MLTO C3, P2

This is the second Part of "MLIV:TO" 's third Chapter.
It was released on 11.12.2022.
== Plot ==
The temple is under attack. All students are in a state of panic and Akihiro is forced to handle this situation with more than just a peaceful attitude. As humanoids invade the sacred grounds, like they invaded the Surface decades ago, the old master's loyalty toward his students is being tested.
But he is not alone in this battle. Geralt and Aurelia- two of his best students- are ready to fend off this seemingly undefeatable group of rabble that dares to taint their new home and prove themselves in front of their master. Together with them, Akihiro might be able to send a serious message to any vandals who might try to desecrate all that he has ever fought for in the future.
And yet, there is a certain sinister energy in the air. It is almost as if the mastermind behind this attack is not far away... and that this is only a fraction of his power.
Could this raid be the prelude of a new, much more dangerous threat?
== Story ==
Geralt and Aurelia arrive at the gates. They watch as panicked students, still shocked by this unexpected situation, attempt to escape from the vicious fiends that are chasing them.
"The time of repentance shall never arrive! Our sins are weighing down on us!"- One of them yells- "We're doomed!"
The two youths stare at each other.
"Something tells me that some of those people were never believers to begin with."- Geralt says- "And yet, they need to be saved in the same way as everyone else."
Aurelia raises her eyebrow.
"Can't they jut grab their staffs, or whatever, and liberate the temple with their own powers?"- She asks- "I mean, they're students of the oldest, wisest man in the world! They're supposed to be better than this!"
Akihiro notices the two and approaches them. He bows his head and sighs.
"Aurelia, I believe that you misunderstood what I said earlier."- He says to her- "My students are taught to understand themselves. To unlock their hidden purity. And yet, I never dared to teach them how to fight. You see, I am a pacifist, and my kind never dares to attack someone unless we are forced to do so."
Aurelia looks at him.
"Then how are we supposed to handle this?!"
Akihiro raises his staff and glares at the invading creatures.
"I long feared that this time would happen, but I made myself believe that we would be safe."- He says- "Sometimes, the master has to take care of a certain predicament. If my students are too afraid to fight, I must take charge."
He takes a step forward.
"And I shall make this place great again."- He adds- "With diplomacy."
Geralt and Aurelia stare at each other, utterly confused.
"Did he just say that he'll talk to them."- Aurelia asks- "Those mindless brutes that only live to plunder and fight?"
Geralt shakes his head.
"This will not end well."
He rushes foward, trying to save his master. However, Akihiro extends his staff and stops him in his tracks.
"No, my boy. That's enough."- He says- "You should go back and take charge of the remaining students. I'll take care of the rest."
Geralt shakes his head.
"I hate to say this, but you are throwing your own life away, sir!"- He exclaims- "Many people revere you for your patience and courage! Do you know how they would feel if you failed?"
Akihiro sighs.
"I calculated every single outcome. Every single risk."- He says- "You cannot educate the master. So, stand back. This is for your own good."
As Akihiro prepares to confront the monsters, Geralt continues to follow him. He tries to ignore him, but to no avail- the young hero is not going anywhere."
"You're quite a persistent young man. Even though I refused so many times, you continue to try to convince me that this is not the right answer. "- He compliments him- "But you should know that every action comes with a price. Every drop of blood that was spilled came from our mistakes."
He looks back at him, his eyes filled with rage.
"Do you want to suffer the same fate as them?!"
Geralt freezes in place, shocked.
"Sir... "
Akihiro shakes his head.
"You claim that I am the one who is making a mistake, yet you refuse to see your own."- He says- "If you continue to act like this, I am afraid that you cannot be a part of our temple."
He takes a few steps forward.
"Farewell, young Kaos."
As Akihiro leaves the scene, Geralt falls on his knees. Apparently, the master's words have had a dramatic effect on him. Even after Aurelia joins him, he is left to wonder about what he just said to him.
"Was I ever meant to be like this, Aurelia?"
Aurelia raises her eyebrow.
"Huh?"
Geralt looks at her.
"Was I supposed to go far away from home, just to unlock some kind of hidden potential?"- He openly questions himself- "Maybe I am not the Chosen One... "
From the shadows, a quiet snicker can be heard. Apparently, someone takes great pleasure in watching Geralt suffer. Or, perhaps, making him feel this way.
Aurelia is saddened to see Geralt- mighty hero and her dearest savior- in such a pitiful state. She bends down and places her hand on his shoulder.
"I know that you may not be the best of them, but you're still perfect to all of those who came to know you."- She says- "Do you know what my father once told me when I was just a child? What he tried to teach me, so I could remember it for as long as I was in this world? Well, it's quite simple- "The greatest treasure can be found in the strangest of places, dear. Not all that glitters is gold, but the most tormented light shines the brightest". That's something that I had already lost when you found me, but it was soon restored. All thanks to you, Geralt."
Somewhere from the shadows, a quiet curse can be heard. It seems like Aurelia's words have caused an unwanted reaction from the person who was silently mocking Geralt just a few seconds ago.
"Both of us have suffered a lot. We were locked away from the families we once had. We were forced to live in a way that was once alien to us. And we never, ever felt any true happiness."- Aurelis continues and smiles sadly- "But nothing's over until the soul's flame finally stops burning. Which will never happen, for as long as we continue to believe. Just like someone managed to save me when I needed them the most, I'm sure that the same thing will happen to you. Just keep on shining. That's all that I ask of you."
Geralt looks up.
"Do you truly mean it?"- He asks her- "Do you think that there is a place for... someone like me? An outcast? A nobody?"
Aurelia looks at him.
"Of course there is!"- She exclaims- "You have always been revered by everyone since you started adventuring. You've never lived in the shadow of your father or acted with the consent of your grandfather. You're a person, unique in his own way, and that's why everyone has so much faith in you!"
Geralt is still shocked by the whole experience, but still manages to curl his lips into a smile. This proves what Aurelia just said about him.
"I... never came to see the world like this. I thought that they liked me because I was part of an influential family."- He says- "But now, I understand it. I see the world with a fresh pair of eyes."
He looks at the gates.
"And I managed to develop a little bit of wisdom myself."- He says- "Sometimes, the student may turn out to be wiser than this master. He may be criticized by his peers, shunned by his spiritual leader, and maybe even kicked out of his society. But the common goal, it still remains the same. This young man is being disrespected because he is doing the right thing... even though it must be done at the cost of bending his own traditions."
He clenches his fist.
"I will not give up on our master!"
Aurelia grins.
"That's the spirit!"- She exclaims- "You're doing great!"
Geralt smiles.
"So."- He says- "Shall we proceed?"
Aurelia nods.
"You got it."
As the two of them prepare to leave, Aurelia leans closer to Geralt and whispers.
"And those who think that you're a nobody are nobodies themselves."
While the two of them follow the trail of their master, Akihiro has already arrived outside. He is standing in front of the confused brutes, staff in hand, staring into their eyes.
"Beasts of the Known Lands! Conquerors of the wilds! Slaves of a forgotten world!"- He exclaims- "Your kind and mine have been at war for far too long! I understand that you must be worried, so I came here to talk! For my people... and for the entire world!"
This has definitely gotten the humanoids' attention. All of them turn around to listen to the old man.
"Perhaps you and I have differing views of this world. All that you wish to do is plunder and I only want to teach others how to understand their inner peace."- He says- "But tell me. Is this a reason that is adequate enough to be considered a threat to both of us? Is this what our ancestors would have wanted? And, most importantly, can something ever be done to ensure peace between us?"
One of the ogres lifts a flag of the temple that it stole and tears it in half. It seems like the humanoids' intentions are quite obvious.
Still, Akihiro continues to press on, in the hopes that he might make those mindless brutes see reason in this sea of ruin and despair.
"I am a fair man and I understand when we have lost. We tried to take your land once or twice, that is true, but we can still repent for our own mistakes."- He says- "My offer to you is quite simple. If you leave our kind alone, I give you my word that we shall do the same. No more raids. No more lust for vengeance. No more tattered flags and shattered skulls. We shall pay you back what you are owed and we shall live in peace and harmony."
The humanoids stare at Akihiro for a few long moments, confused. They think that the master is not being serious, but soon realize that it is otherwise.
A few moments later, one of the orcs starts to chuckle. Then another one starts to do the same. One after the other, the creatures start to laugh at Akihiro's seemingly absurd offer. Even though it might sound reasonable for another race, the creatures that he sees before him are too far gone to be able to make any deals. As Geralt himself said earlier, they only live to take loot from others and kill them if they dare to resist. It is impossible to change their common path.
Still, it was a good try. Akihiro did his best, but the beasts are too filled with rage and greed to be able to listen to the voice of reason.
"I guess that you are not taking this seriously. You think that I am beinga fool. And, perhaps, you may be right. I tried to convince you brutes of turning against your own moral principles, just to keep some good people alive."- He says as the humanoids continue to laugh at him- "Oh well. If it has to be this way, then I shall accept my fate with courage and dignity."
He looks at the growing crowd of brutes and, regretfully, prepares to say his final words to them.
"So,"- He says to them- "What shall it be?"
The humanoids raise their crude weapons and let out fierce battles cries.
"Then I shall not object to your decision. It shall be done."- He says- "But be warned. I may be old, but I still have a fire burning in my-- "
His speech his cut short when a sharp rock is thrown at him. He barely dodges it as the humanoids prepare to charge at the temple.
Forced to fight the raiders who are close to razing his home to the ground, Akihiro does his best to hold them back with his staff and the magic within his very being, but is easily subdued by them. A few hits from the ogres' clubs and a few jabs from the goblins' crude spears and he is left nearly defenseless.
"I suppose that I was the unworthy one. To think that such a thing would ever work was my greatest mistake."- He says and bows his head- "Forgive me, young Geralt. My people are in your hands now."
A single giant, perhaps the leader of those vagabonds, approaches Akihiro and stares down at him. He sees what he has turned into and starts to laugh. Then, as Akihiro continues to bow and accept his fate, he lifts his giant axe and prepares to slice him in half, as punishment for his mistake.
Moments away from ending the old master's life for good, the giant prepares to give him the most painful ending. Too late, however, he notices two daggers being thrown at him. They stab him both sides of the neck and he stares to back away, shocked that someone is trying to kill him. Before he can make his move, though, a lone man jumps out of the bushes and beheads him with a single hit.
A few of the ogres, enraged by their master's demise, attempt to attack the brave hero. However, the young man pulls out the daggers from the giant's lifeless corpse, jumps out of the way and stabs two of them in the skull with deadly precision, leaving the rest of them susceptible to a counterattack. As they try to attack him, he draws his weapon and stabs one of them in the chest, kicks the second and stabs him in the nose. Then, when the final two ogres try to clobber him down, he simply throws his blade and beheads them, in the same way he took the giant's life away.
The rest of the humanoids are left to grieve for their alleged leader as the young man approaches Akihiro and helps him stand on his feet.
"I... I don't know what to say."- He says- "I thought that I was done for."
The man smiles and shakes his head.
"Save your gratitude for later, wise one."- He says- "We're still not out of the fire yet."
Akihiro stares at him, trying to determine what he really wants.
"Do you know what you just got yourself into?"- He asks him- "At this rate, you have managed to condemn yourself. There are too many rogues between us and the exit, and we can't run back into the temple, either. This is a nightmare!"
The man ignores his ranting and focuses on watching the gates behind him and Akihiro.
"I'm sure that the hero of the day will be here."- He says- "Any minute now."
A few seconds later, Geralt and Aurelia emerge from the temple, their weapons stained with the blood of the humanoids that they slaughtered.
"There we go!"
The two youths approach Akihiro, surprised that he is still alive.
"Sir, we heard the screams coming from outside. We thought that you were gone, but we still came to check."- He says- "How is it possible that you made it out unscathed?"
Akihiro smiles.
"With the power of faith, my boy."- He responds- "When one believes for long enough, his wishes shall come true."
Geralt looks at the masked man behind Akihiro. He draws his weapon, but the man shakes his head.
"I assure you that I'm not one of them."- He says- "In fact, you might even recognize me."
As the man lifts his hood, Geralt and Aurelia gasp. They clearly did not expect this.
"Aaron?!"- Geralt exclaims- "But... how?!"
Aaron looks at his friend and smiles.
"Well, I have my ways."
He glares back at the approaching horde of humanoids.
"But we still have more work to do, so let's get on with it."
Geralt shakes his head.
"We were just at the temple, but the entrance is blocked."- He says- "If we want to find a way to stop this madness, we have to do it fast."
Aaron nods.
"You don't have to tell me twice, buddy!"
Aaron looks around, as if scanning the area for something that would come of use to him. Then, he sees a crystalline pillar, partially hidden in the ground below. It does not take him long to figure out a plan to eradicate the humanoid menace.
"There are defenses in this temple! Magical constructs with the ability to annihilate any invader!"- He exclaims- "But they're currently inactive! Only a massive surge of magic will be able to awaken them!"
Akihiro gasps.
"Oh! You mean the pylons that I installed?"- He says- "I may be a skeptic when it comes to the arts of magery, but I would never refuse their help. A few of their masters came and installed the defenses after the most decent raid, in an attempt to keep us all alive. However, they only gave the ability to command them to myself. Nobody else will be able to do such a thing."
He bows his head and sighs.
"However, I am toon tired to make it happen."- He adds- "The effort to hold the brutes back has drained me of my energy. We must find another way to unleash their power."
Geralt takes a step forward.
"I will do it!"
All three of them look at him.
"You?"- Akihiro asks- "But you have been through so much! You need a rest!"
Geralt shakes his head.
"I will never rest until the fiends are put back in their place."- He says- "And I don't just mean those fiends."
He looks back at his master.
"I want you to cover me until I find a certain spot where I can channel my magical power."- He says- "Can you fend them off in my absence?"
Aurelia nods.
"I shall give my own life away to protect my lo-- I mean, my friend!"
Aaron draws his weapon.
"If that's what you want to do, then who am I to argue?"- He says- "Go ahead. Give it your best shot."
Akihiro smiles.
"No matter what happens next, I will never forget your sacrifice."- He says- "Good luck, young Kaos. You make everyone proud of you."
Geralt nods and rushes past the seemingly endless horde of humanoids, slicing his way through their wall.
Although the creatures are very dim-witted, they are still able to see through Geralt's facade. While most of them believe that he is trying to run away, a few of their wiser members realize what is going on.
"The boy!"- Some of them shout- "The boy!"
As a large group of humanoids attempts to stop Geralt, the rest of his allies get in their way.
"Oh no, you don't!"- Aaron yells- "If you want to get to Geralt, you need to face us first!"
The humanoids and Geralt's allies initiate a fierce battle that attracts the attention of the rest of the brutes. This buys Geralt enough time to reach the middle of the garden.
There, stained with the blood of many students who fell victim to the initial raid, he sees a magical circle. Without thinking twice, he stands in the middle of it and prepares to channel his own energy into it.
A few ogres attempt to throw rocks at him, but Aaron's fast response saves the young hero a lot of pain. 
With most of the humanoids either dead or too far away from the magical circle, Geralt raises his hands in the air.
"Foul beasts of the badlands!"- He yells- "Begone from this sacred land!"
As suddenly as lightning piercing the clouds, the magical circle starts to glow white. Holy magic radiates from it and infuses the pylons everywhere in the temple. Soon, the powerful constructs awaken, ready to annihilate anything evil in the holy grounds.
The moment the creatures within them are awakened, they immediately sense the humanoids as their enemies. They unleash their incredible magical powers on the fiends, easily disintegrating them and saving the students that were about to be killed.
Everywhere in the temple, the screams of the panicking humanoids can be heard. Goblins, ogres and orcs alike attempt to smash down the pylons, to no avail, as they are completely wiped off the face of the earth.
As the screams start to die down, Geralt leaves the circle. His work done, he returns to his allies and sees that all of them are still alive and well.
"Well, that was quite... shocking."- He says- "Is everyone alright?"
Aurelia nods.
"More or less."- She responds- "But I still can't believe what just happened. Pylons, hidden and ready for use? This is crazy!"
As the four of them stare at the pylons, they quickly revert back to their lifeless selves and descend into the ground. Now that all of the humanoids have been wiped out, they have no more work to do. For now, at the very least.
"I am grateful for those little wonders. Praise the mages for being so ingenious."- Akihiro says- "But there are still many things to do. Repairing the temple and calming down the students are just a few small parts of them. So, let us return to our home and we shall plan our next move."
Geralt nods.
"I agree with Master Akihiro."- He says- "Let's head back inside. It is warmer and safer in there."
As the four of them return inside of the temple, a lone figure watches them from the shadows. It is a man in black robes. His dark eyes pierce their way through the shadows, analyzing our heroes and searching for flaws.
"Curse you, Kaos."- He mutters as he sneaks back into the darkness behind him.