Miracula Luxia C6, P5- "Walking On Thin Ice"

"Walking On Thin Ice" is the fifth Part of "Miracula Luxia" 's sixth Chapter- "The Great War". It was released on 18.12.2019.
== Plot ==
It looks like the cure will hurt more than the poison.
After returning to Vahnatai Lands, our heroes are given a very risky misson- to infiltrate the fortress of the Order of the Black Fist by themselves.
The three of them, plus Galantis-Bok (Who is very suspicious of all humans after the death of a member of the Council) must make their way into hostile territory. In a quiet way. Because their discovery will mean certain imprisonment and execution at the hands of their enemies.
However, the Council also promises them support- in the form of about 100 soldiers who will distract the main force of the fortress, so our heroes can save the captives and kill the leader (or leaders) of the Order. If they are even there.
Will this task turn out to be a futile one? Or will there be actual success? Find out now!
== Story ==
The Portal teleported Jared, his uncle and Captain Viridian to Vahnatai Lands once again.
The remaining members of the Council stood in front of them after they arrived.
"Jared... we're glad you are back."- Pontis-Bok said- "But there is almost no time left."
"What do you mean, Pontis-Bok?"- Jared wondered.
Kaiel-Bok stepped forward and showed Jared something in his hand.
It was a bloody arrow.
"One of the brigands shot this at our walls, as a sign of war. To give us a warning and tell us that they are coming to destroy us all."
Jared looked at the arrow and shivered.
"That's bad. We need to prepare the defenses."
Pontis-Bok placed her hand on his shoulder.
"We thank you for recruiting so many soldiers, Jared. With this many we might actually succeed!"
"But the main tasks remain."- Kaiel-Bok added.
"Which is?"
"The tasks to free their prisoners and kill their leader. Or leaders. This will not be an easy one for a whole army, so we decided to go through Plan B."
Jared looked at the ground. He knew that this would eventually happen.
He knew what Kaiel-Bok was going to say.
"We will send a small raiding party to sneak into their fortress and do those things. And the party we will send are you, your uncle and Captain Viridian."
Jared was unable to say anything. He didn't reject the task, because he knew that it was vital for the survival of both nations.
However, he also knew that he was going to go on his first misson without his father. 
Until now, his father has been accompanying him on every important mission and giving him valuable advice on what to do next.
Now it is much more different. His father was a prisoner of the Order of the Black Fist and he had to make his own decisions.
"Great. Just great."- Jared said to himself.
"But worry not!"- Pontis-Bok exclaimed- "Now that we have so many soldiers, we can send a whole army to deal with the main force at the gates and distract them. Long enough for you to sneak in."
Jason raised his eyebrow.
"What kind of an army are we talking about here? How many soldiers?"
Kaiel-Bok smiled.
"You see, while you were gone, we managed to recruit more brave soldiers to protect our lands. So we can send at least 100 to handle this."
"Hold on. Stay right here. I want to give you something before you go."- Pontis-Bok said and left the area.
She went in a nearby storeroom and returned with a small dagger.
She gave it to Jared.
"Here. Take this."
Jared looked at it. It was a beautiful weapon, seemingly made of a white crystal. It had a strange white glow.
"I can see the disappointment in your eyes. Do not sigh."- Pontis-Bok said- "This dagger is known as the "Faithkeeper". It is a powerful weapon which was previously owned by one of the Empire-Avernum War heroes."
Jared recognized the weapon. His father told him legends about it a decade ago.
"Faithkeeper" is a small and powerful holy weapon which is best suited when fighting highly malevolent beings. Not just humans. Pretty much every creature- Especially Undead.
The fact that he was holding this legendary weapon in his hands was overwhelming. He stared at it.
"Faithkeeper... Faithkeeper... "- He kept repeating the dagger's name to himself.
"Yes. The Faithkeeper is the only weapon which can effectively slay beings of pure darkness and banish their souls forever. That is why we are giving it to you today."- Kaiel-Bok said and smiled.
"Use it wisely, Jared. Because this weapon will guide you wherever you are after you complete this misson. Like a small light that pierces through the unending darkness of our worlds."
Pontis-Bok cleared her throat.
"I just wanted to add that it won't just be you three on this stealth mission. Your friend- Galantis-Bok will also join you."
"However, he became a bit... erratic. After the death of Ragus-Bok, he hasn't been the same."
"But he will help you nonetheless. We hope and pray that the four of you succeed."
Pontis-Bok casted a healing spell on them.
"Just in case you were hurt. Who knows what you had to go through to get those folks here."
"Now go. And good luck. Both of our nations rely on you and know that you will succeed."
Jared and his allies picked up Galantis-Bok and left the capital.
On their way to the fortress, they found 100 soldiers who joined them in their travel.
Soon they arrived at the fortress.
However, it was eerily quiet.
Jared wondered where the hostiles went.
He didn't have to do so for long. An arrow landed right next to his feet, followed by many more.
One of the soldiers told Jared to sneak through a secret passage and described its location.
Having said that, the soldier joined his fellow comrades in their common task- to distract the hostile force long enough for our heroes to sneak into the fortress.
"What a brave bunch! They aren't that many, but they fight like spartans. They know that they will eventually die, but they fight with all their might in the name of victory. I respect them."- Jason said to himself as he, Jared, Captain Viridian and Galantis-Bok approached the secret passage.
Once they went through it, they looked around.
So far- so good. The hostiles were busy fighting off the small army. So busy that they didn't notice that our heroes have managed to sneak in.
The four of them approached what looked like the throne room where the leaders were located. There was a small crown symbol near the door.
However, before they could open the door, something stopped them. They stood back.
There was a small force of hostiles blocking their way, weapons drawn, endless hatred in their eyes. And there he was- the man leading them. The man who was once Jared's good friend.
John Braveheart.
"John, why are you doing this?"- Jared questioned his friend.
John grinned.
"Because I won't let you hurt someone else. This ends here and now!"
"I knew of your plan all along. Before they died, my messengers sneaked below your precious capital and learned of your Council's plans. Then they passed them on to me."
"Our leaders sent me and this small force to stop you."- He looked at the brigands behind him.
They smirked.
"Of course, we won't capture you this time. Instead, we plan to simply kill you."- One of the bandits added.
"Prepare yourself, chumps. It's killin' time!"
The rest of the brigands nodded, drew out their weapons and attacked our heroes.
However, John was having conflicting thoughts. His bad side wanted him to charge at Jared and finish this off. And prove his loyalty towards the Order.
His good side was not on the same page. It wanted him to spare Jared and tell him what he felt back when he was abandoned.
Instead, he attacked Galantis-Bok who threw his weapon out of his hand with well-aimed Razordisk and pushed him to the ground.
He stood there, confused as good and evil fought against each other.
He noticed the fight at the gates. How close it was to them.
He also noticed a badly casted fireball flying towards Jared.
As one of the brigands was attacking him, he was unable to look back and evade it.
So John did something which was very brave- to place himself in harm's way for his friend.
He jumped towards Jared and pushed him away just in time.
However, this action was not without a consequence.
John's left eye was burned after the blast hit him. He touched his eye and sighed.
It was a risk worth taking- much better than letting a friend die.
"John? You... "
Jared looked at his friend. He was not expecting him to save him from that fireball.
"You saved me. But why did you do so? We are enemies now."- Jared looked at him.
John shed a tear from his injured eye.
"I didn't want it to be this way, Jared. I wanted... I wanted to join you. But my mind went in another direction."
"And thus I joined this band of hostiles. I know that you probably don't want to forgive me, but... but I wanted to save your life. Just like you saved mine not long ago."
"I will not beg you for forgiveness, because I know that you won't forgive me. My mistakes were too severe."
He kneeled.
"Do whatever you want. Kill me. Imprison me. I won't resist."
"I know that I hurt you by capturing your loved ones. Unleash your rage, if you must. Avenge them."
Jared looked at him sadly. He wanted to slap him, but he couldn't do so. John was his friend and friends cannot be treated like that.
He smiled.
"John, my friend, I would never do any of those things! Even if you did that, I know that you didn't want to. It's not your fault- the leaders of this miserable gang are the guilty ones."
"As you said earlier, it would be hard for me to forgive you. But I do. Because friends should always forgive each other. Even when they do something horribly wrong."
John was in tears. He stood up and looked at Jared.
"Thank you, Jared. I... I don't know what else to say. But I promise that I will win your trust once again. Let's do this! Let's win this battle, together!"
Jared nodded and helped his uncle fight two of the brigands.
With John's help, the hostiles were defeated and entry was gained.
The throne room was clear.
"Are you ready, old friend?"- John said as he looked at his friend.
"Always, my friend. Let's end this madness once and for all."- Jared said as he opened the door.
The five of them entered the room and saw the leaders of the Order of the Black Fist sitting on their thrones and looking at them.
They grinned, seeing that their prey has actually fallen into their trap. Now they were alone and weak.
Or... so they thought.
== Trivia ==
* The idea for this Part's name- "Walking On Thin Ice" is inspired by the fact that the trust in our heroes has become much less after the events of Chapter 5 and 6, especially the trust of Galantis-Bok towards pretty much everyone around him.
The idea about the trust is also supported by John's betrayal. He just joined his old team by betraying the hostiles, but they still don't fully trust him, because of his relations with the leaders of the Order of the Black Fist- something which might actually change soon.