MLIV C5, P10.1- "Now And Forever"

"Now And Forever" is the second (and final) Extra Part of "Miracula Luxia IV" 's fifth and final Chapter, as well as the true "Miracula Luxia" finale.
It was released on 02.09.2022.
== Plot ==
After a long and arduous journey through many lands and many enemies, our heroes have finally managed to complete their sacred mission. Mordred Darkthrop has been defeated and his soul has been locked away for eternity, no longer threatening the delicate peace that is being formed in the world.
But it is far from over for the young hero known as Adam Kaos. Now that he has been proclaimed as the world's greatest hero, he has to settle down with his new family and get married to the love of his life. After months of waiting, he can finally make her dream come true.
Will everything actually go according to plan?
== Story ==
Adam lies in his bed, staring at the window ahead of him. He barely believes that everything he witnessed with his own eyes recently is more than just a bad dream.
"Perhaps I was wrong about Darkthrop. He was fighting for his own cause, but so was I."- He says to himself- "It is a shame that he was not wise enough to realize what is the best for his own people."
A few moments later, the door to his room opens. Jared walks in and stands near his son.
"Adam?"- He asks- "Are you awake?"
Adam rubs his eyes.
"I guess you can say that."
Jared sighs.
"I'm sorry for disturbing you."- He says- "I was just... thinking. About what happened to us."
Adam nods.
"How is that going for you?"
Jared shakes his head.
"Even though our people assure me that the feeling of unease will pass after a few weeks, I still cannot shake it off."- He says- "It is as if nothing is over yet. As if we still have villains left to defeat."
Adam nods.
"If that were true, rest assured that I shall not rest until they receive the punishment that they deserve."- He says- "I do not deny it. There will always be villains in this world. But as long as there are heroes, they will never win."
Jared smiles.
"From all of the nice things that you have said since you became a hero, that was one of the most daring ones."- He says- "Your aunt would be proud."
Adam sighs and lies down.
"I miss my aunt."
Jared nods.
"Me too, child."- He says- "But this is what life does to us. Whenever you think that everything is alright, it goes wrong instead. Your whole world is turned upside down and you do not know what to do."
He looks at him.
"So take my advice and remember this."- He adds- "No matter where you are, no matter what you do, always be wary. You never know when disaster may strike again."
Having decided that it is best to leave his son lost in his thoughts for now, Jared decides to let him rest. Before he leaves, though, he looks back. His face lightens up for a few seconds and a broad smile appears on his face, as if he is very excited about something.
"One more thing, my child."- He says- "Since you do not want to be the king of Avernum, I spoke with the greatest guild of heroes on the surface. Its previous leader is retiring and he wishes to speak with you on this matter. If you want to, of course."
Adam nods.
"It sounds like a prestigious opportunity."- He says- "I will meet him as soon as possible."
Jared smiles.
"Then your future is quite certain."- He says- "Good luck, my boy."
As Jared leaves the room, Adam notices that Akira is standing next to him.
"So."- She says- "You're finally getting a job?"
Adam nods.
"Training young heroes is a very demanding task, but I shall do my best."
Akira sighs.
"Ugh. Parents."- She says- "They always force their children to do something they don't love."
Adam shakes his head.
"Despicable or not, a job is a job."- He responds- "We have work to do. We must get it done?"
Akira raises her eyebrow.
"Like that one time with Darkthrop."
Adam looks at her.
"What do you mean?"
Akira chuckles.
"Just kidding."- She says- "That one shall remain in the past now. Don't worry about it."
Adam sighs.
"I just want to have a peaceful life with my family."- He says- "But I do not want them to starve because of my inability to be anything else but a hero."
Akira shakes her head.
"I won't allow that."- She says- "As long as I'm still breathing, I'll help you find your place in this world. Your true place."
Adam smiles.
"Thank you, Aki."- He says- "I owe you a lot."
Akira smiles back.
"No, little brother."- She says- "I'm the one who owes everything to you."
As Adam and Akira hug one more time, the door opens again.
"Hey family!"- Aalia exclaims as she peeks her head- "It's dinner time!"
Then she notices the two of them.
"Oh! Sorry!"- She adds- "Am I... interrupting anything?"
Adam smiles.
"It is alright."- He says- "We will join you soon."
Aalia smiles.
"It's so good to see you two bond in such a cute way."- She says- "Keep it up!"
Then, she goes back downstairs.
"She is a little weird, isn't she?"- Adam says to Akira.
Akira nods.
"Weird, but also very nice."- She says- "In my life as an adventuress, I've never met a woman so caring and loving. It is as if her heart is made of gold. It's so pure and... shiny."
Adam smiles.
"That is my Aalia."- He says- "She is the light that keeps me moving. The angel on my shoulder that always stands by my side. I love her more than almost anything in this world."
Akira raises her eyebrow.
"Almost?"
Adam smiles.
"Before you, of course."
Akira smiles.
"Ah!"- She exclaims- "Of course!"
The voice of Emela can be heard from downstairs.
"Come on, children!"- She exclaims- "It's dinner time!"
Adam stands up.
"We are on our way!"
He looks back at Akira.
"Before we go, I wanted to ask you about something."
Akira nods.
"What is it?"
Adam looks down at her mechanical arm.
"How is it feeling?"- He asks her- "Did you manage to get over all the tension?"
Akira smiles. She moves the fingers on her hand for a bit, staring at them as they do.
"You know, I'm starting to feel like I'm a cyborg from another world or something."- She says- "It always stands out in a way that I don't like. But it's cool. I love it."
Adam raises his eyebrow.
"More than your old one?"
Akira sighs.
"That one's best left in the past."- She says- "Now, those undead freaks can't touch me!"
Adam smiles.
"Your spirit is always so high."- He says- "I like it."
Akira nods.
"Well. That's me."- She says- "The true me."
Adam nods.
"Darkthrop never took away your pure heart."
Akira smiles.
"And he never will."
As the two of them go downstairs, they sit next to Aalia, patiently waiting for Emela to serve them their meal.
"So, sweetie. A great week's ahead of us."- She says as she stands close to Adam- "Are you ready for it?"
Adam sighs.
"I am not sure."- He responds- "I am still quite nervous."
Emela looks at him.
"Oh, come on! Don't be such a baby!"- She exclaims- "Everyone has to go through something like this in their lives! You can't just deny it!"
Akira glares at her.
"Emela, leave my brother alone."- She says- "He can decide to do whatever he wants, whenever he wants. Besides, he's too young for that. Give him some time."
Emela shakes her head.
"Your parents got married when they were still eighteen."- She says- "So, there's no excuse for this young man."
Akira raises her eyebrow.
"And you're just going to force him?"- She asks- "Sorry, honey. It doesn't work that way."
Adam shakes his head.
"It is alright, Aki. I have already decided."- He says- "I will do it, but only because I promised Lia that it will happen as soon as we get home."
Aalia raises her eyebrow.
"You know. If you don't want to do it, then don't worry."- She says- "As long as you're here with me, nothing else matters."
Adam shakes his head.
"No, Lia. It has to happen."- He says- "We have to make it official. It is the only way."
Aalia sighs.
"As you wish, honey."
Emela smiles.
"That's a good boy!"- She exclaims- "Now, back to dinner."
As the four of them sit down, Emela looks at Aalia.
"By the way."- She says to her- "What happened between you and your little boyfriend? Is there anything worth noting?"
Akira shakes her head.
"No. We're keeping it low, for now."- She says- "Linus is very devoted to our relationship and is clearly in love with me. However, I don't want to push him. If he wants to get married, I'll be glad to say yes. But this is not the right time, so we'll have to postpone it for a while longer. Maybe two or three years, if the circumstances could allow it."
Emela smiles.
"Ah. But that's okay."- She says- "It's your choice. Don't overdo it."
Akira sighs.
"I'm just glad that I have someone to love for real."- She says- "Falling in love with that vampire a few years ago was a huge mistake. I'll never forgive myself for that.'
Emela blinks a few times.
"If you need to talk about it, I'm always there for you."- She says- "I know that it's hard to love someone who doesn't truly love you back. So, if you want to get that out of your mind, I give you my word that I could help you out."
Akira smiles.
"I would appreciate it."
Meanwhile, Adam and Aalia talk about their marriage plans.
"So."- Adam says- "What kind of ring would you want to have?"
Aalia shakes her head.
"I don't care about any rings."- She says- "I love you. I got you by my side. That's all that matters to me."
Adam smiles.
"I know that very well. True love is not measured by money or accessories. It is a force that goes far beyond those meaningless things."- He says- "However, I feel as if it is a duty to me. As your future husband, I want to choose that stands well on your hand."
He gently takes her hand in his and inspects it.
"You have such delicate fingers. Such soft skin."- He says- "It would be a sin to not give you something that is equally beautiful."
He kisses her hand.
Aalia blushes.
"Oh, Adam. You're always so gentle."- She says to him- "But don't worry about it. I'll be fine."
Adam looks up.
"How does a white metal ring sound?"- He asks her- "There shall be a white diamond on top and it shall shine very bright."
He smiles.
"But not as bright as you."
Aalia blushes.
"You know."- She says- "Your love always makes me melt like chocolate in the sun."
Adam nods.
"And I feel the same way."
As the two of them continue to talk, Emela and Akira stare at each other.
"They're so happy."- Emela says- "I haven't seen them like this for weeks."
Akira smiles.
"It's exactly what I want to see."
Emela sighs.
"I think the same way."- She says- "Those two have something that I don't."
Akira raises her eyebrow.
"And what would that be?"- She asks- "You have a good job. You know a lot of magic. You're a beautiful woman. What more could you want?"
Emela shakes her head.
"You know, there's those two boys that I've always loved. No matter where we went, I always looked up to them. They were always so kind, so brave."- She says- "But live tore us apart, just like everything else. Now, Deugan's lost in his own family affairs. After Derek almost got himself killed, he hasn't been the same. As for Mardek, well, I still haven't heard where he went. He's become a star in the face of this new world, but I never had the chance to tell him how I really feel."
Akira nods.
"So, you still love Mardek?"- She asks- "Even while Elwyen's still standing by his side."
Emela shakes her head.
"I know. Elwyen will destroy me if I think about her beloved, let alone steal him away from her."- She says- "They're together now. And I can't change that."
Akira nods.
"But their love will not last forever."- He says- "Mardek is not interested in a girl that is so much younger than him. His eyes are still on you."
Emela raises her eyebrow.
"Is that true?"- She asks- "Do I still have a chance?"
Akira nods.
"Of course you do!"- She exclaims- "Whenever you have the time, let's go for a walk. We'll find Mardek and you can talk to him for as long as you want. And then, when he least expects it, bam! Throw that proposal in his face!"
Emela looks down.
"But... what about Elwyen?"- She asks- "If I try to steal him from her, she will always hate me."
Akira smiles.
"Oh, don't worry about her."-She says- "While you talk to Mardek, I'll drag her away for a girls' night. I'll explain to her why being in love with an older man's never a good idea. And then, it'll all be good. He's all yours."
Much to their surprise, Adam leans closer to them. It is as if he just heard what they were talking about.
"Are you sure that you want to mess with Ellie again?"- He asks them- "It sounds like you are looking for trouble."
Emela glares at him.
"That's none of your business, sweetie."
Adam shrugs.
"Fair enough, Miss Emela."- He replies- "Just keep that in mind. I do not want to fix broken relationships again later."
As he turns back to Aalia, she raises her eyebrow.
"Umm."- She says- "Again?"
Adam sighs.
"The relationship between Miss Emela and Mr. Mardek is... complicated."- He says- "It is best not to talk about it."
Akira sighs.
"Ignore them, Emela."- She says- "We'll settle this like real women."
Emela smiles.
"I'm counting on you, Akira."- She says- "Don't let me down."
Akira smiles back.
"Rest assured that I won't rest until you and Mardek are together."- She says- "I give you my word."
As Akira and Emela continue to talk, Aalia leans close to Adam.
"Umm, honey?"- She asks- "May I have your attention for a minute?"
Adam looks at her.
"Is something wrong?"
Aalia shakes her head.
"No. Not really."- She says- "It's just that... I wanted to talk to you. In private.'
Adam nods.
"I understand. You must be concerned about something."- He says- "Then let us talk. Outside."
As the two of them leave the household, Akira and Emela stare at them. They are worried about what Adam and Aalia are going to talk about, but decide not to meddle in their personal affairs.
Meanwhile, Adam and Aalia sit on a bench outside. They stare at each other awkwardly for a few moments, unsure what to reveal to each other. It is as if there is something between them that is still not settled, but neither of them are confident enough to make a step forward.
And then, just as Aalia musters enough strength to speak, Darius joins them.
"Sorry for interrupting, but we've got a breach in the west perimeter. Stragglers from Darkthrop's forces are trying to break the walls down."- He says- "Could you come with me, Adam?"
Aalia glares at him.
"Don't you see that he's busy?"
Darius stares at her.
"But... there might be... "
And then, he sees the look in Aalia's eyes. She seems to be very serious about it.
He sighs.
"Very well."- He says- "I'm sure that Mr. Kaos will settle this, anyway."
He smiles.
"Have a good evening, you two."
As Darius leaves, Aalia sighs.
"Finally!"
Adam looks at her.
"Alright."- He says- "So, what is more important than helping my friends out?"
Aalia shakes her head.
"You're always very busy."- She says- "You keep forgetting about your new family and I'm not happy."
Adam shakes his head.
"I am sorry!"- He exclaims- "I promise to be a better husband! Just give me some more time!"
Aalia smiles and wraps her hands around his neck.
"You don't need to be. I understand that you have to go through a lot."- She says- "It's just that... I wanted to talk about our future."
Adam shakes his head.
"Our future is much brighter now."- He says- "We can talk all day, if you wanted to."
Aalia sighs.
"I feel like you should know the truth."- She says- "I never told you about it, but do you remember that one time when we stayed alone in the abandoned castle? When your sister wasn't around to see us?"
Adam nods.
"Indeed, I do."- He says- "That was the first time when we felt so... close."
Aalia smiles.
"Well, I've got good news for ya."
She leans close and whispers something to him. A few seconds later, he gasps.
"Are you serius?"- He asks- "Again?"
Aalia nods and smiles.
"I've been using magic to hold it back for a few months. I wanted it to be a surprise for you."- She says- "But now, it's time to reveal my secret."
Suddenly, Aalia's abdomen grows a little bit larger. Adam is, understandably, surprised.
"But this our third one so far!"
Aalia smiles.
"True."- She responds- "But I feel that this one shall be the must special of them all. Our brighest star."
Adam smiles and hugs her.
"I love you all."- He says- "No matter how many we will have, I will always be happy."
Aalia smiles and hugs him back.
"And so do I, honey."
She looks down.
"Do you want to feel him?"
Adam raises his eyebrow.
"Him?"
Aalia nods.
"Yes!"- She exclaims- "Recently, I checked out its gender and it was confirmed. It shall be a boy!"
Adam smiles.
"Ah!"- He says- "Now I see why you are so excited!"
Aalia nods.
"I've always wanted a boy. One boy."- She says- "Our twins are adorable, but it's not the same as this."
Adam gently presses his hand against your stomach.
"Come on."- Aalia says- "It's yours. Don't be shy."
Adam rolls his eyes.
"Alright then."
He leans closer and presses his hand against Aalia's abdomen.
"Oh my."- He says- "I can hear his heartbeat."
Aalia nods.
"I can feel it all the time."
Adam smiles.
"So this is what it feels like to be a parent. The excitement. The happiness. It is all coming together."- He says- "Now I see how my dad felt when I was still in my mother's belly."
Aalia raises her eyebrow.
"Very happy, I would assume?"
Adam nods.
"He was the happiest man in the world."- He says- "And so am I."
As Adam leans back, he notices Jared walking toward them. He waves at him and watches as he joins them.
"So."- He says excitedly- "Is it true?"
Adam raises his eyebrow.
"What is true?"
Jared smiles.
"Will I have a grandson?"- He asks- "An actual grandson?"
Aalia smiles.
"He's on the way, dad!"- She exclaims- "Don't you worry!"
Jared nods.
"That's some great news, children!"
Adam looks at him.
"What about our twins, dad?"- He asks him- "You formed a bond with them, right?"
Jared nods.
"Of course. I love them both a lot."- He says- "But I think the same way as Aalia. Your new boy will be a special one."
Adam smiles.
"Then we shall nurture its talents."- He says- "Whatever they may be."
Suddenly, he realizes that Akira has joined them as well. She pats her brother on the shoulder and smiles.
"And we'll nurture them together!"- She exclaims- "As a family!"
Jared nods.
"It is good to see you two together again."- He says- "You are doing great, Akira."
Akira smiles.
"Thanks, dad."- She says- "I'm doing my best."
Jared nods.
"Now, how about we go out for a family night?"- He suggests- "There's a new movie launching in the nearby cinema tonight. I think that you kids are going to love it."
Adam's eyes light up.
"The one about the guardians of the universe?"- He says- "Oh boy! I love it!"
Akira and Aalia stare at each other and smile.
"He's always loved the trilogy."- Akira says- "The third one hasn't been released ever since we were kids."
Aalia nods.
"Well."- She says- "Good timing, then!"
Akira nods.
"And a good timing it shall be."- She says- "Now let's go. We don't want to miss it, do we?"
Adam smiles.
"No chance, Aki."
----One week later, Adam is sitting on a chair in his room. Akira is styling his hair, tying some of it into a ponytail while letting most of it loose.
"Brother. I have to be honest with you."- She says to him- "You have such gorgeous hair. I envy you."
Adam smiles.
"I do my best to look beautiful."
Akira nods.
"And I'm sure that you'll be even more beautiful once we're done."- She says- "You'll be the brightest star out there. I'm sure of it."
As she continues to tie her brother's hair, she continues to look at him.
"By the way, what happened to Aalia's pregnancy?"- She asks- "I heard that she had some complications after giving birth to your boy, but I'm not quite sure."
Adam smiles.
"It does not matter."- He says- "Our child is here with us. For the sake of him, she will do her best to remain here."
Akira smiles.
"You know. I've always thought that I would feel something around your twins, but I never imagined that I would feel so... infatuated when I met your boy for the first time."- She says- "I'm really happy to be an aunt."
The two of them continue to smile as they reminisce those events, as if they happened yesterday.
Adam and Aalia run to the hospital. They heard that Aalia's water has broken and they are rushing forward to help her out.
"Are you sure that you know how to handle this, Mr. Kaos?"- A doctor asks him- "Our specialists are doing their best to help, but she's not getting better."
Adam shakes his head.
"I assure you that I know what I am doing."- He says- "Just let me do my job. Then, you can handle the rest yourselves."
The doctor nods.
"As you wish, sir."
Adam opens the door and sees Aalia. She seems to be in pain.
"Are you alright, Lia?"- He says and holds her hand- "It is fine. I am here for you."
Aalia shakes her head.
"I may be in a pickle, honey."- She says- "Our son. He may be... "
Adam shakes his head.
"Do not say that! Of course he will be alright!"- He exclaims- "We have gone through so much to be here! Now stand still and keep calm! I will not let our efforts go to waste!"
Aalia looks up as Adam bends down next to her.
"Adam... "
Adam casts a healing magic to ease her pain. Then, he asks the doctors to give him various herbs, combining them to form a smelly, but effective potion that he pours on Aalia's open wound.
"Agh!"- She exclaims- "It stings!"
Akira shakes her head.
"Be careful, brother!"- She scolds him- "This is a real person, not some kind of wounded animal!"
Adam sighs.
"Trust me, I already accepted it when I took the risk."- He says- "This is my wife. And I will do my best to save her."
Thanks to Adam's efforts, Aalia feels much better. After a few minutes, her eyes clear and the smile returns on her face.
And then, just as suddenly, she starts to sweat as she starts to feel pains in her abdomen.
"I think that I'm... ready."
The doctors nod.
"Then let's deliver your child."
One of them looks back at Adam.
"Now that your work is done, it's time for you to go."- He says- "Only doctors are allowed here, so please go outside."
Adam nods.
"Of course."- He says- "Good luck, then."
As he and Akira prepare to leave, Aalia shakes her head.
"No! Don't go!"- She exclaims- "I still need you! Please, hold my hand!"
The doctors shake their heads.
"This is not a joke, miss."- One of them says- "We must do this alone. It's dangerous to let anyone else in."
Aalia shakes her head.
"I don't care!"- She exclaims- "Let him in!"
The doctors sighs.
"Alright. But just him."- One of them says- "Nobody else."
Akira nods.
"Then I shall wait outside."- She says- "Take good care of my little nephew, okay?"
The doctors nod.
"It shall be done."
As the doctors stand close to Aalia, Adam sits next to her and gently holds her hand.
"Are you feeling well now?"
Aalia sighs.
"I'm not sure."- She says- "I think that I stopped bleeding. But I can still feel some pain."
Adam smiles.
"You will be alright."- He says- "I promise."
He looks up.
"Alright."- He says- "Get ready."
As Aalia starts to push, the doctors wait patiently. Her screams fill the room and worry Adam, but they stay calm, even in the face of a potential danger to their patient.
"Alright! This is it!"- One of them yells- "Push and keep pushing!"
Aalia simply continues to scream. The convulsions are causing her a lot of pain, but she seems to be succeeding.
"Only a little longer."- One of the doctors says- "We can see it."
Adam continues to hold his beloved's hand.
"You are doing very well, honey."- He says to her- "You will make it."
A few moments later, the doctors pull something out of Aalia. It is a small child.
"It's a boy."
The doctor approaches Adam and hands him the baby.
"As the father of this little boy, I feel like you should be the one to hold him first."- He says as he wraps him in cloth- "With the mother's permission, of course."
Aalia lies back and nods.
"I'll allow it."
The doctor nods.
"Then your wish shall be granted."
The doctor watches as Adam stares at his newborn son and smiles.
"He is so beautiful."
Aalia smiles as she looks at him as well.
"Just like you, right?"
Adam nods.
"He is like both of us."
A few moments later, he notices something unusual.
"Hmm."- He says- "He... is not breathing."
The doctor shakes his head.
"This could mean that he's stillborn."
Aalia's head darts toward the doctor.
"Don't say that!"- She exclaims- "He's alive! I know it! I felt it!"
The doctor nods.
"There's only one way to find it out,"
Adam nods and bends down. He gently places his son down and casts a healing spell, channeling a tiny amount of his light energy on his tiny heart, in an attempt to save his newborn. It does not take long for him to achieve success- the little boy starts to cry almost immediately.
However, Adam acts very quickly and picks him up in his arms, gently rocking him until he falls asleep.
"Mr. Kaos, you're a natural."- The doctor says- "I don't know how you do it, but it's always a sight to see."
Adam smiles.
"I take good care of my loved ones."
The doctor nods.
"It shows."
Adam leaves the little boy in Aalia's arms. She smiles and kisses him on the forehead.
"Oh, my little angel."- She says- "I'm so glad that you're here with us."
The doctor looks at Adam.
"I'm afraid that your wife and son have to stay in the hospital for a few days. Even though you managed to seal most of her wounds, she still needs to rest after... after everything that she had to experience."- He says- "In the meantime, why don't you name the baby? I'm sure that there will be enough time for that."
Adam smiles.
"I would love to."
Adam and Aalia talk to each other for a while. They share some boy names that are on their minds, thinking whether they would be suitable for their newborn.
Finally, Adam smiles, having remembered one name that his father told him when he was younger.
"Honey, I know the perfect name for him."- He says to Aalia- "It represents the bravest, purest warriors of our world and it shows just how good he shall be to everyone."
Aalia nods.
"But what is it?"
Adam smiles.
"Geralt."- He responds- "Geralt Kaos."
----As Adam and Akira stop reminiscing the events that happened last week, they sigh.
"It all happened too fast, though."- Akira says- "I wasn't ready to be this happy."
Adam smiles.
"Well, you are now."- He says- "He is your nephew. He looks up to you, even though he is very young."
Akira smiles.
"That makes me even happier than before."
As she ties the last strand of hair on top of Adam's head, she takes a step back and nods.
"Perfect."- She says- "Just like you."
Adam nods.
"So, does this mean that I am ready?"
Akira smiles.
"You've always been ready, dear brother."- She says- "Now go there and shine brighter than the sun!"
Adam smiles.
"I am on my way!"
A few hours later, Adam steps into the chapel as music plays all around him. Everyone sits on the benches to the left and right, watching him excitedly as he moves forward.
"Are you feeling nervous?"- Akira asks him as she keeps up with his pace- "Don't worry. I'll be nearby."
Adam nods.
"Thank you, Aki."
As he stands near the altar, a woman in white robes joins him. A white veil is covering her face, so it is not visible. Yet.
"Ladies and gentlemen. Today, we have gathered to witness the bond between two souls. The love that sparks between them."- He says- "Welcome to the marriage between Adam Kaos and his beloved- Aalia Kitregis.
The people cheer for Adam and Aalia as they stare at each other.
"So, Adam Kaos."- The priest says as he looks at him- "Do you promise to love this woman forevermore? Do you promise to take care of her until the entire world falls apart? Do you promise to be there for her forever, until the sky falls down?"
Adam nods.
"I give my most sincere word that I will."
The priest nods.
"Very well."- He says- "And you, Aalia Kitregis? Do you promise the same?"
Aalia nods.
"Without a doubt, I do."
The priest smiles.
"Then you can kiss the bride."- He says- "Congratulations! I declare you Mr. and Mrs. Kaos!"
Adam lifts Aalia's veil and kisses her as the people cheer for him.
The rest of the wedding goes according to plan. Everyone goes to dance along with the newly wedded couple, joining them on the dance floor not long after.
As Adam and Aalia dance, Adam's parents approach them and smiles.
"So, my boy."- Jared says to his son- "How are you feeling?"
Adam smiles.
"Very excited."
Jared nods.
"That is wonderful."
Meggy looks at Jared and smiles.
"Do you see this, dear?"- She asks him- "Our baby just got married!"
Jared rolls his eyes.
"He is not our baby anymore, Meg."- He says to her- "Treat him like a hero. He deserves it."
Meggy smiles.
"Of course."
Adam looks at his mother.
"Umm, mom?"- He says- "I think that it is time."
Meggy gasps.
"Oh, right! The mother and son dance!"- She exclaims- "Alright! Let's do this!"
As Meggy leans close to her son, they start to dance in front of the excited crowd. They clap as they watch them.
"You know, I never knew that this day would come."- Meggy says to her son- "But now, it is as if I'm reliving the times when I was the bride."
Adam smiles.
"I saw the pictures not too long ago."- He says- "You were so beautiful."
Meggy nods.
"We never thought too much of it. We just wanted to get the job done and move on with our lives."- She says- "But then, you made your glorious appearance. You changed our world forever and I'm really grateful for it."
Adam nods.
"Were you happy when I was born?"
Meggy smiles.
"Just as happy as Aalia is right now."- She says- "I can understand how she feels as I went through the same emotions long ago myself."
She smiles again.
"She's a lucky woman."
Adam smiles as well.
"And I am a lucky man."
As Adam and his mother continue to dance. he looks at her, a little concerned about her well-being.
"By the way, how are you feeling after the defeat of Darkthrop?"- He asks her- "I know that it must have been hard for you, but do you think that you are ready to shake it off for good?"
Meggy nods.
"I can still feel a little bit of taint in my soul, from time to time."- She says- "Still, it doesn't matter. I've been cured from his curse. I am free. And it shall remain this way, forever."
Adam smiles.
"I am very happy to hear that."
Meggy smiles back.
"And I am very happy to see you happy."
And so, the party continues until midnight. The guests have never been this happy and the newly wedded couple is excited to share their happiness with those who came to honor them.
Eight months later, having settled most of the things in their lives at long last, Adam and Aalia prepare their packages. They are getting ready for their honeymoon and are unsuprisingly excited about it.
"So."- Adam says- "Did you put Kaiden and Kiara to sleep?"
Aalia nods.
"They're dreaming right now."
Adam nods.
"What about Geralt?"
Aalia smiles.
"Our little angel is alright."- She says- "A little bit too happy for his age, but that's just his way to say how much he loves us."
Adam smiles.
"He is our greatest pride and joy."- He says- "When we return to the mainland, I will make sure to take him for a long walk."
Aalia nods.
"And so will I."
They look back and realize that a lot of people are standing behind them, waiting to send them off on their honeymoon.
"Hmm."- Adam says- "I guess that our visit did not go unnoticed."
The couple join their family as they greet them.
"How is my little, big brother?"- Akira says and smiles.
Adam nods.
"I am feeling much better."- He says- "Thank you, Aki."
Akira nods.
"Of course, Adam."- She says- "I'm so happy for you."
As Aalia and Jared talk, Adam notices Emela in the distance. She is with a man, holding his hand.
"Is that Miss Emela?"- He asks- "What happened to her while we were gone? She looks so... thrilled."
Akira smiles.
"It sounds like you didn't learn the big news."- She says- "I managed to reunite Emela with Mardek. They managed to restore their bond and, well, everything went very well after that."
Adam smiles.
"I am glad to see them happy."
Emela notices that Adam is watching her. She and Mardek approach him.
"Congratulations, dear!"- She exclaims as she hugs him- "I see that you've finally decided your path in life!"
Adam smiles.
"I never could have done it without you, Miss Emela!"- He exclaims- "Thank you for always being there for me."
Emela salutes him.
"It's always an honor to be your teacher, dear."
The two of them look at Mardek. He smiles.
"Well, hello again!"- He says- "It sounds like you've been quite busy lately!"
Adam smiles and shakes his hand.
"I am sorry that we did not tell you, Mr. Mardek."
Mardek smiles.
"Well, it's alright. I get it."- He says- "Getting to Darkthrop in time was your primary task. You went through all that with barely anything in your hands. Few people dared to join you, but you still cherished those who bravely stood by your side."
He leans forward and places his hand on Adam's shoulder.
"I'm proud of you, young one."- He says to him- "You make me feel hopeful. You help me see a brighter future for all of us."
Adam smiles.
"I am glad that you feel this way, sir."
He looks up.
"By the way, what happened between you and Elwyen?"- He asks- "I know that the two of you were planning to be married, but I guess that it did not work for you."
Mardek shakes his head.
"Well, I guess that you're right. Elwyen is a nice girl, but she's not the right one for me."- He says- "I loved her, but she was too enthusiastic. Too cheerful. She always envied every girl that was staring at me. It made me feel... uncomfortable, to say at the very least."
Emela sighs.
"The two of them are on friendly terms now."- She says- "When Akira spoke to her, she understood that it was best to find someone younger for her. Thus, she and Mardek separated and she allowed me to be his beloved instead of her."
Adam smiles.
"That is so sweet of her."- He says- "I knew that Ellie would accept."
Emela nods.
"She placed her trust in me."- She says- "I won't betray it."
A few moments later, Adam hears the captain's voice coming from nearby.
"Last stop for Aurora Island."- He says- "You have ten minutes left."
Adam sighs.
"Well, I guess that this is the right time to go."- He says and hugs all three of them- "I will miss you a lot."
Emela smiles.
"We will miss you too, dearie."
Adam nods and looks back.
"It is time for our honeymoon... "- He says- "... to begin!"
As Adam and Aalia step into the ship, they wave at the people who came to see them off. They wave back.
Soon, they are aboard the ship. They stare at a nearby window and watch as it leaves the mainland.
"Look at the sea."- Aalia says, her eyes gleaming with pride- "It's so... sparkly!"
Adam smiles.
"Indeed."- He says- "The sparkles are bright. Like our future."
Aalia nods.
"So."- She says- "What will you do once we get back?"
Adam sighs.
"Oh, I am not sure."- He says- "I would likely enroll in a university. Get myself a proper job. Take care of our many children."
Aalia smiles.
"So it be."- She says- "Until then, let us enjoy our time together. Alone, in this sea of hope."
Adam looks at Aalia. He gently touches her face with his hand and smiles.
"You know."- He says- "Even since the moment when we first met, I have always been in love with you."
Aalia smiles.
"It's always been the same for me, too!"- She admits.
Adam nods.
"But that moment, I still cannot shake it off."- He says- "I think of it everyday. It haunts me."
Aalia raises her eyebrow.
"Is it about Bartholio and Vennie?"
Adam sighs and nods.
"I saved your life, but I was too late to save theirs."- He says- "They were good people. I just wish that I had more time to help them out."
Aalia sighs.
"Adam, it's hard. I know."- She says- "But you have to let it go. I did and I made it out. Now, it's time for you to do the same."
Adam looks down.
"I guess that this is for the best."- He says- "Guilt or not, the past cannot be changed by anything. We must move on, for the sake of everything that we still have left."
Aalia smiles and hugs him.
"You're all that I still have left."- She says- "And you're all that I need. No one else could make me happier than you do."
Adam smiles and hugs her back.
"And so are you, my love."
The two of them watch as the sun goes down, smiling as night approaches. Soon, it gets late and they feel sleepy.
"Well, I did not know that I would be so... tired."- Adam says- "How about we save the rest of our sightseeing for tomorrow?"
Aalia smiles and nods.
"Of course, my dear."- She says- "Let's go upstairs."
The couple enter their room and lie on their bed.
"Comfortable, isn't it?"- Aalia says- "It feels like we're in heaven?"
Adam smiles.
"Heaven is right here, my dear."- He says- "As long as you are with me, of course."
Aalia smiles.
"You're my heaven, love."
She kisses him on the cheek.
"I'll always love you."
Adam smiles.
"And I will love you."- He says- "Forever."
A few moments later, the two of them go to sleep, satisfied that they can spend some more time together tomorrow.
----Sometime in the morning, Adam wakes up to the screams of passengers outside their room. 
"Lia?"- He mutters- "What is... happening?"
He lazily tries to reach for his wife, but soon realizes that she is not there.
"Aalia?"
He stands up and sees a trail of blood next to his bed. Horrified, he attempts to inspect it further, only to slip into it and bump his head in the ground.
"Ow."- He says as he stands back up- "That one hurt."
A few moments later, he notices that the nearby nightstand is covered in blood. It is as if someone hit their head into it and ripped it open.
"Oh my god."- Adam mutters- "Who would have done such a thing?"
He takes a step forward and bends down to pick up something. It is Aalia's white hairpin, stained with blood.
"She must have been in a hurry. Normally, she does not let them fall so easily."- He says to himself- "What could have driven her to run away like that?"
And then, he hears a familiar groan coming from nearby.
"Aalia!"
Adam opens the door and runs downstairs. He realizes that the ship is on fire. A host of darklings is attacking every human who is still standing.
The corpses of many unfortunates line the floor all around Adam as he runs forward. He is not carrying his weapon right now, but he is still ready to fight.
A while later, he stumbles upon a small group of darklings. They recognize him immediately and draw their weapons.
"You'll pay for killing our leader!"
Adam shakes his head.
"You never learned your lesson, did you?"- He asks- "Well. I guess that it is time to make you pay for what you did to those people."
Adam lunges forward and casts a powerful fire spell. The darklings are thrown back, immediately incinerated by the intense magic.
However, one of them survives. It cowers in fear as Adam approaches it.
"Where is Aalia?!"- He yells and grabs it by the neck- "Where is my wife?!"
The darkling shakes its head. Apparently, it is not aware of what is happening and only wants to kill whoever it could.
Adam sighs and channels a large amount of light energy, disintegrating the screaming darkling almost immediately.
"What a bunch of worthless fiends."
Once again, he hears Aalia's groan coming from nearby. He runs forward, following the trail of blood as he goes.
"Aalia?"- He says- "Aalia? Where are you?!"
A familiar voice comes from nearby.
"Adam? Is that... you?"- Aalia mutters- "I'm here! I'm here!"
Adam tries to find his wife before she is burned to death. Sure enough, he finds her, trapped in a pile of rubble as she struggles to set herself free.
"Lia! It is alright!"- He says as he lifts the rubble away from her- "I will help you! I promise!"
Aalia shakes her head.
"It's too late, honey."- She says- "The damage's gone too deep. I can't... move."
Adam shakes his head.
"I refuse to give up on you!"
Once he removes the last piece of rubble, he takes the wounded Aalia in his arms and takes her back into their room.
Adam gently leaves her on the ground and stares at her. He realizes that both her arms and face are burned. Severely.
And then, he stares at her abdomen.
"No! Lia!"- He exclaims- "You are... bleeding!"
Aalia sighs.
"I can't help it."- She says- "It's too late to be afraid."
Adam attempts to heal her with his magic, but it still continues to bleed. He tries again, but gets the same results.
However, he does not give up. He tries again. And again. And then once more. He continues to try, but soon realizes that it is impossible to save her. Her burns have reached their way toward her bones and her bleeding was caused by normal means. In other words, her wounds are fatal and all that he has left to do is to watch helplessly as his beloved wife dies in his arms.
"Lia. I do not want to leave you here."- He says, fearing that the inevitable will happen soon- "I cannot keep living without you! We shall die together!"
Aalia shakes her head.
"Have you gone mad?!"- She says- "What about our children?!"
Adam looks down.
"But I... I... "
Aalia shakes her head.
"Stop worrying about me."- She says- "Our children are the future. Take good care of them."
Adam stands in the room as the ship around them continues to burn, He holds his dying wife's hand and continues to look down as tears fall from his eyes.
"I never imagined that it would end like this."- He says- "All I wanted was for us to be happy. And now, I'm going to lose you."
He looks up.
"Why is this world so unfair?!"
Aalia sighs.
"It's okay, honey. Everything will get better."- She says- "Even though I likely won't get to witness it."
Adam holds Aalia's hand.
"Lia, please. Keep on fighting."- He says- "I refuse to lose you! I want you to live!"
Aalia nods.
"And so do I."- She says- "But this is what fate has decided for me. The strings cannot be severed. I must accept it."
Adam shakes his head.
"This is the worst day ever."- He says- "This is not real. I am not here at all."
Aalia smiles sadly.
"But it's the best one for me."- She says- "Even though I don't get to see our future, I'm happy that you're the one who stands by my side in my final moments. I'm so lucky."
Adam looks down.
"When dad said that something bad would happen to us, I refused to anticipate it. I believed that everything would go well for me and Aalia."- He says to himself- "But I was wrong. He became a bad prophet. And now, his words ring true."
He shakes his head.
"I should have listened to you, dad!"- He continues- "Why was I so foolish?!"
Adam leans his head close to Aalia's hand as he continues to cry.
"I only wanted the best for you, my love. And now, it all falls apart."- He says- "Is this what it feels like to lose someone important to you?"
Aalia smiles.
"Don't forget me, my dear."- She says- "Remind our children of who I used to be. I want them to know that they're not alone in this world."
Adam nods.
"I will always protect them."- He says- "As long as I am still here, they will never be alone."
Aalia smiles.
"Then I... know that I'm leaving our future in good hands."
She looks down at her wounds and coughs blood. It is clear that the damage has reached even further than before that she does not have a lot of time left.
She pulls out a small dagger from her pocket.
"Stand back, honey."- She says- "This is about to... get bloody. Very bloody."
Adam stares at her.
"Lia?"- He asks- "What do you think you are doing?"
Aalia shakes her head.
"Since I'm likely going to turn after I leave this world, I don't want you to... get hurt while trying to put me down."- She says- "So I'll just do it myself, to spare you all the pain. I'm doing this for your good, honey."
Just as Aalia prepares to plunge the small blade into her head, Adam gently grabs her hand and shakes his head.
"It is not fair for you to die like this. You went through so much to keep me safe and now, you want to end it yourself."- He says- "No. I brought you into this mess. It is my fault. I should be the one to ease your suffering."
Aalia raises her eyebrow.
"Are you... sure?"
Adam sighs.
"There is no other way."- He says- "I must do it."
He takes the dagger from Aalia's hand and closes his eyes.
"I am very sorry, my love."- He says- "I hope that you have a good life in heaven."
As the blade reaches Aalia's forehead, tears start to fall from Adam's eyes.
"I love you more than anything else."- He says- "Farewell, my dearest."
Having said that, he shakily plunges the dagger into Aalia's head, mercifully ending her life moments before she could bleed out.
Adam shakes his head, tears still falling from his eyes.
"I cannot leave her here."- He says to himself as he grabs Aalia- "She might be gone, but she will not be forgotten. We shall escape from this place together, alive or not."
As he tries to run out of the burning ship, he is encountered by two people. Looking closer, he realizes that they are Akira and Emela.
"Adam! What happened to you?"- Emela says- "You're bleeding!"
Adam shakes his head.
"It is... not my blood."
Akira stares at Adam's arms. She realizes that he is holding Aalia who has, at this point, lost most of her own blood and has become deathly pale.
"No. It cannot be."- She says- "What happened to her?"
Adam shakes his head.
"While I was asleep, the ship was attacked by darklings. Almost everyone else was dead and she was gravely wounded."- He says- "I did my best to save her life, but it was futile. The only thing that I was able to do was to put her down."
Adam looks at his sister. Tears fall from his eyes as he reminisces those horrible moments.
"I had to kill her myself, Aki."- He says- "I had to end her life because she was suffering!"
Akira starts to cry. She shakes her head as she hugs her brother.
"I am so sorry, little brother."- She says- "It's my fault. I was not fast enough to stop this."
Adam looks at her.
"What do you mean?"
Akira shakes her head.
"Just before the ship left the docks, a group of darklings approached the entrance, undisturbed by anything. They were carrying a large crate and something... something was moving inside."- She says with a guilty look in her eyes- "Me and dad attacked them as soon as they got close. We managed to kill a lot of them and even shattered a small part of the box. But the fiends hid their contents from us and ran away just as we were about to shoot them down. They went into the ship and I tried to reach them. But the vessel departed at that time and I was unable to do anything. I tried to swim toward you, but it was... was... "
She shakes her head.
"Aalia did not deserve this."- She yells- "It should've been me!"
Emela stares at the burning ship and shakes her head.
"There's no time to mourn the fallen."- She says- "We must go. Now."
Adam nods.
"But where are we headed?"- He asks- "There are no rescue boats left!"
Emela smiles sadly.
"Well, I've got some good news for you."- She says- "While we were on our way to get both of you out of here, we discovered a small boat at the end of the docks. It's not very sturdy, but it will be enough to carry the three of us to safety."
Adam raises his eyebrow.
"The three of us?"
Emela shakes her head.
"I'm afraid that we can't take more than three people on the vessel."- She says- "Aalia's only going to drag us down. We're forced to leave her."
Adam gasps.
"Leave her?!"- He asks- "Now? When the ship is still burning and when she might be turned to ashes?!"
Emela shakes her head.
"We don't have another choice."
Adam shakes his head as he holds Aalia's lifeless corpse in his arms.
"I refuse to go anywhere!"- He yells- "If the boat is unworthy to take Lia, then it is unworthy to take me as well!"
Akira is shocked by Adam's attitude.
"Adam! You don't understand the severity of the situation!"- She yells- "If we stay here for any longer than we already have, then we'll turn into ashes ourselves!"
Adam shakes his head.
"My wife died to protect us all!"- He yells- "I shall burn alongside her, if that is how it has to be!"
Akira and Emela stare at each other. They realize that Adam is serious. They look back at the boat below and realize something- they want to set Adam free from this place, but they also want to leave themselves. However, Adam refuses to give up on Aalia, even though she is already gone.
Deciding to risk everything that they still have left, Akira approaches Adam and lifts Aalia on her shoulders.
"Come on!"- She says- "We've got a maiden to save!"
As the three of them approach the boat below, she sighs.
"Even though she is not in this world anymore."
As the three of them jump on the boat, a group of darklings prepares to attack them. Fortunately, Akira and Emela are carrying weapons and easily manage to dispatch them before they could do any harm.
"It seems like you came here prepared."- Adam says.
Akira nods.
"We're always a little paranoid."- She says- "Carrying weapons in a place like this is just a part of our routine."
Emela looks back and gasps.
"The vessel's about to explode!"- She yells- "Sail away! Now!"
Akira grabs two oars and takes control of the boat. Miraculously, she manages to maneuver it just enough to survive the incoming explosion, leaving the survivors with little more than terror and guilt for the fallen.
"Aalia."- Adam says and shakes his head- "I am very sorry."
A few hours later, Adam and his allies reach the docks. They leave their boat and carry Aalia's corpse back to the mainland.
Just as they leave, however, Adam notices some kind of uncanny presence that is way too familiar.
"It is almost if I am feeling Mordred Darkthrop's vile magic again."- He says to himself- "Could it be... ?"
Unknowingly, he approaches the town square alone. It seems as if Akira and Emela have not noticed his presence yet... or are fooled into thinking that he never left.
Suddenly, the sky goes dark. Adam's hands get shaky as the feeling of unease grows much stronger than before.
"What is this?"- He asks- "Who is there?!"
A few moments later, a massive creature emerges from the sky. Adam looks up and gasps.
"Mordred Darkhtrop?!"
Mordred laughs as he steps closer to Adam.
"I was never defeated by the likes of you!"- He yells- "My hatred for you only grew stronger!"
Adam lets out a defiant war cry.
"You took Aalia away from me, you fiend!"
Mordred laughs.
"Oh! Did I?"- He says- "What a shame! I don't care!"
Adam's fists turn red, boiling with barely restrained fury.
"I will destroy you, Darkthrop!"
Mordred chuckles.
"My prophecy shall be fulfilled!"- He yells- "Even you aren't strong enough to stop me!"
Suddenly, he prepares to stomp Adam with his foot. However, the young hero nimbly jumps away from the crash site and onto his leg.
"Hey!"- Mordred yells as he attempts to swat him away- "Get down from there, you insect!"
Adam shakes his head.
"You have gone too far!"- He screams- "I will end your pathetic life!"
And then, without any fear, he runs on top of Mordred Darkthrop's body, carefully avoiding his blows as he jumps left and right. He is doing a good job and might even survive the encounter, if he continues to be wary of his surroundings.
Just as he finally reaches his head, Mordred sends a massive punch his way. However, the young hero jumps in the air, forcing Mordred to hit himself instead.
Enraged, he extends the palms of his hands. They glow with an eerie, pale blue light.
"You should have stayed dead, Darkthrop!"
And then, with a precise jump from Mordred's head, he casts a powerful water spell that crystalizes Mordred's body, freezing him in place and draining the malevolent spirit that possesses it. As he descends, his eyes start to glow light blue. Crystalline essence is infused into his body as terrified civilians watch from below.
"No! What are you doing?!"- He yells- "Stop it! You won't end my legacy!"
Adam glares at him.
"Is that so?"- He asks- "Then I would like to see you stop me!"
Mordred tries to stop him, but his efforts are met with pure rage and determination. Bit by bit, his entire body is crystallized by the impact and its gets much worse as Adam continues to descend.
When he finally lands on the ground, he looks up at Mordred. He has been completely turned into a crystal formation and cannot fight back anymore.
"In the name of all who fell by your hand, this is the end!"
And then, with a few motions of his hands, he releases a swirl of black mist from the formation. It shrieks, a loud an unpleasant sound to the humans below, and is shattered into pieces, turning into a cloud of rainbows and sparkles not long afterwards.
In front of all of the cheering townsfolk (including Akira and Emela, who came to cheer him on recently), Adam nods and smiles.
"It has been done."- He says- "After so long, Darkthrop has fallen. He will no longer torment us and threaten our future."
He looks back at the crystalline formation.
"No matter what happens next, this statue of the evil wizard is here to stay. A part of his very being shall remain here with us, reminding us of our mistakes. This is our motivation to fight for our future, to protect what we have."- He says- "This is the legacy that we have created! Darkthrop's very essence is sealed away! Forever!"
He looks down at Aalia's corpse and holds her hand.
"But not without a cost."
As the townsfolk cheer him on, Adam takes Aalia's corpse in his hands and walks toward Akira and Emela. As they walk away, Akira smiles and pats her brother on the shoulder.
"Little brother."- She says- "I don't know how you're doing this, but you've done it again. The world is safe and it's all because of you."
Adam nods but does not respond. He stares at the sunset as they get closer to the end of the trail.
"So, this is the future that we fight for. It is filled with many insecurities. Many enemies lurk in the darkness. Many things are still quite uncertain. But we still move on, even when everything seems to be impossible."- He mutters- "And yet, there is always that one person that makes it all worth it... even when they are not around anymore."
He sighs.
"Aalia, my dearest. I made a promise and I shall keep it."- He says as he looks up at the sky- "Until the end of my days, I shall fight for our future! Forevermore!"
The End.
== Trivia ==
* The title of this Extra Part is a reference to a song by popular singer Richard Marx with the same name.
**In addition, its alternate title is "Here Without You". It is a reference to a song by rock band Three Doors Down with the same name, whose lyrics inspire the most important sections of this Extra Part.
*The scene on the ships bears many similarities to the events of "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure" when Jonathan and Erina Joestar were going on their honeymoon shortly after getting married, just like Adam and Aalia. However, there are a few differences worth noting:
** In Phantom Blood, the ship is attacked by a horde of zombies, led by one of Dio Brando's most trusted men- Wang Chan. However, in "Miracula Luxia IV", the ship is attacked by a large group of Darklings instead, led by their former leader- Mordred Darkthrop.
**The final fates of the characters in question are reversed (Aalia- the female character- dies on the ship, while Adam- the male character- survives both the fire and the explosion without dying in the process).
** While Jonathan's corpse was never recovered by anyone after the ship sunk to the bottom of the ocean, Adam managed to drag his wife's lifeless corpse away, saving it just as the ship was about to explode.
** At the end of Phantom Blood, nobody arrives to rescue the freshly widowed Erina and she is forced to escape with a child in her hands, all alone. However, in Adam's case, he is rescued by Akira and Emela shortly after Aalia's untimely demise.
** As mentioned above, the ship in "Miracula Luxia IV" explodes shortly after Adam and his allies flee with their boat while the ship in Phantom Blood remains relatively intact, sinking at the bottom of the ocean instead.