MLTO C5, P7

This is the seventh Part of "MLIV:TO" 's fifth Chapter.
It was released on 14.03.2023.
== Plot ==
It is said that the greatest warriors hone their abilities while defeating their enemies. However, such an improvement is only of the body, not of the mind. Thus, the vast amount of knowledge scattered around the world serves as more than just a simple beacon of light in a world of darkness- it is a sign of humankind's ability to hone its mental abilities, to absorb the potential within every single word.
Such is the case with the team of young heroes known as the "Heralds of Hope". Geralt and his allies managed to defeat the assassins who were dispatched to eliminate them and prevailed against the secret organization located within Avernum once again, but their time in the cold and unforgiving lands is still not over. In order to discover the knowledge that will help them eradicate the source of chaos within those lands, they must be willing to learn and absorb whatever they can, from wherever they can. 
Will they find the knowledge that they are looking for?
== Story ==
As Geralt and his allies approach the gates of Almaria, Kaiden lightly pats his brother on the shoulder.
"Geralt, may I talk to you for a second?"- He asks- "It's urgent. Very urgent."
Aurelia gasps.
"Ooh! This'll be good!"- She exclaims- "Can I join you?"
Kaiden looks at her.
"I appreciate your kindness, Aurelia."- He says- "However, I wish to talk to my brother. Alone."
Geralt sighs.
"As much as I do not like it, you need to listen to my brother."- He says- "He can get very erratic about topics like those. It is best to let a sleeping storm lie undisturbed."
Aurelia sighs.
"Aww, you're no fun!"- She exclaims- "Fine! I'll do it! But don't think that you'll get rid of me that easily!"
Kaiden sighs.
"Just don't cause any trouble."- He says- "That's all that I want from you."
Aurelia smiles.
"Well, I'm good at not doing that."- She responds- "See ya!"
Having said that, she leaves the Kaos siblings alone.
"Aurelia is a wonderful companion, isn't she?"- Geralt says and smiles- "She is a little bit eccentric sometimes, but is very sweet and very caring. I have never met such a young woman in my life."
Kaiden sighs.
"Yeah. That's also why I wanted to talk to you."- He says- "Aurelia's been quite an annoying addition to our team. I'm not sure how to really feel about her."
Geralt looks at him.
"You think that she is not a good ally?"- He asks- "Are you blind?"
Kaiden raises his eyebrow.
"That's some... very dark humor, little bro."- He says- "I don't know who taught you how to act like that, but I do not approve of it."
Geralt looks at his brother.
"You wanted me to become independent."- He says- "That is exactly what I am now. I lead an entire team of warriors into the lands of darkness. I devise a plan to save the entire world from the clutches of evil. I stand my ground against Redmark's bullies, even when you're not around. I am not wild. I am determined."
Kaiden sighs.
"Well, whatever. I'll let you keep your current opinion on this matter... for now."- He says- "But that isn't why I wanted to talk to you. It's about our other comanion. The one that we were forced to send away for the time being."
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"You mean cousin Dante?"- He says- "What about him?"
Kaiden looks at the eastern side of Almaria, the place where Dante went to restore his sanity.
"Ever since Dante has been here with us, I've had a very bad feeling about him. Sure, he's a skilled combatant and he has a very big heart. But his erratic attitude has made me think that he's a little... deranged. As if he has suffered something terrible in the past, but refuses to share any details with others, even the people close to him."- He says- "When he got angry at you for giving away the money to those poor orphans, I realized that he's truly lost his mind. On the outside, he seems like a completely normal person. Acting like any regular human being, fighting for the good of this world. Nothing out of the ordinary, at least from a simple citizen's point of view. But we heroes know when something's wrong. Dante's mind is under siege. He is facing a severe level of existential turmoil inside of his own head. It's almost as if he's facing an inner enemy inside of himself. I feel horrified to see the changes in our dear cousin."
Geralt looks at him.
"So what? Do you want to change his way of life?"- He asks- "Dante is a free man with the ability to think, unlike his parents who are stuck in Goznor for good. He has a life of adventure ahead of him. He is a good person, but he's worried about his father's kingdom. He wants to help him from afar. Do you really think that telling him to stop acting like that will actually help him out?"
Kaiden shakes his head.
"Far from it, little bro."- He says- "I just wanted to offer him some of my advice. To push him away from the path of doom and gloom that I walked on for so many years. Kiara's death has affected both of us so much and I don't want Mr. Gonoru's condition to affect Dante in the same way."
He looks at his brother.
"Normally, we only care about our immediate family. However, something inside of me tell me that there's more than just the people that we see as our family. Our relatives, they need as much love as as they get."- He says- "Dante's condition has put me on the fritz. If we allow others to feel the same way as him, then we'll have no chance to form a full, happy family. We must start thinking like adults, to let go of our childish philosophies and start seeing the world in a different way. The world is changing, and so should we."
Geralt looks back.
"Says the man who will soon have twins on his mind."
Kaiden chuckles dryly.
"Oh, yeah. That... is also a thing."- He says- "Isa is my priceless treasure. My precious, shining diamond in the middle of a giant trash pit. She's been mistreated for so many years and, even with my presence, people still continue to do so. It's up to me to secure our legacy and make sure that she's feeling happy and loved."
He sighs.
"However, I've always thought about how we started this journey. The way everything went when we were alone."- He adds- "Nothing has always added up quite well, but I've always been positive. I never stopped thinking about you. Even though I'm content that you found your place in this world, I still wish we could fight side by side again."
Geralt smiles.
"And that's exactly what Fate did for us. To unite our hearts in those dark times is no easy feat."- He says- "We are not alone, Kai. We have never been."
Kaiden nods.
"I know, Geralt."- He says- "The time that we spent away from each other only strengthened our bond. I've never felt so close to you."
He raises his eyebrow.
"But tell me, little bro."- He says- "What should we do with our dear cousin Dante? I suspect that something must be done about him, but I don't think that I have the heart to do it myself."
Geralt sighs.
"Dan is... a conflicted individual. Distracted at best, and maddened at worst. However, he is a part of our family. We must treat him with respect, especially in the times when he is most afraid."- He says- "Soon, our cousin will be the leader of one of the world's most renowned kingdoms. He will lead its forces toward the light and fight for a newer, brighter Order. In order to see him come out on top of the royal hierarchy, we must make sure that he is in a good condition. Thus, we must give him time to rest from this massive ordeal."
He looks away.
"It is said that time heals all wounds, but the inner ones caused to Dante are too severe. He needs more than just a little bit of time."- He says- "In his mind, there is darkness. There is danger. There is uncertainty. If we want to keep him afloat, we need to let him be at peace with himself and the world around him."
Kaiden nods.
"A very wise and carefully planned decision, my dear little bro. I'm very proud of you."- He says- "If Dante wants to be alone, then I have no qualms about giving him the peace that he deserves. We heroes are supposed to help the people of this world, after all, and our cousin is a part of the world that we all live in. He shall remain alone for as long as possible. Maybe there will be a time when we fight together again. Someday."
From the nearby shadows, Dante secretly eavesdrops on his cousin, as if to find out what their next move will be. Realizing that they are not planning anything yet, he gives up and leaves his hiding spot to go somewhere else.
"All of their attention is focused on me. On my foolish actions and foolish atittude."- He says to himself as he walks- "Maybe I am the problem? Maybe I should... stay away from my parents for the time being and make my own fortune in this world?"
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"I think that I sensed a familiar presence nearby. A kindered soul."- He says- "Or maybe it was just me?"
Kaiden sighs.
"You always have such a wishful thinking, little bro."- He says- "Being positive in a world like this is a wonderful feeling that you shouldn't let go, but you should start being a little bit more realistic."
Geralt looks at him.
"I am trying to!"
Kaiden sighs again.
"I know, little bro."- He says- "I know."
He looks back at Aurelia, who is watching them from afar. He whistles to her and watches as she approaches them.
"Well, Aurelia. I think that we're done."- He says to her- "Did you enjoy your little dose of free time?"
Aurelia smiles.
"This city's such a beautiful place!"- She exclaims- "When they said that the Almarians sell the best wine in all of Avernum, they didn't know how right they were! I used a little bit of our money to buy us some wine for the road and drank one of the bottles. If I feel a little tipsy while we're on our way, that's the reason why."
She presents two bottles to the siblings.
"Wanna join me?"
Kaiden smiles.
"Sure thing."- He says- "A little bit of wine won't hurt me. Or rather, not as much as whiskey could."
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"Are yoy saying that you have a tolerance for alcohol now?""
Kaiden looks at him.
"Trust me, I've tasted a lot of those vile substances while I was at home."- He says- "They don't taste as good as good old Cola, but they warm my stomach and make me feel better."
He sighs.
"However, they'll never warm my heart."- He is quick to add- "Or bring me back to my beloved Isa."
Geralt sighs, as well.
"I know the feeling of being away from our family."- He says- "It is quite... demoralizing."
Aurelia looks at Geralt.
"Do you want some too, Geralt?"
Geralt looks at her and shakes his head.
"I'm sorry, Aurelia. I have to refuse."- He says- "My tolerance for alcohol is very low. I cannot handle it."
Aurelia raises her eyebrow.
"Aww. But why?"- She asks- "You'll be big soon enough. Why not start while you're young?"
Geralt shakes his head.
"My father taught me that alcohol only makes you feel good for a short time. The rest of it, it only makes you feel terrible."- He says- "I think that it is best for me to stay away from it. I cannot take it."
Aurelia shrugs.
"Oh, well."- She says sadly- "More for me, then!"
She uncorks the bottle and starts to drink from it. However, she soon has a change of mind and gives it to Kaiden.
"I feel like you're truly the most tolerant out of the three of us."- She says- "Do you want it?"
Kaiden nods.
"It won't hurt."- He says- "I will."
As Kaiden drinks both bottles of wine, he starts to look a little tipsy. He starts to speak gibberish, forcing Aurelia to cast a spell to calm him down.
"Ugh. Thanks for that."- He says to her- "I hate it when my own body acts against me."
Aurelia nods.
"Make sure to control your alcohol level."- She advises him- "We don't want you to collapse from drinking too much."
Kaiden sighs.
"I'll... try to."
He looks at his brother.
"So."- He says- "What's the next order of business?"
Geralt looks at the gates.
"I was thinking about raiding the location where the baron is supposed to be. However, I've come to realize that we're missing one important key detail- knowledge."- He says- "If we want to beat that anti-vigilante, we have to start learning. Visiting the nearest library should help."
Aurelia smiles.
"Ooh! I like learning!"- She exclaims- "Are we going to learn about obscure magic? Dark history? Maybe even look at some cute boys?"
Geralt sighs.
"That is.., not what I meant, Aurelia."- He says- "We are trying to discover new methods to use against our enemies. To perfect our knowledge about warfare and battle planning. We are not trying to fall in love with someone else, or tap into the arts of darkness."
Aurelia looks down.
"Aww."- She says- "You're no-- "
Geralt shakes his head.
"No fun?"- He interrupts her- "Yes. I have already heard that. A million times."
Aurelia looks at him.
"Then try to be more fun!"- She exclaims- "It'll be better this way!"
Kaiden shakes his head.
"Telling Geralt to stray away from his duties is like telling a rock to start speaking. Neither of those are possible."- He says- "It's best if you let my brother act like he does not. The world needs a hero who truly cares about it, and there are few like our dear leader. You must not send him astray."
Aurelia sighs.
"Fine. Okay."- She responds- "But he still needs to chill sometimes. Doing your duties is cool, but enjoying some free time with your friends and family is even cooler."
Kaiden looks at his brother.
"You know, I think that I start to agree with her."- He says- "You should try to spend some time with us when you're free."
Geralt smiles and nods.
"That is exactly what I am hoping to see."
Geralt looks at the gates behind him, longing for more adventure.
"So."- He says- "Shall we?"
Aurelia nods.
"You know it!"- She exclaims- "Let's get that good knowledge!"
In the span of a few days, our heroes explore the Great Cave to find more information to use against their enemies. First, they check the library in the Castle. It might be small and insufficient, but it is theirs to explore. Since Geralt is a member of the royal family, he and his allies are given full access to its contents and are left undisturbed. Once there, they discover a heavy ledger that has been unused for many years. It lists all of the new recruits that were enlisted into (or rejected from) the Avernum army, Many of the names are completely unfamiliar and otherwise unimportant, but one names stands out in the face of all the others- Bael Bridges. This makes our heroes realize that the baron might have started off as a simple do-gooder with visions of grandeur, reduced to a simple outcast by the negligence of the government. An unusual case, but not quite uncommon.
"So."- Kaiden says after they leave the library- "What did we learn from our visit?"
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"That Baron Bridges was trying to become a part of the army, in the hopes of slaying all of Avernum's enemies in the process?"
Kaiden nods.
"Indeed."- He says- "We have an actual clue in our hands. A clue that will reveal the truth about the baron's true nature. Let's not misuse it."
He raises his eyebrow.
"But tell me."- He adds- "Is there anything else that we learned here?"
Aurelia looks at him.
"We learned that this 'man' is a mercurial fool and that he started acting weird shortly after being dishonorably discharged?"
Kaiden nods.
"You know... that also counts."- He says- "Knowing about one's attitude is the first step to knowing him better. Even though we won't know him for very long."
He sighs.
"But that's not enough. Far from it."- He adds- "The information in the castle was truly valuable, but it only serves as the beginning of our investigation. We can't stop. We must continue."
Geralt nods.
"My brother is right. There is still so much knowledge to divulge."- He says- "Our work is not done yet. We must find another library and rummage through its contents, for the sake of finding what we are looking for."
He looks at a gate to the right of them.
"And I think that I know where we must go."
Geralt and his allies enter the Castle's portal room and use the pylon at the end of it. They are wrenched away and taken to the legendary Fort Avernum- home of the same portal that was used to send exiles into the lands of Avernum, now used simply as a starting location for enthusiastic tourists and powerful sages.
Even though the fort's library is even smaller that the one that the Castle has, the librarian is kind enough to help them find the information that they need. Together, they discover another ledger, this time listing the new arrivals that came through the portal and were recorded in the process. The list is rather small and, like the previous one, it has not been used in years, but the information within gives our heroes a sliver of hope, a new understanding of Baron Bridges.
"Here, it says that this so called 'Baron' was a visitor who came from the lands above. However, it seems like he said something very bad about the government on the Surface and he angered some influential official or a short-tempered general, and they sent him down here by force, as punishment for his unforgivable attitude."- The librarian- "That poor guy pulled the wrong match from the box and paid for it. But why do you want to find him?"
Geralt sighs.
"Our reasons are... personal. Very much so."- He says- "However, I assure you that they are completely aligned with the interests of Avernum and the Surface. We want to do something good for everyone and we need as much knowledge as we can."
The librarian nods.
"That is completely understandable reason, my friend."- He says- "If it's information that you won't, you're in the right place. We're always happy to help the heroes of our troubled world."
They continue browsing through the rest of the ledgers, but find almost nothing of value. Whoever Baron Bridges was at the time of his arrival, it is clear that he did not want to share any information about himself. Such a secretive attitude is quite common amongst the world's greatest villains. Even Emperor Redmark's history is a mystery to the world's greatest historians.
"Even in the brightest world, there is always a little bit of darkness."- Geralt says, all of a sudden- "Even in Paradise, there is a killer."
Kaiden raises his eyebrow.
"What are you trying to imply, little bro?"
Geralt looks at him.
"Signs of chaos were always present in this man, no matter how much he pretended to be a normal person."- He says- "Everything that he did, he claimed that it was for the good of this world. But he never knew the truth. He was too blind."
Kaiden smiles sadly.
"Like me?"
Geralt shakes his head.
"You have always been such a righteous person. Everything that you did was truly for our good. You have always meant well, even though your actions tried to say otherwise."- He says- "I would never dare to compare you to this pathetic excuse for a vigilante, even as a joke. He is nothing more than a fool who was elevated by the dark times that we live in. In my eyes, a monster with a false sense of justice is still a monster, no matter if everyone trusts him or not."
The librarian looks at them and raises his eyebrow.
"Forgive me for chiming in, but I think that I know who you're looking for."- He says- "I think that my colleagues in Patrick's Tower know about him. They've refused his so-called help for a long time and he's always been trying to raid them. Maybe you can help each other for the time being?"
Geralt nods.
"That sounds like a wonderful idea."- He says- "Thank you, Mr. Librarian. Your help is very useful to us."
The librarian nods.
"Anytime and anyplace, we are glad to help the heroes who deserve it."- He responds- "Stay safe, heroes. Do not let that freak corrupt you."
With a final wave, the man watches as our heroes use the pylon outside and lets out a sigh of relief. He knows that our heroes are going to make everything right again and is feeling calm about the whole situation, letting those powerful warriors do their job.
Meanwhile, our heroes are teleported in a small room inside of Patrick's Tower. They waste no time to find the library and talk to its librarian- an incredibly old and wise person known as Rita. She directs them to the latest reports that they had of their enemies where they discover many suspicions about a certain cave near the subterrenean city of Dharmon, making our heroes think that those strange sightings are more than just a simple gang of disorganized raiders.
"We've got our central lead."- Kaiden says- "Now, we only need to find those troublemakers."
Rita nods.
"I hope that you do."- She says- "Those youngsters have been causing so much trouble in the past year. Perhaps it was because of our involvement in the chain of events that lead Avernum to shun them, perhaps for other, personal reasons. But we must trust the young heroes to do their job again. Don't let us down."
Geralt nods.
"We would never dare to do such a thing, Miss Rita."- He says- "For the good of Avernum or not, those people are doing more harm than helping those who are most afflicted by this whole mess. We've been thinking about this for a long time, so it must be done."
Rita sighs.
"Just don't set Avernum on fire."- She says- "Okay?"
Kaiden shakes his head.
"The entire world is already on fire."- He says- "Why do you think that we can only make it worse?"
Rita shrugs.
"In my experience, I've seen many who only know how to destroy."- She says- "If you truly know how to create and repair damage that was already done, feel free to prove it to us. We Avernites are slow to understand, so don't be surprised if some of us don't trust you at first."
Aurelia approaches them, a large book in her hand.
"Hey guys! Check this out!"- She exclaims- "I found something useful about our greatest enemy! You know, the one we all know!"
Everyone turns to look at her. Each one of them is as surprised as she is.
"What is it, Aurelia?"- Geralt asks- "Did you find anything worth our time?"
Aurelia smiles.
"Indeed, I did!"- She exclaims- "Now, listen closely."
Aurelia cracks the book open and reads the first entries within. Apparently, the Hawthornes- an influential family that used to lead the Empire during the times when exiles were being sent down into Avernum- are related to the Redmark family. However, they seem to have a certain dispute, one that has been going since the legendary incantatrix Erika Redmark was banished from the mighty nation. The bad blood continued, even in the past few years, when it was rumored that a member of the Redmark family murdered one of the Hawthornes to seize the throne.
The person in question is, of course, Marcus Redmark- the current leader of the Empire. Apparently, he thought that the nation that his ancestors fought for has become too weak. Fueled by his own desire for vengeance and determination to make the world a (seemingly) better place, he walked into the previous emperor's throne room uninvited, claiming that he just "wants to talk". When he came out, he had a worrying amount amount of blood on his hands and a small knife that he sheathed shortly after people started to eye him suspiciously. The emperor was found dead soon after and during the search for a heir, Redmark presented himself, claiming that he is a distant relative of the late emperor. Using his superior knowledge of the Known and the Unknown World plus his skill in politics and ability to bring his opponents to his knees, he easily rose in the hierarchy within the Empire, soon becoming one of the nation's most powerful and bloodthirsty sovereigns. His rule is absolute and no one ever dared to rebel against him, even after the news of his hunt for the beloved Kaos family were spread around the nation. Or maybe this is just because news from the Empire are rare nowadays and that people would rather defend themselves against the madman than to find out what he truly want. This has led to stagnation within the core of the world, ceasing all procedures just to keep away a mentally unstable person from ruining everything, just like his unrivaled ancestor from the Hawthorne family once did.
"Well, would you look at that. Redmark truly did usurp the throne and use his influence to silence all of his rivals."- Geralt says- "If we ever get to face him, this will surely enlight the thoughts of all the misled citizens. They will not be able to tolerate him for long."
Rita nods.
"That's nice and all, but I want to know something, young lady."- She says- "Where did you get this book from?"
Aurelia points at the top of a nearby shelf.
"Umm, it came from there!"- She exclaims- "It was dusty and forgotten, so I thought that I could put it to good use!"
Rita nods again.
"And you did, dear."- She says- "But now, it's time to return it. The place of all the rare and sacred books is on top of that shelf, not down here?"
Aurelia raises her eyebrow.
"Isn't that the point of this whole thing? To let others use it freely without hindering them?"- She asks- "Sometimes, I wonders why you librarians even leave your books like this. It's not it'll hurt to leave them in a more... visible spot."
Rita shakes her head.
"Those are private politics, reserved only for the highest officials of Patrick's Tower. And you're not a part of them."- She says- "Return it, please."
Aurelia sighs.
"Fine!"- She exclaims- "But this is not over!"
She starts to climb the ladder, but Geralt stops her.
"Hold on."- He says- "I will do it."
Aurelia looks at him.
"That's very... noble of you, Geralt."- She compliments him- "However, I'm sure that I can do it myself. I'm not a helpless girl anymore!"
Geralt sighs.
"It is for the best."- He says- "Please, allow me to do the job for you."
Aurelia smiles.
"As you wish."- She says and hands him the book.
Geralt climbs the tall ladder and easily places the book back in its place.
"There we go!"- He exclaims- "That was easy!"
As he starts to climb down, he starts to hear faint whispering all around him. It is almost as if the walls around him are starting to shake, a clear sign of real trouble.
"Oh no."- He says to himself- "This... is not good."
Surprisingly, Geralt's allies also heard the sound.
"Be careful, Geralt!"- Aurelia exclaims- "I've got a very, very bad feeling!"
Geralt looks down and nods.
"I... will try to."
As Geralt continues to get down, he feels the presence coming closer to him. He is not sure where it is going to emerge from, but he is ready for it. No matter what happens next, he needs to be on his guard. Every single move matters and every single mistake could be fatal.
Suddenly, one of the books above Geralt's head is knocked out of its spot. It flies down on the boy's head, but he manages to avoid it just in time, emerging with little more than just a moment of surprise.
"Oh my God!"- Aurelia exclaims- "Are you doing okay out there, Geralt?!"
Geralt nods.
"As far as I can see, I have all my limbs attached."- He says- "I am fine."
Aurelia shakes her head.
"Stop making those snarky jokes and get down from there!"- She exclaims- "This whole situation's creeping me out!"
Geralt sighs.
"Are you really getting creeped out by a book falling?"- He asks her- "Gee. You must be quite lost in the woods if you think that something small like this will lead to another-- "
Once again, another one of the books flies out. And this time, it's headed straight for Geralt.
The young hero panicks and drops both of his arms, causing him to nearly fall down from the ladder. However, he manages to grab it again in time, watching the terrified expressions of his companions as he continues to climb down.
As books start to fly all around him, Geralt jumps down from the ladder. Fortunately, the distance between him and the ground is short and he manages to escape with just a little bit of exhaustion.
"Phew. That was a close one."- He says- "Anyway, is everyone alright down here?"
Aurelia runs forward and hugs him.
"I thought that I was going to lose you!"- She yells- "Don't scare me like that again!"
Geralt rests his head on her shoulder, seemingly comforted by her presence.
"I am truly sorry, Aurelia."- He says to her and hugs her back- "It will not happen again."
As Geralt and Aurelia continue to hug, a huge book flies toward them. Before it could cause any damage to either of them, Kaiden jumps in its way and slices it in half with its sword, causing the invisible enemy that threw it to howl in anger.
"You know that's going to cost you extra, right?!"- Rita yells.
Kaiden glares at her.
"That is true, but it will not cost nearly as much as the price of a human life!"- He yells- "Now get everyone out of here! We've got the situation under control!"
Rita sighs.
"Make sure that the rest of my books stay untouched, okay?!"
Kaiden shakes his head.
"I can't make any promises, but we will try to save as many of them as we can."
Rita nods.
"Fine by me."
As Rita prepares to evacuate the rest of the people, she sees a lone fire mage enter the library.
"Hey!"- She exclaims- "What do you think you're doing?"
The man shakes his head.
"I'm here to help."
Geralt and his allies see the stranger, as well.
"Cousin Dante?!"
Rita stands in his way.
"Stop right there, youngster!"- She yells- "I won't let you set everything on fire! The fate of my books's on the line! Let the heroes do their work!"
Geralt steps forward.
"No! Let him get closer!"- He exclaims- "He is a person that you can trust! Let him join us!"
Rita sighs.
"Fine."- She says- "But I don't like it!"
As Dante joins our heroes, everyone stares at him for a few seconds.
"Why did you come back, Dante?"- Kaiden asks him- "I thought that you were all bummed out for the time being!"
Dante shakes his head.
"There's no time to reminisce the past, everyone."- He says- "We must continue fighting for the future."
He points his spear at the books on a nearby shelf.
"And to achieve it, we must keep resisting this source of evil!"
As our heroes fight back against the rebellious books, a group of mages join them. Apparently, Patrick's Tower discovered the fact that this could be a problem caused by ethereal beings and dispatched a team of professionals to reveal the truth.
The mages start to cast revelation spells as soon as they get the chance. They target all of the beings behind the books, on the shelves, as well as the ones who are simply standing on the ground.
Soon, the mages discover that the creatures that cause all this turmoil are a bunch of very, very angry spirits. From what they discover, it can be easily determined that they are the spirits of past members of the tower, angered by the fact that surface worlders are using the settlement's knowledge. Their hatred for the world above is absolute and they consider everyone who hails from there to be their enemies.
As the angry spirits continue to hurl books at our heroes, Geralt walks forward, unafraid, and raises his hands.
"Spirits of the lost world! We come in peace!"- He yells- "Stop this farce! Now!"
His powerful voice cuts through the creatures' madness. They stop and stare at him as their leader, the ghost of a very old man, descends to talk.
"Ah. We heard of the arrival of the surface worlders. The ones who banished us, who caused us so much pain. They've been everywhere and nowhere at the same time. They still have yet to taste real blood."- He says- "But tell me, heroes. Are you familiar with this place or not? Do you know who I am?"
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"Know you? How can I not?! I have revered you for a very long time!"- He exclaims- "You are Patrick Padraig, one of Avernum's greatest mages and the creator of this humble tower. Using the knowledge that you gained while you were in the empire, you expanded the magical power of those wild lands and created a safer environment for the people living inside of it. You are a great hero, not just to the people here, but to the ones above as well."
Patrick smiles.
"That is very perceptive of you, young Kaos. Your knowledge of my past self is clearly limitless. I am impressed."- He says- "But that still doesn't explain why you came into my tower. Are you our friend or our enemy? Should I trust you or should I shun you away?"
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"You must be wondering if I am allied with the Empire or not."
Patrick nods.
"Indeed."
Geralt smiles.
"Well, I would never dare to work with those wretched fiends! Those defilers of everything that is sacred!"- He exclaims- "I am one of its new emperor's worst enemies! In fact, I am the very first one on their hunting list!"
Patrick looks at him.
"Is that so? Hmm."- He says- "You do look like a very honorable individual, but I can't just see a person's loyalties by hearing their words. In my years as a mage, I said that the truth comes out when one acts with honor. Will you manage to convince me?"
He raises his hands and spawns a vague apparition in front of Geralt. Soon, it starts to take shape, taking on the form of a very familiar person.
"This is the face of the one that you call your enemy. The vile emperor that ravages the Known Lands for his own enjoyment, the one who loves to torture others to get what he wants."- He says- "If you truly are what you claim to be, do what must be done. I am waiting."
Upon seeing the face of Marcus Redmark, Geralt gets very angry, His thoughts get dimmer as his heart is set on fire. As the rest of his allies wonder what he will do, he lets out a very fierce battle cry, draws his sword and charges without any hesitation.
In just a few slashes, he utterly destroys the apparition, shocking the living and pleasing the dead. Patrick himself is surprised by Geralt's vengeful nature, but is thrilled to see that his suspicions were proven true.
"I can finally see where your loyalties lie, young Kaos. And I am proud to say that I can finally call you my ally."- He says- "Emperor Redmark is seeing a great resistance in the face of you. Your actions have caused him to suffer tremendous losses and it is very likely that you will bring a swift end to his tyranny."
He looks at the rest of the spirits with a vague smile on his face.
"The test has been concluded!"- He cries- "The young Kaos is on our side!"
The spirits applaud Geralt as he looks around and smiles. He is happy to see that he is being respected to much, but keeps a cool expression during this entire ordeal.
"We are sorry for the inconvenience, ally of Avernum. We should never have doubted your desire to change the world."- Patrick says to him- "But be warned. Even though we will no longer harm you, there are some whose hatred runs too deep. If you see them, do not hesitate to attack. They are too lost for us to heal them and their demise will only bring joy to us, the lost ones."
He smiles.
"So, good job. You did well, just like you always do."- He says- "Keep in mind that we shall continue monitoring your progress. Maybe we will be able to help you somehow. Who knows?"
Then, he bows and takes a few steps back.
"Farewell, savior of our sacred world."- He says to him- "May your path toward the light be paved with good intentions. If there is anyone who can defeat the emperor, then it is you and only you."
With that, Patrick Padraig and the spirits of the fallen fade away, leaving our heroes shocked and surprised.
"Well, that was... something new!"- Aurelia exclaims- "I'll never see the Spirit World the same way. Never again!"
Kaiden nods.
"It seems like the fallen picked Geralt as their ultimate champion."- He says- "Such an honor is rarely bestowed upon the living. I'm impressed."
Geralt wipes some tears from his eyes.
"I am just glad that I came face to face with one of my childhood heroes."- He says- "Patrick Padraig, the wizard whose name has been remembered for many years, came to me and blessed me with his presence. I am truly grateful that he chose me."
Dante smiles.
"You're truly a very lucky person, Geralt!"- He exclaims- "To meet one of Avernum's greatest mages has been my dream ever since I was young. Seeing that one of them recognized you in such a way makes me feel really jealous, but in a good way. I'm very proud of you and I'm sure that our dear allies feel the same way."
Geralt smiles back.
"And I am glad that you found the strength to come back, Dante."- He says- "Seeing you here filled me with determination, gave me the strength to overcome my fears. Thanks to you, I finally know what it feels like to have an iron resolve."
Dante nods.
"Well, I just wanted to see how you were doing."- He says- "This fight was a total coincidence for me, but I'm glad that I helped."
He looks at the papers in Geralt's hand.
"So. Umm."- He says- "Where are we headed next?"
Geralt smiles.
"Well, I am glad that you asked!"- He exclaims- "The time that we spent searching for Bael Bridges' backstory bore a lot of fruit for us. We discovered that he was going to be a member of the Castle's militia, was banished from the Surface and that he formed his group shortly after being rejected by the entire nation. During the time that we spent searching for more information, we discovered the location that he precariously tried to hide from the world. And it seems like we are getting fairly close to our goal, if you ask me."
Dante nods.
"Well, what are we waiting for?"- He asks- "Let's get that lawbreaker and show him our power!"
Geralt smiles.
"Good news! This is exactly what we are trying to do!"- He exclaims- "So. Are you going to join us again?"
Dante raises his eyebrow.
"Is there going to be more killing?"
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"Umm... what?"
Dante chuckles.
"Just kidding!"- He exclaims- "I'm always on your side!"
He smiles.
"Let's get going!"- He exclaims- "I can't wait to make that fool pay!"
Geralt nods.
"Indeed, Dante."- He says- "Let's do this."