MLTE P4- "High Expectations"

"High Expectations" is the fourth and penultimate Part of "Miracula Luxia: The Envoy". It was released on 28.08.2020.
== Plot ==
Although our heroes managed to defeat the evil Vahnatai who were responsible for capturing and taking away Ghall-Ihrno and trying to stop them from saving him, they are still not out of danger yet.
Another band of evil Vahnatai, in a desperate, suicidial grief, attempts to avenge their fallen comrades by attacking the city of Paris and trying to kill anyone they lay their eyes upon- human or not. And take away the one that has caused all the ruckus- Ghall-Ihrno.
It is up to our heroes to protect the innocent Vahnatai envoy from the angry enemies outside. At all costs.
== Story ==
As Jared and Ghall-Ihrno are about to begin their comversation, a soldier enters the room.
The man looks at our hero, almost out of breath.
"Is everything alright, soldier?"- Jared asks him.
Then he hears what is going on outside. There is screaming. Shouting. And other hostile sounds, clear signs of battle that is going on.
"What is going on?"- He continues.
The soldier gasps for breath. He doesn't say anything for a few seconds.
Finally, he regains his composure and begins to speak:
"I-it's the evil ones, S-sir!"- He says- "They surprised us! Attacked our defenses at the east gate and... and... "
Suddenly, he stops speaking. He hears someone trying to open the door behind him.
Moments later, a few hostiles barge into the building. 
The soldier panicks and tries to hide somewhere, but is immediately struck in the chest with a razordisk by one of the warriors and collapses. He dies soon after.
Jared looks at him sadly and shakes his head.
"Poor soldier."- He says to himself- "He came here, trying to warn us of this impending invasion. But now he, he... "
He sighs and shakes his head again.
"It does not matter. This poor soul will be avenged. But now, we must take care of the enemies... "
He turns back to his allies.
"Take Ghall-Ihrno to safety!"- He yells- "Keep him safe while I am absent!"
Marinette raises her eyebrow.
"But... what about you?"- She asks her brother- "You'll also need help!"
He shakes his head.
"No. I will be fine. Keeping Ghall-Ihrno alive is our top priority and I want you to keep it that way. Do you understand that?!"
Upon realizing that she has to leave her brother to fight those Vahnatai by himself, Marinette panics.
"NO!"- She screams- "I can't let you fight those monsters by yourself. This... this is suicide! Madness!"
"Please, come with us! Don't try to be a hero. Not right now!"
Jared ignores his sister's pleads and stares into her eyes. His gaze is cold and distant. It also makes Marinette shudder, as if she were outside during the winter.
"This is an order."- He says- "And, if you don't obey it, you will end up like me."
He looks at her again. This time, his gaze is more peaceful and focused.
"So. Do you understand my command?"- He says again.
Marinette nods, but does not say anything.
"Good."- Jared responds- "Now go. Keep our new friend alive. At all costs."
John nods.
"You got it, my friend. Stay safe."
Jared nods back.
"I will. Same for you, friends."- He says and watches as they leave the building.
The rest of the soldiers assist Jared in fighting the evil Vahnatai. With their help, he manages to slay them easily.
Jared sighs and cleans his blade.
"Fools."- He mutters- "They thought that they could destroy us by attacking with a smaller force."
He leaves the building and stares at the battle outside.
"Or maybe they are not after me. Of after any of us, in particular."- He thinks- "Maybe they are after... "
Suddenly, gears start moving in his brain as he learns the true reason behind the evil Vahnatai's attack.
"Oh no!"- He says- "I must protect him!"
"I must protect the envoy!"
He starts to run around and ask the people around him if they have seen his friends, desperately trying to find them before it is too late.
Meanwhile, Jared's allies manage to enter a building. They close all the doors and secure all the windows, making sure that no hostiles are in there with them.
Marinette sits on a chair and looks down, blaming herself for leaving her brother to fight those Vahnatai alone. She tries to decide whether to ditch her friends and try to find her brother alone or to help them and see if he finds them.
However, she is left no time to decide as some of the evil Vahnatai start to slowly break down the door.
Fortunately, our heroes manage to stop them from doing so and block the door with several chairs.
"This won't hold them back for much longer, you know!"- Marinette says to John.
John shrugs.
"Well, I've done what I could."- He responds- "Do you have a better idea?"
Marinette stares at the door for a few seconds. She sighs.
"I can hold them off for a while. By going outside."- She says- "But I want you to take care of the alien."
She turns to John.
"Just like my brother said earlier, protect him at all costs!"- She says to him.
John nods.
"Understood. Go. And good luck."
Marinette nods and jumps through an open window.
Unfortunately, she lands on a box as she steps on the ground, injuring her leg.
"Are you okay?"- John yells.
Marinette nods.
"Yeah. Don't worry."- She yells back.
She hides behind the crate and considers her chances of survival.
Tikki- Marinette's Kwami, flies out of her pocket.
"Marinette, this is not a good idea!"- She says- "Not with your injured leg! They'll surely tear you up!"
Marinette smiles.
"It's okay, Tikki."- She responds- "If the Goddess can smile at my brother, she could smile at me, too."
She takes a step further, careful not to injure her leg further.
"So, are you with me?"- She says to her Kwami.
Tikki realizes that she cannot convince Marinette in avoiding a confrontation with the Vahnatai, so she decides to help her in trying to kill them.
"You know I am, sweetie!"- She says proudly- "Now, let us show them how a real hero fights!"
Marinette nods and smiles.
"Now you're speaking my language, my dear Tikki. Let's make 'em regret that they ever messed with us!"
She holds her left hand up and adapts a fighting stance.
"Let's do this, Tikki!"- She yells and transforms into her alter superhuman ego- the mighty Ladybug.
Meanwhile, Jared helps some soldiers defeat a small band of hostiles. 
When he is done with the fight, he heals the wounded soldiers. After expressing their gratitude for his help, alk of the soldiers stumble off, clearly shaken by this whole experience.
Jared stares at the lights ahead and catches the glimpse of another fight.
When he joins the fight, he sees that he is fighting alongside someone who looks almost exactly like his sister. However, he decides not to bring it up.
Instead, he helps the female superhero defeat the enemies that are surrounding them.
After the fight is done, the superhero looks at the dead Vahnatai.
"Thanks for the help."- She says, without looking up- "I really needed it."
Jared smiles.
"It is my pleasure, miss. Helping people is what I do best."
Something in Jared's words makes the superhero look up. She instantly recognizes him, but tries to hide the fact that she knows him.
At this point, it is more clear that the person who is dressed in a ladybug costume and stands in front of Jared is actually his sister- Marinette. However, it seems like he is still unaware of that. For now.
Suddenly, Marinette hears a voice in her mind. It is the voice of her Kwami- Tikki.
"Oh, come on, Mari!"- She says- "It's okay to show him your real identity!"
"But Tikki!"- Marinette whispers- "Remember what you told me when I was younger? Nobody, and I mean nobody, is supposed to know my identity! Not even my family!"
Tikki giggles.
"I can see it in his eyes, Marinette."- She responds- "He will keep your secret. He is a good person."
Marinette sighs.
"Gotcha."- She says- "I will trust you, but just this once."
As Jared tries to think of something else to say, Marinette looks at him.
"I'm really sorry for wasting your time, miss!"- He says- "I've got to go. I have friends to protect!"
Marinette smiles.
"Brother, you really can't recognize me?"
Jared raises his eyebrow.
"What? Wait, are you... ?"
Marinette's transformation timer runs out. She turns back into her original self.
This surprises Jared even further.
"Sister! But... but you... "
Marinette shakes her head.
"There's no time for simple talk right now."- She says- "Everyone is inside. And we need to keep them-- "
Suddenly, they hear a scream coming from inside the building behind them.
"Let's go."- Jared says stoically and enters the building along with his sister.
At the entryway, Jared hands his sister a knife.
"I understand that you need to hide your superhero identity."- He says- "Do not worry. I will keep your secret. I promise."
"In the meantime, try to use this knife to defend yourself while we are in there, alright?"
Marinette nods and grabs the knife.
Jared climbs the stairs.
Marinette tries to do so, too. As she does, Tikki comes out again.
"Man."- She says- "Your brother's such a nice person. He gave you a weapon to protect yourself and promised to hide your identity from the world."
"He's amazing, Mari! Please don't let him down!"
Marinette grins."
"I would never!"- She responds- "He's the nicest little brother a big sister could ever want. And I will keep him alive, at all costs!"
Tikki smiles.
"That's my girl!"- She says- "Now go help him out!"
Marinette nods and climbs the stairs.
At the top, both of them see that a huge band of hostile Vahnatai has managed to sneak up and take Ghall-Ihrno hostage while trying to hold off John and Farrar.
"Thank god you're back!"- John says- "Those crooks have managed to take the alien hostage. We're trying to negotiate with them for his life, but it is not working!"
Jared nods and steps forward.
"Let me try."- He says.
John nods and steps aside.
"Vahnatai!"- Jared says- "I see that you have captured our friend. We wish to have him back, safe and sound. What are your demands?"
One of the Vahnatai, a mean and tall brute, smirks and points his blade at Jared.
"We have no demands, mortal."- He says- "We are here to take this scum away. And you cannot stop us!"
Another Vahnatai steps forward and shakes his head.
"Now that we have this traitor, we are going to extract all the information from him. Then, we are going to kill him and do the same to you."
"When we do that, your entire city will be ours! And so will be your country! Under the control of the almighty Rentar-Ihrno- our hero and savior."
"Nobody can escape the inevitable! You can only prolong it, but it will happen!"
Jared smiles and shakes his head.
"What is so funny, mortal?"- The first Vahnatai says, confused.
Jared looks up, still smiling.
"For such an ancient and powerful race, you are complete fools!"
The Vahnatai are insulted by Jared's words.
"How dare you say that? For that, you shall be the first to die!"
Jared sighs.
"You just cannot understand it, can you?"- He responds- "No matter how strong someone is, they are not unbeatable. Sometimes, they will lose a battle and rethink their strategies. And, when they continue fighting, they will fight in a better way!"
He looks at his blade.
"We all make mistakes. The question is how we comprehend them. How we get over that we lose people that are dear to us."
He looks up.
"And, as far as I can see, you cannot learn from your mistakes at all."
The Vahnatai have had enough of Jared's pep talk. They scream and charge.
However, this leaves them in a vulnerable position. Marinette takes advantage of this and throws her knife at the first Vahnatai's head, killing him almost immediately.
Ghall-Ihrno sees the knife sticking out of the creature's head and grabs it. Then, he surprises one of the Vahnatai and stabs him in the nape.
The rest of the evil Vahnatai are shocked. The envoy can actually fight back? 
This is truly unbelievable for them. However, they were sent here for a reason- to capture the envoy and bring it back. And they will stop at nothing to achieve it.
As they charge and try to kill him, Jared sneaks behind them and surprises them with stabs in the back, killing three of them as he strikes.
The rest of the hostiles see that it is futile to fight against our heroes and decide to run for it, trying to reach the door.
However, John and Farrar are waiting on the other side. Helped by the commotion that Jared has caused, they decides to hide there, in case some of the attackers try to escape. Just like they are now.
The moment one of them opens the door, John lunges at him and stabs it in the chest while Farrar stabs the other one in the head.
Meanwhile, Jared catches up with the last three hostiles and mercilessly kills them, leaving no survivors behind.
Bloodied and bruised, our heroes scan the bloody mess for more enemies. 
However, it seems like they have succeeded. All of the attackers are dead, including those who tried to escape.
There are no survivors.
Jared sighs and sheathes his sword.
"They attacked us. Right under our very noses!"- He says.
John shakes his head.
"I'm so sorry, Jared."- He says- "They came through the window. We didn't expect them."
Jared nods.
"I understand. But now, we must find a new place to hide."
He looks at his sister.
"Do you have any ideas?"
Marinette nods.
"Well, our residence is still relatively safe. We can keep the alien in there until the danger subsides!"
Jared smiles and pats his sister on the shoulder.
"Well thought, sister! I knew that I could count on you!"- He says proudly.
Marinette smiles back.
"You can always rely on me, little brother."- She responds- "Always."
Jared nods again and looks at the rest of his allies.
"You heard my sister, friends. Let's take Ghall-Ihrno to the Kaos residence."
"And don't waste any time. We need to get him there as soon as possible!"- He adds.
John and Farrar nod and help him escort Ghall-Ihrno to the Kaos residence.
"Well, here we are."- He says- "Let us see if it is still the same, quiet place like I left it not too long ago."
He approaches the door and opens it. Then, he looks back at his allies and smiles.
"So, shall we?"- He says.
His allies nod and enter the residence. Jared does the same, but not before closing the door.
"Well done."- He congratulates them- "Now, let us find a place to hide."