MLIV C1, P1- "Save A Friend"

"Save A Friend" is the first Part of "Miracula Luxia IV" 's first Chapter, as well as the beginning of "Miracula Luxia IV" overall.
It was released on 04.05.2022.
== Plot ==
Years after Adam defeated Mordred Darkthrop and sealed his soul away for a long time, he is still preparing for the inevitable to happen. Eagerly accepting missions left and right, he redeems himself in the name of a better world.
And yet, it is more than clear enough that everything will go wrong. Very soon.
Having been notified that his uncle and aunt- the King and Queen of Thais- wish to see him again, a task of great importance is about to be bestowed upon our hero. And it is not one that requires you to save an innocent town or get rid of a bunch of rowdy miscreants.
This is a mission of mercy. And Adam is in the middle of it.
== Story ==
Adam sits on his bed, talking to the ghost of his aunt and reminiscing the adventures which they had a few years ago.
"And then, I rushed in and saved those people from the darklings without thinking twice!"- Adam says- "Many people thought that it would be impossible. They begged me to save my own life. But I did not. I stood tall in the face of danger and prevailed, just like my father!"
Marinette smiles.
"Your father would be proud of what you've accomplished so far."- She says- "He has always admired your enthusiasm and dedication and dreamed of seeing you as a hero. I'm glad that his pleas were not in vain."
She sighs.
"And yet, I still feel guilty for letting him go out there."- She adds- "Darkthrop's forces may be gone, but the foul miasma left behind by them still remains. As long as a few of them are still out there, I'll always be worried for him."
Adam smiles.
"It is alright, auntie. I am sure that dad is completely fine."- He says- "I mean, he survived a fight against Akira- my vengeful sister who wanted him dead at all costs. Is there anyone else who can harm him so badly?"
Marinette nods.
"Yes, dear. I know."- She says- "But keep in mind that he survived, because you were there for him. You worked together and made it out of that mess. And you've also done it many times before."
She sighs whistfully.
"I wonder if he's able to forgive himself for what happened out there."
Before Adam can respond, the door to his room opens.
He looks around and sees Emela.
"Miss Emela, it is good to see you."- He says- "Is there anything new?"
Emela smiles.
"Good morning, dear."- She says- "Nothing out of the ordinary. It's peaceful out there and I hope that it remains this way."
Adam gets out of his bed and nods.
"I hope so, too."- He says- "I guess that you want me to go to the training room, then. Is that so?"
Emela looks at the nearby window. She sees the street outside and sighs.
"I want to send you out there. The Darkthrop threat is imminent and I don't want you to slack at home while his forces are still out there. Getting as strong as possible before he comes back is our priority."- She says- "And yet, I feel like you're overheating. You've been way too enthusiastic lately. And, if you don't mind me saying, this could be a problem in your future endeavors."
She smiles.
"So, I talked to Mr. Selmae and we decided to let you go. For today."- She says- "I hope that you enjoy this rare moment of silence, because you deserve it."
Adam nods and smiles.
"I understand. Thank you for your kindness, Miss Emela."- She says- "In that case, I will take the day off and go outside. I would love to see the outside world after we worked so hard to keep it alive."
Emela nods.
"Enjoy your trip, my dear."- She says- "While you're out there, I'll prepare the meal for today. Don't be late!"
Adam smiles.
"I will be back soon, Miss Emela."- He says- "Do not be afraid."
Then, he hugs her.
"I have said this many times before, but you are my guardian angel."- He says to her- "Without you, I would never be so determined to be myself."
Emela's eyes fill with tears. She hugs him back.
"Destiny chose to strengthen the bond between us. To make us feel like a family. And I accepted it, for the sake of giving you the future that you've always deserved."- She says- "I love you, Adam. You mean everything to me and nothing's ever going to change that. Don't forget it."
Adam smiles.
"It has been so long since I met you, Miss Emela. The times that we spent together were precious to me and I will never forget them."- He says- "Thank you for making me feel like a true hero."
Having said that, he picks up his jacket from a nearby rack, hugs Emela one last time and leaves their home.
"Stay safe out there, dear."- She says to herself- "I'll always watch over you, no matter what they say."
As Adam goes outside, he looks at the town around him and smiles.
"What a beautiful place."- He says to himself- "Seeing those people rebuild what they once had is so... invigorating. It makes all of the pain worth it in the end."
Taking a step forward, he turns to the left and sees someone watching him.
It is Akira.
"Going somewhere?"- She says- "You know that you can't escape my gaze, right?"
She smiles.
"Oh, and good morning."
Adam sighs.
"I just wanted to go for a walk."- He says- "Miss Emela gave me permission to skip training today. So, I will take advantage of it."
Akira nods.
"That makes two of us."- She responds- "Mr. Selmae said that I've been working too hard lately, so he decided to let me go for the day. I guess that we can enjoy our free time together?"
Adam smiles.
"If you want to join me, then feel free to do so."- He says- "I will enjoy your company."
Akira takes a step forward.
"Then let's enjoy our free time while we still have it."
The two of them walk away from the house, exploring the city and witnessing the proof of evolution that is everywhere around them.
"Gorgeous, isn't it?"- Akira says- "It's been only two years since we started living here, but it already feels like home."
Adam nods.
"After so long, it is nice to see that those people can finally fend for themselves."- He says- "It is truly amazing."
Akira smiles.
"Once we beat that evil crook back into the past where he belongs, there will be a better future for all of them."- She says- "Don't you agree, dear brother?"
Adam nods.
"Of course I do!"- He says- "It is what I have been fighting for so long!"
Akira nods.
"And it's the same for me now."
As the two of them continue to move around, Adam looks at Akira.
"So. I guess that you have been quite busy lately."- He says- "How is my nephew doing? Any luck in finding clues about his father's origins?"
Akira sighs.
"He's doing well. Most of the time."- She says- "A few days ago, I noticed something which never came to my attention before. My child has pale skin, snow white and flawless. At first, I thought that he was just being sick. Times like those are quite troublesome for us, after all. And yet, it was not quite right. I talked to Mr. Selmae about it and he came to visit us. He inspected my son and came to the conclusion that he has tainted blood flowing in his veins. That means that my baby might become something.. dangerous in the future."
She looks down. 
"I don't want to see him as the villain, Adam."- She admits- "I'm scared. I don't want him to become what I used to be."
Adam smiles and pats her on the shoulder.
"Fear not, my dear sister. I will not allow this."- He responds- "As long as you are still here, I will make sure that he follows the path toward the light!. He might have evil blood in his veins, but that does not make him like his ancestors. If we manage to keep him in check, this means that he will soon become one of us."
Akira smiles and hugs her brother.
"I always knew that I could count on you, Adam."- She says- "Thank you for easing this broken woman's pain."
Adam nods.
"I will find the pieces of your broken heart and reassemble it."- He says- "Someday, you will be a true hero again."
Akira sighs.
"And yet, you're still here. You're still important to me and I can't forget how hard you're trying to redeem yourself again."- She says- "So, tell me. How's that going for you?"
Adam looks up at the sky.
"Every day of my life, I cannot stop thinking about how I left Darkthrop's soul out there."- He says- "I defeated him in battle, fair and square. I banished him from this world. Even so, I still feel like his soul, filled with malice and anger, is still lingering out there. Dreaming of destroying everything that we love. As long as he still exists somewhere, I will never consider this matter to be truly settled."
Akira smiles.
"I believe that you can do it. I watched you fight the wizard out there and saw your battle prowess. Your desire to make everything right. Your courage and valor that never faded away, no matter how hard he tried to extinguish them."- She says- "Mordred Darkthrop may be strong, but he is no match for someone whose heart is so pure, so innocent. You were brought into this world to be the savior of those people and I know how hard it is. So, I will stay by your side, no matter if I have to leave everything behind."
Adam starts to respond, but is soon interrupted by a knight rushing toward him.
Akira stands in his way.
"Stand back, Adam."- She says and draws her weapon- "I've got this."
As the man gets closer, she points her sword at him and shakes her head.
"That's far enough, intruder."- She says- "If you wish to harm my brother, then you'll have to get through me first."
The man in steel armor shakes his head.
"I come in peace, fair maiden. I swear that."- He says- "The King and Queen of Thais sent me to find your brother. There is an urgent matter that needs to be settled."
Adam raises his eyebrow.
"My uncle and aunt are looking for me?"- He says- "Tell me more. I want to know every single detail."
The knight shakes his head again.
"I'm afraid that we're only wasting time."- He says- "Come with me. I'll take you to the capital so you can see for yourself."
Adam and Akira stare at each other.
"It looks like our break is... over."- He says and sighs- "Oh, well. It is best not to think about it."
He looks at the knight.
"Very well, warrior. We shall join you."- He says- "Let us prepare for the journey and we shall be on our way."
The knight nods.
"I shall await your return."
As Adam and Akira rush into their house, Emela walks toward them.
"Children!"- She says- "Is everything okay? You look... worried."
Adam shakes his head.
"I am afraid that there is no time left to waste."- He says- "My uncle and aunt wish to see me again. It is urgent, so we must leave as soon as possible."
Emela anticipated this. She is shocked that they are taking Adam away from her.
As his guardian angel, she feels guilty of letting him go just like that. And yet, she is smart enough to realize that it is his own decision.
"Very well, dear."- She says- "Make sure to come back soon, though. Your parents will be worried."
Adam nods.
"We will do our best, Miss Emela."
Then, he hugs her and smiles.
"Stay safe out there, dear."- Emela says- "And don't forget. We're never truly apart."
Adam nods.
"I will, Miss Emela."- He says- "Farewell."
Adam and Akira pack a few things for the journey. Then, once they are done, they leave the house and join the knight on the road toward the city of Thais.
In a few hours, they arrive in the glorious city. As they walk on the streets filled with people, all eyes are on them.
While most people are unaware of who the woman with Adam is, they immediately recognize and cheer for him as he walks toward the giant castle at the end of the city- home of his uncle and aunt.
"Do you hear them, Adam?"- Akira says- "Those people revere you. They see you as their savior. And, after everything that you've done in their name, I am sure that their happiness is entirely justified."
Adam smiles.
"Their hearts are filled with hope. They have a purpose in this world and believe in the heroes who are trying to save them all."- He says- "Seeing the smiles on their faces makes me happy. Every single one of them is special to me, just like you."
Akira nods.
"I understand the feeling."- She says- "You would do anything for them. And you know what? So would I, without a doubt."
Then, they walk into the castle.
As the gates open for them, one of the servants notices that they have arrived and gasps.
"Adam Kaos!"- He exclaims- "We didn't expect you to come here so early!"
He bows down.
"It is an honor to have you here with us."
Adam smiles and motions for him to stand up.
"Well met, my friend."- He says- "Tell the king and queen that their nephew has arrived. I wish to see them as soon as possible."
The servant nods.
"Of course, mighty Prince of Avernum."- He says- "It shall be done."
He turns to leave.
"Farewell."
As the servant leaves, Adam waves at him and smiles.
"If only everyone were so kind and caring like them."
Akira smiles.
"Well, you've got one person who will always be this way."
Adam smiles and hugs his sister.
"I know, Aki."- He says- "And that is why you will always be precious to me. Even more than life itself."
As Adam and Akira walk further into the castle, they notice a plaque on a nearby wall. Looking closer, they notice that a sword is sitting in it.
"Ah, Excalibur."- Adam says- "It is good to see you again, shining in your rightful home."
He turns around and notices that their cousin- Jonathan Braveheart- has joined them.
"Welcome to Thais, my dear cousins."- He says and hugs them- "It's been so long. I've missed you so much."
Adam smiles.
"It is wonderful to see you again, Jon."- He says- "How are you doing? Did anything happen in our absence?"
Jon sighs whistfully.
"Oh, it's always been the same. Ever since Gloria and I became parents, we have always been on the move."- He says- "I have to admit. Seeing you all the way here is a sight for sore eyes. Now that we are together, I feel like I can finally be truly alive again."
Akira nods.
"What about the coronation that your parents had in mind?"- She asks him- "Now that you have a wife, you're eligible for their throne. Any luck in getting that going for you?"
Jon shakes his head.
"I'm afraid that I'm not ready yet."- He says- "My parents said that I still have a lot to learn. As much as they wanted to let us lead the kingdom in their absence, they still needed some more... initiative."
Adam raises his eyebrow.
"What kind of initiative?"- He asks him- "You became the shaman of this region to protect the people. You took the responsibility of keeping an entire kingdom safe from evil. And, most importantly, you accompanied me on a perilous journey to defeat an ancient sorcerer and proved yourself as one of the most capable warriors of the known lands. Is there nothing else that can change their minds?"
Jon sighs.
"They were clear about it."- He says- "If I'm not able to defeat a truly dangerous enemy all by myself, I won't be fit for a king."
Adam smiles.
"Then, I think that you should join us again."- He says- "It was an honor to have you by our side last time and it would be wonderful if your parents could send you on another adventure. That way, you can show them that you have grown up. And then, we can save the world. Together."
Akira nods.
"Listen to my brother's advice, Jon."- She says to him- "He may be young, but he knows how to deal with problems like those."
Jon smiles and pats his cousin on the back.
"It would be wonderful to fight alongside you again."- He says- "Just like the good, old times. Right?"
Adam smiles.
"Indeed."- He says- "Times may come and go, but bonds like ours will never be broken."
Having said that, he and his companions approach the throne room, eager to meet with John and Uma and accept their sacred mission.
Moments later, they reach the place from which Jonathan's mother and father command the forces of the entire kingdom and direct some of the most unspeakable missions to keep it safe.
John and Uma sit on their thrones, lost in thought and failing to notice the new arrivals.
"Mom. Dad. I am home."- Jon says- "And I brought some friends with me."
John looks up and smiles.
"Well, if it isn't my favorite nephew and his sister."- He says- "Well met, my boy."
Adam nods and smiles.
"It is a pleasure to see you again, uncle John."- He says- "I met with your messenger and arrived in the city as fast as I could."
John nods.
"Thank goodness you made it all the way here."- He says- "I would have blamed myself if something happened to you out there."
Akira smiles.
"Did you forget about me, sir?"- She asks him- "As long as Adam has his sister by his side, those who dare to harm him will be severely punished!"
John grins.
"Of course, Aki. I'm glad that you tagged along."- He says- "So, how are you faring right now? Are you getting comfortable in your new home?"
Akira smiles sadly.
"I'm trying to forget what happened out there."- She says- "And yet, those memories still haunt my mind. I'll never be the same, as long as he's still out there."
Adam hugs his sister.
"She has always been this way."- He adds- "No matter what I did to calm her down, she has always been afraid of the dark."
John nods.
"I'm sure that we can put an end to that evil wizard's tyranny soon enough."- He says- "Until then, try to get over the pain. I know that it's hard, but it's not impossible."
He clenches his fist.
"Trust me."- He says- "I felt the same way many years ago."
Adam and Akira lean closer, patiently waiting for John to explain some events of his past to them. However, he does not say anything else.
Noticing their curiosity, the sovereign of Thais smiles.
"I know that you want to know more. And yet, some things must remain in the past."- He says- "Now then. Do you remember why you came here?"
Adam nods.
"Of course we do."- He says- "Your knight mentioned something about an urgent mission that I have to help with, so I immediately springed into action."
As Adam and John begin their converstation, Uma leans closer and smiles.
"Adam, honey. Is that you?"- She says- "Come closer. I can't see you from over here."
Adam approaches his aunt and smiles.
"It is me, auntie. I am back."- He says- "But... what happened to you? Why are you like this?"
John looks at his wife, sighs and shakes his head.
"Many members of our family have suffered because of Darkthrop's actions, curse him forever."- He says- "However, your aunt has taken everything way too seriously. It has been too painful for her."
Seeing his mother in this pitiful state makes Jon unable to hold his tears back.
"When we were out in the wilderness, not everything went well for mom and dad."- He adds- "Darkthrop sent a large army of his warriors to attack the capital. The soldiers were able to fend them off, but not without a cost. My grandmother lost her life while trying to make a difference, rushing into the battle with a blade in hand just to save a small group of our allies. This left my grandpa a widower, but he told us to stay strong. That we shouldn't feel sad when we... lose somebody. Even when it's... like this."
He wipes a tear from his right eye.
"But mama took it very seriously."- He continues- "After hearing news of grandma's demise, she has never been the same. I often heard her cry when she was alone. I saw the sadness in her face as she continued to rule the kingdom. And it never changed. What happened out there always haunted her."
He looks down.
"One day, when we thought that it wouldn't get worse, the biggest nightmare in our lives happened."- He says- "While mama was doing the chores, she felt to the ground. We took her to the doctor and realized, with horror in our souls, that she was slowly losing her eyesight. We tried to help her out however we could. We hired some of the kingdom's best eye doctors. Gave her eyedrops. Soothed her when she was down. And yet, it was not enough. I fear that nothing would have ever helped, given the sorry state that she was in."
He looks up and hugs his father.
"A few months later, her eyesight became much worse. She nearly lost her vision, were it not for our immediate reaction."- He says, tears still falling from his eyes- "It's true. She can still see, but not very far. Not anymore. And, until Darkthrop is finally defeated, she will never have the chance to recover."
John sighs.
"And that's the story that has been haunting us for so long."- He adds- "I hope that you can understand what we had to go through."
Adam's eyes fill with tears when he realizes that they are right. He approaches Uma and hugs her.
"I am so sorry for what happened to you, auntie!"- He says- "I promise to win this fight in your name! I will help you find a cure and then, we can be happy forever and ever."
Uma smiles and hugs him back.
"I appreciate your kindness, my dear. But don't think about it too much. I don't want you to suffer like your cousin Jon. It's painful to see you both worried about me."- She says to him- "Right now, the world needs you more than ever. So do me a favor and do the right thing. Make me proud. Justify my complete faith in you. It's what will truly help me recover from this madness."
Adam nods.
"You have my word, auntie."- He says- "I will do the right thing, no matter how many armies of evil I have to face."
He takes a step back and looks at his uncle.
"I hate to say this, but we must move on."- John says- "Time is of essence and our enemies are always looking for a way to disrupt us."
Adam nods.
"Very well. We will."- He says- "So, what is the matter? Is there something wrong?"
John nods.
"In fact, I fear that there is. But the main culprit is not an enemy of ours. It is a very close friend who made it way too far."- He says- "I'm sure that you are aware of Derek Darkheart- leader of the Darkness of Duskwood gang and valuable ally of the good in this world."
Adam sighs.
"Derek is Mr. Selmae's older brother. He has always been rather erratic and unable to supress his emotions. Thus, he has gotten himself in a lot of trouble."- He says- "And yet, I am certain that he is a good man. There is nothing wrong with him, just a small amount of insecurity that can be cured."
John shakes his head.
"And that's why I asked you to join us. This insecurity that you speak of may be the end of him, if we don't act fast."
He sighs.
"Anyway, here is the deal."- He says- "After being separated by the traitors in his gang, Derek was forced to flee far away from them, to ensure that they wouldn't harm any of you. Thus, he went all the way to the town of Nightgrove."
Adam raises his eyebrow.
"But Nightgrove is a town filled with evil!"- He exclaims- "Why would he do such a thing?"
John sighs.
"And that's why we need your help."- He says- "A messenger from the town arrived in Thais about a week ago. Claimed that Derek was disrupting the peace in their beloved settlement, but I refuse to believe that there's any in the first place. Even so, I still fear for the man's life and I don't want Deugan to grieve for his brother when he... bites the dust. So, please. Go out there and beat some sense into that madman's head. Teach him a valuable lesson about respect and take him back here. Use violence if you must, but don't kill him. We still need his help, so he will be a valuable asset in the creation of the new world that we dream of."
Adam nods.
"I understand, uncle John."- He says- "We will go there right away. I will show Derek Darkheart that he is not on the dark side anymore. I promise."
Uma leans closer to her nephew.
"Honey, may I have your attention for a second."
Adam turns around.
"Yes, auntie?"
Uma sighs.
"I fear that there is something amiss out there. Someone very dangerous might be involved in this operation and it could be way worse than we can imagine. It's even possible that Darkthrop's forces have been restored and are trying to set a trap for you. I'm not quite sure."- She says- "Be a good child and watch for anything that seems suspicious, will you?"
Adam nods.
"Of course, aunt."- He says- "I will not let those miscreants surprise me. Not anymore."
He turns to Akira.
"Well, it is time to go."- He says to her- "Are you ready?"
Akira nods.
"Count me in."- She says- "Let's bring the judgement of the Order into that chaotic town!"
As Adam and Akira prepare to leave, Jonathan stops them.
"Hold on!"- He says- "You can't just go out there and pretend that you'll be alright! It's dangerous!"
Adam shakes his head.
"We do not have another choice, Jon."- He says to him- "I will never forgive myself if something happens to my mentor's brother."
Jon shakes his head.
"You're going to get in trouble!"- He yells- "Those bandits mean business! And I don't want you to end up on the wrong side of their conflict!"
He takes a step forward.
"Let me join you!"- He adds- "I promise that I will not be a nuisance. I will protect you from them!"
Adam raises his eyebrow.
"What about your wife and child?"- He asks him- "Jon, you are a married man now. You must not shy away from your responsibilities."
John smiles.
"Actually, that would be completely fine."- He says- "As much as we would love to let our son take care of his child, we still feel responsible for letting him marry the shaman of Canonia. So, we will take care of both of them in Jon's absence."
Adam bows his head.
"That is very noble of you, uncle."- He says- "Thank you for giving him a chance to redeem himself."
John smiles.
"It's a pleasure to help my son and those whom he cares about."
Jon nods.
"So, are you ready?"- He asks them- "The road ahead will be a long one, but I know that we can reach it."
Adam nods.
"Very well. You may join us."- He says- "Three swords are better than two, so we might have a chance in finding Derek before he can get himself in trouble."
He smiles.
"We are ready."- He adds- "As the leader of this little team, I give the command to leave. So, let us show the world that we care about those who deserve it!"
With that, the three heroes prepare to leave the city of Thais, They emerge from the throne room, eager to begin their adventure as soon as possible.
As they leave, Uma smiles and looks at John.
"Our little nephew has grown so much, John."- She says to him- "Ever since he defeated Darkthrop, he's become so determined. So valiant and rational. So intelligent and kind. Many people in this kingdom aspire to be like him, but I'm sure that none will ever be able to reach his level of professionalism."
John nods.
"And so do I, my love."- He says- "Adam is one in a million. He is the most precious gem of our family. It was thanks to him and his father that the world finally saw the Kaos family as heroes, not villains. And I'm sure that the boy will continue to make us feel proud."
Uma smiles again.
"It was my dream to see him become a hero."- She says- "And now, I dream of hearing more news of his heroic feats. It's so invigorating that he's doing something good out there."
John nods.
"Of course, my dear."- He says- "And you know what? I think the same way."