MLTE- Part 2

This is the second Part of "ML:TE".
It was released on 29.08.2023.
== Plot ==
Now that they managed to rescue Alwyn from the hands of the hunters, Will and Mysta have successfully gotten themselves between the hammer and the anvil. They are a part of this story, whether they like it or not.
But their troubles have only just begun. Although Aurelia seems to be in a decent condition, her health only manages to get worse. Could it be related to bad decisions? Or did someone infect her intentionally? Either way, she is in big trouble, and they must make sure that the villains do not hurt her.
A long road is ahead of the young duo. And nothing will be easy for them.
== Story ==
Will and Mysta stare at each other. They never imagined that they would end up like this and are unsure what must be done next. One thing is for sure, though- they rescued a hunted person. This means that they will end up just like him, regardless of how hard they try to run away. So, they have to make an important decision- should they join forces with him... or leave him to his fate?
Finally, Aurelia decides to break the silence. She has a few questions herself, and wants to know the answers for them.
"Well, that was a harrowing experience. Those mercenaries were a tough bunch, that's for sure."- She says- "How are you faring, kiddo? Are you feeling well?"
Alwyn shakes his head.
"My father's trying to hunt me down. Using hired headhunters, no less."- He says- "How am I supposed to feel?"
Aurelia sighs.
"I know the feeling."- She says- "But that's far from the end of it. Now that you're on their naughty list, it's only going to get worse."
Mysta rolls her eyes.
"Very motivational, Mrs. Kaos."- She says- "I can already see the excitement in his eyes."
Then, she looks at Alwyn and notices how worried he really is."
"Or lack thereof."
Aurelia sighs.
"Do you think that you're the only one who's gone through many nightmares? Far from it."- She says to Alwyn- "I was a slave in the past. A slave. I was stuck between two great powers, enslaved by the likes of a power-hungry tyrant and forced to act against my own will. Were it not for my husband, I would have remained there for most of my life, if not all of it. And that was... not a pleasant experience, truth be told."
Alwyn raises his eyebrow.
"Your... husband?"
Aurelia nods.
"I'm talking about Geralt- the love of my life."- She says- "When he rescued me, he showed me what I lacked at the time- hope. He made my stone cold heart melt, just with his piercing gaze. His words gave me the strength to be myself and I... "
Then she notices that both Will and Mysta are staring at her.
"Ahem. But that's a story for another day."- She continues- "What you need to know is that your situation isn't worse than mine. Sure, your daddy's trying to get you out of the picture, whatever it may be. But it's not like you've lost everything that you hold dear."
Alwyn shakes his head.
"You don't understand it, do you?"- He asks her- "My father's far more powerful than you think. He is the leader of a notorious mafia. Many people fear and revere him. He can get what he wants by simply snapping his fingers. And, if he decides to hunt me down himself, I will be doomed. For good."
Aurelia looks at him.
"I hate to say this, but you should try to calm down."- She says- "Nothing good comes out of living in fear. Trust me."
Alwyn shakes his head.
"No can do, miss."- He says- "As long as I'm hunted, I can never feel safe."
Seeing that Alwyn refuses to listen to Aurelia's words. Mysta loses her temper. She grabs the deceased mercenary's laser guns and aims them at him.
"Alright then, you prick. If you don't want to calm down, then we'll make you pour it out."- She says- "Tell us what you know about this experience. All of it."
Alwyn takes a step back.
"Tell you about everything?"- He asks- "But I just met you!"
Mysta shakes her head.
"If there's a tyrannical madman out there, it's our job to erase him from existence."- She says- "Now speak before I get angry."
Alwyn looks at Will. He sighs and shakes his head.
"Trust me, she could be much worse than this."- He says- "You don't want to meet her irritated side."
Alwyn shakes his head.
"But I... I don't want to get anyone else in trouble."- He says- "This is my fight. I don't want any help."
Will sighs.
"Nobody has achieved great things without help. The greatest heroes have always relied on their allies, not just themselves."- He says- "Working alone may get you far, but you are prone to making mistakes. Sooner or later, the ceiling above your head is going to collapse. Your own mistakes are weighing down on you. Do you really want them to drag you down?"
Alwyn looks down.
"Alright. I'll tell you all that I know."- He says- "If it makes you feel better, that is."
As promised, Alwyn explains why his father holds such a powerful position in the mafia hierarchy. Apparently, the man managed to take control of it a decade ago, forcing the previous leader- a timind and indecisive man to retire. Under his rule, the mafia became a feared force of vagabonds and hired murderers, much like the mercenaries that they hire to complete missions for them. This made the people of many towns doubtful that they will ever be satisfied with what they already have. And that much is certain about them. Their actions have shown, more than once, that they're capable of finding their enemies and making their pay. Thus, Alwyn is taking a risk to run away and ally himself with Will and his allies, in the hopes of finding a way to prevent his father from expanding his criminal empire.
Thanks to the help of his aunt Delia and the few mafia members who were willing to help him out, Alwyn managed to discover several key locations that his father uses to expand his so-called empire. All by himself, he managed to take out the guards that attempted to hinder him and burned the supplies that could have been invaluable to the mafia leader, thus preventing him from causing more damage than he already did, albeit only for a short amount of time. As expected, this made his father very angry, forcing him to make the decision to get rid of his own son. He has been running from his enemies ever since.
"And what happened to your aunt, if that is not a secret?"- Will asks- "She seems like a good woman, dragged into this mess by a vile man's desires. Is it possible that she is still trying to find you, wherever she may be?"
Alwyn shakes his head.
"I'd like to reunite with her, but this means that I'll get her in trouble. And she's too sweet for something like this."- He says- "No. It's best if she stays where she is. Nothing good will come out of allowing her to chase after me."
And then, he hears someone coming up behind them. He looks back, only to realize that his fears have come true- his aunt has found them.
"Ah. I see that you found my nephew."- She says and smiles- "Thank you for keeping him safe."
Will raises his eyebrow.
"You are Alwyn's aunt?"
The woman nods.
"The one and only."- She says- "My little Alwyn's pretty hotheaded, so I had to find out where he is. The world's full of danger, you see. So, I had to do what every loving aunt would do."
Aurelia smiles.
"Ah! A fellow loving aunt! Good to see you!"- She says and shakes her hand- "My name's Aurelia! Nice to meet you!"
The woman smiles and does the same.
"The pleasure is mine, dearie!"- She says- "I am known as Delia!"
Then, Delia looks at the two children standing next to her.
"And you. You must be William and Mysta."- She says- "You should know that I appreciate your aid. Were it not for the three of you, my nephew would have ended up in the dungeons. Only God knows what those freaks would have done to his poor mind. Their methods are very cruel."
Will raises his eyebrow.
"Wait."- He says- "You know who we are?"
Delia nods.
"Word came that little Alwyn was headed to the capital of Silverdale, coincidentally known by the same name."- She says- "The mafia knew much about the Kaos family and where they're located. You were disputed by the council as the boy who would keep him safe from the assassins who try to hunt him down."
Will nods.
"Well, that much is true."- He says- "I am eager to help a fellow warrior, no matter what it takes."
Delia sighs.
"Either way, I think that it's best if we stayed with you for a while."- She says- "Much like my nephew, I am an exile myself. Alwyn's father didn't like my attitude and thought that it's best if I didn't... exist."
Alwyn gasps.
"So my father's hunting you, as well?!"
Delia nods.
"Pretty much."- She says- "That's the reason why I decided that we should stick together, at least for the time being."
Will looks at her.
"Do you have any ideas how many of them are on the way?"
Delia shakes her head.
"No. I'm afraid that I'm as clueless as you are."- She says- "However, if my hunch is correct, I believe that there's a way to end cruel little Damie's reign, but we have to be careful. One wrong move and the guillotine will crash down on us."
Will nods.
"We understand."- He says- "Then it's best if we run back to our headquarters. If the hounds are truly on the loose, then we must prepare ourselves for the storm that is approaching."
Delia smiles.
"You're a smart kid."- She says- "Perhaps you're the key to freedom that we've been seeking."
Will sighs.
"Regardless of that, we still have work to do."- He says- "Are you with us or not?"
Alwyn nods.
"Well, you convinced me that you're a trustworthy person. I believe that I can count on you."- He says- "So, if it's the same for my aunt, then we'll be glad to be your guests for the time being. At least until the flames of madness cease to burn."
Mysta shakes her head.
"Believe me, flame like those cannot be put down with ease. Or stop burning on their own."- She mutters- "Escaping from the destruction requires a great deal of willpower and determination. And I doubt that you have a lot of them."
Alwyn looks at her.
"Hmm?"- He says- "Did you say something?"
Mysta smiles.
"I'm just saying that it's good to have new souls in Silverdale."- She says- "Few good people cross paths with us during those dark times. Having you here is a wonderful experience."
Alwyn raises his eyebrow.
"Well, I'm glad that you're so... welcoming."
Mysta nods.
"Of course."
As he turns away, she sighs and shakes her head.
"Clueless boy."
As the party prepares to leave the area, Aurelia feels a sudden pain in her stomach. She bends down and curls up in a ball as the world around her starts to swirl.
"Auntie!"- Will says and runs up to her- "What is wrong? Are you alright?"
Delia bends down and takes a look at Aurelia. She notices that her skin has a faint green shade. Her eyes look a little lifeless and there are several drops of blood on her mouth.
"It seems like your aunt has been poisoned."- She says to Will- "I don't know how it happened, but it must have been quite unexpected."
Will looks up at her.
"But she was never wounded!"
Delia nods.
"Maybe not severely."- She says- "However, the nature of our mafia's poison is different. Even a little cut is capable of causing severe poisoning."
Mysta shakes her head.
"This... is not good. At all."- She says- "We should carry her back to the residence. Maybe Mr. Kaos will know what to do."
Will nods.
"I agree."- He says- "Let us head there."
The party manages to reach the Kaos residence before things get worse for Aurelia. Geralt welcomes them and, as soon as he notices his wife's condition, immediately takes her inside.
"Oh, Auri. You've gotten yourself into more trouble, haven't you?"- He says and shakes his head- "This world is such a cruel place. People like you do not deserve to suffer. I won't let you drift away. I... will save you. I will."
He looks back and notices that Will is staring at him.
"What is wrong, my boy?"- He asks him- "You look a little pale. More than usual."
Will shakes his head.
"Uncle, I think that aunt has been poisoned."- He says- "One of those freaks managed to cut her with his weapon. She's going to face the worst of it."
Geralt shakes his head.
"I know that you're worried, but there is no need to panic."- He says- "Your aunt's condition is not critical. We can still bring her back."
Then, he raises his eyebrow.
"But,.. you claim that she is poisoned?"- He asks- "Who could have done such a thing?"
Alwyn steps forward and shakes his head.
"The fault is mine, sir. I came here to seek help, but I only found more trouble."- He says- "The mercenaries who poisoned your wife were hired by the Grayson mafia. I was a part of it, but I ran away after my father started killing innocent people."
Mysta glares at him.
"Look what you've done, mafia boy!"- She yells at him- "You came here, brought those goons to yourself like bees to honey, and now Mrs. Kaos is forced to suffer for it! You should feel ashamed that you made such a reckless decision!"
Delia looks at her.
"Excuse me! We didn't want any of this to happen!"- She exclaims- "Many people ended up like this woman when my brother's forces attacked them. Some of them didn't even make it! And you think that you're the only ones who suffer?!"
Geralt stops them and shakes his head.
"Please. There is no need to argue. Not in a time like this."- He says- "We have to stay united. Otherwise, the forces of darkness are going to eradicate us. One by one, we will be punished for underestimating the ones who are trying to hunt us down."
He looks at Alwyn, pats his shoulder and smiles.
"I don't know who you are, child. However, I can sense that you're a good person. And I can tell between those who are good and bad."- He says- "Welcome to the family. I hope that you enjoy your stay."
Alwyn smiles.
"Thank you, sir."- He says- "I appreciate it."
Geralt nods, looks back at his wife and sighs.
"It seems like this situation is far more complicated than I anticipated."- He says- "Tell me what happened out there. I will try to evaluate it as best as I can."
Will explains what Alwyn said to him earlier. Geralt listens to this story with great interest, trying to absorb as much of it as he can. Then, without looking up, he nods, seemingly understanding what is going on.
"So the mafia madmen are trying to hunt you down, just because you didn't agree to take your father's place and disagreed with his ways?"- He says- "What a peculiar situation. Perhaps someone else needs to step in and help you out."
Will rolls his eyes.
"Let me guess."- He says- "That someone is you?"
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"Do you see a better way to solve this elaborate puzzle?"
Will sighs.
"I... do not."
Geralt nods.
"Then the matter is settled. I shall be joining you again."- He says and turns to Delia- "In the meantime, you can stay here and make sure that she receives proper healing. Maybe the poison will be washed away once we fight back. However, that will take time, and I need you to make sure nobody makes it worse."
Delia smiles.
"If that's what it takes to get rid of that tyrant, so be it."- She says- "I'll make sure that Aurelia stays safe."
Alwyn looks at his aunt, worried about her safety.
"But aunt!"- He exclaims- "You are in danger, too! How can you handle it alone?"
Delia looks at her nephew.
"Don't worry about me, kiddo."- She says- "Your aunt may not be the best fighter, but it doesn't mean that she can't defend herself. I know a thing or two about kicking someone in the shin. I can hold them off while you hunt!"
Alwyn sighs.
"Please stay safe."- He says- "I need you."
Delia nods.
"You'll be fine, my little Alwyn."- She says- "I love you."
Alwyn and Delia share a brief hug as the boy prepares to travel. Then, with a kiss on the forehead, she sends him off, watching over Aurelia as she mumbles in her sleep.
"Poor woman. I didn't want her to end up like this. Not at all."- She says to herself- "I'll do my best to take care of her. My sins need to be cleansed. And this is the start of my redemption. I must be brave, for the sake of my nephew and the future of our organization."
Outside, the four heroes prepare to embark on another dangerous adventure. Geralt consults a map, convinced that something on it is of incredible interest to him.
"So, uncle."- He says- "Where shall we head next."
Geralt looks at his nephew and nods.
"The Darkheart Temple. There lies the Scroll of The Exiled ."- He says- "Are you ready to go?"
Will and Mysta nod.
"We are eager to begin our adventure!"
Geralt smiles.
"Good to know."- He says- "Let us begin, then."