MLTO C2, P14

This is the fourteenth Part of "Miracula Luxia IV" 's second Chapter.
It was released on 20.11.2022.
== Plot ==
After successfully escaping from Alais Keymoira's deathtrap, Geralt chases after the wicked slave trader. A showdown seems to be completely inevitable and it is clear that it will end in a similar manner as those that happened in the past... even though Geralt genuinely hopes that it doesn't have to be necessary.
Meanwhile, Aaron, Emela and Jared are tasked with the hard mission of carrying the blind Kaiden from the chaos that is about to unfold in Brigantia. Forced to take on the most powerful members of Alais Keymoira's nefarious and treacherous gang, they will have to come to terms that killing their enemies is the best way to purge this world of their unspeakable evil.
How will this eventful saga end for everyone?
== Story ==
Emela watches as Geralt runs forward, noticing the gleam in his bright blue eyes, even from far away.
"In my years as a guardian, I've seen many people who strived to be perfect. Many souls who dreamed of helping and being helped in return. A cacophony of voices, flawed yet capable of standing their own ground."- She says- "However, what I saw in the young Geralt ever since I met him, it's been quite remarkable. Not only is he determined to be helpful to people in need, but he's also truly good of heart. Just a glance at his face can tell a thousand words, give you hope and faith."
She wipes a tear from her eye.
"Truly a pure thing, both of heart and soul."- She adds- "His father was right. He truly is the saint everyone claims that he is."
Kaiden smiles.
"I know that I might sound annoying, but my brother's the most perfect creature that's ever existed in our family."- He says- "It's true- many members of the Kaos have suffered. Many souls have been broken and reformed. Many bonds were shattered by the ravages of time. But Geralt always stood true in the face of evil. He never considered anything ill against anyone and only killed those villains because he was forced to do so. And I'm sure that, if I had to choose between this life or a different one, I would always pick one that includes him as my greatest inspiration. Because that's what he is- a pillar of hope in the face of everlasting darkness. A glimmer in the night, imperfect yet invaluable."
He bows his head.
"I'm glad that I got to know him and I'm glad that I'll get to know him even further."- He adds- "Fighting alongside him has always been an adventure for me and I hope that I can do that in the future, too."
Emela smiles.
"And that's why we're going to save you."- She says- "Your brother put all of his faith in us. And I ain't going to give up now, when we've gone so far."
She takes Kaiden's hand.
"So come on, dear."- She says- "Don't slow down, because the world's only starting to get faster."
Kaiden nods.
"I'm ready to keep up the pace."- He says- "Let's go. I'm eager to regain what I lost."
Meanwhile, Geralt runs to the outskirts of Brigantia alongside his grandfather. The two of them are hot on the trail that leads to the fleeing slave leader and it is clear that they are only getting closer. Nobody else is trying to stop her, fearing that they might get in big trouble if they do. But our heroes are never afraid, even of those who have the power and never hesitate to exercise it.
"You know. This reminds me of the time when me and your dad were chasing a powerful villain who was responsible for your uncle's demise."- He says- "The man was also very crafty and he had gained some kind of clairvoyance from his dark master at the time. And yet, even his immortal army of voracious undead was not enough to spare him, as he died in a very humiliating way. All alone in a sea of troubles."
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"You mean Vexor- The Fallen Angel?"- He asks- "I have read books about how evil he was, but I never had the chance to see it with my own eyes."
Jared smiles.
"And thankfully, you never will."- He responds- "What Adam did to him was truly horrible, but he completely deserved it. And, if you ask me, he deserved a punishment that's a thousand times more severe. But his name was only a reminder of what the human mind is capable of and how astray it could be from reality itself. Thus, I am glad that he perished when he did. Had we left him for more time than we were forced to, we could have ended up in a vortex of uncertainty as his undead rose our lands to the ground. But it didn't happen. Lucky break, some might say, but most know better. It was not luck that saved us on that day. It was your father's newfound determination, the one that he has always used throughout his years as a hero and the one that he used in his last battle."
Geralt stares at something in the distance, his eyes wide open and focused. Then, he nods.
"I know that this is not the last one. I am sure of it."- He says- "My father's spirit has always called out to me. Sometimes, he spoke to me in my dreams and sometimes- in reality itself. Whether it was some kind of wonderful truth or just my own wishful thinking is still alien to me, but I can tell that those feelings were genuine. The power that he gives me to continue being who I am now. The pleasure to be a part of the family that he introduced me to. The pain of losing a parent whose presence I have cherished for so long. His voice has always been full of reason and his arms are the castle that protects me from the dark. And I know that, as long as I have him and everyone who loves me by my side, there's nothing that can hinder me. Even an army of a thousand rebels will not be enough to snuff out this bright soul."
Jared smiles.
"That's exactly what I wanted to see for so long!"- He exclaims- "The luminous spark that radiates from his soul. The silent respect that he gives to those who deserve it. The kindness in his eyes that never faded away, even as he was forced to start killing."
He looks at Geralt.
"Your father's dream is still alive."- He adds- "Thanks to you."
Geralt nods.
"And I shall keep it that way."- He says- "I fight in the name of all those who are not afraid of believing and I hope to inspire those who cannot find that sacred belief in their hearts. My voice may be young and quiet now and I'm not sure if I can even get close to what my father used to be, but I will do my best and make sure to be heard. To have my presence seen. It has been my lifelong dream to be a hero and I hope that I can remain like this."
Jared clenches his fist.
"If my word still means anything to you, my boy, then I shall make sure that you achieve what your father could not."- He says- "Soon, this world shall be pure. And we shall be the heralds of hope, the seraphs of justice. When we're together, even the most ambitious and bloodthirsty tyrant shall fall to their knees."
He glares at a lone figure in the distance.
"Starting with her."
The two Kaos warriors approach the person in the distance. It doesn't take long for them to catch up and notice the culprit that they've been trying to hunt down for what seems to be at least an hour.
Alais Keymoira is standing alone on the ruined road, her face bruised and dirty. Her hands are stained with blood which is likely not hers and her eyes betray a worrying amount of malice that is capable of throwing even the most capable warriors off-guard. She is tired of running and has decided to face her fate, in the hopes that she can continue whatever horrible deeds she has in mind.
But her intentions are still the same. Once she gets a good look at them, she picks up her staff from the ground and menacingly points it at them.
"At last you've arrived."- She says- "You, warriors of the Order. You ruined everything that I had. Thanks to you, I've been reduced to a pile of laughing stock. All of the slave traders will laugh at me for showing such a big weakness, for daring to enlist the help of a bunch of outsiders of unknown origin."
Jared sighs.
"Well."- He says- "I'm sorry to say it, but there won't be any fellow souls to mock you soon."
Alais shakes her head.
"That's what I thought."- She says- "I knew that slave girl was trouble. And yet, I kept her around. She became a magnet for wannabe heroes and bounty hunters with no skill, but those fools only met their demise."
She looks around, pointing at some nearby poles that have been mounted with something that is similar to human skulls.
"All this time, I used those lands as my own arena of trial. I invited those fools to join me on the battlefield. I lulled them into a false sense of security. I made them think that Aurelia is the one who must be blamed and they believed me."- She says- "And all of them ended up in the same way."
Jared looks at his grandson.
"My boy."
Geralt looks back.
"Yes, grandpa?"
Jared sighs.
"I fear that our friend here is guilty of more than just capturing and enslaving free people."- He says- "What she did out here... is remarkable and unsettling."
Alais laughs.
"Now, you finally see who I am!"- She exclaims- "I came all the way here so I could trick you! I wanted you to join me, so I could evaluate your weaknesses. And then, I could use all of it against you. Soon, you'll become a remnant of the past, just like all of them!"
Geralt glares at her.
"You were going to do the same thing to your unruly slaves."- He says- "Is that so?"
Alais nods.
"It's true. I've always been executing those who refused to disobey my command."- She says- "The rest of the thoughts were so perfect, so flawless. If you hadn't arrived to do what you did, then none of them would've been disrupted. But alas, I had to murder then all on the spot. They were liabilities. Eccentric fools. Believers in a path that has already been closed to them. They got what they deserved and they should be happy about it, because I'm capable of far worse than that."
Geralt is very angered by the woman's attitude. He is about to draw his weapon and initiate a battle, but his grandfather shakes his head and stops him.
"It is clear that you had many accomplices in the town, some of them even as simple as construction workers."- He says- "And yet, I feel like you've gained more powerful allies-- "
Alais clenches her fists.
"And that's why I decided to face you all by myself."- She interrupts him- "Maxwell Norwood was one of the people whom I trusted the most. He's the one who gave me access to the emperor's resources and allowed me to continue my successful trade. I sent your grandson to him as an obvious trap, in the hopes that his hatred and lust for vengeance would overcome his servile attitude and that he would slaughter him instantly. And yet, all I received back was disappointment. Now, Maxwell is dead and most of those that I trusted are on the run, attempting to save their own petty skins from your beloved militia. Our plan was so perfect, but you ruined that one, as well."
Geralt glares at her.
"You think that we are the ones who are guilty, but you're too blind to see what you've done to the good people of this world."- He says- "You separated a little girl from her grieving parents. You forced a bunch of bandits who were only trying to keep their alliance intact to harm others and help you advance your wicked goals. You supported an empire of pure evil whose sole intention is to conquer the world and cause suffering to others."
He sighs.
"And yet, I want to give you another chance. Normally, elven folks are peaceful and were only led to evil because they were desperate."- He adds- "Even though you made my big brother go blind and you nearly killed a girl whose presence I came to cherish, I still find the strength in my heart to forgive you. I want to give you a rare opportunity, a chance for redemption. I wonder if you will be wise enough and take it."
Alais Keymoira mutters a few words. Her hands start to glow black.
"Does this seem like an adequate answer, Mr. Nice Guy?"
Geralt sighs and points his weapon at her.
"I did anticipate that."
Alais casts a powerful dark spell. The ground around her feet starts to rumble as several large tentacles shoot out of it and attempt to tangle Geralt up. However, the young hero performs a well-timed jumps and slices four of them in half, their viscous blood oozing out of the deceased remains.
Now that her servants are defeated, Alais raises her hands in the air. In a matter of just a few moments, they turn into dark swords and she lunges at Geralt, striking him with pinpoint accuracy in a way that implies that she is more skilled than it seems.. Geralt is barely able to keep up with her speed as she spins her way through his defenses, forcing Jared to join his grandson and fight her back alongside him.
Even though the two of them are skilled fighters and professional artisans in their craft, the dark energy that emanates from the slave trader's blades gives them a strong feeling of unease. All of their hopes and dreams are becoming uncertain and they are close to forgetting what they're fighting for.. It almost seems as if they're living in some sort of a realistic nightmare that they fail to wake up and get away from.
And then, Alais takes a few steps back and delivers two sharp blows. Two tears through reality itself, crashing their way past the light and sending forth a wave of energy that penetrates through the most durable defense. Soon, the two of them are shoved back to the end of the road, unable to keep up with the pace as Alais smiles.
"All this time, you tried to prove me wrong. You tried to show me that kidnapping others and forcing them to act against their own free will is no way to make a living. That violence has never been the answer to any conflict, no matter how severe."- She says- "And yet, what you said only made me stronger. You only gave me another reason to pound you into scrap. I've been here for much longer than any of you and I know the horrors of the world. I've seen them all. I've felt the darkness, the disappointment of being neglected. And I'm tired of being so merciful."
She raises both of her sword-things in the air and clasps them together, preparing for a final, lethal blow.
"You're the last one I've ever dared to trust. I tried to believe you, but you're nothing more than a poison in my heart."- He says- "Now, I'm about to cleanse you. Once you're struck by my blade, you shall fall under my control."
She smiles.
"I'll be happy to have such a promising warrior by my side."
Geralt rolls back as she tries to strike him down. Then, he gets up and musters his strength to grab her blades and force her to use them against herself. This process is arduous and, some might say, even impossible. But Geralt dares to believe. His strength has never been a determining factor in any battle that he has won in the past, but he still wishes to use it, in the hopes that Alais will not be able to subdue him.
"Gah! You're quite a resilient one, I'll admit it!"- Alais says- "But even the mightiest of heroes have to fall! Even the greatest of empires will become an uninhabitable ruin, sooner or later! And you're about to become like the dinosaurs- extinct and forgotten!"
Geralt shakes his head.
"You're right. Most empires prove to be weak after a certain amount of time. They become belligerent and ignorant, pretending like they're still in charge. They learn how wrong they are, sooner or later, when everything that they fought for lies in ruin."- He says- "But yours has never been anything more than that!"
Suddenly, a massive surge of energy emerges from his blade and strikes the surface that Geralt hits with it. A spark of pure energy bursts forward, forcing Alais to crash into a nearby rock. Both of her sword-hands get stuck in it, forcing her to withdraw both weapons and let her guard down for a split second. However, this is just enough time for Jared to make his move, jumping into the air and sending Alais even further beyond.
The rock is shattered by the sheer force of this blow. Alais herself suffers a brief episode of terror as she flies into a ruined building, nearly shattering the remains in the process.
Seeing this as a rare opportunity, Alais smiles. As the two heroes approach her to finish the job, she seemingly relents, lowering her head and acting in a way that makes them think she has given up.
"Alright. I got the lesson. You win this battle, heroes."- She says to them- "Seems like my reign of madness's finally over. I was doomed to suffer a fate of pain and suffering for all that I've done in the past. Perhaps the best thing that must be done is to get rid of me, just like you did with everyone else who didn't fit in. It's the only way, after all."
Geralt raises his sword in the air. He wants to execute Alais, but is unsure whether this is the best procedure. He wonders if there is another way, another chance to help her out. 
The voice of his late sister is voicing its own opinion. It is as if it begs him to spare this soul, to show her how foolish it is to oppose the Order in a more civilized way.
Jared, on the other hand, is entirely focused on Alais's suspicious attitude. He is clearly aware that she is trying to lie to them about something and is capable of seeing it in her eyes. And the smile that remains on her face, it is quite unsettling to him, as if telling him that she is only feigning her own defeat.
"Such trickery is seldom used by your kind, beast of the woods. But I can tell that you're not genuine."- He says to her and tries to grab her by the neck- "Either way, you're right. All this time, you have been condemned to become one of many who failed to make their wicked plans a reality. And your fate has not changed! Not even a little bi-- "
Suddenly, Alais lunges forward and pushes both of them into the ruined building. Before they can have the chance to respond, she blasts both them and the ruin with dark magic, wounding them and sending the building flying down.
"Well, it was a pleasure knowing you both."- She says and shrugs- "It's a shame that I can't use you, but that's of no concern to me."
She takes a few steps to the left and waves at them.
"Later, do-gooders!"
As Geralt and Jared attempt to stand up, the building swiftly flies on top of them. However, a strong gust throws them away from the crash site, allowing them to run and escape with their lives.
Wondering about whether the gust was caused by some kind of a powerful mage or was a giant stroke of luck, they look up. Much to their surprise, an aging warrior is standing on a nearby hill, looking at them. Seeing that both of them are alive and well, he descends into the lowlands and smiles.
"It seems like you were in quite the predicament."- He says- "Was that the slave woman that captured my daughter?"
Geralt notices that the man who saved them is Marlon Moonglow- the father of Aurelia and the person whom he and his allies talked to in Brigantia. As he lowers his hood, his long, black hair starts to flow in the wind, as if controlled by some kind of otherworldly force of sheer will.
"Mr. Moonglow! What a surprise!"- He exclaims- "I did not know that you're the type of person to join a battle!"
Marlon smiles.
"It's what I do best, kiddo. Being a governor is more than just standing in your office all day and writing reports about people that you'll never meet in person."- He says- "Throughout the years when I held this esteemed privilege of mine, I learned that my people are more than just souls that I must protect. They're my family, just as much as my little girl. I've risked a lot to help them and I risked a lot to do the same for you. I know that they're still fighting in there and I regret not joining them, but I feel like I'm more useful in this battle rather than hiding behind my warriors. So, there you go."
At this moment, Geralt hears the commotion coming from the city. He looks back and notices that the streets of Brigantia are littered with loyalists. Apparently, the noble warriors have heard the call of justice and are attemting to free the city from tyranny, just like the slave leader from earlier had predicted. Slave leaders who had caused so much chaos earlier are now screaming and running for their lives. Former slaves who have been neglected for far too long are holding rusty weapons in their hands, slowly taking back what is rightfully theirs- freedom of both mind and speech. The control of their former masters is fading away and they can do nothing to stop this mighty revolution.
"Yeah. So, don't worry about them."- Marlon continues- "My people were taught to endure. To strike terror into all servants of evil, no questions asked. This is the justice that we fight for, the revenge that was held back for so long. Soon, the control of that place is going to change. Leaders may be replaced. Rules shall be bended. Many innocent souls will be saved and the wicked will receive their punishment. Retribution is a slow poison, but it's always the best one. That's for sure."
Jared crosses his hands and sighs.
"I greatly disapprove of such open acts of murder. Killing so many people has never been our part of the plan and I can't give you my blessing for such a daring deed."- He says- "Still, I think that it should serve as a good distraction. None of those loyal to the emperor would dare to chase us down when their whole city is on fire, figuratively and literally. And when we're done, it shall be too late."
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"For them, right?"
Jared nods.
"As I said earlier, Alais's defeat is inevitable."- He says- "She may have outwitted us, but her escapade will last for a very short time. When we find her, she'll be well prepared, though, so focus on your task and don't forget what we're fighting for."
Geralt nods.
"For our people."- He says- "Our common world, tainted by evil."
Marlon nods.
"And don't forget my daughter."- He says- "Poor thing has been through so much horrible stuff. We must put her at ease."
Jared looks at him.
"But tell us, Mr. Moonglow."- He says to him- "Why did you decide to go with us instead of running back into Brigantia and reuniting with your daughter? I know that you love her very much, so why did you choose kindness over family?"
Marlon looks down.
"It... was a hard decision to make, I admit it. My little girl means everything to me and I adore her so much. I would love to stay with her, to hold her in my arms as I've always dreamed."- He says- "However, I've got a sense of duty. There are people who need helping and I must be there for them. I must keep being the figure of justice that I came to be, as other rely on my advice. My daughter wants me to be with her, but so does everyone else. So, I'm afraid that kindness is always above family for leaders such as myself."
Jared raises his eyebrow.
"You seem to be... different. Focused. Talented. Devoted."- He says and smiles- "It's no wonder that you kept searching for your daughter, even though the chances of finding her were relatively low. You're a real vigilante, my friend."
Marlon grins.
"Well, I take my lessons from the best of the best."- He says and winks.
Jared smiles again.
"I am flattered."
Marlon nods and stares at the distance. He sees Alais and reflexively draws his weapon.
"Easy, Mr. Moonglow."- Geralt says- "We're trying to calm her down so she can come home with us peacefully."
Marlon raises his eyebrow.
"You're trying to spare the life of the monster that kidnapped my daughter when she was a small, helpless child?"- He asks- "What for?"
Geralt sighs.
"To expose her and extract the valuable information from her mind, of course."- He responds- "I may be merciful and docile, but I always find alternate ways to reach our common goal. And this is one of them."
Jared sighs.
"And yet, we could've stopped at that."- He says- "Alais Keymoira was dangerous, but not an existential threat. She caused a lot of ruckus, but didn't provoke outright havoc. Most of her allies were going to die and she would have been unable to find anyone else to trust her. She wasn't going to survive a long journey toward an imperial settlement- it was way too far for her to reach."
He looks at Geralt.
"And yet, my grandson insisted that we should press forward and catch her while we're still on her trail."- He adds- "It's a waste of time, in my opinion. Some villains are best left out in the wild, to succumb to their own emotions. Murder is only a mercy kill for monsters like them. Still, he insists on doing all that, for whatever strange purpose I am afraid to speculate."
Geralt clenches his fists.
"It was because of her that my brother went blind!"- He yells- "Why should we not get involved?!"
Marlon looks at him.
"Then that makes two of us, friend."- He says to him- "Alais Keymoira nearly took away my dearest person, as well. She knocked me out of my shell and tried to make me look weak in front of my people. But no longer will she torment good, loyal souls. Her crimes shall be exposed to everyone and she will be dragged back to those whom she hurt, dead or alive."
Jared rolls his eyes.
"You both sound like Geralt's late mother."- He says to them- "She always had that sort of big temper. Her impatience always led her toward trouble and we had to pull her out of it. But she always had that sort of quiet ambition, a feeling of certainty that always made her work her way through anything and everything. Her performance was truly astounding, if a little troublesome."
The shade of Aalia appears next to Jared and looks at him.
"And is that a problem to you, granddad?"
Jared smiles.
"Not at all, sweetie."- He says- "That's what made you special to us. That's the sign of family."
Marlon shakes his head.
"There is no time to talk."- He says- "That woman is close to escaping and we may never see her again. Let's hunt her down while we're still in her reach."
As the three of them run forward, Aalia sighs and shakes her head.
"And so, the hunt begins. A battle of true wits, testing brave heroes and villains alike in a sea of flames and tempering them with magic steel."- She says, as if narrating some sort of a story- "Only the strongest warriors shall prevail. But who will they be?"
She looks up.
"The answer is so close, yet so far."- She says- "I'll be glad to find it out myself."
----While Geralt, Jared and Marlon run after the slave leader, Emela and her allies are forced to face what little is left of her henchmen. There are only a few who were not shaken by the constant ruckus that is happening around them, but even a simple glance at them reveals that they are no ordinary thugs.
"I'm afraid that we can't take Kaiden any farther. Not while those goons are in the way."- Emela says and pulls out her wand- "We must fight our way through."
Arian- Alais Keymoira's personal assistant- rushes to the front and stares at the heroes from a distance. Even from their current vantage point, they could see that he is angry about the things that happened to him and his beloved mistress, but he decides to swallow them back in order to prevent the intruders from getting away.
"Well, well. Criminals come and criminals go."- He says and brandishes a long, thin sabre- "We came to trust you and pretend that you're on our side. We tried to get you acquainted to our associates, but you killed them all instead. And now, you allowed this place to burn. You made our slaves turn against us and you stole our best unit."
He glares at them, endless hatred dancing within his eyes.
"Perhaps we shouldn't have been so... lenient."- He says- "You deserved to be exposed."
Emela's eyes widen.
"Exposed?!"- She snaps- "Look around you, fool! All that your slave trader ever worked for was money and influence! She never cared about you, nor any of the people that she knew. She used you to further her own goals while under the guise of a perfect, yet supreme leader!"
Arian takes a step forward.
"And you think that it's something new to us?"- He says and shakes his head- "Nonsense! We had already accepted her as she is! But you only made it worse, and that's why we'll never let you go! Not like this!"
Two more people walk next to Arian as he prepares to attack. One of them is a tall, elegant archer with a keen eye and a sharp mind, aiming a powerful hardwood bow at them. The other one is a red-haired gentleman, clad in steel armor. He has a cold look from his eyes that radiates pure evil, noticable even from where our heroes are, and he is armed with more than just his greataxe.
"Everyone, I'd like you to meet Ryker and Harper- two of the people most loyal to our just master."- Arian says- "Even though they're always preoccupied with tasks around the town, they still remain faithful to our cause. They help take control of those who were foolish enough to anger us and send them to their punishment in this place. Vicious, aren't they?"
Aaron glares at him.
"They're just as bad as you!"
Arian smiles.
"I shall take that as a compliment."- He says- "I haven't received many of them in the past, but I'm glad that someone has finally come to see us within our true colors."
He points his long blade at them.
"Yes! We're bad, just as you might have guessed!"- He exclaims- "People are afraid of us because we always get the job done! Our master always respects us because we're useful assets on her road to ultimacy! And we've never, ever turned down a battle!"
Emela points her wand at Arian.
"Useful?! You barely even know how to hold that thing in your hand properly, buddy!"- She yells- "How can you kick building down with your giant shoes when you can't even tie them up?"
Arian notices that his weapon is slipping out of his hand. He adjusts it back and scowls at our heroes.
"A battle it is, then!"- He exclaims and makes a chopping motion with his blade- "For the glory of Keymoira! The justice of the Empire!"
Emela rushes forward, ahead of her group.
"For the light of redemption!"
And so, the fight between good and evil begins. Arian's allies go for Emela while the elven warrior himself stands his ground against Aaron and Aurelia. Kaiden is forced to stand nearby and listen to the fight as it goes on.
"Why should I always be the outcast?"- He asks himself- "What have I done to deserve such cold treatment?"
Arian swiftly swings his blade at Aaron, delivering sharp jabs left and right. His attacks leave the young hero confused as he attempts to withdraw and search for a flaw in his fighting style. Aurelia herself does not fight with the elven man, instead grabbing a very large stick and using the energy left within it to channel healing energy toward her ally and keep him energized.
Surrounded by two powerful individuals, Emela's attempts to withdraw are met with open hostility. Even her best attacks are repulsed by Ryker's greataxe, its metal blae glittering as he mightily pushes the blasts back to her.
"Gee, boys."- Emela says and shrugs- "Have you ever heard of the old saying that prevents you from hurting a girl? Maybe you should get your eyes checked."
Ryker glares at her.
"We don't care 'bout any kinds of philosophy."- He says- "We came here to kill! And we'll spill the blood!"
Emela raises her eyebrow.
"Well, that surely excalated quickly."- She mutters- "Come on, Emela. Pull yourself together. It's two versus one, but you can't just stand helpless as they beat you up."
As the two men give Emela a very hard time, Arian does the same with Aaron. He keeps on striking his way toward the young warrior's chest, attempting to go for an easy, if messy, victory. Just as he is about to deliver one last blow, however, Aurelia jumps behind him and bashes his skull with her giant stick.
While he's on the ground, she keeps bashing, but stops when Aaron tells her to do so.
"It's probably wise to hear him out."- He says to her- "Maybe he'll give us some useful information."
Aurelia rolls her eyes.
"Or pointless complaints and a giant headache."- She says- "Trust me, I've known this man for longer than I can remember. He is a prick and he will always be. Our best bet is to crush him before he tries to outwit us."
Aaron raises his eyebrow.
"But then, what's the point of helping others learn from their mistakes?"- He asks- "Geralt said that most enemies are too deranged to see their own crimes. Their eyes are too clouded by the shadows. And yet, there's always a second chance for-- "
While he is talking, Arian leaps back to his feet and lunges at Aaron. He drives his weapon through the young man's shoulder and mutters an incantation, causing a severe burn in the process and prompting Aurelia to strike him down again.
"I'd rather mash him into unrecognizable junk."- She says- "Besides, I've got a score to settle with each one of them. Starting with this goon, I hope to make it happen."
As she keeps bashing, Arian grabs her weapon and swings it back at her, hitting her head and forcing her to drop it on the ground. He tries to attack her, but Aaron grabs a nearby pot of stew and slams it onto the vile elven warrior's head, pouring the hot substance onto his clothes and causing him to scream wildly while trying to thrash his way out.
"Aurelia!"- He yells- "It's now or never!"
Aurelia nods.
"You got yourself a deal, curly boy!"
Picking up the giant stick, she doesn't use her magic to strike Arian. Instead, she uses the mighty weapon to bash the cauldron, causing a massive headache to the person under it. Then, she kicks him back violently, pouring the rest of the soup on his head and knocking the pot away from it.
While Arian wonders what just happened to him, Aurelia lunges forward. She raises one of her legs and touches his chest, pinning him to the wall. 
Of course, the elven man tries to free himself, but Aurelia pushes even further, causing the heel that she is wearing to plunge its way into his chest, making him lose a lot of blood in the process.
As he slowly perishes, he weakly looks up at Aaron and Aurelia. Much to their dismay, he manages to stand up and lean close to Aurelia, spilling some of his blood on her dress.
"Long live... the emperor."
Too late, Aurelia notices that he has a small dagger in his hand. He seems to be in a lot of pain, but he clearly wishes to take her down with him.
Fortunately, her fast reaction to this sudden chain of events prevents her from taking any serious damage. As he lunges for her one last time, she reverses the way of his blade and makes him stab himself in the head, ending his life in a firm and humiliating fashion.
The two of them stare at each other for a few long moments. They clearly did not expect to survive this encounter, yet they managed to perform a miracle. Aurelia finally got her revenge on the people who have been torturing her for so long and Aaron finally learned that working as a team is always the right way.
"Well, Curly."- She says to him and smiles- "How about we go on a little... vengeance streak?"
Aaron nods.
"You know I'm in, as long as we help others."- He says- "And stop calling me Curly, please. You remind me of my mother."
Aurelia chuckles.
"Oh, really?"- She asks- "Your mother used to call you Curly?"
Aaron sighs.
"Well, not quite."- He responds- "She just thought that my curly head was something unnatural, like you clearly do."
Aurelia gasps.
"Aww, I'm sorry!"- She exclaims- "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings!"
Aaron smiles.
"Apology accepted, Aurelia."- He says- "Now, let's finish them off."
Aurelia nods.
"Right-o!"
Just as Ryker and Harper think that they're going to win, Aurelia lunges forward and smacks both of them with her stick. Shocked, they are forced to pull themselves back as the combined force of three mighty heroes crashes down onto them, like a thunder from the pitch black sky.
"Curses! They're onto us!"- Harper exclaims- "And the boss is gone! We're alone in here!"
Ryker shakes his head.
"I ain't scared of a bunch of gals."- He says and wildly swings his greataxe- "We'll chop 'em down like firewood!"
Ryker lunges at Aurelia. She tries to block his attack, but he easily snaps her stick in half using his greataxe.
"Well, that was completely optional."- Aurelia says and shakes her head- "Perhaps you should go to anger management class. You're way too eager to hurt a girl and you seem to always be on the ed-- "
Ryker has had enough of being lectured by girls. He charges and grabs the fragile Aurelia, trying to choke her as she weakly tries to resist.
"I don't listen to little ladies!"- He yells- "I crush 'em!"
Emela shrugs.
"Gee."- She says- "He's probably not fun at parties. The girls must really avoid him."
Aaron looks at her.
"Considering that he has no qualms about harming anyone, male or not?"- He asks and shrugs- "Well, that's quite obvious."
Ryker continues to choke Aurelia. However, when he sees that she isn't giving up, he grabs her by the neck and tries to drown her in a barrel full of water.
"So you like water, huh?"- He asks her- "Let's see how you like it up close!"
Aurelia tries to break free, but the vile man's grip is too strong. It is clear that she's in danger of being drowned and her allies are too preoccupied with fighting Harper, unable to help her since they are too far away.
Well, all except for one.
Kaiden suddenly senses the call of a fellow warrior. Not an actual one, but a voice that goes through his mind. He cannot see what is happening, but his hearing is still perfect.
Angered that Ryker would try to hurt a girl, he reaches for his blade and stands up.
"Okay!"- He yells- "Now, it's gotten personal!"
Even though he is blind, he easily runs forward, discovering Ryker's actual direction and bumping him back with his head moments before he is able to drown Aurelia.
Looking back at his allies, he makes a glaring expression, as if to show his anger at their lenient attitude. Aaron quickly answers his quiet call and pulls the wounded girl away, in an attempt to keep her safe.
"In my life, I've never seen such an insolent cretin! Such a pathetic caricature of malevolence!"- He yells at Ryker- "But you're still no better than those me and my brother fought! You carry the evil blood that they all do and it disgusts me!"
He grabs his neck and pushes him into the barrel full of water, breaking it and soaking Ryker's entire body.
Letting Nature punish him instead, Kaiden steps back, watching as Ryker becomes the conduit of a giant thunderbolt. Like a firework on New Year's Eve, he explodes, flying back into a brick wall as his charred body is barely able to stand up.
Much to his surprise, however, Ryker emerges, still smothering from the massive blow but otherwise unharmed. He grabs two pistols discarded by Brigantia's militia and laughs.
"Nice try!"- He exclaims- "Now dance for me, little puppet!"
Kaiden is forced to avoid a flurry of bullet that is sent his way as Ryker maniacally laughs, clearly amused by his suffering.
"Yeah! That's what I signed up for!"- He yells- "Watching others be so pathetic's so invigorating!"
As he continues to shoot bullets like some kind of crazed serial killer (which, to be honest, he likely is), Ryker looks up and sees Aurelia throw her stick at him, puncturing his eye as he emits a sceam of pure pain and terror.
Stumbling back, he trips on the same guns that he used to attack Kaiden a few moments ago and becomes the victim of his own stupidity when he lands on one of them and accidentally pulls the trigger, getting shot in the back.
Still capable of fighting back, he stands up and looks down at his pistols. Unfortunately, both of them are empty.
"Ugh."- He says- "Too good to be true."
He looks up and sees Kaiden snapping his greataxe in hand. 
"Well, what is your next move?"- He asks him.
Ryker grins and readies his fists. Even though he is unarmed, he can still fight back.
"It's Monday, my dudes!"
Then, he lunges forward and smacks Kaiden a few times with his fists, just to prove his point.
The blind paladin is surprised by Ryker's prolonged survival. However, he has something that his opponent has never had- faith. Believing in his brother has given him the strength to understand and use his opponent's moves against him, so it is no surprise.that his next attackis capable of causing a mortal blow.
Still soaked from the barrel of water that was poured on him, Ryker continues to punch forward. However, Kaiden easily parries his fists with his trusty sword and manages to block him for long enough. Soon, a giant, dark cloud appears in the sky, striking a single lightning bolt down on the solid earth.
Taking this opportunity without any questions, Kaiden raises his weapon in the air and infuses it with the power of thunder. Then, just as the shocked Ryker screams like a little girl and tries to run away, he lunges forward and strikes him with high voltage, sending him flying back, like a fried chicken in the middle of a land filled with mines.
"It seems like the results were quite... shocking."- Kaiden says smugly.
Ryker is absolutely enraged by this sudden stroke of luck. He lets out his fiercest battle cry and tries to lunge forward one more time, only to be stabbed in the neck with a scythe.
Shocked that he has just been defeated, he looks back, his eyes getting wider as he realizes, terrified, that he was subdued by the same thing that he despised- a woman.
"That was a swift chop. And a well-deserved one, if I might say."- She says- "Farewell, Woman Hater Number One, We hope that you meet a lot of women in the Afterlife."
Ryker attempts to make an insulting remark, but he starts to choke his own blood as soon as he tries to speak. Barely able to breathe, let alone talk, Ryker's glare remains fixed on his killer as he finally runs out of steam and dies, humiliated and detested by everyone.
Unfortunately, when Emela focused her attention on Ryker, Harper was given the chance to escape, so he smacked Aurelia away with his bow and leaped back to a more suitable position, showering our heroes with his sharp and venomous arrows.
"Umm. I'm sure that it's nothing special, but their tips seem to be covered with something."- Emela says- "It's probably just a figment of my wild imagination, but chances are that it might be poison. And that's bad."
Kaiden sighs.
"So, you're implying that we should hide instead of taking our chances?"- He says- "Don't worry. We already knew that."
Emela raises her eyebrow.
"You've got quite a temper, for a kid who just got completely blinded."
Kaiden smiles.
"My temper is what's always kept me alive."- He says- "That, and my brother."
Emela sighs.
"Well, your brother isn't here."- She says- "So, you're stuck with us."
Kaiden sighs.
"It was his choice and I don't blame him."- He says- "He fights his own demons. I fight mine."
Raising his blade in the air, he knocks back a few incoming arrows, making them land near Harper instead. But the skilled archer's arrows don't stop flying. They keep on running, and running. It almost seems as if he has unlimited ammunition.
"Your skill is... inadequate."- He says quietly- "Just surrender."
Emela points her wand at the archer.
"Not today, arrow man!"
She casts an earth spell, throwing a magical rock in Harper's direction and knocking the bow out of his hands. And yet, this does not stop him completely. He starts to search for something new almost immediately and soon, he finds a fully loaded balista.
"It's time to go... "- He says as he loads the balista with a dangerous-looking bolt- "... boom."
Our heroes are barely able to leap out of the way as an explosive bolt nearly incinerates them on the spot. And they keep coming, even as they try to get away.
"Almost there."- Harper says stoically- "Just stay still. It won't be long."
As the four of them flee from spot to spot and run out of places to hide with each passing second, Kaiden shakes his head.
"All I ever wanted was to go to a nice university. Be a good student. Impress both my teachers and my family."- He says- "And yet, Fate has played a bad card for me. I must face it with dignity, even though I hate it with all my heart."
Emela smiles sadly.
"Chin up, young cowboy!"- She says to him- "We're not surrendering yet!"
Harper continues to shoot at them.
"Oh, you will soon."- He remarks.
Kaiden sighs.
"I just... wish to see his face one more time."- He says- "We always promised each other to keep Kia's legacy alive. And now, he's not here with us."
He looks down.
"His absence brings me pain."
Emela smiles.
"And yet, his bright spirit still burns strong."- She says- "Everywhere you go, you can feel the fragments of hope that he left behind in his wake. This is the legacy that you've been fighting for, the world that you've been building for four years. Giving up on him now is as bad as abandoning a project when it's so close to completion. You can't abandon hope, no matter how bad it is for you."
Kaiden stares at her.
"You're right."- He says- "If my brother can stay calm and collected, then so will I."
While the four of them continue to fight (or rather, run) for their lives, Ryker's cold, dead body finally reanimates. It opens its eyes, stands up and starts shambling toward the source of the commotion.
Aaron draws his weapon and prepares to put him down. However, Emela stops him, having thought of a better plan.
"No, don't do it."- She says- "He's more useful to us alive than dead."
Kaiden raises his eyebrow.
"You mean half-alive?"
Emela shrugs.
"Something like that."
She sighs.
"And yet, we need him here with us."- She says- "An undead's body is quite durable. If we hide behind him as Harper attacks, we'll be able to have a stable and indestructible meatshield."
Aurelia looks at Ryker. Angered by his earlier attempts to demoralize her, she spits in his direction.
"Filthy scoundrel!"- She hisses- "You deserved it!"
Aaron looks at her, surprised.
"Woah!"- He exclaims- "I always thought that you were the peaceful type!"
Aurelia grins.
"Well, I do have a bit of a darker side that I have to calm down once we get home."- She says to him- "Other than that, it's just the same old me."
Emela looks at the undead Ryker as he shambles toward his still-living companion. The man continues to shoot explosive bolts at his enemies, unaware of his former friend's presence on the battlefield.
"Alright."- Emela says- "Let's move it. We don't have much time left."
As the four of them attempt to run away, Harper realizes that he's not dealing enough damage. He tears one of the nearby crossbows down and mounts it on top of the first one, creating a twin-headed tool of decimation.
"Boom."- He says, simple and straightforward, as he loads two huge bolts and fires them.
*BOOM* indeed.
The gigantic impact is strong enough to send the entire team flying and injure them. However, they are not much worse for wear, making Harper wonder whether his new strategy is actually a bad idea.
As he scans the horizon for his enemies, he fails to see Ryker approaching him from the right. That's why he is left quite surprised when his former campanion lands on top of him and sinks his teeth into Harper's face.
For the first time in what would seem like ages, Harper finally betrays an actual emotion- a look of pure, unrestrained terror. He lets out an anguished yell as Ryker continues to bite further into his face.
"What a sad sight."- Kaiden says, even though he is unable to see the scene himself- "Two friends who were once united by their foolishness and loyalty to their mistress, now torn apart by the principles of life. If only they had listened to their hearts... "
Aaron shakes his head.
"Owie."- He says- "I definitely don't want to be in his place."
Aurelia sighs.
"Yeah."- She says- "No kidding."
Emela stares at the man as his screams slowly start to die down. Resigned to let the inevitable happen, she prepares to leave.
"He'll be gone soon enough."- She says- "Our way back to Goznor is clear. Let's go."
Aaron looks back sadly at the wounded Harper.
"Aww."- He says- "But we can't just let him turn."
Emela sighs.
"Sometimes, you have to let it happen."- She says- "Nobody wants to turn, especially when you can die in such a... humiliating way. But this is the way of life. You can't turn their gears. You can just watch as they come and go."
Aaron bends down and picks up one of the guns that Ryker was holding. Apparently one of them still has ammunition in it.
"Getting lectured is not my type of way."- He says solemnly- "I survived all the way here, because I dared to try. I kept daring myself, sometimes in a rather harsh way. But that's when I learned from myself... "
Just before he finishes his sentence, he aims the gun at Harper and shoots a single bullet. It pierces right through his fragile skull, killing him immediately.
"Everyone deserves a little bit of mercy."- He finishes- "But some deserve to be spared in a more... cruel way."
The undead Ryker looks up and growls. He shambles toward them, but soon hears the sounds of battle coming from nearby. Since undead are always attracted to places of bigger chaos, Ryker wastes no time to ignore our heroes and stop ignoring the nearby bandit militiamen.
Emela stares at the three dead people around them and sighs.
"Well, I'm glad that's finally over. It was such a pain in the butt."- She says- "Our mission's almost done. All that we have to do now is search those fools for useful information, then head home as fast as we can. Warm beds and hot baths await us."
Aurelia grins.
"Oh boy!"- She exclaims- "I love hot baths! They're so relaxing!"
Aaron grins.
"Me too!"- He says- "Me and my parents always went to hot baths on the weekends when I was a child. Perhaps I can relive it all again!"
Emela smiles.
"Well, that makes three of us, my dears."- She says- "Now, let's get searching. I fear that scavengers might get this way soon. Let's make sure that they find nothing of value."
----As the chaos back in Brigantia gets even worse, Geralt and his allies continue hunting for Alais Keymoira. The elusive woman tries to hide away from them, but the young hero's keen eyesight always betrays her location and forces her to run away.
Unfortunately, she always proves to be more nimble than them. Elves are usually faster than most races in the Known World and they always find ways to make good use of this bonus. Thus, it is no surprise that Alais herself is very good at it.
"Well, this is a little insulting!"- Marlon exclaims- "First, she let us catch up with her. She tricked us into coming closer, hit us a few times then started running away again."
Jared sighs.
"A pure-blooded coward, she is."- He says, without any doubt in his heart- "I've seen many of them in my life, but never someone so... ambitious. Willing to cause trouble."
Marlon shakes his head.
"Everywhere she goes, people will know that she means trouble."- He says- "That's why we must stop her at all costs."
Geralt nods.
"And stop her, we shall."- He says- "Allowing that outlaw to run into the waste is like allowing a piece of wood to be carried away by a stream. Either choice is guaranteed to end with their defeat, but it cannot happen without interference from the outside."
Jared looks at his grandson.
"You're becoming quite wise."- He praises him- "I like your new attitude."
Geralt smiles.
"It is in my nature to learn and to teach at the same time."
As Alais keeps running away as fast as she can, she pulls out a small mirror and applies some make-up, to hide the scars from battle and look more presentable to her future clients.
"Ah, yes! Perfect!"- She exclaims- "Now, just a little bit more. And some more."
Marlon raises his eyebrow.
"She's using a mirror while making the run of her life?"- He asks- "How despicable."
Geralt stares at Alais's mirror for a few seconds. Then, he gets some sort of a crazy idea, one that is not going to end well for one of the groups.
"I think that I know how to put her running to an end."- He says- "What is the best light reflector?"
Jared looks up.
"There's nothing better than the large orb in the sky that illuminates our days."- He says- "If you want to get anything related to light, the Sun is your best friend."
Geralt smiles.
"Excellent!"
As he continues to run forward, he envelops himself with a magical shield. The rays of the sun are attracted to it, bouncing off to a nearby large rock, then another one, and another one, until they finally reach their intended target- Alais's mirror. Once there, they shine into the slave trader's eyes with full force, causing her to scream and dropping the mirror, breaking it.
"Hmm. It seems like our friend just got seven years of bad luck."- Jared says- "Whether it will be helpful for her or not remains to be seen."
Geralt shakes his head.
"Nothing good comes out of bad luck, grandpa."- He says- "But the way to our goal is clear. Now, we just have to grab the flag."
He continues to run.
"And by flag, I mean Alais's head."- He adds- "Not in the literal way, though."
As Alais barely stands up, she is surrounded by the three heroes. She tries to envelop herself in a giant magical barrier, but they work together and swiftly dispel it, leaving her alone and vulnerable against those whom she swore to destroy.
"You... stinkers."- She mutters under her breath- "Redmark warned me that you'd be smart, but not that much. Perhaps I should've just left you when I had the chance."
Marlon gives Geralt a gun that he was hiding in his pocket.
"Use this little boy to give that naughty person a swift, sudden ending."- He says- "And, whatever you do, don't let her trick you. Never again."
Geralt raises the gun and slowly points it at Alais.
"Mrs. Keymoira, I didn't want this to happen. I tried to warn you about how dangerous it is to work for Redmark, how foolish it is to disrupt the balance of the Known Lands. And yet, you always refused to listen."- He says to her- "I shall give you one more chance. So, please, surrender whatever weapons you have and come home with your hands in the air. This is the only salvation for you."
Alais laughs.
"Salvation, huh? You still try to "save" me from whatever I've become?"- She says- "Kiddo, you clearly are too blind for this world. You pretend that there's always good within other people. You try to motivate them into seeing their own mistakes, because you think that they're doing the wrong thing. And yet, you can't help but realize how futile it actually is."
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"But I recently saved Aaron in a similar manner."- He exclaims- "He was corrupted by Redmark and had his mind tainted by the darkness! And yet, I still managed to rescue him from the abyss!"
Alais sighs.
"That kid was a lost cause, anyway."- She says- "I'm glad that you brought him out before he hurt himself in his confusion."
Geralt looks at her.
"I can still save you!"
Alais shakes her head.
"I've gone too far down."- She responds- "A swift demise is the only rightful punishment for the one who I am now."
Geralt shakes his head.
"Slave trader or not, you are no barbarian like them!"- He exclaims- "I can tell that you used to be a nice lady in the past! So please, let me help you return to what you once were!"
Alais looks up.
"And you think that I want to become the same, boring person again?"- She asks- "Fat chance, kiddo. I shall die here, loud and proud."
She stares at him.
"Now, shoot me!"
Geralt stares at her, sympathy in his eyes.
"No!"- He exclaims- "I can't do it! Not to you!"
Alais continues to stare at him.
"Shoot me now!"
Geralt lowers his gun.
"I do not want to!"
Annoyed, Alais suddenly lunges at him.
"Are you deaf?!"- She yells- "I said shoot me, you little-- "
*BAM*
Alais Keymoira falls to the ground, dead for good. A single gunshot wound drips from her forehead. Just like that, the mighty and wealthy slave trader was defeated, in a rather unexpected (or desired) manner.
Geralt falls to his knees. Gunsmoke rises from his gun, indicating that he was forced to defend himself and thus, he accidentally caused the woman's demise.
"No. No."- He mutters- "Why does it always have to end the same way? Why do we always have to kill them?"
Jared stands next to his grandson.
"It was a sacrifice worth taking, my boy."- He says to him- "I'm sure that she could have done unspeakable things if we allowed her to live any longer than we did."
Marlon sighs.
"I agree with the wise Mr. Kaos."- He says- "Sometimes, you have to put the bullet it. Fear is always a determining factor and moments like those do happen from time to time. But it's nothing to be afraid of, it's just a way of life."
He raises his eyebrow.
"Did you think that law reinforcement was all about capturing dangerous criminals?"- He asks him- "Well, not quite. Sometimes, we're forced to murder bad people, in order to make a point and enforce the law in a more... efficient way."
Geralt sighs.
"So, we're all just cold-blooded killers."- He says and looks down- "I... understand now. Perhaps I went too far. But I do not think that I'm ready for the rest of it."
Marlon nods.
"You will be, in due time."- He says- "Until then, we deserve a little bit of rest. Such an adventure must have been a toll on everyone's mind. I'll be glad to spend some time with my daughter once again."
As the three of them prepare to leave, Geralt looks back.
"Before we go, can we... bury her, at least?"
Jared sighs.
"Normally, we don't bury killers. They deserve to stay like this, as grim reminders of the malice that they had in life."- He says- "Are you sure that you want to pardon this poor fool?"
Geralt nods.
"No one deserves to stay like this."- He says- "Let's get the job done. Now."
Jared sighs again. He goes to town and grabs three rusty shovels.
"Your wish has been granted, dear grandson."- He says to him- "Now, let's get digging. We still have a lot of work and this is only the beginning of it."
== Trivia ==
* "The power that he gives me to continue being who I am now. The pleasure to be a part of the family that he introduced me to. The pain of losing a parent whose presence I have cherished for so long." is a reference to the lyrics of "Kiss From A Rose", a popular song by Seal.
* "It is Monday, my dudes" is a reference to a popular internet meme called "It is Wednesday, my dudes".