MLSB- Part 4

This is the fourth Part of "ML: SB".
It was released on 26.03.2024.
== Plot ==
Maxwell, Abigail and Benjamin manage to find shelter, saving them from the inevitable storm that Sage is about to unleash. However, the tension between them and Cyrus the Grand Shaman could be a major detriment in the long run.
Meanwhile, GA Hannah watches the chaos from afar, analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of this seemingly unbeatable enemy. She seems to be getting ready for something big, although nobody is sure why she is acting so weird. And that is kindly put, considering all of the strange things that have been happening lately.
Will the truth finally be revealed?
== Story ==
Cyrus angrily points his staff at them, as if they have done something terrible in the past. He hates them with pure passon- something which is completely uncalled for and undeserved, since this is clearly the first time they have met each other.
As the situation slowly degrades into madness, Max attempts to cool it down. He knows that this man is not some kind of an evil entity, and wishes to reason with him, attempting to convince him that they are not what he sees.
"Listen, buddy. I know you're living on the edge, bad blood and all, but I believe that you are sorely mistaken."- He says- "You see, we're just a band of travellers. Couriers, as a matter of fact. We were sent by the King of Avernum himself to deliver a batch of vital supplies, They're meant for the sick and the wounded, those unfortunates who have suffered the most during those dark, tumultous times. And we don't mean you ill. Far from it. We might seem to be dirty. Our eyes may be a little bit crazy. But I assure you, from the bottom of my tormented heart, that we only fight those whose hearts are truly tainted."
Cyrus continues to hold his staff, standing his ground as if they wish to hurt Mother Nature. However, something inside of him says that they might be telling the truth. Though this world is constantly filled with lies and betrayal, a small sliver of hope remains, and he can't just risk sending innocent travelers away, even for the sake of his own clan.
And then, he sees his sister, greatly weakened and barely able to walk. She stands next to a pillar and smiles at him. All of a sudden, his heart melts, and he decides to let the strangers in. And soon, it becomes clear that his trust was not in vain.
"Well, I guess we're all brothers and sisters in this world. So why should I send you out there when Nature can judge you better."- He says and nods- "Well met. I am known as Cyrus Braveheart. In this region known as Canonia, I serve as the grand shaman, and grandmaster of what remains of the Canonia army. You may as well spend the night with us, if that is what you desire."
Max nods and takes a step back, silently respecting the shaman's wishes.
"The pleasure is ours, sir."- He says- "Thank you for giving us a chance."
Cyrus sighs.
"You're quite lucky. Many seek to defile nature, and I can get far too violent."- He says- "They can act soft and sweet at first, but their true nature is... different. And that's putting it mildly."
As the shaman starts to walk away, the group starts to follow him.
"How did you end up here in the first place?"- Ben asks- "Aren't shamans supposed to live in settlements?"
Cyrus is about to lash out at the group again. It seems that he still does not fully trust them. And yet, he knows that they simply ask out of curiosity, not to mock his unfortunate lifestyle. Against his primal instincts, he decides to share his story.
"When I was a child, I was nothing more than a substitute. I worked every day of the year, yet my sister always got all of the honors. And yet, a simple act of heroism turned me into the guardian of both Nature and Humankind."- He says- "Canonia was once the region of my mother, bless her soul. She gave everything to help those in need, though it is clear that those time were not quite as... dark as they are now. She now livesin the kingdom of Thais with my father, the king, while I and my sister are forced to suffer in silence."
He shakes his head.
"Canonia was once a lovely region. It still is, though the recent troubles have managed to shake it to the core. Bandit raids. Vicious storms. Wildfires, caused by careless cretin. Canonia is one of the most troubles settlements on this continent, and I fear that it still has a long way to go.
He takes a few steps forward, staring at the lands outside of the forest. Far ahead, the dim lights of a large settlement can be seen.
"Ever since our ancestors built it for us, it has been known as the "Jewel of the Forest". A popular destination and a thriving metropolis, standing tall in the face of oblivion. That is... until that one fateful day."- He says- "Sage and his group boldly came into our mighty metropolis, demanding their own "fair" share and threatening unimaginable consequences if we refuse. We said that we would think about it, but that was not enough for them. One day, they burned a small part of the forest nearby, my forest. When I went outside to investigate, alone as I am a simple shaman, they bursted out and attacked me. While my spells were recharging, they managed to disarm and subdue me. They took me to their filthy leader, then secretly set some of our buildings on fire. One night, they terrified the townsfolk with scary noises, and the other- they transformed themselves into ectoplasmic entities, making those poor people think that the town is being haunted. And then, when they finally revealed that their shaman has been taken hostage, their spirits were finally broken. They didn't have another chance, so they paid the price and I was released. But the true damage that was done, it was not to the buildings, nor the forests. It was done to the hearts of my people, the souls of the poor wildlife. All of them suffer during those dark times, and while many of them decided to let it go, I never will."
He sighs.
"Long story short, me and my sister's family decided to leave Canonia and stay in the forest, avoiding Sage's forces as they tried to mock me once again. But don't think of me as a spineless, timid coward- I only did it because I hated myself for being so weak. I didn't want those people to suffer again, because of me."- He says- "Besides, the warriors of nature are also good listeners. They always listen to my woes, but seldom share theirs. This kind of harmony is rarely seen in the human world."
Then, he takes another look at the settlement of Canonia, bathing in the dim glow of the street lamps as if it were some sort of heavenly sanctuary. Peace and quiet reign within- at least during this time of the day. No fear, nor signs of danger were present.
"A while ago, my father said that there is a subtle difference between a shaman and an official. One of them is the moral leader, and the other- the spiritual leader. Both of them exist to be living examples that are meant to be followed .But only one of them is remembered for a long time. Only one of them has faced their own demons and survived."- He says- "Maybe he was right. Perhaps I am the one who went too far to think about his own well-being. Perhaps the guardianship of this lovely region falls in my hands. Until my powers finally give out, I'll make sure that those freaks pay for defiling all that is sacred."
He looks at the sky.
"Some people say that humanity's greatest enemy is some kind of an unbeatable force. Others claim that the earth itself is acting against us. But in my eyes, there is no greater foe to humanity, other than itself."- He says- "And that's the reason why I chose to stay here when all other shamans left- to save humanity from a self-induced extinction."
Max nods.
"If what you say is true, then this means that you share the same fate as us. Our homeland was also destroyed by similar vagabonds, and we were forced to keep people safe from a distance. From personal experience, I can say that I feel very uncomfortable that I can't be there to motivate any of those poor people."- He says- "If only there were more people like us, the world wouldn't be so gloom and hopeless."
Cyrus sighs.
"A dear like-minded friend of mine once said that events like those are like a cycle. No matter how much darkness there is, the light will eventually banish it back to the underworld. The light shall triumph again, and the world shall rest until the next sign of danger."- He says- "So let's try to be more positive. It might look like we're in a bad predicament, but even the worst times have their limits. That is what I like to believe during more peaceful times, at the very least."
Max nods again.
"It's nice to meet you, too."
As Cyrus looks on, Abigail starts to feel sick again. The feeling of nausea doubles over and her eyes get hazy, as if she is standing in a cloud of black smoke. She falls to the ground, unable to keep her own balance under control, and starts to see things that she shouldn't.
"What ails this poor soul?"- Cyrus asks- "Did her heart get tainted as well?"
Max shakes his head.
"She's been feeling weakened since we set sail. Her condition's only been getting worse, and we believe that she's suffering from some sort of dangerous infection."- He says- "We know not of its origin, but we believe that it is magical."
Cyrus sighs.
"If that is the case, I believe that I can help."- He says- "Come, young ones. I know that this might seem too extreme, but we need to hurry."
As Max lays his sister down, Cyrus motions for a forest elf to check her temperature. Then, he uses his magic to infuse a leaf with healing potential, doing the same to a bunch of them. He places them on her chest, to ease her breathing and to allow her to naturally fight the disease inside of her body.
"Yes. It seems that she has been infected."- He says- "And I fear that this infection is close to that of my own sister. She has been suffering from sudden acts of weakness, as well."
Max looks at him.
"Is it curable?"
Cyrus sighs.
"I'm not quite sure. But... it's still worth a shot."- He says- "Stand back. This is no ordinary cold. Such a situation requires a delicate procedure."
With a few swift movements from his arms, he casts another healing spell to weaken the infection's control over her. Then, he uses the power of the forest to calm her nerves. Surprisingly, Cyrus's magic seems to be working. It seems like Abigail is going to survive, after all.
After renewing the magic on the leaves, to ensure that it is still working, Cyrus turns to them.
"This girl is quite the fighter, if what I saw inside of her is true."- He says- "Anyway, you should not worry about her condition. Although she is still farily weak, I believe that the worst is over for her. Sure, it might take days (if not a whole week) for her to shake off the rest of the darkness inside of her, but she will no longer be affected again."
Max raises his eyebrow.
"You mean that... she developed some sort of immunity?"- He asks- "But how? I've never heard of an immunity against a magical source."
Cyrus sighs.
"It's not my fault, though. Her own body still has the will to live. It gave her the strength she needed to overcome the madness within."- He says- "I was just there to guide her through Heaven's Gate, to lead her to the right path. From there, she knew what to do."
Max holds Abigail's hand and hugs it, excited to hear that his sister is going to get better.
"Well, this is a relief."- He admits- "With all of the bad things happening to us, it's good that one good thing is guaranteed."
Cyrus looks down and sighs.
"If only it were the same for Tori... "
Max raises his eyebrow.
"Tori?"- He asks- "Who's that, if you don't mind me asking?"
Cyrus looks at a beautiful girl with white hair nearby. She smiles at him, but her weakened legs prevent her from getting closer.
"Tori's my sister. We've been around since we were children, but we never had the chance to know each other very well. Until Fate, wise as she is, decided to connect our families in the future and allow us to build an unbreakable bond."- He says- "After her husband and children were forced to stay in Canonia, she and I came all the way here. Nature protected us both, but the coward's curse slowly seeped into her pure bones."
Max nods.
"Maybe we can fix her."- He utters confidently- "If we managed to save mine, why can't we save yours?"
Surprised by Max's positive speech, Cyrus simply stares as Max pulls out a large first aid kit. Pulling out various pills and conconctions, he works on easing her pain and allowing her to think positively again. He even manages to place a magical bandage on her forehead, draining whatever negativity was nested within. After a few long and tiring minutes, his procedure shows a large amount of success.
"Cy? Is that you?"- The girl says- "I can breathe again! It's over!"
Though shaman is an emotionally hardened (and scarred) shaman, even he cannot help but cry tears of joy upon the sight of his cured sister. He ecstatically takes her in his arms, barely believing that this dilemma is finally over.
"I... cannot thank you enough."- He says to Max- "My sister, they said she was a lost cause. They claimed that she would succumb to her inner darkness. And yet, you managed to save her, as if you were some kind of samaritan from Heaven. May Nature bless your good heart, young traveler."
Max nods.
"Yeah. Don't worry about it."- He says- "It's the least I could do for a man in need."
As the Braveheart siblings embrace each other, they hear the loud cough of someone in the distance. Suspecting it to be some sort of invader, Max and Cyrus go to investigate the sudden disturbance. And lo, there lies one of the biggest, roughest outlaws they have ever seen.
The big bandit, a man of pure muscle, is standing between them and the exit. Two mutant beasts, shackled like guard dogs, are standing to the left and right of him, ready to pummel down everything in sight without any mercy. A truly terrifying sight for the humble commoner, but not for a battle-hardened bunch like Max and Cyrus.
"I assume that you also came for shelter?"- Cyrus says, though he already knows the response- "Sorry. We aren't hiring. Not anymore."
Instead of honoring the duo with a mocking speech, typical for his treacherous kind, the outlaw simply smiles.
"Lord Sage sends his regards."
And then, without another word, he pulls out a huge gun and shoots Cyrus in the head.
Shocked, Max catches him as he falls, barely able to believe what just happened to him. However, much to his surprise, he realizes that he is still breathing. If his brain was pierced, how come he is still alive?"
He does not have any time left to wonder, as the outlaw attempts to gun him down as well. Making risky maneuvers as if he were in a movie, Max gets close to one of the mutants, steals his giant club. Then, he knocks the gun out of the outlaw's hands and slams him with all of his might, sending him back into a tree branch and piercing his heart. 
Unlike Cyrus, this man is not lucky enough to survive this sudden change of events. He perishes almost instantly.
A few seconds later, he manages to reanimate. While he growls and attempts to get out of the branch trap, Max grabs his gun and unceremoniously guns him down with it. No regret. No extreme emotion. Just a hero's duty- clean and silent.
However, when he looks back, he realizes that the real damage is behind him. Though the man is gone, his little pets managed to break free and attack the settlement. Following a blood trail with Cyrus on his back, he notices one of the mutants and attempts to shoot it in the chest. When that only results in more rage, he tosses a nano grenade and completely pulverizes the crazed beast.
"Sorry about the carnage."- He says to Cyrus's sister- "We'll make sure to pay you back."
The girl shakes her head.
"Oh, you already are. You saved me and by brother, and that's enough in my book."- She says- "Go forth and beat the last one. We can't risk allowing it to get closer."
As Max runs forward, he realizes that the mutant entered the glade containing the heart of the forest. The creature attempts to crush the heart, but its defensive mechanisms trigger almost immediately. As Max watches, hundreds of little vines shoot out of the heart's surface, wrapping the huge beast like a christmas gift. And yet, they fail to murder him, simply because he is too powerful.
Max signs.
"Alright. I get the hint."- He says- "So long, fiendish... thing."
Having said that, he grabs one of the vines and plunges it into the creature's thick skull. While there is a high amount of resistance from its part, the young general manages to get to the end of the trail, defeating one of Science's most dangerous warriors and byproducts.
After going back to Cyrus's sister, Max watches as she carefully pulls the bullet out of his skull. She cleans the wound with wet leaves, then makes sure that his forehead is moisturized. Then, she stands up and shakes Max's hand.
"You know, I thought that my brother would end up dead, even after what he did."- She says- "But you... you managed to save him. You did so much for us, and I can't thank you enough."
She sighs.
"Still, I regret that I have to send you away. Those times are dark, and forcing a bunch of travellers to go elsewhere is a bad idea,"- She says- "Still, you should remember that you're always welcome here. As long as this forest still stands, you will always have a home in this region."
Max nods.
"We appreciate your kindness, young lady."- He says- "If that is what you desire, then we shall take our leave. Please, take good care of your brother. He's a brave man and he needs your help more than ever."
The girl smiles.
"Will do, mister."- She says- "Take care!"
As the trio finally gets out of the forest, a feeling of dread washes over them. It is as if they left the land of safety and willingly threw themselves into the shadows.
"So."- Ben says- "What's the next big idea?"
Max readies his gun, more determined than he was before.
"To teach a new dog some old tricks."