulls out a camera- "Stand still so I can turn this into an everlasting memory!"
Before either of them can react, Arnaud takes a picture of them, making sure that everyone remembers that Alwyn and Aya love each other. Angered, they chase him around the tower, leaving Will alone at the bottom.
Geralt soon joins his nephew. He looks at the tower around him and smiles, seemingly satisfied with what he sees in front of him.
"I think that this place is perfect."- He says- "An untrained person may not feel it, but there are magical wards protecting this land from evil and all of its disciples. It is truly invigorating that those vengeful fools will never win."
Then, he looks at his nephew.
"Can you feel it, my boy? The magic in the air?"- He asks him- "Do you see the hope and joy all around you?"
Will looks around, doing his best to see the things that his uncle is talking about.
"Well. I think that I do."- He says- "I mean, hope and joy are quite obvious. Even those who have not studied magic like us can realize that the people of this place are happy and safe. As for the magical protection, it is clear that it will last for a long time."
Geralt smiles.
"Very perceptive. And, if I may say so myself, astute of you."- He says- "Perhaps your mama chose well when she decided to bring you to me."
Then, he briefly thinks about what he just said.
"Or rather, I was the one who was brought to you."- He adds- "You are the true hero here, little buddy. I was just here to help you succeed."
Will nods.
"You always mentioned Mom in such a good light."- He says- "Was she really that great?"
Geralt sighs.
"She was, indeed, a great woman. Perhaps too young for her job, but very effective nonetheless."- He says- "When she became pregnant with you and Quinn, I yelled at her and your father for bringing more children to this world. I was annoyed, angry, even a little paranoid. And you know what? I deeply regret what I said back then. If I was truly a good brother, I would have supported their decision from the start, no matter how reckless it was."
Will stares at his uncle, as if he wants to know more about who he is.
"Back then, did you think about abandoning us?"
Geralt shakes his head.
"Not even for a second."- He says, completely honestly- "I risked everything that I've ever had in life to see you grow. I shed blood, sweat and tears to help you become the person that your secluded brother will never be. For many years, I worked myself to the point of total collapse. Defeated villains that were far stronger than me. Trained heroes to protect the world from another calamity. And I did it all for you, little Will. You are the reason why your uncle has not decided to retire yet. And, likely, never will."
Hearing his uncle's words, Will cannot help but feel awed by the person that he is. People like him are very rare and it is really lucky for the boy to be a part of his family. Tears run down his face as he hugs him and smiles.
"I love you, uncle."- He says- "And, no matter what happens next, I always will."
Geralt hugs him back.
"Nobody will ever understand how special you really are. Your light is always so brilliant, so pure."- He says- "To me, you are a little angel. And angels like you deserve to be loved."
As uncle and nephew continue to hug, Aurelia approaches them. She seems to be worried about something, but decided not to interrupt them.
"I always thought that my sister's children would be strong and united. But, after seeing what Quinn was capable of, I finally realized how different things were from the false reality that I had imagined."- She says as they stare at her- "The day when Isa brought you to this world, she gave birth to two beings. One was an angel and the other was a demon. Both were loved equally by their family, but the other wasn't content with the way Life treated him. While the little angel held the heart of the hero, the little demon possessed the heart of a villain. And when they never got along with each other, they knew that they were not a part of the same family. They shared the same blood, but not the same ideals. The same ways to deal with the world around them. While the little angel found solace inside of the friends that he made along the way, the demon's only source of solace were his dusty, rusty books. One of them valued kindness and compassion, the other- solitude and inner rage. They might have been the same pieces of the puzzle, but not the same pieces of the cloth.
Will nods.
"And the moral of the story is- making amends with those who are not like you is difficult, but every stone heart can be broken open."
Aurelia smiles.
"Wise words from a little angel."- She says- "That's why the world loves you more. And you, little nephew, are our world." 
As the three of them embrace each other, Aurelia remembers what she came for.
"Oh, right! I almost forgot"- She exclaims- "A few minutes ago, a duo of refugees arrived at the gates of the keep. The girl didn't look familiar at all, but the old man had... something that I recognized. It's almost as if I felt a certain kinship with him. It was so weird!"
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"Are they still there?"
Aurelia nods.
"Yes, they are!"- She responds- "I told them to wait near the tower. It's your decision whether to let them in or not."
Geralt sighs.
"All right."- He says- "I shall deal with them."
Before leaving the tower with will, Geralt gently touches his wife's face. He might be a legendary hero, but he is also a loving family man.
"You know how much I love you, right?"
Aurelia smiles and throws her arms around her husband's neck.
"Yes, dearest."- She says- "You've always been on my mind."
Will watches as his uncle and aunt kiss passionately. Being a person who was hurt by love, he looks away.
Aurelia notices her nephew, attempting to feign ignorance. She approaches him and smiles.
"Be careful out there."- She says and kisses him on the cheek- "I love you, my little muffin."
Will raises his eyebrow.
"Umm."- He says- "Am I that sweet?"
Aurelia grins.
"You're sweeter than all of the sugar in the world!"
Will smiles back.
"I love you too, auntie."
Aurelia watches the two favorite men in her life leave the tower, sending them off with a big wave. She is clearly happy that they are still together and vows to keep it that way, no matter how hard it may be for her in the future.
Meanwhile, Will and Geralt approach the gates of the tower. As promised, the two refugees approach them, seeking shelter from the storm. One of them is an aging man, possibly in his early 50s. He has a small locket-style beard and long, gray hair. For some reason, he looks uncannily similar to Will's uncle- Geralt.
The other person is a girl. Despite the fact that she is relatively young, she possesses the eyes of a hawk. Always wary of her surroundings, but likely sweet on the inside. A sweetheart in a true warrior's skin, she reminds Will of Alwyn- his good friend whom he recently saved from his wicked father and put an end to his mafia's reign of darkness.
Both sides stare at each other for a few minutes. For some reason, they seem to recognize each other, but cannot tell why. An eerie feeling of silence washes over them as the staring continues.
"Are my old eyes deceiving me again?"- The old man says- "Is that you, Geralt?"
Although Geralt was confused, at first, hearing the old man's voice reveals his true identity almost immediately.
"Dad?!"
Thrilled to see each other after so many years, father and son hug in front of the two children. 
"My goodness!"- Geralt exclaims- "I thought that you were gone for good! How is this possible?!"
Adam smiles.
"Miracles happen, my boy."- He says- "They happened to me. And, without a doubt, they happened to you."
Geralt smiles back.
"This is the biggest miracle that I have ever experienced."- He says- "Welcome back, dad!"
Will and the girl continue to stare at each other. It soon becomes clear that she is not Will's long lost sister. Not even his cousin. And yet, he cannot help but feel that she is familiar. Has he seen her before?
"Umm. Excuse me."- She says, desperately trying to cover the holes in her blazer and trying to stay dry- "Have you seen my brother?"
Will shakes his head.
"I am sorry, but you have to be more specific."- He apologizes- "I have seen many heroes in my life."
The girl thinks about it.
"Well, he is tall and handsome. Has dark teal eyes. Always fights for the freedom of the oppressed."- She says- "Does that ring any bells?"
Will nods.
"To be honest, it almost does."- He says- "But first, I want to know something else. What is your surname?"
The girl smiles.
"Oh! You don't know about us?"- She says innocently- "My family's surname is Grayson! Dad used to be the supreme leader of this land. Or, at least, when he was a free man."
Hearing the surname Grayson makes Will extremely surprised. Could this girl truly be who he thinks she is.
"You are a Grayson, too?"- He says- "A very good friend of mine is a Grayson! Perhaps he is related to you?"
The girl raises her eyebrow.
"Maybe I should go in and mention my name to him?"- She asks- "With your permission, of course."
Will nods.
"Well. If it is permission that you want, you have it all."- He says- "Welcome aboard, umm... "
The girl stands next to Will and smiles.
"Anna."- She says- "My name's Anna Grayson."
Then, she leans forward and hugs him, making WIll a feeling of joy that he only experienced when Stella was still alive.
"By the way, Mr. Hero. I think that you're pretty cute."- She says and chuckles, making Will blush slightly- "See ya around!"
As Adam walks alongside Anna, Geralt stands next to his nephew.
"So."- He says- "Who's the new sweetheart?"
Will blushes again.
"Uncle!"- He exclaims- "Anna and I have barely met!"
Geralt smiles.
"Your aunt and I felt the same way when I rescued her from the burning tower."- He says- "Love can find us heroes in strange places, if we dare to look."
Will shakes his head.
"I am ambivalent when it comes to love."- He says- "Anna will be a good friend of mine. Nothing more."
Geralt nods.
"At the end of the day, it is your decision."- He says- "One thing is crystal clear, though- that girl definitely has her eyes on you."
Aurelia approaches the two of them and grins.
"Did I hear it right?"- She says- "Is my little Willy finally getting himself a girlfriend?"
Will stares at her, slightly embarassed.
"Auntie!"
Aurelia smiles.
"Just kidding, sweetie."- She says- "It's just that... all of the girls are so nice to you. I can't help it."
Will rolls his eyes.
"Maybe I should stop thinking about girls whatsoever."
Alwyn and Anna approach the two of them. They seem to be very overjoyed. Perhaps Alwyn is truly related to the girl, after all.
"Can you believe it, Will?"- Alwyn says- "Anna is my sister! She really is!"
Then, he looks at Anna.
"You do know my good pal Will, don't you, sis?"
Anna smiles.
"Of course I do!"- She exclaims and hugs Will- "He's my savior!"
Will looks at her.
"Savior?"- He asks- "But I just let you and grandpa in. I did not do anything special."
Alwyn smiles.
"I think that she's talking about your presence."- He says- "You're a hero, after all."
All of them stare at the sky. It is already dark. It will be a matter of time before the moon- glorious and bright- illuminates the dark sky with its unstoppable radiance.
"It's getting late, kids."- Aurelia says- "I know that you love hanging out with each other, but the sun's going down. The night is pretty dangerous, you know?"
The three children nod.
"Yes, auntie."- He says- "We shall go back to the tower."
Aurelia smiles.
"That's what I like to hear!"- She exclaims- "Now, come on! It's time for a feast! I'll prepare your favorite strawberry pie. And then, we shall enjoy the fruits of our labor!"
Geralt nods.
"It sounds like a plan."- He says- "Come on, family. Get ready for our next mission- peace and relaxation."
As Will and his family go back inside Rainbow Keep, the boy sees Alwyn and Mysta arguing. Excusing himself to his uncle and aunt, he approaches his friends, wondering what happened while he was absent.
"I don't know what is going on, but there is no need to argue."- He says- "Can we just solve this problem like normal people? Please?"
Alwyn looks at him, annoyed by his interference.
"Your friend just insulted my sister!"- He exclaims- "I can't just let this slide!"
Mysta glares at him.
"What do you mean?"- She asks- "I just called that bootlicker a brat. It isn't that bad."
Alwyn shakes his head.
"She is just being excited to meet new people!"- He yells- "Her life was so dull in the past! This is a new experience for her! So, stop being a jerk and treat her like an equal!"
Mysta continues to glare menacingly.
"Don't forget, mafia boy. I still don't fully trust you."- She says- "Defending that sister of yours will only make me angry."
Alwyn sighs.
"In the name of the family that I still have left, I am willing to take that risk."- He says- "But be warned. Our family may be divided, but those are still our lands. If you don't behave, I could have you kicked out in an instant."
Anna looks at her brother, shocked that he could even suggest such a thing.
"Big bro."- She says- "Why are saying those mean things to Mysta?"
Alwyn looks at his sister. For a moment, his attitude softens. He manages to calm down.
"Because I want the best for you."- He says- "This is our best chance to change the future. And I won't let some kind of human-hating sky creature ruin it for us all."
Mysta shakes her head.
"You don't understand what you're saying."- She says- "Keeping this girl around will only invite trouble. I stand my ground."
Anna looks down.
"Aww. I'm sorry that you feel this way."- She says- "If I'm hurting your feelings, maybe I should just leave. I won't trouble you, I promise."
Mysta snorts.
"Good."- She says- "Know your ideals and I won't insult you."
As Anna walks away, Adam stops her. Angered by Mysta's insulting attitude, he approaches her and starts to glare. Even though he is an aging hero, his burning stare is still capable of piercing through Mysta's foolhardy demeanor.
"Excuse me, but who do you think you are?"- He asks her- "I brought this girl here to save her from the people who were trying to harm her. Bandits, fake vigilantes, fallen enemies of the Grayson mafia that want everyone dead. You don't understand what we have gone through to survive in those harsh wastes. And I am sure that you, servant of the skies, are nothing more than a posh brat who likes to harm the feelings of those whom she deems beneath her notice. Little Anna came to this place, and here she shall stay."
Will shakes his head.
"Grandpa, please. Do not insult Myst."- He says- "She may be a little annoying sometimes, but she is my friend. We can get her to listen, but not like this."
Adam looks at his grandson.
"I appreciate your opinion, kiddo. But this creature has gone too far."- He says- "If she doesn't like humans, she has no place in this land. She can go back to her home and be with her kind. Nobody is forcing her to be here."
Mysta sighs.
"I didn't come here for any of you, humans."- She says- "I made a promise to a friend of mine. I tried to be more understanding toward the human race. But, if you don't want me around anymore, I have no reason to stay. I won't humiliate myself by responding to your insults."
Alwyn smirks.
"Says the one who's been mean to me since Day 1."
Mysta looks at him.
"You're just like your father, Alwyn."- She says- "I guess that's one thing that your old man left behind."
Although Alwyn managed to restrain himself until now, his rage is starting to rise. He approaches Mysta, clearly angered by the mention of his evil father.
"I've been trying to tolerate your presence. But I can't take it any longer."- He says- "You've overstayed your welcome, alien. Leave this place before I call the guards."
Mysta tilts her head to the side, annoyed by Alwyn's persistence.
"Stop pretending that you're almighty. You're just as powerless as all members of your broken mafia."- She says- "Anyway, I was going to leave either way. My father's probably worried about me."
She turns around and walks toward the door.
"The only person that I regret to leave behind is Will. But I'm sure that he'll be fine without me."- She says- "Sorry, my friend. I'll text you as soon as possible."
As Mysta starts to leave, she hears someone slamming a door open and turns around. Quinn walks down from the second floor of the tower, annoyed by the commotion. He approaches Alwyn and glares at him.
"You ruined my inner peace."- He says- "What in tarnation's going on?"
Alwyn looks at him.
"Mysta insulted my sister, so she's going to leave this place."- He says- "Do you have a problem with that, bookworm?"
Quinn smirks.
"If you care about what people are saying to someone else, then you really are a pathetic person."- He says- "Beat it, buddy. This world ain't just rainbows and sparkles. There's a few things that make it a living nightmare. And you've always been livin' in one, even though you never knew it."
Alwyn shakes his head.
"I will not listen to you."- He says- "Mysta is not the same person anymore. She has to go."
Quinn sighs.
"Whatever, law lover."- He says and turns away.
Will shakes his head.
"No. Stop this."- He says- "Just because Myst insulted a person, this does not give us the right to banish her. Stop this nonsense right now."
Alwyn takes a moment to look back at his friend. He is clearly angry.
"Will. I'm sorry that I'm saying this to you, but you don't clearly know what you're talking about."- He says- "Mysta is a menace to society. If we allow her to stay, she will keep breaking the morale of all people here. Think about your family. How would you feel if your brother was the one who was insulted?"
Will shakes his head.
"This is still not the right way! Your actions are not justified!"- He exclaims- "We can't kick her out, just because she is not like us!"
Alwyn shakes his head.
"I'm not saying that she's not like us. On the battlefield, she fought with the bravery of a human."- He says- "However, our friend must learn how to treat people the right way. Maybe she could go out and explore the world, watch the people and learn about their ways. But, until she treats everyone kindly, I can't allow her to stay."
Will glares at Alwyn.
"I am sorry, Alwyn. But, for the first time in a while, I cannot agree with you."- He says- "Sending Myst out there in a time like this will only invite trouble for her. What if she gets attacked by brigands or vengeful members of your father's crumbling mafia? She may be powerful, but she is not invincible. So, try to be a little bit more compassionate and understanding next time. You may have grown in a wealthy and influential family, but that does not give you the right to tell people what to do."
Will and Alwyn start to argue, but Mysta places her hand on Will's shoulder and shakes his head.
"Don't concern yourself with the recklessness of others, Will. If I'm not welcome here, that's okay."- She says- "The world outside may be dangerous, but you taught me that it's not impossible to adapt and overcome. Thanks to you, I learned that this place is not horrible at all."
Mysta smiles and wipes Will's tears.
"Shh. It's okay, buddy."- She says to him- "Sometimes, the world may do horrible things to you. When that happens, face them with a smile. Nobody likes seeing you sad."
Will nods.
"I know, but I really enjoyed having you by my side."- He says- "I don't want to send a friend away!"
Mysta sighs.
"I won't be gone forever, Will."- She says- "Don't think of this as an adieu. Think of it as a... little break. I'll be back before you know it, I promise."
Will looks down.
"I will miss you... "
Mysta smiles.
"Me too."- She says- "But you know the rules. Daddy won't let me play with you for much longer than this. So, I have to go back to the Mist Kingdom and restore the balance that I ruined. Once that's over, I'll make sure to pay a visit."
Alwyn shakes his head.
"I hope you never come back."- He mutters.
Mysta turns away, still smiling.
"Take care of yourself, Will."- She says- "Don't let this departure overwhelm you."
As Mysta slowly backs away from her friend, Anna approaches Will and hugs him. This makes Mysta a little jealous, so she turns away without saying anything else.
"Aww. I'm sorry, Willy."- Anna says- "I know that Mysta was your best friend, but you still have us. Aren't you happy with all of the friends that you made along the way?"
Will simply stands there and says nothing. The forced departure of Mysta- a loyal companion and trusted friend- has made him feel deeply traumatized. He does not respond to anyone else, even though they are doing their best to comfort him.
However, just as he hears Mysta opening the door, the last of his patience washes away. He glares at Alwyn, a feeling of pure loathing clouding his mind. And then, before everyone knows it, he pushes Anna away, lunges at his friend and knocks him down with just a single punch.
Then, as Alwyn attempts to stand up, he furiously kicks him in the stomach.
"Do you really think that you can ridicule my friends and get away with it?!"- Will yells at his friend- "I chose to trust you when we first met! I saw you as the true brother that I never had! And this is how you repay me?!"
Alwyn shakes his head.
"Please, Will. I don't want to fight you."- He says- "Mysta's place... is not here."
Will continues to glare at him.
"And neither is yours!"
As he prepares to deliver another punch, someone else punches Alwyn before he can. Will looks up and sees Quinn, clearly annoyed by the commotion that is happening around him.
"This is for wasting my time."- He says- "Later, mafia boy."
While Quinn nonchalantly walks away from the group, Will is left surprised by his brother's interference. However, Alwyn does not take this time to attack him back. Instead, he simply stands up and places his hand on his shoulder.
"It's okay. I know how you're feeling."- He says- "Just... let it go for now. I'm sure that things will get better."
Her heart filled with regret, Mysta walks back and stands next to Will.
"Perhaps my decision to leave was far too reckless."- She says- "For the sake of your happiness, I will stay here for now."
To solidify her decision, Mysta pulls out her phone and sends a message to her father, saying that she will stay with Will and his friends for a few more months. Her father soon approves it, but also warns her to be careful.
"What?"- Adam says- "You said that you were going to leave! Why are you backing down?"
Alwyn nods.
"Yes! This is unfair!"- He exclaims- "Just because you feel bad about Will, this doesn't give you the right to change your mind. You insulted my sister. And for that, your fate is already sealed."
Angered by the prolonged argument, Geralt decides to take his nephew's side. He stands between Alwyn and Mysta, pushing them away from each other.
"That is enough!"- He exclaims- "I do not care what you think about Mysta, Alwyn. She is a good friend of our family. Many times, she has gone out of her way to help us overcome our fears, throwing her selfish ways in the trash and trying to be a better person. And, if you don't want her around, then this means that we are not welcome either."
Alwyn, shocked by Geralt's words, does not respond.
"So. Let me ask you this, little lawcarver."- Geralt says- "Do you have an actual problem with Mysta?"
Again, Alwyn does not respond.
"I thought so."- He adds- "The matter is settled. Like it or not, Mysta is here to stay. End of the conflict."
He turns to his stunned nephew and gently holds his hand.
"Come on, my boy."- He says- "Those people clearly don't understand the true value of friendship. Let's just... take a break and enjoy our free time."
Will nods.
"Yes, uncle."
The two of them walk away, leaving Alwyn worried how he is going to fix the horrible mistake that he just made. Even though Life has made him hardened and reckless, he still feels sorry for what he said to his friend. He was the one who supported him until the end and gave him the strength to defeat his own father- tyrant of the Unknown Lands. Why did he decide that keeping his family alive is more important than the friends that he made along the way?
But that does not matter, at least not for now. Alwyn is now in charge of Rainbow Keep. He wants to transform it into an oasis for all the unfortunate and innocent people of this world. And yet, if he wants to make that dream a reality, he has to build trust and form friendships. Nothing is achieved by kicking people our for minor reasons. So, instead of acting like a fool, he decides that it is much better to be more level-headed. 
His eyes may be bright, but his thoughts are still clouded by grief. No matter what he has done so far, he still has a long way to do. And, if he wants to dispel the fog over his mind, he has to listen to Will's words. For the sake of him and the entire world, he must try to be compassionate and understanding.
"Are you okay, big bro?"- Anna asks him- "You seem a little... pale."
Alwyn looks at his sister and shakes his head.
"I... I'm fine."- He says- "Let's just go to our new place, okay. Try to forget everything that happened... and be better people."
Anna smiles.
"I like the sound of that!"- She exclaims- "Let's hope that Willy agrees with you!"
Alwyn sighs,
"Yes."- He says- "Let's hope so."
----Six months later, Will and Geralt stand on the highest point of Rainbow Keep, the best place to look at the magnificent lands below. During the time that they and their allies spent together, the Rainbow Keep has flourished and become a small paradise in the dark world that they live in. In just a few months, it was transformed into Rainbow Sanctuary- a safe haven from evil, protected by powerful magic and skilled warriors. 
People walk on the streets below, doing their respective jobs. It is clear that all of them are happy to be away from danger, at least for the time being. Although it is clear that this place is still under construction, they seem to trust the people who lead it, knowing that they will do their job and live up to their promises in the end.
"Well, this is a very invigorating sight."- Will says- "Who would have known that this place could turn into an actual paradise?"
Alwyn smiles.
"When I started to build this place, I was selfish. I wanted to make a home for my family and friends."- He says- "However, as time flew by, I came to realize that the people of this world are just as tortured as we are. They have been facing the evil forces, as well. So, I changed my focus and expanded our lands, in the hopes that they can join us and feel the joy of living in the light."
He looks at the lands all around him.
"I'm glad that our society is still standing."
Will nods.
"Our world may be plagued by evil. but that does not mean that we will succumb to it."- He says- "In places, like this one, there will be tiny pockets of light and hope. People will fight to make this world better. Knowing that there are heroes like us out there makes fighting for the light far more worthwhile, at least in my opinion."
Alwyn turns to him.
"You're not alone, Will."- He says- "We built this place together. You were here when it started. And you never gave up on us. So, you're the one who deserves a veteran's medal, not me."
Will shakes his head.
"It is not a matter of medals and achievements, my friend."- He says- "What we did over here, it is a miracle that even the founders of the world's greatest cities could not achieve. In just months of hard work, we undid most of the damage that your father inflicted to this world. We created a home for many refugees of the wastelands. We saved the world from a man who was trying to drain its wonders, until there was nothing left. Just look at the people around us and tell me- can we still have hope in those dark times?"
Alwyn smiles.
"Hope is a determining factor."- He says- "And, in this place, it is priceless."
Will nods.
"Which means that we have another reason to keep fighting."- He says and turns around- "So. Shall we continue to be heroes?"
Alwyn nods.
"Let's continue working for our future."
As the two boys descend to the first floor, Anna approaches them, clearly worried about something.
"Umm. Excuse me, big bro."- She says to Alwyn- "I forgot to tell you earlier, but we have a little problem. My undead mama broke loose from her restraints and attacked a caravan. Nobody got hurt, but she's still out there. We must do something about it."
Alwyn looks at her sadly.
"Aww. I'm sorry, Ann."- He says- "As much as I would like to help, we are far too busy. Maybe if she comes close enough, we can put her down?"
Will shakes his head.
"This is the kind of attitude that we are hoping to avoid."- He says- "If you don't have enough time to help her, I will. We shall go there and put that woman back in her place."
Alwyn smiles.
"That's very chivalrous of you, my friend. No wonder why my sister likes you so much."- He says- "I would love to join you. However, I have to make sure that everyone in this place is safe and sound. So, if you'll excuse me... "
As he tries to leave, Aya approaches him. She smiles and hugs Alwyn.
"How is my favorite sapling doing?"- She says and kisses him- "I hope that you're not too busy!"
Alwyn smiles and hugs her back.
"Of course not."- He says- "What is on your mind?"
Aya looks at him, her eyes filled with hope.
"Well, a group of underground-dwelling beasts attempted to trample the rows of saplings in the western quarter."- She says- "I managed to keep them back, but I need some extra help to drive them out for good."
Alwyn smiles.
"I will do anything for the future of our society."- He says- "Lead the way, Aya. Let's send them back into the earth."
The two of them walk away, holding hands as they approach the area in question. Anna stares at this unexpected event and rolls her eyes.
"Ugh. Ever since that girl and big bro started loving each other, she has always been with him."- She says- "Sometimes, I feel like he doesn't care about me at all."
Will looks at her.
"Hey. It is okay- my brother also ignores me most of the time."- He says- "Maybe I can teach you a few ways that will help you get his attention?"
Anna grins.
"I would love to learn from you!"
Then. she stares at her brother and sighs.
"Still, I'm very worried about him."- She adds- "Ever since we settled in this place, he's always been determined to make a sanctuary for all the homeless people in this world. He never dares to admit it, but it's clear that he's feeling exhausted. I want to help him out, but that jerk won't let me replace her."
Will sighs.
"Perhaps you should start by getting to know your brother better."- He advises her- "Alwyn and Aya have known each other for a very long time. He learned about your existence half a year ago. Maybe you should give him some time. Sooner or later, he will warm up to you."
Anna smiles.
"Well, if you say so."- She says and hugs him- "Until then, you'll be there for me. Right, Willy?"
Will smiles back.
"If it means that you will feel better, of course."
Like a little girl, Anna jumps up and down excitedly.
"Yay!"- She exclaims- "Thank you!"
Then, she kisses Will on the cheek, making him blush slightly.
"So."- She says- "Shall we hunt down my mama?"
Will nods.
"Yes, Anna."- He says- "It is time for you to learn what it takes to be a hero... and become one."
As the two of them prepare to leave, Anna clears her throat.
"By the way, can I hold your hand while we go there?"- She says- "It makes me feel calmer."
Will thinks about this. Normally, he only holds the hands of the people that he helps. Having to hold hands with an actual girl is a bit too much for a solitary person like him. However, if it means that Anna will be happy, he is willing to overcome his fears. 
Seconds later, he nods.
"You are being a persistent girl. I like that."- He says, in a kind way- "Alright. Let your fantasies run wild."
Anna smiles.
"Thank you!"- She exclaims- "I'll enjoy every single moment that I spend with you!"
As the two of them walk toward the south gate, Geralt approaches them. Despite the fact that he is busy, he seems to be very happy to see Will and Anna together. Perhaps he truly approves of the young woman.
"Good morning, Will."- He says- "How are you and your girlfriend doing?"
Will looks at him.
"But uncle!"- He exclaims- "She is my girl friend, not my girlfriend!"
Geralt smiles.
"Of course, kiddo."- He says- "Whatever you say."
Then, he stares at the two of them.
"So."- He says- "What are you up to today? Are you on a date?"
Will nods.
"Yes. And it is a pretty dangerous one."- He says- "Anna's undead mother broke loose. We are going to trap her before she hurts anyone."
Geralt raises his eyebrow, surprised that his nephew decided to agree to perform such a dangerous task.
"Do you need any help?"
Will shakes his head.
"Uncle. We may still be children, but that does not mean that we're not capable of defending ourselves."- He says- "You saw how well we did a few months ago when those vengeful fools attacked us. If we managed to overcome a horde of fallen soldiers, then a single undead villain will not be a problem for us."
He smiles.
"You do trust me."- He says- "Right?"
Seeing the determination in his nephew's eyes, Geralt cannot help but nod slowly.
"Obviously,"- He says and hugs him- "Stay safe, young hero."
As Geralt waves at Will and Anna, he remembers the time when he used to travel with his wife- Aurelia. The two of them got to know each other by fighting enemies together, and she fell in love with him in a similar way to Anna herself.
And yet, respectful of his nephew's wishes, he thinks that they are simply very good friends. Will is happy to help her out and she is happy to be by his side. A loyal companion is all that the proud uncle sees in her.
"She's quite the charmer, isn't she?"- Adam says and chuckles- "Don't worry. She'll warm up to you soon."
Geralt turns to his father.
"How did you come to know this little maiden, dad?"- He asks him- "You never told me about it."
Adam smiles.
"Well, it is a long story. But the girl was in huge danger when I met her for the first time, that's something that I can't deny."- He says- "Together, we wandered away from her home and her fiendish mother. I gave her the hope that she needed, the strength to rip herself away from her ancestral roots. However, without your help, we would have remained wanderers for many years. I'm glad that destiny reunited us."
Geralt wipes some tears from his eyes.
"I still can't believe that you came back."- He says- "All these years, I thought that you would never come back. I believed in the small chance of survival, but I never thought that I could see you again. For everyone else, you were gone for good."
Adam looks at him.
"And what about you?"
Geralt looks down.
"Well. Unlike them, I never stopped believing in you."- He says- "Just like I never stopped believing in Will."
Adam smiles.
"And this is the reason why you are the one and only guardian angel for that boy."- He says- "His mom and dad are gone, but fragments of them remain inside of you and Aurelia. You give him the strength to punch the darkness in the face. He may be strong but, without a guiding light, even the most well-prepared and determined ships can sink into the icy waters. And I'm sure that you would never allow such a thing."
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"I am thinking about my boy."- He says- "But what do you think?"
Adam smiles.
"About my little grandson? The boy that I recently learned about?"- He asks- "I don't know why, but I feel like he knows about how I left his family alone. He loves me, but he distances himself whenever it is possible. It will take a long time and many trials for him to trust me."
He thinks about this for a while.
"Hmm."- He adds- "Maybe I should take him to the ruins of World's End someday. He appreciates the history of mankind, so maybe he will love this."
Geralt smiles.
"That is a wonderful idea!"- He exclaims- "Getting to know his grandpa's greatest achievement will be quite the experience for him!"
Adam chuckles.
"If only I could do the same for little Quinn... "
Geralt sighs.
"Do not worry about Quinn."- He says- "He is a... troubled child. It is best to leave him alone, for the time being."
As the two of them continue to talk, Aurelia approaches them.
"Sorry for the interruption, but we've got a problem in the eastern quadrant."- She says- "One of the prisoners is going wild. He's attempting to rally the rest of them to start a revolution. We need to calm them down ASAP."
Geralt and Adam stare at each other.
"There is no time for small talk anymore."- Adam says- "We need to be heroes again. Let's go."
Geralt nods.
"Let's make this place a little bit safer."
Remembering something that he had in mind, Adam soon separates himself from his son and daughter-in-law. Despite the fact that he is calm and composed, there is something that makes him worried.
"Is something wrong, dad?"- Geralt asks- "If there is, please tell us."
Adam stands still for a few seconds. Then, he sighs.
"I have a bad feeling."- He says- "No matter how much I try to deny it, I think that there is still danger out there. If Will and Anna go out there, they're going to expose themselves to the chaos around them."
Aurelia shakes her head.
"Our little Willy is a very capable young man."- She insists- "If danger is indeed out there, he shall be the harbringer of the change!"
Adam sighs again.
"No. It is not that easy."- He says- "This villain is a kind of no-good that we've never seen before. From what I learned during my adventures, I know that there are new things that are hard to comprehend. Thus, Will cannot be careless, nor overconfident. He needs help."
Geralt looks at his father.
"So, you... want to go out there?"- He asks- "But you promised... "
Adam nods.
"I'm sorry about this."- He says- "But I can't just stand here while my boy tries to tame a wild beast. It's not what I was trained to do."
Aurelia smiles.
"That's very heroic of you, dad."- She says- "Maybe you really the person that Geralt thinks you are."
Adam smiles back.
"Is that what he's been think all the time?"- He says- "Well, I am glad that he never gave up on me."
Before Adam leaves, Geralt approaches his father and places his hand on his shoulder.
"Dad. I know that you want to help people again, but you should try to be more careful."- He says- "You're an old man now. Despite the fact that you are very powerful, you're not quite what you used to be. Proceed, but not without caution. It is not wise to be reckless, especially when the entire world is against you."
Adam nods.
"I appreciate the advice, little one."- He says- "Now go back there and put those unruly prisoners back in their place. I shall handle the rest."
Aurelia approaches her father-in-law and hugs him.
"At first, I thought that you were too dangerous to be around us. But now, I'm glad that destiny brought you back to us."- She says- "Thank you for watching over little Willy and his brother. You're a true samaritan."
Adam smiles.
"I am just doing what I can to make everyone feel safe."- He says- "You don't need to thank me."
As Aurelia pulls herself back, Adam nods.
"And I'm glad that my son chose you to be his wife."- He adds- "You are such a radiant angel, my dear Aurelia. And, if my love means anything to you, know that I love you as much as I love each member of my family. I am glad that you are one of us."
Aurelia smiles and hugs her husband.
"He and our boys are my pride and joy."- She says- "Without them, I would be nothing."
Adam nods.
"Then keep that flame burning."
With that, he waves them goodbye and leaves to join his grandson. When he approaches him, Will is surprised that his grandfather followed him all the way to the gates, but is glad that he did.
"Do you want to help us, grandpa?"
Adam nods.
"That is exactly what I came for."- He says- "Besides, I don't want to leave little Anna alone. Even though you're with her, I made a promise. I need to keep it."
Anna stares at her mentor, her eyes filled with tears.
"Mr. Kaos. You... did so much for me in the past few years."- She says- "But you can't always hold my hand. Sometimes, I need to be on my own."
Adam nods.
"And that's why I need to be there."- He says- "To teach you how to fight alone."
Will smiles.
"You are a great teacher, grandpa."
Adam nods.
"Yes."- He says- "I know."
And so, the three of them leave the safety of Rainbow Sanctuary. Even though the area around them is still unsafe, their journey to the mafia trainer's resting place is not difficult. Due to their reputation, no humanoids attempt to kill them, no matter how much they want to.
Soon, they arrive at the spot where Anna's undead mother is supposed to be. True to Anna's words, the woman is not there. They start looking for her and eventually discover her, feasting on the fresh corpse of a wanderer.
"Oh no. We were too late."- Anna says and falls to her knees- "My mother managed to kill someone."
Geralt sighs, pushes away the undead mafia trainer and stabs her victim in the head.
"At least he won't come back."
Anna approaches her undead mother. She pulls out a dagger and attempts to stab her, as well. However, something in her heart prevents her from filling up the hole that the woman caused in life. She pulls herself back, unable to take care of this nuisance.
Seeing that Anna is unable to stop her undead mother, Geralt rips out a nearby land marker and lunges at the woman. Without a moment of thought, he pushes her toward a large rock and plunges the marker into her chest, leaving her incapacitated and unable to hurt anyone else.
"It is not the best solution to the problem."- He admits to himself- "But it will do, at least for now."
Adam inspects the marker and nods.
"The marker is made of metal. Thus, it will last for a long time."- He says- "Anna's mommy is not getting out of this one."
As the three of them breathe a sign of relief, they hear the sounds of grinding gears in the distance. Then, they hear something revving up. It is almost like a power core of some sort, unstable and close to exploding.
"Who could leave a piece of machinery in the middle of a desert?"- Anna wonders.
Will shakes his head.
"This is no machine. Or, at least, no machine that we know about."- He says- "And I have a bad feeling that we're about to find out who is powering it."
Keeping his sword close, Will stands up and approaches the source of the sound, followed by Anna and his grandpa. He is clearly convinced that there is a new enemy out there. And, after everything that happened to him, this may not be just mere paranoia.
And then, when they around the corner, their worst fears come true. Some kind of a mechanical man, straight out of their nightmares, is sitting on top of a deceased person. Like a triumphant predator, he glares at his prey, clearly content with the work that he has done.
Of course, it does not take long for the tin man to notice them. When he does, Will notices that his right eye is glowing red. Very peculiar. And, perhaps, very dangerous.
"You."- He says ominously- "Stop. I have seen you."
Then, he starts to approach them. 
Adam and Anna try to convince Will to flee, but the young man is more interested by the sight in front of him. In his life as a hero, he has never seen a creature like this. He has fought enemies made of flesh, but never a beast made of metal. Thoughts swirl inside of his mind as he silently stares at the metal man.
"There is no need for a criminal inspector to know who you are."- The man says- "You are William Kaos- slayer of villains. Banisher of evil. Your stare betrayed it all."
Will is unfazed by the man's words. He simply stares at him, curious about his identity.
"You are a cyborg."- He says- "Is that so?"
The man nods.
"You are a smart one. For a human."- He says- "My name is Alistair. I was created by Damien Grayson to make the filthy humans grovel at his feet and beg for mercy. When you and your allies slaughtered my people, I fled to avoid destruction. But I cannot stay passive anymore. I must keep hunting."
Adam stares at the corpse at Alistair's feet. It takes him a while to recognize it. But, when he does, he feels both surprised and shocked. That person is someone that he used to know. Seeing them like this is truly traumatizing for the old man.
"You... monster!"- He exclaims- "That person... it can't be. How could you do this?!"
Will raises his eyebrow.
"What are you talking about, grandpa?"
Adam looks back.
"The person in question was my brother, Lucas."- He says- "He was a famous painter, a talented enterpreneur. He blessed the world with his drawings and made many people feel hopeful. To see him like this... I can't say how angry I am!"
Alistair stares at the dead man.
"This insignificant nobody? He was of no importance to me."- He says- "I was planning to use him as a bargaining chip to convince the people of your settlement that I mean well. Unfortunately, he was too stubborn to be of any use. I had to blast him, to shut him up for good."
Adam shakes his head.
"I always thought that cyborgs were emotionless fools. That they were never meant to feel anything other than hatred. But you, fool, are the worst of them all."- He says- "Lucas has never done anything bad to anyone. He was just minding his business, away from the evil of this world. And what did you do? Torture him because you wanted revenge? You are pathetic, metal demon."
The cyborg raises its mechanical arm, revealing it to be half-cannon. A dangerous combination, especially for the unprepared.
"You took away my master. My home. My country."- He says- "I may not be able to feel joy, but I'll make sure that you don't feel any either."
Will attempts to say something, but Adam tells him to be careful. He ducks just in time to avoid the first blast from the hand cannon, hiding behind a giant rock moments later.
However, the rock offers no protection to the young hero. As soon as the cyborg gets close, it fires at the rock, breaking it into pieces. One of them drops on Will's head, temporarily disorienting him.
Adam leaps to his grandson's aid. He spawns a discus of light and hurls it at his enemy. However, Alistair changes his cannon arm to a sword arm, slicing the discus in half with ease and sending magical particles all over the place, making our heroes sneeze.
The cyborg takes this moment to switch back to his cannon. He fires at the air and soon, a magical net falls from above and traps all of our heroes, electrocuting them as soon as it touches their skin.
Will is annoyed by the cyborg's persistence. Using the magic stored inside of him, he causes a powerful explosion, disintegrating the net and sending Alistair toward a giant rock.
Of course, this does not harm Alistair. After all, he is a cyborg. Creatures like him are made to endure all kinds of pain. He simply shrugs it off and attacks again, much to the surprise of all of its enemies.
Alistair attempts to use his sword arm to slice Will in half, but the boy performs a perfect backflip, avoiding the cyborg's assault and blasting him with a fireball. Part of his face is singed by the magical attack, but he also becomes more infuriated.
"You had the nerve to attack my masters back then. And you still have it."- He says- "But that matters not. I shall not forgive you."
Will shakes his head.
"And I will not forgive anyone who serves the tyrant Damien Grayson."
Adam nods.
"I think that both of us can agree on this one."- He says- "Come on. Let's send this malfunctioning tin man back to the scrap pile."
Alistair cracks his knuckles. Menacingly.
"I am your worst nightmare. I am the one who knocks."- He says- "When you mess with my fire, you shall be burned."
The cyborg changes his current weapons with two laser guns. He starts firing at his enemies quickly, as if he is using a machine gun. Once again, our heroes are forced into hiding, prompting Alistair to use his cannon to destroy the landscape around them.
Seeing that Will is exposed, the cyborg swaps his guns with a pair of swords and attacks him. It soon turns out that his blows are bost swift and vicious. The boy is locked in an inevitable standoff, forced to protect himself instead of attacking back.
As he defends himself, however, Will manages to find one of Alistair's weak spots. Freeing one of his hands, he casts a brief spell, unleashing a single bubble. Unnoticed by his enemy, it positions itself behind him. When Will pushes his enemy back slightly, it explodes, sending both of them backwards.
Deciding that he needs to use more force to subdue his wild enemies, Alistair changes one of his mechanical arms to a massive hammer. Then, he takes a swing at the ground, creating a powerful earthquake that can be detected miles away from this location.
Put between the hammer and the anvil, our heroes struggle not to fall in the giant holes that appear around them. The rumbling ground is making it harder to do so, but their determination helps them keep each other afloat.
Even though his enemy is a creature that he has never met before, Adam is not the type of person to give up. As he suffers from the effects of the earthquake, he enchants his sword with the power of earth, making his strikes much more powerful. Then he charges at Alistair, taking him by surprise.
Though Alistair struggles for a while, Adam manages to cut off his head, seemingly defeating the evil cyborg. 
However, while he goes back to assist his allies, he starts to hear laughter. He dismisses it as a part of his wild imagination, but soon hears it again. As he turns back, he realizes that it comes from the cyborg's mouth. Despite the fact that he does not have a body, he is not dead.
"How is this possible?"- He asks- "I just... defeated you."
Alistair's head stares at him.
"You still have a lot to learn, old man."- He says- "My design is more powerful than you think."
Then, much to everyone's surprise, Alistair's headless body flies forward. Adam attempts to stop it, but is thrown back by the massive impact. Soon, body and head join together to restore the cyborg to his previous form.
"Self-reassembly is an ability that you should always fear."- He says- "Beings like me are a one man army. We are strong enough to decimate your cities in mere days. Our powers can overwhelm even the greatest of your minds."
Will raises his eyebrow.
"Aren't the human scientists responsible for your creation?"- He asks- "Why are you acting against them?"
Alistair shakes his head.
"It is true. I owe my existence to my masters. My makers."- He says- "But I do not have any debts to pay. I am a free being, just like you humans, and I'm powerful enough to assert my dominance. If those scientists are foolish enough to try to stop me, they shall be turned to ashes. I will spare no one, even those who are closest to me."
Adam looks at his grandson and shakes his head.
"His metal brain cannot comprehend how wrong he truly is."- He says- "We need to put a stop to this."
Will nods and draws his weapon.
"I will not rest until this mechanical fiend is erased from the face of the earth."
Seeing how determined Will is to stop him, Alistair finally shows a different emotion. He smiles.
"Fool."- He says and charges.
Will leaps back and uses a magical shield to protect himself. However, Alistair has already anticipated this move, changing his swords to a pair of deadly magical saws. He dashes forward and revs up the saws, easily cutting his way through Will's magical shield.
Our hero attempts to fight back with his magical abilities, but Alistair is no stranger to them. His right eye starts to glow bright red, shooting deadly lasers not long afterwards. WIll is forced to escape from the magical lasers and avoid being cut in half by the saws.
Will finds the ruins of a caravan. It is entirely possible that the cyborg is responsible for its destruction, so our hero looks for something that might help him survive. However, there is nothing left- the few useful things were taken away by the surviving members.
With no other option in mind, Will rips off a large chunk from the front of the caravan. When Alistair attacks him with his saws, he uses it to shield himself, successfully stopping the vengeful cyborg from turning him into minced meat.
Alistair is impressed by Will's ingenuity. However, this does not mean that he will simply spare him. He shakes his head as he enchants his saws, making them more dangerous than they were before.
Will attempts to ward off Alistair's attacks, but the pressure is too much for his makeshift shield. The saws easily cut their way through the huge caravan piece, getting closer to his chest with each passing second. 
This is no simple battle, no training session. Will is forced to helplessly fight for his life, unable to strike back against his enemy. Forced in a life-threatening stand off, the boy is forced to use all tricks in his book. Even so, he is still unable to find a way to stop his enemy for good,
Worried for his grandson's safety, Adam frantically looks for something to protect him with. Desperate, he turns to the corpse of Lucas and shakes his head.
"Oh, brother."- He says- "If you were still here, you would have made a glorious painting to commemorate this epic battle. But alas, you are not."
He sighs.
"I know that this is very disrespectful, especially after everything that you've done for us."- He adds- "But, if you do not mind, I need to look around. Please."
Pretending that his brother just gave him permission, Adam searches the bag of supplies on the ground near his corpse. Carefully pulling out the items, he finds a single painting. It is of Lillian Rupert- Lucas's mother and a person that Adam has always respected. His parents were very busy at the time, so she took the mantle of his caretaker, caring about him as if he were her own son. She and her husband- Adam's uncle- made sure that he receives everything that was denied by his parents, Without any jealousy, she also took care of Adam's beloved sister- Akira- forging a bond between her and the Kaos family. Her close relationship with Jared Kaos- her ex-lover- allowed her to befriend his wife and work alongside her to provide a safe place for the children in their care.
Feeling indebted to his aunt, Adam is unable to use the picture to protect his son, out of sheer sadness. However, realizing that he has no other choice, he decides to use the painting, Saying a big apology to Lillian, he whistles for Will and throws him the painting.
Fortunately, the painting of Lillian Rupert is both beautiful and durable. Alistair attempts to cut through it, but he is unable to pierce the wood. It seems that the painting itself is completely ordinary, but the material used to paint it contains fragments of magic, making it much less prone to being broken. Will is safe, at least for now.
Anna takes the chance to sneak behind the cyborg and inspect him closely. As expected, he does not notice her, focusing on Will instead. This allows her to pull down his clothing and reveal a hidden fuse box. Opening it, she notices a complex set of wires that she cannot comprehend. She attempts to pull one of them, but it only makes the cyborg angrier, forcing her to push it back so Will does not get hurt.
"Ah. I see that you found our metal friend's little secret."- Adam says and smiles- "Well done, my dear. Maybe we still have a chance to defeat him.
Anna looks at her mentor.
"But how can we do that?"- She asks- "He looks invincible. Everything that we did was futile."
Adam nods.
"Until now."- He says- "Watch and learn, little Anna. It is time for your master to show you the true way of the spell."
Without a moment of delay, Adam pulls out his sword and mutters a few words. Its tip starts to glow blue, indicating that it has been enchanted with the power of water. Then, he attempts to strike the cyborg in the weak spot.
Unfortunately for him, Alistair immediately senses Adam's intentions. He turns around and changes his saws to mini-cannons, attempting to blast them both before they could hurt him.
"Anna!"- Adam yells- "Now!"
Listening to her mentor's call, Anna takes a step back and kicks sand in Alistair's eyes. The tiny particles get into the cyborg's mechanical body, causing him a lot of pain in the process and allowing Adam to make his move.
While Alistair is distracted, Adam leaps behind him, opens the fuse box and plunges his sword into it. The damage, of course, is instant. Due to the fact that the old hero is using a weapon with the element of Water, the cyborg is immediately electocuted, causing his entire body to start convulsing wildly. During the aftermath, he is almost completely fried, leaving him vulnerable to the right type of magic.
"Will, it is time!"- Adam yells- "Show this fool the discipline of the Kaos family!"
Will nods.
"You do not need to tell me twice."
Using his expertise in the light circle, Will unleashes a beam of light, capable of slaying even the worst of enemies. Even though Alistair is able to ward it off for a while, his entire body is starting to malfunction. Thus, when he least expects it, the beam pierces its way through his final defense.
"You haven't seen the last of us!"- He exclaims- "There will be many more! I promise y-- "
And then, he is disintegrated into a pile of useless scrap, ending his life in a very painful way.
"The gears may have been grinding in the cyborg's favor, but fate had something else in store for him."- Will says and breathes a deep sigh of relief- "The deed is done. Alistair is dead... for good."
Adam shakes his head.
"It is true. The deed has happened."- He confirms- "But the price that we paid... was far too high."
Will looks back. He notices that his grandfather is still standing next to Lucas's corpse. Despite trying not to show any motion, he cannot help but feel bad for the man who loved his family, even though he never met him himself.
"So, grandpa."- He says- "Umm... who is this person? If you don't mind me asking?"
Adam looks back.
"This is... was Lucas Braveheart. I liked to call him Luke. He was the son of my father and the infamous Lillian Rupert. My blood brother, even though we only had the same father."- He says- "My father, he had a secret affair with Mrs. Rupert before he met my mother. From what I heard, she really loved him. He was her childhood sweetheart- why wouldn't she? But then, this affair became more intense. That's when the lady that papa fell in love with... became pregnant. But my father, loving and understanding as he was back then, did not become mad. He told her to give birth without worrying too much. The death of another family member would have been too much for him, especially due to the fact that his own father died not long before the affair."
He sighs.
"Father and Mrs. Rupert... had to separate soon. If they knew that he loved a villain's daughter, that would have brought great shame to the Kaos family. But destiny did not separate the Kaos siblings. Just like the time when I met my dearest sister Aki, I also got to meet him."- He says- "At first, I felt enraged. And I had a good reason for it. I mean, my father loved someone else. He was not faithful. My mother forgave him, but I was unable to do so. But I... didn't take any of that anger on Luke. He was a child, just like me. So, we slowly grew close to each other. Our most favorite shared pastime was pretending to be soldiers. In our minds, we were righteous heroes. Nothing could stop us, even our own ideals. That was around the time when I was 16 years old."
He shakes his head.
"But reality soon came crashing down. His mother sent him to study at an art school, in the hopes to see a successful painter in the face of his future self. My parents forced me to complete my studies, no matter how much I wanted to be a hero."- He says- "While he became a world-famous painter and had a wonderful family, I walked the path to heroism and ignored mine. And yet, that didn't stop us from remaining brothers. When I was forced to leave our family behind, Luke was in disbelief. He was looking for me day and night, hoping to find fragments of life somewhere. Me and my brother eventually reunited, though I made him promise to say nothing about my survival to your uncle, aunt and dad. My guilt was slowly gnawing at my conscience. I had no choice. And, much to my surprise, he lived up to it. He was supportive as always. And it... was thanks to him that I had the strength to build a new life, away from the sins of my past life."
Then, he sighs.
"For all I know, the Adam Kaos of the past died alongside his brother."- He says- "The person that you see here, he is completely different."
Will raises his eyebrow.
"This reminds me of something."- He says- "When I was younger, I met a kindred soul. He was an aging man with gray hair and a lot of wisdom. His name was Kyosuke Takanashi. He taught me a lot about how I should be respectful to the heroes of this world and thankful for all the good things that happen in my life, even the little ones. He was like a very good friend of mine, a source of solace.
He looks at his grandfather, lost in thought.
"Unfortunately, he disappeared during a house fire. He saved my life, but I never saw him again."- He says- "I thought that he was long gone. But then... "
Adam turns around and takes a few steps forward. He approaches his grandson and allows him to take a better look at his face.
Moments later, Will's eyes open wide. He cannot believe what he is seeing in front of him.
"No. It... cannot be."- He says- "You are... you are... "
Adam smiles and nods.
"Yes, my boy."- He says- "I was... am the mysterious Kyosuke Takanashi."
Will stares at his grandfather in disbelief.
"But why?"- He asks- "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
Adam smiles sadly.
"Your heart was so pure back then."- He admits- "If I told you, it was more than certain that you would have revealed it to your uncle. Even now, you would never lie to him. And there's a good reason for that- he is your guardian angel. Angels do not lie to each other."
He sighs.
"Either way, I think that I enjoy my new persona. Kyosuke means respect and modesty. I chose it to mirror my new way of life."- He says- "And I ask you, my dear grandson, to do the same. Please, don't tell anyone else about my true identity. I want them to remember me for who I was, not who I am."
Will looks at Adam.
"But... they will learn."- He says- "Sooner or later."
Adam nods.
"Yes. I know."- He responds- "But I want to keep the secret intact for as long as I can. If the people knew that I am a new person, I would always feel guilty about the person that I was. I want... to leave the past behind my back."
Anna smiles.
"Well, you know that I would never do such a thing!"- She exclaims- "You have my support, Mr. Kaos."
Adam looks at his mentee and nods.
"It seems like I trained you well."- He says- "Thank for being such a prime example for loyalty, my dear Anna."
Will looks down.
"I feel torn. Knowing that my own grandfather was... is the person who advised me for such a long time... I am not sure what else to say."- He says- "Still, I know that you share my feelings, my guilt. I cannot promise that I will keep your secret, grandpa, but I will do my best to help the people see you with fresh pairs of eyes. Besides, everyone needs to forget what happened many years ago. The present and future is what we fight for. As for the past, it is nothing more than the ancient fragments of the forgotten times. Dwelling inside of it non-stop will only make you weak."
Adam smiles.
"And the future, it is always the brightest."
Though calm and composed until now, Will cannot hold back his feelings anymore. He bursts into tears and hugs his grandfather.
"I... "- He says- "I love you, grandpa!"
Adam hugs him back.
"So do I."- He says- "But, as much I like to stand here, we still have to bring your uncle Luke's corpse back to Rainbow Sanctuary. I... don't want to leave him like this."
Will shakes his head.
"I understand."- He says- "Come on. Let's go."
As Will and Adam pick up Lucas's lifeless body, they look back at Anna. Adam notices her interest in the pile and scrap that used to be Alistair the Cyborg and approaches her.
"Is there something bothering you, dear?"- He asks her- "What is wrong?"
Anna looks back.
"This cyborg man. He looks very... impressive."- She says- "Barring the charred metal, I think that we could learn a lot about him. If we took his remains to the lab, that is."
Will shakes his head.
"That sounds like a wonderful idea."- He says- "But the scrap is far too heavy. Even if we could take it with us, we still have to carry Mr. Lucas back home to bury. Sentimentality over usefulness, right?"
Anna sighs.
"I... don't know."- She says- "Perhaps they're just as useless as they seem to be. But something's telling me that we should take a look. Maybe we could establish some sort of a defense if the world gets infested with cyborgs someday? You know, those legends about evil robot overlord could still happen. We need to be wary and prepare for the worst."
As the three of them argue, a lone woman and her escort approach them on horseback. She is revealed to be Mysta- Will's best friend- who somehow stumbled upon this place while exploring the outside world.
"Hey Willy."- She says- "What's up?"
Will looks at his friend.
"There is an argument between us."- He says- "We want to take those cyborg parts to the lab for analysys. However, we also want to carry this man's corpse to bury him close to the capital. We are, I am ashamed to say, torn between two islands."
Mysta nods.
"Well. Luckily, I brought a group of volunteers to clear a hideout filled with former mafia goons."- She says- "Lifting this robot junk will not be hard. We'll help you once we clear the way."
Will smiles.
'Thank you, Myst."
Mysta nods.
"Don't mention it, my friend."- She says- "It's the least I could do after... you know."
Will sighs.
"I'm just glad that you are still with us."- He says- "Your presence is always appreciated."
Mysta smiles slightly.
"Well, thanks for having me."
With the help of Will and his grandfather, Mysta draws the goons out of their lair. One by one, they get gunned down by her escort, falling to the ground like bags filled with cement. The job is easy enough... until one of the goons leaps out and tries to gun down Will.
Anna, unwilling to lose her only true friend, leaps forward. Much to everyone's surprise, she is the one who gets shot. The bullet pierces her shoulder and she collapses.
As Adam stabs the man to death with his blade, Will runs up to Anna and checks her condition, fearing that the bullet may have pierced her chest. Much to his relief, however, there is no such thing. The bullet did get pretty deep, but it stopped inches away from her heart. He has seen a lot of miracles in his life, but this is definitely one that he will remember.
Overwhelmed with happiness, he lets go of his cordial attitude and hugs Anna. She blushes and hugs him back. 
"That was such a close call."- He says- "I thought that I was going to lose you."
Anna smiles.
"We of the Grayson family don't go down easily."- She says- "Time and time again, we've shown that we're as tough as nails. Even the ones who are soft and dependent, like me."
Adam shakes his head.
"You are no weakling, dear."- He says- "We may be heroes, but so are you."
Anna continues to smile.
"That's good... to know... "
And then, she faints.
"Anna?! Anna!"- Will yells- "No! Don't reach for the white gates! Please!"
Adam listens to her heartbeat for a while. Seeing that his mentee's body is still active, he nods.
"Don't worry about it."- He says- "Anna may be down, but not for good."
Will looks up at his grandfather, tears rolling down from his eyes.
"I... hope that you're right."
Mysta and her escorts assist Will in carrying Anna to the strongest horse. After taking the corpse of Lucas and the cyborg parts, the group goes back to Rainbow Sanctuary, in the hopes that they could get everything right.
After staying for a while to witness Anna's surgery, Will packs a few things in a back and prepares to depart. However, he is stopped by Adam. Getting to see his grandson act so recklessly in a time like this must be pretty worrying for him.
"Where are you going?"
Will looks at him for a while. Then, he looks down.
"I... have a mission on my mind."- He says- "Away from this metropolis."
Adam shakes his head.
"You can't possibly do it alone."
Will sighs.
"And who is going to be willing to help me out?"- He asks- "Look, grandpa. As much as I hate to say it, everyone has their own affairs in mind. They are far too busy. This metropolis is taking away our collective thoughts and, deep inside, it makes me feel sad. I need to go somewhere else, a place where I can remember my purpose in this world."
Adam nods.
"You're not alone. I once had my doubts, as well."- He says- "Life can play some very bad cards. It sure did for me. However, this is not the right reason to abandon everything that you fought for so long. What are you hiding?"
Will shakes his head.
"Long ago, I lost my girlfriend in the world's most dangerous place. I was not brave enough to do the right thing. I paid the price... and I am still paying it."- He says- "Until I can find her and bring her back, I will never feel at peace."
Adam nods.
"Then let's do this together."- He says- "You helped me out last time, so I want to be the one who does the same. Our bond is stronger than the guilt inside of your heart."
Will looks around, seeing that nobody else is trying to stop him. Then, he decides to agree to his grandfather's preposition.
"Very well, grandpa."- He says- "You make a point. Warriors of light do not fight alone. We must work together to achieve our goals. And I am willing to put aside my own pride to make it happen, if it means that I will spend some time with you."
Without telling anyone else, Will and his grandfather take the settlement's most durable boat. Then, each of them grabs an oar, working together to move the vessel toward the infamous Sunrise Sanctuary, far away from their homeland.
Three long days pass. Will and Adam have little supplies left. And yet, their morale is still high. Even the dark waters cannot hinder their determination. One of their oars is broken, so Will is forced to steer the vessel alone while Adam scouts the horizon for potential enemies.
On their way to the island, a giant shark finds an opportunity to bring them down. It leaps forward and takes a big chunk away from the vessel. Then, it tries again, in the hopes that it could devour one of the heroes.
Unfortunately, Adam is not willing to die. As the shark attacks, he pulls out his sword and stabs it in the chin, stopping it from devouring either of them. Then, with a precise set of movements, he slices left and right, turning the once proud aquatic terror into a pile of edible meat.
"There we go."- He says- "Dinner... is served."
Will looks at him, in an incredulous way.
"How... did you do that?"
Adam smiles.
"A true warrior has his secrets."- He says- "Now, do you want some fresh fish or not?"
Will raises his eyebrow.
"Isn't raw meat supposed to be cooked before consumption?"- He asks- "What if this shark's remains turn out to be the source of a nasty sickness? We will die!"
Adam stares right into his grandson's eyes. For a moment, the boy can feel the power that he is hiding away. The rage that he tries to keep under control. Despite the fact that he is an old man, Adam is far more than a friendly elder. A simple glance is able to reveal it all.
"Do you really question the ways of Nature?!"- He yells- "We might die if we risk it, but we will also die if we don't eat anything soon! Life is not just sparkles and rainbows- if it throws lemons at you, eat them!"
Without another good choice in mind, Will decides that it is for the best if he and his grandfather take the risk. The two of them quickly devour the shark's remains and sail forward, in the hopes that they will reach the infamous island soon.
Despite the fact that a shark almost got them killed, the rest of the journey was pleasant. The only wildlife around them are the flocks of seagulls overhead and the groups of tiny fish in the sea. Soon, they manage to reach the island, relieved that something went well.
When Will starts to desperately search for his undead girlfriend, he is surprised that she is not around anymore. In the area where he last saw her, he finds Walter Burns's bleached bones. He spits at them and kicks them around, showing that he still hates the man who murdered the love of his life in cold blood. As his own grandfather once said- vengeance is served cold, but only when the blood is hot.
"So this is the man who killed Stella."- Adam says- "Hmph. Judging by the looks of his clothes, he did not look like much of a villain. He was probably a sore loser in life, I can bet all of my life savings on it."
He looks at his grandson, seeing that he is still angry.
"But tell me."- He adds- "What would you do if he were still around?"
Will looks at his grandfather. Then, he glares at Walter's remains.
"I would have killed him again."
Adam shakes his head.
"Normally, I am strictly against vengeance."- He says- "But, if they are foolish enough to harm a loved one, that is where I draw the line."
Will raises his eyebrow.
"Were you going to do the same?"
Adam nods.
"Absolutely."
Then, he joins his grandson and kicks Walter's bones himself. The villain may be gone, but the hatred still remains.
"Come on."- He says and stands up- "Let's leave this filth where he belongs."
In a few years, the unforgiving sands are going to consume the last of Walter Burns's remains. If Will ever returns to see them, it is almost certain that they will be gone. Savoring the fruits of one's past victories is something that should be appreciated. And, despite the fact that he vehemently denies it, this is one of the prime factors that gives Will the strength to keep looking for his undead girlfriend.
Will calls out for Stella, despite the fact that there might still be enemies around. Adam tells his grandson to lower his voice, but the boy ignores his advice. He knows that his girlfriend is still here and plans to find her before bounty hunters take her away from him. Again.
Much to the surprise of both heroes, it does not take long for them to find the undead girl. Not far ahead, Adam notices a beautiful, long-haired maiden, her undead self unmarred by the consequences of reanimation. She sits on the beach, lonely and dejected. Her head is down and she is drawing circles in the sand. When the duo stares at her, they notice that her expression is very eerie. Almost humanlike. How an undead creature could retain such complex feelings in its second life remains a mystery.
Will immediately recognizes his undead girlfriend. He taps the sand to get her attention. When she looks around, however, she does not lunge at him. She does not try to bite. It is almost as if she still recognizes him... or has lost the ability to devour people. Maybe both.
"Stella?"- Will says- "Oh my God. I... can't believe it. It really is you."
Despite the fact that Stella died when she was a child, her body was still capable of aging during her undead life. Before Will stands a grown-up version of the love of his life, just as beautiful as she was before, but also more mature. Though undead never show any kind of emotion other than a desire to kill and devour, Will can see something completely unexpected- sadness. It is almost as if the undead Stella has grieved for him, but takes great pains not to show it.
Adam tries to warn his grandson that Stella is not the person that she once was. However, Will ignores his advice and hugs her. Again, she does not try to bite him, instead falling limp in his arms. Like a sentient monster doll, she does not move anywhere. She does not try to escape. Will is back for her, and this makes her feel less depressed.
As Will and Stella continue to embrace, a group of bandits emerges from the woods and aims their guns at him. They are clearly infuriated about something, and are going to take their anger on him.
"You! You're the one who killed our boss!"- One of them yells- "Murderer!"
Will turns around.
"Says the one who kills for pleasure and profit."
The bandit leader, long-haired and determined, clenches his fists. Hearing about Will's ignorance fills his heart with fury.
"That's it!"- He yells- "You're dead meat, Kaos!"
As the bandits attempt to gun Will down, he draws his weapon and deflects their attacks. Two of them are pierces by the reflected bullets, dying on the spot. Another one has his stomach turned upside-down, before he is turned upside down himself by the force of Will's blow.
Seeing that her beloved boy is in danger, the undead Stella experiences another feeling, unfamiliar to undead like her- pure anger. Enrages, she growls viciously, then lunges at one of the bandits. Her undead instincts kick in again and she devours him in front of his allies.
The bandit leader attempts to gun Stella down. However, after seeing how much the girl means to his grandson, Adam uses a chain of light to hinder the man's movements, forcing him to fire the gun at his right arm. Then, he uses his immense power to push the man into the deep sea, plunging him into the sand as he desperately attempts to escape. Even though he tries to be less brutal than his ancestors, this does not mean that Adam is not capable of extreme violence. Soon, the bandit leader drowns, shocking his allies.
In their helpless state, Stella is able to easily devour each one of them. Soon, every single attacker is gone for good.
Having protected her loved one from the demons that haunt him, the undead Stella turns around. In a typical undead fashion, she growls for a while. However, something in her mannerism tells Will that she is trying to speak again.
After a lot of painful growls, Stella looks down. She closes her eyes, seemingly thinking about what just happened to her.
"Th-thank."- She growls- "Yhou."
Will is completely astounded. All this time, he thought that the undead were mindless, ravenous beasts. To think that his late girlfriend, out of all undead, is the one who still exhibits humanlike behavior, is truly amazing.
"You... are welcome."
Adam hears the faint sounds of chanting in the distance. Dark clouds appear in the sky as he looks back at his grandson, concerned about his safety.
"I hate to say this. But we need to go."- He says- "This island is experiencing a major anomaly. If we don't escape soon, we might fall victim to it."
Will looks at his undead girlfriend.
"But what can we use to carry her?"- He asks- "Our vessel was strong enough to transport us here, but it is nothing more than a rickety raft now. Our means of escape are gone."
Adam sees a faint shadow in the sky overhead. Thoughts swirl inside of his mind as it becomes clearer.
"Or maybe we won't need it... "
And then, a giant dragon leaps down from the sky, landing to the ground below with an earthshaking thud. Unbeknownst to the heroes, the dragon Melanchion managed to follow them all the way to Sunrise Sanctuary.
"Need some help, humans?"
Will looks up at the majestic beast, shocked.
"What are you doing here, Mr. Melanchion?"
Melanchion smiles.
"I heard that some brave humans want to play heroes again."- He says- "Besides, this chain of islands was once the home of a powerful clan of dragons. They reigned over those lands for centuries. Until that renegade god arrived to replace them, nobody dared to question their rule. Even the land itself feared them. I was so awed by the legends of my fellow draconians that I came to see if they are true or not."
Then, the kind dragon shakes his head.
"But that is a story for another day."- He says and lowers his head- "Young one, your uncle and aunt are worried about you. They sent me to take back their most priceless treasure. Now, if you want to emerge from this place alive for a second time, you better take heed of this advice- you shall not live long if you refuse to listen to others. Even the lone wolves have families of their own."
Will shrugs.
"Well, I cannot argue with that."- He admits and positions the undead Stella on Melanchion's back- "Let's get out of this nightmare."
As Adam joins his grandson, he notices how Melanchion is staring at the undead on his back.
"Why are you risking your life for a departed?"- Melanchion asks- "Child, I thought that you were better than this."
Will shakes his head.
"You do not understand."- He says- "Stella was once my girlfriend. And she is far smarter than you think."
As if to prove her boyfriend's point, Stella glares at Melanchion. Not in the classic, ravenous fashion. She is glaring at him with humanlike passion and barely restrained anger. This is something that makes the mighty dragon feel uncomfortable, even though he is one of the most powerful creatures in the Known Lands.
"I have seen a lot of creatures of the dark. But, to think that some of them are capable of exhibiting humanlike intelligence... it is something that makes me concerned."- He says- "What if she turns out to be evil and destroys everything that you built?"
Will sees the risk in taking the undead Stella back to the capital. However, instead of making him doubt his decisions, it only manages to reinforce them.
"Then we shall constantly monitor her behavior."- He responds- "Stella may be the love of my life, but I will not hesitate to shoot if she harms one of my loved ones."
Stella is seemingly taken aback by Will's words. If she shows human intelligence, how could he ever doubt her? Is it possible for her to return to her previous ravenous state? Or is he just trying to act tough in front of the mythical reptile? That is not clear to her, but she is not angry at him for being suspicious of her. In fact, she even sits a little further away from him, to prevent herself from doing anything to her loved one. Stella may be a dead girl walking, but she is no heartless monster.
"Shall we go?"- Melanchion asks- "I like this place, but I fear that we should not be here when the sky turns dark."
Will nods.
"Right. There is no time to waste."- He says- "Come on, everyone. To Rainbow Sanctuary!"
Just as the chanting gets louder, Melanchion flies off. He pierces the dark clouds with his mighty wings, creating a bright path for him to follow. And then, he swoops into the shadows ahead...
After many tiring hours and wondering how Melanchion can fly for so long, our heroes finally return to their home. They carry the undead Stella with them, surprising everyone who happens to see them.
Near the main tower, Anna intercepts Will and hugs him. Despite the fact that they have not been separated for a long time, she still missed him a lot.
"Willy! I'm so glad you're back!"- She exclaims- "What happened back there? Did those freaks hurt you? Do you need anything?!"
Sensing that the two of them have a possible romantic collection, the undead Stella experiences another human feeling- jealousy. She approaches Anna and growls at her, completely terrifying the girl as she stumbles away from her.
"Stay,"- She growls- "Back."
Will places his hand on his undead girlfriend's shoulder and shakes his head.
"Easy, my lady. Anna is just a very good friend of mine."- He says- "She may get a little flirty sometimes, but that is just her way of saying how much she cares about me."
Stella looks down for a moment. Like a human being, she tries to calm herself down, keeping her undead instincts under control. For now.
"So."- Will says- "Are you feeling better now?"
Stella slowly looks up at her boyfriend.
"Better."- She growls.
Will smiles.
"Atta girl."- He says- "This is why you are the best girlfriend in the world."
Feeling that Will is rebuking her, Anna says nothing. Then, she looks at the undead girl. Despite the fact that she seems like a minor menace, Anna thinks that they will get along. When she does not try to kill her, that is.
"I... think that I should get going. Alwyn's calling me upstairs."- She says- "It was nice to talk to you... umm... lady! See ya soon!"
Stella lets out an annoyed growl, but otherwise ignores her.
"It is alright, my dear."- He says- "I am sure that you will love this place. And all the people inside of it."
Stella looks at Will, as if she is saying "I'm not sure about that".
Seeing that her friend is back, Mysta approaches him. She sees him embracing the undead Stella, but says nothing about that.
"Hello, my friend. I see that you're safe and sound."- She says- "Any news from the outside world?"
Will shakes his head.
"Only that it is worse than here."- He says- "It has many undiscovered rewards, but they are not worth it."
Mysta nods.
"That's understandable. You have the spirit of a hero, not an adventurer."- She says- "I can't say that I feel the same way, but I can sympathize."
Then, she looks around.
"By the way, I have a feeling that a kindred soul is nearby."- She adds- "Have you seen-- "
Her words are immediately interrupted by a young man. He approaches the group, exhausted by his journey, and looks up at Mysta.
"Big sis! There you are!"- He says and hugs her- "I missed you!"
Mysta, shocked that her brother made it all the way here, embraces him.
"Wispy! What in the world?"- She says- "What is going on? I'm glad to see you, but why did you seek me out?"
Whisper's eyes are filled with sadness and guilt. He seems to be around Will's age, but he has experienced far more than the young hero ever has. For example, he once lost his mother- the creature that was closest to him. He almost lost his homeland to the greedy hands of the dark souls. And, worst of all, he had to endure the prolonged absence of his own sister, whom he has always adored and loved.
"I-it's about Dad! He has fallen ill!"- He exclaims- "If we don't help him out, he will... will... "
Mysta shakes her head.
"Calm down, little buddy."- She says- "The situation must be horrible, but I know that daddy will make it. He's always been quite the fighter. I doubt that a sickness will end his life."
Whisper looks down.
"It all happened because of his grief for mama."- He says- "Day and night, he's always mourned when he had the chance. We told him to stop, but he... he didn't care."
Mysta's eyes fill with tears as she thinks about her father- the fabled Mist King.
"Father... "
Will stands next to Whisper and looks at him.
"Wisp. I know that you came to see your sister, but I think that you do not need to go alone."- He says- "We have been friends for a long time. Longer than I can remember. Maybe I can come with you and help ease your father's pain? I don't want to see you suffer... "
Whisper shakes his head.
"T-that's very kind of you, Willy."- He says to him- "However, i-it's a better solely between us and our father. I hate to refuse your offer, but we must go alone. You have a home of your own, people that rely on you. W-what would they say if they realize that you left them for a while?"
Will looks down.
"But."- He says- "We need to help each other."
Mysta sighs.
"There's no point, Will. Wispy can be pretty stubborn sometimes."- She says- "It's best if I join him for the time being. If our father is truly as ill as I imagine, then this matter needs to be settled as soon as possible. I may even need to take his place for a while."
Will looks at his friend with puppy-like eyes.
"When will you be back?"
Mysta smiles.
"As soon as possible."
Then, she leans forward and hugs him. Stella growls menacingly, but Adam pulls her back.
"Take care of this place, okay?"- She says- "I want to see that everyone is alright when I return."
Will nods.
"We shall fight for the light in your honor."
Mysta nods.
"I would want nothing less."
As the Windshire siblings leave, Whisper looks back at his friend and smiles.
"Say hi to Mr. Kaos from me!"- He exclaims- "I'll be back soon to see him!"
Will smiles back.
"Of course, my friend."
As his two friends leave Rainbow Sanctuary, Will looks down and sighs. One of his most important allies just left, and he feels as if a fragment of him is absent. He does not know how (or why) this is happening, but one thing is certain- he will definitely miss Mysta. A lot.
While pondering his next move, Geralt and Aurelia emerge from the power. Both of them are frantically searching for something (or rather, someone), making their nephew very worried. What could have possibly happened while the young hero was gone.
"Willy! Thank the heavens!"- Aurelia exclaims- "Have you seen Quinn? We can't find him anywhere!"
Will raises his eyebrow.
"Quinn is not here?"- He says- "Maybe he is in the tower basement, as usual?"
Geralt shakes his head.
"We already looked there. No signs of that bookworm."- He says- "It is almost as if he was kidnapped. Poof, vanishing without a trace."
Geralt and Aurelia exchange a brief look, then look back at Will.
"Normally, we wouldn't care less. He's a very chaotic soul, after all. Where the wind will take him, that is his own problem."- Geralt adds- "However, despite all of his flaws, he is still our nephew. We can't just ignore his absence."
Will lays against a will, lost in thought. He thinks about what happened to his brother, unsure whether to make heads or tails. Based on the evidence that his uncle and aunt just gave him, it is clear that he is up to no good. Something is stirring, and it is not a bowl of delicious soup.
Finally, Will realizes what actually happened. Determined to find his brother as soon as possible, he turns to his uncle and aunt, shaking his head as he does.
"Uncle Geralt. Aunt Aurelia. Prepare yourselves."- He says to them ominously- "A storm is coming our way. And it is in the shape of someone we love."