MLIV C2, P5- "The Biggest Lie"

"The Biggest Lie" is the fifth and penultimate Part of "Miracula Luxia IV" 's second Chapter.
It was released on 27.05.2022.
== Plot ==
Having come face to face with his own destiny and saved his sister from the guilt that has been residing inside of her heart for years, Adam reunites with former classmate and good friend Linus. Although he sees him as the same kind and helpful boy that he used to be at school, something seems to be terribly wrong with him.
At the same time, he meets one of the most important people in his life, the light that has always pierced the darkness that attempted to taint his soul- his fiancee, Aalia. Love is a force so strong that it will never allow them to be separated. And the vow that the girl gave to her bethrothed when she promised herself to him is still burning strong, even though the boy is constantly in danger and thus, is unable to provide the physical and emotional support needed in their relationship.
Together, those people will face the greatest enemies of all time- themselves. They must come face to face with their own fears, conquer fate itself and prove their determination to everyone that they swore to protect.
And yet, there is always another chance for redemption. Enemies will change as time passes, but the good inside of our heroes' hearts will always be there, waiting to be unleashed.
But the question, left behind after The Deceiver's demise, is still standing there- tall and ominous, mysterious and imposing. Who is the true mastermind behind the Duskwood murders? And what are they planning?
== Story ==
Akira takes a look at Linus and smiles.
"Linus, I'm glad that you made it back. It's been a long time since we saw you."- She says- "How have you been doing lately?"
Linus smiles.
"Well, it's quite complicated. I had quite a lot of problems, you see."- He says- "And yet, I still prevailed. With the power of faith, I fought back and became what those people were striving to see. Isn't heroism great?"
Adam is surprised to hear that Linus has still been keeping the flame of kindness inside of his heart. He thought that his old friend would have changed somehow. It has been quite a long time since they talked to each other, after all. And yet, here he is, following the lead of his ancestors and keeping the light in this world shining bright.
"So."- He says- "How did you end up in this situation?"
Linus looks at him.
"I was captured by the forces of Mordred Darkthrop. When he was still alive, that is."- He says- "They tried to sway me to their side, but I was too resilient. Their promises were just empty words to me. Their threats were nothing more than the unfaltering anger of a crumbling empire. Unlike many humans who willingly gave their morals away to serve that madman, I was not fooled. I stood strong in the face of their tyranny, knowing that I'd die as a hero in the end."
He smiles.
"Fortunately, the darklings eventually showed a small level of sympathy toward me."- He continues- "Once they realized that I was no threat to them, they let me go and haven't bothered me ever since."
Although Akira seems to believe him, Adam suspects that something is not quite right in his words. His expression toward him does not chance, but the suspicion remains.
"And you say that you... ended up between the jaws of evil, just like that?"- He asks him- "But how? I am confident that there are none of Darkthrop's servants around the kingdom of Thais. Even if there were, I am sure that a few mere scouts are nowhere near sufficient enough to capture someone."
Linus shrugs.
"When I left the safety of our school, I condemned myself to a fate worse than death. I was a fool, I admit it."- He says- "I underestimated Darkthrop's people and I suffered because of it. They picked up my scent as soon as I departed from the city. Even though I ran as fast as I could, I suspect that I never had the chance to go away. They were just too strong, too fast for me to handle. I'm not a hero like you. Just a normal guy who does good things."
Akira glares at him.
"I'm still angry that you left the classmates and teachers who cared about you behind. However, I am willing to swallow my anger back, in the name of peace."- She says- "The pain that they inflicted upon you back there must have been the worst experience in your entire life. I'm sorry that you had to suffer like this and I am sure that my brother thinks the same way."
Adam nods, to prove his sister's point.
"We have been friends for a long time. To me, you are more than just that. While working together, we became brothers-in-arms. Our bond was stronger than those that I shared with the rest of our classmates. I saw you as a fellow hero and I am glad that I came to know you at the right time. You were one of the few people who sawmy true self, who respected me as I was, not as the one that others have always expected me to be."- He says- "And yet, I am still not sure what happened to you back there. I want to trust you, but I need to put you through a test first, see whether you are still worthy of being called my friend and ally. Can you handle the heat?"
Linus clenches his fist and nods. For a moment, a certain spark of determination gleams in his eyes. 
He is eager to redeem himself to his old friend.
"Well, nothing's certain until it's proven otherwise. I can tell that you've changed, and that you don't trust others as much as you did once."- He says- "Don't worry. I respect that. This just proves my thesis that you've turned into a true hero."
He smiles.
"Well?"- He continues- "How can I prove myself to you?"
Adam raises his eyebrow.
"Are you ready to do anything?"
Linus smiles again.
"Anything!"
Adam starts to respond, but is interrupted by the buzzing of the walkie talkie in his pocket.
"Is anyone still listening?"- A voice emerges from it- "We need some help over here!"
Adam turns away and answers it.
"This is Adam Kaos speaking."- He says- "How can I help you?"
After a bit of buzzing, the voice continues to speak.
"The undead in the eastern sector have been released from their prison! They're marching toward Duskwood and we're too few to stop them!"- It says- "Worst of all, someone keeps on bringing out more of them! It's a nightmare! A nightmare!"
Adam nods.
"Alright. It is fine. I understand."- He says- "Pull yourselves together. Stay strong and do not let those fiends overwhelm you. We are on our way. Please, do not give up."
The walkie talkie buzzes again.
"Got it, sir."- The voice says- "Just try to... hurry. If they have the chance to get further into the city, then it will all be... "
Suddenly, the connection cuts off. It looks like this conversation... is over.
Adam turns to Linus and nods.
"Well, it seems like you are in luck, my friend."- He says- "If you want to to prove your loyalty to the order, then you know what to do."
Linus touches the pommel of his sword with his hand and nods.
"I've been waiting for a challenge like this. Such an opportunity is one and a million, and I refuse to let it go like that."- He says- "Take us there, Adam. I'm ready to fight for our people again."
On their way to the eastern outskirts of Duskwood, Adam and his allies stumble into Emela who seems to be a little exhausted.
"Greetings, Miss Emela!"- Adam says- "You seem to be a little worse for wear. Did you get enough rest?"
Emela nods.
"Yeah. I'm doing alright."- She says- "But I have more pressing concerns to take care of."
Adam raises his eyebrow.
"And do they involve us?"
Emela smiles.
"Very perceptive. No wonder why I decided to take you in."- She says- "Yes. James told me about the problem to the east and sent me to assist the rangers and drive the undead away. I heard that you were going there too, so I decided to join you."
She notices Linus and looks at him.
"I haven't seen you before. New face, I guess?"- She says to him and extends her hand- "My name is Emela. Welcome to Duskwood, child."
When he hears her name, Linus becomes very surprised.
"Emela?"- He asks- "As in Emela Andra- the Water Guardian?!"
Emela smiles.
"Well. I prefer to be called "Guardian of the World", but that works too, I guess."- She says- "Yes. You can call me Miss Emela. Or just Emela. Whatever suits you best."
Linus nods and excitedly shakes her hand.
"I've heard so many stories about you! The things that you did for the people out there! All of the legends that they spoke of your adventures! The spaceships and aliens and grotesque monsters, they all seemed so real to me! It was so exciting to understand your life and now, I see you in person! It's a wonderful experience!"- He says quickly, without even stopping to take a breath- "It's an honor to know you! I would love to learn from you!"
Emela smiles.
"Ah. Enthusiasm and respect. Two of humanity's greatest virtues, unleashed whenever one feels inspired. I'm glad that there are people who value them more than their own greed and lust for power."- She says- "You're a very amusing kid. I'm sure that I would love to learn more about you myself in the future. It will be quite the experience for me, to be honest."
Adam taps her on the shoulder.
"Umm. Miss Emela."- He says, worried- "I hate to interrupt your conversation, but we have a matter to attend to. If you do not mind... "
Emela smiles and nods.
"Of course, my dear. Duty over knowledge. Loyalty over tranquility. It's what I've been teaching you for years."- She says- "The undead in that region are very aggressive. However, there's one person who has been helping the rangers and civilians out. And she's quite familiar to you, I'm sure."
Adam raises his eyebrow.
"I... did not know that."- He says- "Who is she?"
Emela smiles and winks.
"Why don't you see for yourself?"- She suggests- "That girl is quite the young hero I expected to see. To hold on all by herself against a horde of ravenous undead... you know, you may be able to learn a thing or two about tenacity from her. She's a good teacher."
Adam finally realizes who Emela is talking about. He raises his sword in the air.
"Let us proceed, everyone!"- He says, with newfound determination- "Everyone depends on us! We must not let them down!"
The four of them rush toward the sundered battlefield in the outskirts of Duskwood. There, they see a small group of undead who have stumbled away from the main horde and manage to dispatch them with ease.
"Is that all of them?"- Akira says and smirks- "Sounds like those rangers are too weak for their own good."
Emela shakes her head.
"It's not wise to underestimate your opponents, Akira."- She says- "The waves may seem calm, at first. However, it's only a matter of time before they grow bigger. When that happens, the roars they emit may deafen the unprepared. Do you really want to risk being one of them?"
Linus smiles.
"Yeah."- He says- "You tell her, Emela!"
Akira sighs.
"Oh, great. Your great wisdom shines again!"- She says- "So what? You expect me to be more diplomatic? With a bunch of fiends who have no minds of their own? Boy, you haven't seen the worst of it. When I deal with someone, I do it with my sword. Not my mind, or my mouth. This is what has helped me survive for so long and I'll keep it up for as long as I can."
Emela smiles.
"But you eventually succumbed to the darkness and became one of them."- She responds- "It seems like you're not that strong, after all."
Akira angrily shakes her head.
"That's none of your business!"- She yells- "What happened back then shall remain in the past! Right now, we must strive to defeat our enemies and create the future that everyone deserves to witness with their own eyes! Do you understand that, maiden of water?"
Emela sighs.
"That's the point, Akira."- She says- "That's what I've been trying to tell you."
As Akira and Emela continue to argue, Linus looks down and experiences some sort of deja-vu. Memories, jumbled and lost in the records of his mind, become clear once again. Visions of the past cloud his views of the future. 
Adam notices that his friend is feeling uncomfortable and gently pulls him away from the two women.
"Is everything alright, Linus?"- He asks him- "If there is anything I can do for you, do not be afraid to ask. I want to be a good friend."
Linus sighs and shakes his head.
"I just... want to get this mission over with. Slay the undead, save the people and return to town. That's all."- He says- "Can we please hurry with that? I'm getting way too... excited."
Adam nods.
"I understand."- He responds- "Then, continue we shall."
He turns to Akira and Emela and approaches them.
As they continue to argue, he stands in their way.
"Can we stop with this childish bickering?"- He says to them- "You are aware that people are dying out there, aren't you?"
Both women stay silent.
"I thought so."- Adam responds and shakes his head- "Either way, we must handle this threat. Like it or not, it is our duty to stand strong against them and save the lives of those unfortunates."
He turns around and takes a step forward.
"So."- He continues- "Are you with me?"
Akira does the same.
"Always."
Emela nods.
"It's the same for me, dear."- She says and pulls out her wand- "Let's do this."
As the four of them continue to walk toward the battlefield, Adam and Linus share a small conversation about their lives in the past.
"... And then, Samantha punched him in the face!"- Linus says- "I thought that she was weak-spirited and meek, but she proved me otherwise. Tough one, she is. Especially when some weirdoes are trying to hit on her!"
Adam nods.
"Well, this is no surprise."- He responds- "Her boyfriend, Jake Hayes, was deemed the strongest warrior in the school. I am sure that she learned a thing or two from him throughout the years when they were together."
Linus laughs.
"Oh, yeah. Him."- He says- "Jake's a strong fighter, but he just ain't that bright. He also has to work on his bravery a little bit. I mean, seriously. That guy's got the muscles of an olympic god, but he's as cowardly as a rabbit when it sees a ravenous wolf! It's so amusing to see him run like that!"
He turns to look at Adam.
"By the way, what happened to him?"- He asks- "I heard a few rumors, but I'm not sure whether to believe them or not."
Adam sighs.
"Unfortunately, it turns out that he was one of the casualties of Darkthrop's raid."- He says- "It was a sad day for everyone."
Linus is unfazed by this.
"One of the victims who died while valiantly running away, I assume."
Adam sighs.
"It is wise to show respect toward the fallen, no matter how untrustworthy they may have been in life."- He says- "Still, I have to admit that it is true. While the others fought for their lives, he tried to run to save his own. Of course, he did not last for long. Darkthrop's servants eliminated him fast and hid his body outside the school's gates before we could discover it on the next day. It took us a few months to do so. Or so the principal claimed."
Linus smirks.
"Hopefully, the rest of our classmates learned a valuable lesson from that."- He says- "Never run away when faced with imminent danger. Right?"
Adam nods.
"It is what I have been trying to tell them for years."
Linus looks around, blushes and sighs.
"What is it, Linus?"- Adam asks him- "Another bad memory?"
Linus shakes his head.
"Not quite."- He says- "I've been thinking of a woman dear to me."
Adam smiles.
"You are talking about Gwen- the smartest girl in our class."- He says- "Am I right?"
Linus nods.
"Yeah!"- He exclaims and blushes again- "That girl's a sign of true beauty. I've had my eyes on her for years and I couldn't get them off. At the time of the incident, I was building up the strength to confess to her. Hoping that we could be more than friends. And, well, you saw how well it went for me."
He looks at Adam.
"Do you think that we can be together someday?"- He asks him- "A small spark of hope's more than enough for me."
Adam nods.
"Of course you do."- He says- "When you go to her house and try to ask her out, try to act like a gentleman. Be kind and understanding to her. Give her roses, as a sign of the unending love that you harbor for her. If you play your cards correctly, then I am sure that she will gladly fall into your arms!"
Linus nods.
"You're the first one who gave me such a positive response."- He says- "Sounds like you're quite optimistic about it."
Adam smiles.
"I have been born this way, my friend."- He responds- "As an unwavering optimist, I try to spread positivity across the entire world. I have been doing so for years, and I have no intention of stopping."
Linus smiles.
"Well, it seems like you're doing a very good job."- He says- "You managed to make me, a person who's lost almost everything, believe that I have a chance in something. And for that, I'm grateful."
Adam nods.
"Of course, my friend."- He responds- "I am happy to help."
As they proceed to walk through the sundered badlands, Adam looks back at Linus and smiles.
"Make sure to invite me to your wedding!"- He says playfully- "I want to see how happy you are!"
Linus nods.
"You got it."- He responds- "You'll be one of the first that we mark in our guest list."
The two of them join Akira and Emela just in time to see a small group of dirty-looking outlaws approach them.
"Are they a part of the army that plagues this world with their presence?"- Adam wonders around- "Or are they just another band of crazy murderers?"
Emela sighs.
"I can't tell for sure. There's no indication of anything that would identify them."- She says- "Either way, I'm sure they're just a bunch of lost souls."
Akira nods and draws her weapon.
"Yes. Lost souls, they must be."- She says- "Lost souls that are marching right toward their doom."
As the bandits finally get close enough to get a good look at them, they realize who they are and immediately draw their weapon.
"Well."- Adam mutters- "That is not a very warm greeting."
One of the bandits, presumably their leader, steps forward and decides to speak for them.
"There you are, Kaos."- He says- "We've been looking for you."
Adam raises his eyebrow.
"And to whom do I owe my attention?"
The bandit smirks and points his cutlass at him.
"The name's Evan. Evan the Undertaker."- He says- "I'm the leader of Rebel Squad Alpha. We're the remnants of what you used to call the Darkness of Duskwood, doing our job even after our foolish leader left us. We've been causing all kinds of chaos, keeping your people divided. And you haven't done anything to stop us."
Akira and Emela prepare to fight, but Adam decides to be more diplomatic instead.
"Is this really necessary?"- Adam asks him- "We are living in dark times. Darkthrop's people are everywhere. People trust each other less and less with each passing day. Disaster seems inevitable without teamwork and you just throw it all away like this?"
"Perhaps there is some kind of a way to come to a mutual agreement."- He adds- "Are you ready to throw away your anger and embrace the truth?"
Evan shakes his head.
"You took everything away from us. And then, you expect us to trust you?"- He asks him- "You're the one who has to embrace the truth, not us."
Adam shakes his head.
"I know that we hurt you in the past, but that is where those bad memories should remain."- He says- "Do not let the chaos chip your sanity away. Shrug it away and become one with the light. It is for the best, I promise."
Evan smirks.
"You just need more friends on your side."- He says- "Nothin' more. Nothin' less."
Somewhere in the distance, a multitude of growls pierces the night.
As they slowly get louder and louder, Akira stands by her brother's side and shakes her head.
"There's no time to be sentimental with those vagabonds."- She says- "If we don't put an end to the storm, then we will certainly be engulfed by it."
Adam sighs and reluctantly draws his weapon.
"Very well, then."- He says- "Let us get this minor matter over with."
The rest of Adam's allies draw their weapons and stand by his side as the bandits attack.
Evan angrily rushes forward and tries to stab Adam, but the young hero blocks his attacks with a shield formed by the magic within his soul.
"Defend yourself as much as you want!"- Evan yells- "Your bastion won't last for long!"
Adam shakes his head.
"Do not be too overconfident."- He advises him, even as he fights- "Such a display of pride might lead to... unwanted consequences."
Evan clenches his fist.
"I'll show you some unwanted consequences!"
Having said that, he jumps in the air, plunges his cutlass into the magical shield and shatters it with minimal effort.
Adam is surprised by this, but not enough to be unable to defend himself when Evan attacks again.
"Come on, Adam!"- Evan taunts his opponent- "Where are the sparks that gleamed in your eyes when you fought Derek? Are you too afraid to start a fire again?"
Adam clenches his fist.
"Do not push your luck, outlaw."- He warns him- "I may be patient and understanding, but I can be a worthy adversary."
Evan smirks.
"I ain't afraid of you!"- He yells- "Go ahead! Show me what you've got!"
Adam prepares to cast a spell, but Linus stops him.
"It's okay, Adam."- He says- "I will handle this freak."
Adam stands back a little bit and watches as Linus lunges forward and gets into a fight with Evan.
As most of Evan's bandits lie dead around him, killed by Adam and his allies, he eventually goes berserk, grabs a huge branch from the ground and starts to whack Linus with it, using the massive weapon without struggling to keep his own balance.
"You traitor! You non-believer!"- He yells- "How dare you show your face again? Didn't you know how much he hates you now?!"
Linus attempts to parry Evan's blows, but his weapon is soon knocked away. He is forced to take some serious blows as the bandit leader unleashes his anger upon him.
"I don't know what you're talking about!"
Evan smirks.
"Stop pretending!"- He yells- "Everyone knows that you used to be one of them!"
Adam raises his eyebrow.
"One of... them?"
Linus shakes his head.
"Emela was right about you."- He says- "You're just a deranged, maddened fool who doesn't know what he's talking about. Are you even worthy of leading your own people? If not, then don't talk like this ever again. It will only harm your reputation."
Evan roars angrily.
"I don't care about reputation!"- He yells- "I just want to kill those who dared to befoul our name!"
As he continues to whack Linus with his stick, Adam comes to his friend's aid and pulls the bandit leader away from him.
"Leave my friend alone, you crazy desperado!"- He yells- "You have no right to blame him for your own mistakes!"
Having picked up the cutlass that Evan discarded, he stabs him in the chest with it. Then, as he starts to cough blood, he stabs him with his own weapon, ending his life and putting an end to his cealess rants.
As the maddened bandit leader falls on the ground, the rest of the bandits under his command fall alongside him. Everything becomes very quiet... for now.
"I cannot believe that we had to face those people like this."- Adam says as he drops Evan's bloodied cutlass, tainted by the bandit's own blood- "Fighting a bunch of demon-like, soulless creatures is one thing. But actual humans, foolish enough to allow the evil inside of them to corrupt their hearts? Now this is something that I hoped to prevent."
Akira sighs and shrugs.
"You're just like me, then."- She says- "So, let's be sentimental together."
Emela stares ahead and sees movement. At first, it seems to be slow, but it gets a little faster once the silhouettes of hundreds of humanoids get closer to them.
"James was right!"- She exclaims- "The undead are here!"
The four of them stare in disbelief as a couple hundred undead shamble their way toward them, growling loudly as they attempt to reach their targets.
"By the grace of the gods!"- Adam says and gasps- "How is this possible?!"
Akira shakes her head.
"I've expected a small group of muertos. Fifty or sixty at most."- She says- "But this? This is insane!"
Adam looks down at Evan's corpse. He notices that, even when he is not among the living anymore, he is still smiling. For some reason.
"Well, buddy. It seems like you got what you wanted. You threw your life away and you led us into a trap."- He says to himself- "I wonder if you could ever forgive yourself for what you have done."
He looks up and sees that the undead are still shambling toward them.
"We have no choice, everyone. It is either us or them."- He says- "Either way, we must not allow them to reach Duskwood. Everyone will be overwhelmed, for sure."
Emela nods.
"So."- She says- "What's the plan?"
Adam draws his weapon.
"It is all plain and simple. We blend into the mist and we face the horde."- He says- "If you are afraid of what might happen next, then feel free to be a coward and run back to town. You will not be missed."
Akira and Emela stare at each other and shake their heads.
"We're not going anywhere. Hundreds or not, a horde of undead is not enough to scare us."- Akira says and draws her weapon- "For the Light and Order!"
As the rest of his allies draw their weapons, Adam lifts his own in the air. Then, his allies approach him and clang their weapons into his.
"For the new world!"
Taking two of the horses Evan and his bandits arrived with, Adam and his sister sit on the first one while Emela and Linus sit on the second. Then, confident that they will smite the horde down, they charge toward it without any fear.
"Come on, everyone!"- Adam yells as the horses gallop toward their destination- "We are getting closer! Stay strong and believe in yourselves! We can do this!"
As they get closer to the undead, the sky starts to get dark. Soon, the clouds turn black. 
Thunder booms in the distance as the battle begins.
Using a combination of their own agility and their horse's speed, Adam and Akira force their way through a massive wall of undead, shattering their defenses and opening a small passage for Emela and Linus to fight their way across.
The undead angrily claw at their horse's feet, attemting to bring them down and maul them to death. However, even the strength of a thousand of them is unable to prevent them from fighting back.
Unleashing a powerful arc of light, Adam manages to pierce the heads of at least twenty of them while on a horse while Akira uses her magic to force the undead to slam into each other and destroy their heads.
"Now that's what I call a... magnetic personality!"- She exclaims and winks at Adam.
Adam sighs.
"Of course, Aki."- He says- "Of course, it is."
Meanwhile, Emela makes a massive wall of water erupt from the ground in front of her, forcing a dozen of undead to get caught within the blast and drown while she hurls a variety of powerful spells at those who are not fooled by it.
"Oh yeah!"- She exclaims- "Just like the good old times!"
She smiles.
"You've got my back, don't you Linus?"
She looks back.
"Linus?"
Instead of fighting the undead himself, Linus is just standing motionless, with no indication that he intends to aid his allies.
"Linus, dear."- Emela says to him- "Are you experiencing a flashback again?"
Unbeknownst to Emela, Linus stares ahead, looking for something... or someone.
A little farther ahead, Adam and Akira notice a living person, fighting the undead as well.
"There's someone in there!"- Akira says- "Come on, brother! We've got to save them!"
Adam nods and motions for his horse to proceed.
"Stay right where you are!"- He yells- "We are on our way!"
As Emela and Linus get closer as well, Adam takes a better look at the unfortunate human and realizes who she is.
"Aalia, my love!"- He yells and quickly climbs off his horse to join her- "Aalia! I am here!"
Aalia uses her staff to push the undead away, whacking some of them while they are on the ground and destroying their heads.
"Stand back, you foul fiends!"- She yells- "By the power of light, I shall smite you down!"
Adam places his hand on her shoulder. She panics and whacks him in the leg, forcing him to step back a little bit.
Seeing that her beloved has finally arrived, Aalia rushes to his side and shakes her head.
"Oh my god, honey! I'm so sorry!"- She apologizes to him- "I didn't hurt you, did I?"
Akira sighs.
"Still the same, overprotective maiden, I see."- She mutters- "That's good. It's just what we need right now."
Adam smiles serenely and shakes his head.
"It is alright, dear. You did nothing to harm me in any way."- He says and kisses her on the forehead as she casts a minor healing spell on him- "How did you manage to survive, surrounded by so many undead?"
Aalia smiles.
"You know that I'm able to defend myself, don't you?"- She says- "I can take on those walkers! I'm not afraid!"
Adam nods.
"I have no doubt that you are capable enough."- He says- "However, I can tell that there is some sort of... sadness in your eyes. Did something happen while I was gone?"
Aalia whacks an undead with her staff and looks down.
"Though I'm indeed capable of fighting, I was in grave danger."- She says- "But a few rangers came to my aid. Kind people who only wanted to help."
Adam raises his eyebrow.
"The rangers that we talked to earlier, I assume?"
Aalia nods.
"When they found me trapped by the horde, they took me with them and valiantly fought their way past the fiends, just to allow me to escape with my life."- She continues- "However, I'm afraid that they weren't so lucky. Once I was safe from the undead, I looked back and realized that they were being attacked by them. I tried to help, but they refused. Said that my life was... more important. I was forced to run away, but not before bidding them farewell... for the last time."
Aalia looks down and shakes her head.
"They died, Adam! They died because of me!"- She exclaims- "I'll never forgive myself for what happened to those poor souls! It was horrible!"
Adam sighs and hugs Aalia while slaying a group of undead with his weapon.
"It is not your fault, my love. You tried your best and so did they."- He says to her- "Those people died doing what they loved- helping people in need. Heroes like them are not forgotten and I am sure that their story will get carried over to the next generation."
Aalia shakes her head.
"I don't want to be here. The pain, it's too strong."- She says- "Please, Adam. Stand by my side. Take me in your arms. Drag me away from this mess."
Adam nods.
"I will never leave you again, my dear."
As the two of them fight the undead together, Linus notes their position and smiles.
"My time has come."- He mutters as he quietly slips away from his horse.
Thanks to the efforts of Adam, Akira, Emela and Aalia, a massive portion of the undead populace is soon wiped out, leaving the rest of the horde to join them in smaller numbers.
As everything seems to calm down, Adam leans back against a giant rock.
"Well. We are finally making some progress."- He says- "Are we getting close to the end yet?"
Aalia stares at the incoming remnants of the horde and nods.
"I think so."
Adam smiles.
"Excellent."- He says- "Once the deed is done, we can all go back to-- "
Suddenly, an arrow flies toward him and narrowly misses the back of his head. 
Then, as our hero wonders what is going on, he feels the cold touch of steel on his neck.
"Don't move."
Adam looks back and realizes, shocked, that the person who is holding him hostage is none other than Linus himself.
"Linus!"- Emela yells- "What do you think you're doing?!"
Akira glares at him and aims her pistol at his head.
"I should have known it. A person who betrays his own people always stays a traitor, no matter how much time passes."- She says- "Stand back, everyone! He's mine!"
Much to her surprise, Linus pulls out a gun and aims it at her.
"Do you really want this, woman?"- He asks her- "Lower that gun if you know what's good for you! Otherwise... "
He presses his weapon against Adam's neck.
"I'll make him suffer."- He says- "A lot."
Forced to choose between shooting at Linus, risking Adam's life in the process and complying, Akira chooses the safety of her brother and takes a step backwards, lowering her gun as she does so.
"Good girl, you are."- Linus says and smiles- "Now, where were we?"
He looks at Adam.
"Ah, yes."- He says- "It's time to clear those horrible memories... forever!"
Just as he pulls the trigger, Emela forms a whip of water and knocks the gun out of his hand, shooting a nearby undead instead.
"You've lost your mind, dear!"- She yells as he tries to kill Adam again- "Stop pretending that you are the bad guy! You're just confused!"
Linus smirks.
"Confused, huh?"- He says- "Well, we'll see who's more confused when-- "
Suddenly, Adam breaks free and pushes Linus back kicking him in the foot and forcing him to drop his weapon.
"Linus! Stop this madness!"- He yells- "This is not the right way!"
Linus smirks.
"Wrong, Adam. This is the right way."- He responds- "Especially after what you and your friends did to me."
Adam raises his eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
Linus glares at him.
"Stop pretending that you're just an innocent bystander. You know it all."- He says- "Does the Darkthrop invasion ring any bells?"
Adam shakes his head.
"That horrible event was a matter of the past."- He says- "We must fight for the future."
Linus shakes his head.
"Oh, yes. The future. The boring future that everyone wants."- He says- "Believe in whatever you want. But you're not the good guy!"
Adam raises his eyebrow.
"And what makes you think that you are?"
Linus looks around.
"My parents perished in that raid, you fool!"- He yells- "Do you know what this feels like?!"
Adam shakes his head.
"Of course I do!"- He yells back- "I lost many friends during Darkthrop's reign of terror. Do you really think that you are the only one?"
Then, he takes a step back.
"Wait. Your... parents?"- He asks- "But... you told me that they died long ago."
Linus nods.
"Yes. They died long ago."- He replies- "But I never told you when they died!"
He looks down as the undead horde marches toward them.
"When my parents saved me from a fate worse than death, they had to give their own lives away to keep me safe. They were seen as heroes and buried with the greatest of honors, but I was the cherry on top of the people's hatred. The perfect victim of their anger."- He says- "Teachers. Classmates. Friends. Family. They all saw what happened during that fateful night and deemed me a coward. Nobody wanted to talk to me, even good friends like you and Akira. You all shunned me for being unable to save my own parents. Many months passed and I grew angrier. With each passing day, I came to resent the entire world. And then, just as everyone wondered whether I should be expelled or not, I packed my things and left the city without a warning. Not even a final farewell."
He glares at Adam.
"That night, I lost it all, Adam!"- He yells as lighting strikes the area behind him- "I lost my parents! I lost the people who cared about me! I lost the respect that I accumulated throughout the years! I lost the motivation that I had until then! That, my friend, was the worst day of my life! And none of you dared to help me!"
Adam shakes his head.
"You are wrong, Linus!"- He says- "When you disappeared, everyone was worried about you. They asked about you everywhere, searched every possible hideout and hoped that they could bring you back. Since you are one of my dearest friends, I did my best to search for the one whom I truly considered as such back at school. Of course, our efforts soon turned out to be futile. You were unable to help yourself, so the others were unable to help you."
He looks at him.
"So, tell me."- He says- "Who is the one to blame in this situation?"
Linus shakes his head.
"It doesn't matter. Not anymore."- He says- "Now, I have new friends to work with. New companions who are much better than all of you combined. The evil wizard has blessed me with the unthinkable and I'm not going back!"
Akira gasps.
"How dare you ally yourself with him?!"- She yells- "Don't you know what this means?!"
Linus smiles.
"It means that I've become stronger."
Having said that, he points his weapon at him.
"Enough of this nonsense, Adam!"- He yells- "Prepare youself! It's either me or you know!"
Adam draws his weapon and prepares to cast a spell.
"Do not make me hurt you, my friend."
Linus smirks.
"Oh, you already did."- He retailiates- "Long ago. Very long ago."
Before Adam could respond, Linus lunges at him with incredible speed. He tries to defend himself, but is knocked to the ground.
"Not so fast, traitor!"- Akira yells and shoots a barrage of arrows at him, distracting him for long enough for her brother to stand back up.
Once the young hero has regained his composure, he enchants his sword with the power of light and swings it at Linus, barely missing him.
"No! I won't fall like everyone else!"- He yells- "I'll take you down!"
Adam shakes his head.
"You are making a terrible mistake, Linus."- He says- "Drop your weapon and embrace the light. I know that you want it, deep inside."
Linus smirks.
"I'll show you something that you can embrace."- He responds- "The sweet embrace of despair!"
Linus lunges at Adam again, forcing the young hero to defend himself. He knocks his weapon out of his hand and forces him to stand still.
"I've got you now."
Just as he moves in to attack, Adam surprises him by teleporting behind him and slamming his head into a nearby giant rock.
Disoriented, Linus continues to swing his blade wildly, unaware that he is only hitting the empty air.
"It's your fault!"- He yells- "It's your fault!"
Finally realizing that his techniques are not working, he sighs.
"I didn't want it to come to this."- He says- "But you just forced me."
He whistles to the undead.
"Hey, deadbeats!"- He yells and points at something to the north- "Go that way!"
The undead, despite being mindless monsters, comply. Instead of trying to kill Adam and his allies, they change direction and turn around to walk toward something in the distance.
Adam is unsure what is going on... until he hears the cries of a child.
"What in the world is this?"- He says and turns to Linus, horrified- "Linus, are you out of your mind?!"
Linus smiles.
"What if I am?"- He says- "Confessing to my own insanity won't save him."
Akira seems to recognize the cry.
"My baby!"
She turns to Adam.
"Brother. I... I don't know how this happened, but he's there!"- She says and falls to her knees- "I can't save him! There are too many!"
Emela shakes his head.
"What if this is just an illusion, meant to separate us?"
Akira sighs.
"She's right."- She says- "Maybe we should-- "
Suddenly, Adam leaps to his feet. He swiftly climbs on one of the horses and shakes his head.
"There is no time to contemplate this."- He says- "A child is in danger! My nephew, no less! And I refuse to give up on him!"
Having said that, he runs toward the source of the sound.
Linus tries to stop him, but Adam's horse elegantly jumps past him and hits him with its back legs.
"Out of my way, Linus!"- Adam yells- "I have a person to save!"
Making his way past the undead horde, Adam finally stumbles upon the crying child. He climbs down and tries to pat him on the head.
Soon, he realizes that it is completely real.
"Nephew!"- Adam exclaims and takes the child in his arms- "Thank goodness! I made it in time!"
The child calms down once he stands by his side, but starts to cry again once the undead get closer.
"I am no expert in deciphering the minds of those creatures, but I can tell that they are attracted by the sounds of living creatures."- Adam says to himself- "I am surprised that those mindless beasts target the younger members of humankind, too."
He looks at his nephew's neck and notices a small, gleaming amulet hanging from it.
"This is my sister's amulet!"- He mutters- "How does he still have it?"
Realizing that the undead are getting dangerously close, he sighs and gently pats his horse.
"Go back to my sister, boy."- He says- "You will be safer there. I promise."
However, the horse refuses to leave him alone, bravely neighing at the incoming undead instead.
"A selfless one, I see."- Adam says and sighs- "Alright. You can stay."
He looks at one of them undead that is getting very close to him and remembers a lesson that Emela taught him long ago.
"Miss Emela once said that if I want to defeat an enemy... I must become one with the enemy."- He says to himself- "So, there is only one thing left to do."
He pulls out his sword and stabs the creature in the head. Then, once it has perished, he stabs it in the stomach and cuts a wound so deep that he can feel the creature's tainted blood.
"Ugh. This is disgusting."- He admits- "However, my nephew must survive. I must take him back to his mother, keep him alive at all costs."
He coats his nephew, his horse and, finally, himself, in the undead's blood.
"Let us hope that this works."
He looks at his nephew and smiles.
"Are you ready, child?"
The child does not say anything, but he can sense his enthusiasm.
"Very well."- He says- "In we go, then."
The three of them blend into the horde, acting like undead and successfully fooling the rest of the monsters.
It takes an incredible effort for Adam to prevent his nephew from crying and keeping their disguises intact, but they soon emerge unharmed.
As Adam gets off his horse, he looks at his nephew and kisses him on the forehead.
"You are a brave little boy!"- He compliments him- "Now, let us find your mama and make her happy!"
The baby giggles.
"Ah. He is such a sweetheart."- Adam says to himself- "If only I had more time to spend with him."
As Adam and his nephew rejoin the rest of his allies, it becomes clear that Linus is going to emerge victorious. Pointing his blade at Akira, he smirks and shakes his head.
"I already told you. He's not coming back."- He says to her- "Your hopes and prayers shall be in vain."
Akira shakes her head.
"I have faith in my brother!"- She exclaims- "He will succeed!"
Linus sighs.
"In your dreams, that is."
Just as he is about to stab her, Adam rushes forward and headbutts him, successfully pushing his weapon away and saving his sister while still holding his nephew in his right arm.
Linus attempts to fight back, but Adam grabs his gun and shoots him in the shoulder.
"This is... impossible."- Linus gasps- "You were supposed to be dead!"
Adam smiles.
"Heroes never die, Linus. They are immortal and will always come back when a problem arises."- He responds- "It seems like you never learned this valuable lesson back at school, did you?"
Suddenly, the malice in Linus's eyes fades away. In a matter of just a few moments, it is replaced by confusion.
It is as if Linus turned into a completely different person in front of his friends.
"What? Where am I?"- He wonders aloud- "How did I... end up here?"
He looks at Adam and gasps.
"Adam! It... it's really you!"- He exclaims and hugs him- "I've missed you so much, buddy!"
Adam smiles.
"Me too, old Linus."- He responds- "Me too."
Linus looks at his shoulder and then, at the blood on Adam's face.
"Oh no! What... what have I done?!"- He says- "Did I hurt you?"
Adam starts to respond, but decides not to worry him further. Instead, he simply smiles and pats him on the shoulder.
"It is alright, my friend."- He says to him- "Everything is over. We have won."
He turns to Aalia.
"Can you remove the bullet from his wound and heal it, dear?"- He asks her- "I promise that he is a good person now. I can sense it."
Aalia nods and approaches Linus. She gently uses her magic to stop the bleeding and pull the lead bullet away from his skin. Soon, the bleeding stops and he can feel his arm again.
"Adam. I... I have a lot of things to tell you."- Linus says- "Are you eager to listen to me again?"
Adam smiles.
"Of course!"- He says- "But first... "
He turns around and hands his nephew back to Akira.
"There you go, Aki."- He says to her- "He is safe and sound, as I promised."
Akira smiles and hugs her brother.
"You are a saint, brother!"- She exclaims- "Thank you!"
Adam smiles.
"I am happy to see you smile, Aki,"
He turns to Linus.
"This area is still dangerous for us."- He says- "It is best if we return to the city for now."
Linus nods.
"Right. I understand."- He says- "Let's go, then. I'm eager to leave this past behind for good."