Miracula Luxia C5, P6- "Respect The Fallen"

"Respect The Fallen" is the sixth Part of "Miracula Luxia" 's fifth Chapter- "The Forgotten". It was released on 14.11.2019.
== Plot ==
With a goal in mind, our heroes decide to pay their respects at the ancient leader's tomb.
However, there are ordeals they must pass and prove them as worthy before they can proceed.
Will they survive?
== Story ==
Jared held onto the sword-shaped gem.
"Give us your power, strange gem. Because we might really need it soon."
Soon, the heroes arrived at the tomb.
Their journey was short-lived, though. A few miles within the tomb and... a dead end.
Jared thought that it was just a mind trick. He summoned some of his power to reveal a Portal at the end of the passage.
"Good job, son! I definitely wouldn't have seen it. But your keep senses showed us the way. Now let's go in!"- Aleks complimented his son's abilities and entered the Portal.
Or rather tried to. A strange force pushed him back, sending him to his knees.
"Are you okay, Dad?"- A concerned Jared looked at him.
"It's okay. Just a ghostly force that doesn't want us in. Nothing very dangerous to deal with."
A familiar voice echoed through the Portal. It was Galantis-Bok!
"Can you hear me, Humans?"
"Loud and clear, Galantis, but... why did your Portal push us back?"- Aleks responded.
There was a moment of silence. Then the creature responded.
"It sensed that there's multiple adventurers trying to pass through it. And it cannot carry more than one of you."
"So, you mean... that only one of us can pass?"
"Yes. That is the first rule of the ordeal that you must pass in order to pay your respects. My honor demands it that you must prove yourselves first, even if I really want to let you through."
"So, who shall be your "Chosen One"?"- He asked and waited for an answer.
Silence.
He thought about it. Finally, he came up with a suggestion.
"I can sense a powerful adventurer with you. Young. Talented. Brave."
"Yes."- Aleks nodded- "You're talking about my son- Jared. He is a powerful one."
"I am glad about that. Maybe Jared can go through and survive the ordeal?"
Jared wondered about it.
Then he nodded approvingly.
"Alright then, Galantis-Bok. I am ready for your so-called "Ordeal" !"
"Then the Portal is open for you. Go through. But only you- nobody else."
"Only Master? But Bucky wants to go through with Master!"- Bucky expressed his concern.
"Well, I guess non-humans are not restricted for this matter. Get ready to go in, you two."
Jared and Bucky waved goodbye to Aleks and Jason and crossed the Portal.
They found themselves in a room filled with cobwebs. It seems like Bucky had ended up right into one of them.
"Yuck! Bucky has bad white string all over him. Not good!"
"Yes. I know. It must be very uncomfortable."- Jared expressed his simpathy for the poor creature who clearly hasn't seen a spiderweb in its life.
Nonetheless, they continued forward into a dark passage. After Jared managed to light a lamp they entered a room with a long passage.
"Proceed with care, Bucky. We don't know what will-- "
But before Jared could finish up his sentence, the little Gremlin stepped on a hidden pressure plate.
Suddenly, arrows started to fly out from both directions.
The two of them barely escaped with their lifes.
But, another trap triggered after Jared sat on a pressure plate.
As if to mock them, a Golem formed from all the rubble around them. An impressive creature, albeit not very bright when it comes to exploiting its enemies's weaknesses.
Bucky managed to get his "Master" away from the swinging Golem and managed to push it into the flurry of arrows still flying from both sides behind them.
The Golem was shot multiple times, barely surviving.
It started to walk towards them.
It tried to kill Bucky for pushing it into the arrows, but before it could do so a blow struck its head.
It fell to the ground and its delicate body cracked, numerous stone bits coming out of it.
Jared grabbed his prizes, a small Emerald and another strange gem that was shaped like a staff.
"Cool. More shiny things!"- Exclaimed Bucky as they pressed onward.
Soon, they found more traps- this time not so easy to evade as the previous ones.
Flames started erupting from the ground as soon as Jared stepped on a hidden pressure plate.
With a combination of high evade and pouring magical water onto the raging flames, Jared and Bucky managed to make it through this trap as well.
Bucky was clearly shaken. He didn't expect this little adventure to be so interesting and dangerous.
Oh well. At least they're still alive. Most adventurers would die on that part of the traps.
Finally, the third and last trap was in sight. However, instead of fire and/or arrows, there were three gates.
One was leading towards the exit. The others? Well... it is better not to think about it.
A small mechanism was located nearby, possibly to operate the gates.
"Careful, Master! Those gates might have scary things behind them!"- Bucky warned his Master, aftraid that he might unleash a horrible monster.
"You got it, Bucky. I will."
He looked at the buttons. Unfortunately, there were no labels indicating what is in the other two cells or which button is for the exit.
There were only three buttons, waiting for the brave adventurer to push them.
Red, green and blue.
"Well, the button for the exit may be any one of those."- Jared thought to himself- "But it may be worth it to think before clicking randomly."
"Red usually means "Danger". Blue means "Unknown". And green? Green is supposed to be "Safe". But I guess it might be the opposite in this case of the scenario. To be honest, I'm kind of afraid to push the red one, but it might be it."
But before he could do so, Bucky noticed the green button.
"Oh! Green means "Freedom" ! Freedom! Freedom, Master!"
"Bucky, no!"
But it was too late. Bucky had already pushed the button.
That is the moment when Jared started hearing strange growling sounds coming from behind the green gate.
The young hero panicked. He did not know what to do.
"What is it, Master? This is gate to freedom, right?"
"No, Bucky! Quickly! Give me something to block the gate!"
Finally, Bucky understood that the situation was very dire and that helping his Master was very crucial.
"I have this! Hope it helps."
He handed a large stone to Jared.
"Where did you get this from?"
"Well... "
"Actually nevermind.. All that matters right now is for us to escape this place."
Jared pushed the stone into the gate.
It worked! The gate was jammed!
Well, at least for a little bit. Hairline cracks started appearing on the stone and soon it was going to be merely a pile of small pieces.
The creatures continued to growl.
Jared had to make a choice. It was either Red or Blue.
After thinking about the situation for a while, Jared finally realized.
"It isn't Red. It isn't Green. So it must be... "
"The midpoint!"
Jared quickly pushed the blue button and the gate leading towards the exit opened.
That's when the stone finally broke and the gate opened.
Two huge wolf-like creatures jumped out, ready to devour our heroes.
"Run! Run for your life!"- Bucky yelled, but noticed that his Master was actually preparing for battle.
"Master?"
"Run, Bucky. I will hold them off."
"No Master. If you fight, I fight too. We fight together!"
Jared nodded and aimed his bow at one of the creatures.
"Get ready to die, hostiles!"
The wolf-like creatures tried to pounce on him, but he managed to evade their blows.
With three swift shots, Jared managed to wound one of the creatures.
It howled in pain.
"You in pain? Well, let Bucky finish you off!"
Having said that Bucky approached the wounded beast with a rock and hit it repeatedly in its head.
Soon, the wolf-like creature's howls ceased.
The surviving one was very scared. It took a step back.
"So you don't want to fight us, eh? Alright then. I will let you off with a warning this time."
"But don't cross ways with us ever again or you will feel our wrath."
Bucky nodded, confirming the words of his Master.
The creature stumbled back into the cell and let our heroes pass through the exit.
After passing it, Jared and Bucky found themselves in a large throne room.
There was a Vahnatai towering above them. Its blade was drawn and ready to slay them.
"Vahnatai? Wait, it doesn't look like... "
"This is a Vahnavoi- A ghost version of my people. Very strong. Very fast. I hope you're ready for a fair battle."- Galantis-Bok's voice echoed from nearby.
Jared grabbed his sword and managed to parry the creature's first blow.
Things were very clear now. This was the Vahnatai leader's final challenge- to defeat a fair opponent.
The Vahnavoi pushed Jared's blade away and pointed its blade at his heart.
"So this is how it will end? Well, if I'm going to die now, I will die with honor! Go ahead, attack me if you dare, creature!"
As the Vahnavoi was about to plunge its blade into Jared's chest, Bucky surprised it and slammed a vase on its head.
The Vahnavoi was stunned, albeit for only a short time.
"Now, Master! Strike!"
Jared nodded and charged into the creature.
He managed to land a few solid blows before it fell to the ground, defeated.
Galantis-Bok's voice echoed in the throne room once again.
"You have defeated the Vahnavoi. Now it is your choice whether to spare it from the jaws of death or let it live."
Jared was quick about his choice. He sheathed his sword.
The Vahnavoi bowed down as a sign of respect and disappeared.
"Good job, Hero! From what I've seen, you are a truly honorable one. You managed to save one of the beasts who tried to attack you with brute force. And you spared the Vahnavoi who tried to kill you, but not before showing it that you are the dominant alpha."
"Now you are allowed to pay your respects. Go ahead, before I lose my patience!"
Jared knew what to do. He bowed down and placed one of his candles on the altar.
"You have done it, Hero. You paid your respects when everyone else had already forgotten me. After all I have done for them."
"Oh well. At least I have a human and a gremlin who still respect me."
"Now it is my turn to do something. How may I help you?"
Jared hesitated to say what happened to his friend, but the Vahnatai's kindness made him think twice about his final decision.
Finally, he decided to tell him.
"Well, it's about my friend Annie. She was captured by a man in black and we've been trying to find her. Can you help us?"
"You mean the Organization XIII? I've been told about them by a young adventurer a few years ago. Nasty fellows. Must be defeated."
"Alright, I will help you. She's your friend and she must be saved."
Suddenly, a tall figure appeared in front of them.
It was Galantis-Bok.
"How... ?"- Jared was clearly confused.
Bucky didn't know what to say.
"Thanks to Deimos-Bok who lives in your Castle I can restore by corporeal form at will. Now, where is this fellow you've been speaking of?"
The three of them left the tomb and saw Aleks and Jason.
They were in trouble. Attacked by some nasty cat-like creatures.
"Let me help!"- Galantis-Bok jumped into battle, not thinking twice about saving the lives of his new allies.
He quickly dispatched most of the cat-like creatures. One of them tried to shoot at him, but Jared took it down before it could do so.
"Thank you, new friend. It seems like you and I are going to be a great team."
Bucky was annoyed. He made an angry face.
"Oh yes. And you, little gremlin."
Bucky smiled.
Aleks and Jason were thankful for the Vahnatai's help.
"Thank you, Galantis-Bok."- Jason said- "Aleks managed to sense a friendly spirit entering corporeal form, but we didn't know that the spirit could actually help us."
"Believe it, my friends. I am your ally now and I will make sure that you all complete this journey and be alive and well." 
Aleks nodded and wondered what to do next.
"So, what do we do now?"
"We rescue your friend from Organization XIII, right?"- Galantis-Bok smiled.
"How do you know about Annie? And the Organization?"- Aleks wondered.
"Hehe. Long story, Dad. I will tell you about it later."
Aleks nodded.
"Okay then. All kinds of help are accepted, especially when it comes from a kind spirit such as yourself.
Galantis-Bok was flattered by Aleks's words.
"Thank you, Aleks. It is an honor for me to call myself "your ally" !"
Aleks nodded and hopped into the boat.
They looked towards the rapids up ahead and saw more waterfalls.
"Oh, right. I forgot to tell you about those. Oops!"- Galantis-Bok noted his mistake.
"It's okay. We can get past those. We've gotten past some waterfalls not long ago. We can do it again!"- Aleks exclaimed and headed towards them.
The team of four was once again a team of five who were ready to save their friend and meet the Vahnatai. But will they succeed?
Find out soon!
== Trivia ==
* This Part is named "Respect The Fallen" to show that you must respect everyone who has fallen in battle, no matter how good or bad they were.
* First appearance of Galantis-Bok.
* First appearance of the "Galantia Waterfalls".
* This Part teaches us another good manner- the desire to honor those who are not among us anymore. No matter if they are Human or not.