MLIV C3, P5- "Blind Eyes"

"Blind Eyes" is the fifth Part of "Miracula Luxia IV" 's third Chapter.
It was released on 10.06.2022.
== Plot ==
Alcander and his allies have just their begun their adventure, performing their exploration deep in Darkthrop's lands. However, a confrontation with a certain group of his servants leaves them stranded deep into a dangerous territory, with nearly no chance of survival.
Relying on their own instincts, our heroes have to find the perpetrators and make them pay for this insolence. It is clear that they have not gone far yet, so they might still have a chance in this.
Will they discover the truth behind the attack... and perhaps something even more ominous?
== Story ==
Alcander starts to walk away from the beach, but soon falls on his knees.
Amelia sees this and immediately rushes to his aid, helping him stand up before he could hurt himself.
"What's wrong, honey?"- She asks him- "You don't look too... well."
Alcander shakes his head.
"Just a mild case of adventuring exhaustion."- He replies- "I'll get over it. I promise."
Amelia shakes her head.
"No. You need to rest."- She says- "Come on. We've got to make camp for the night."
As Amelia drags Alcander away, he looks back at the beach. He sees a large silhouette, somewhere in the distance.
"I have the bad feeling that we are being watched."- He says to himself- "I'll try to listen to Amelia, but I have to do something about this. If this means that the pirates from before have returned, then I have a duty to stop them."
As the four of them arrive in a small clearing, deep in a forest at the east edge of the island, Donovan sits down with Alcander and talks to him for a while.
"So, Al."- He says to him- "Are you doing better?"
Alcander nods.
"Trust me. I've never been in any danger."- He says- "I can get through this."
Donovan sighs.
"That's exactly what Aiden tried to tell me before he died."- He says- "But he never did. I lost him, because I thought that he would recover from his wounds. And I... I regret it. A lot."
Alcander nods.
"Maybe he just wanted to protect you from the guilt that would haunt you once he's gone."- He says- "Siblings often try their best to make you fell better. It is what I've learned from all the years that I spent travelling with Adam."
Donovan nods.
"What about Akira?"- He asks- "Has she also been this way?"
Alcander shakes his head.
"Not quite."- He replies- "When I tried to be a good brother to her, she simply shunned me and told me that she's better off alone. All the time when she stayed with us, she seemed so... cold. Uncaring. Distant to the outside world. When someone asked her to do something, she went on with it, but never showed any signs of excitement or satisfaction. Perhaps the years spent with her evil stepfather have taken quite a toll on her. It's understandable, given the chaotic circumstances."
He clenches his fist.
"But I'll never forgive her for what she did to Adam."- He says- "From what I heard from dad when I met him again, it's clear that she broke his fragile heart into pieces with her betrayal. Striking him down with her magic was already took enough, but she took her villainy to the next level."
Donovan shakes his head.
"Don't be so hard on that poor girl."- He says- "She had no choice, but to join Darkthrop's army. That evil wizard manipulated her into believing that it's the best way for her brother to have a future- to ally himself with the dark ones. And she commanded his forces, in the hopes that she would reunite with him again."
Alcander raises his eyebrow.
"You claim that she... didn't turn on us on purpose?"- He asks- "But... that completely contradicts what the witnesses I met said to me."
Donovan nods.
"Perhaps you made contact with some of the people allied to our enemies. And, in their peculiar fashion, they wanted to twist the truth and fool you into believing their words."- He says- "Darkthrop is a wily scoundrel. His lies are able to deceive even the most honest and law-abiding person."
He looks up.
"So, the best way to deal with a situation like this... is to stop thinking about it."- He says- "Akira did something awful, right? Well, do not take it too seriously. If she is wise enough to betray her new allies, then she knows what she's doing. She gave up on the darkness inside of her own heart, so I'm sure that you can do the same."
Alcander sighs.
"At least she has enough intellect to see her own mistakes."- He mutters- "Unlike others."
As Amelia and Jon prepare to get some firewood for the camp, Donovan helps Alcander stand up.
"Do you want to take one last look at the beach before we're forced to move on again?"- He asks him- "The sun's going down. I think that it would be beneficial for both of us."
Alcander nods.
"It's a chance to get away from the harsh reality for a while."- He says- "So, let's go."
The two of them tell Amelia what they are going to do. She volunteers to accompany them, but they refuse, stating that it's best if they go alone.
She watches them go as they leave the forest.
"Where are they going, Amelia?"- Jon says.
Amelia sighs.
"Just a small stroll on the beach."- She says- "Al needs to see the sun again."
Jon takes a step forward.
"We should go with them."- He says- "What if they get in trouble?"
Amelia shakes her head.
"I want Al to be happy, not to bother him with our imminent doom all the time."- She says- "Sorry, Jon. We aren't going anywhere. I'm sure they'll return soon enough anyway, so going after them would be a waste of time and effort."
She smiles.
"How about we make some dinner instead?"- She suggests- "I'm sure that the leaves that I gathered would make a great salad. And the black berries would be a wonderful dessert."
Jon smiles.
"Ah. Now, we're talking."- He says- "Alright then. Let's get those gears moving."
Meanwhile, Alcander and Donovan walk toward the beach. They stare at the area around them, amazed that it has been left untouched by civilization for many years.
"You know what?"- Donovan says- "Looking at this place, it makes me remember something."
Alcander nods.
"Good or bad?"- He asks- "Because being stranded on an island may make you remember some... bad memories."
Donovan shakes his head.
"No, no. It's not about that."- He says- "It's just a wish. That I never had the chance to fulfill."
He stares at the moonlit sea ahead of him.
"When me and Aiden were younger, we always used to share our wildest dreams with each other. We talked about our dreams, our greatest achievements and, most importantly, our most daring desires."- He says- "One day, he told me about how he had always wanted to go somewhere more... peaceful. Farming life has been hard on him and he just wanted some time away from it. He always looked for opportunities to make a small trip somewhere else, but it was not that easy. In most situations, either his free time was too short or the destination in question was too far away. He was too shy to tell this to his father and often remained cramped in his room, wasting his time laying on his bed or talking to people who never truly cared about him."
He sighs.
"My arrival was an exciting event for him. He saw me as his savior from a life of boredom and tedium. And I helped make him feel that way."- He says- "Since he always felt so distant from me, I wanted to redeem myself to him. I made a promise to give him a better life. To take him on the trip that he deserves, once Darkthrop is defeated. And I... I believed it with all my heart. I knew that I could continue the legacy of my brother. Of our family. To be merciful and kind to others, you know?"
He smiles sadly.
"But my brother. When he met me as a sibling, he just... gave up on it."- He adds- "All he ever wanted was to be with me. To see that I still care for him. He wanted a new life, but not with anyone else."
Tears fall from his face as he continues to talk.
"Now that Aiden's gone, I... feel as if there's a part of me that will always be missing, no matter who I meet."- He says- "Nobody can ever fill the gap that Darkthrop created. Nothing will ever change the fact that I miss him so much."
He looks down.
"But I can't get over this. I... I want my brother back."- He says- "Why must the world be so cruel?"
Alcander sighs and pats him on the shoulder.
"I understand how you feel, my friend."- He says- "While growing up, every single one of us has experienced some kind of disappointment or pain."
Donovan raises his eyebrow.
"Uhh."- He says- "I beg you pardon?"
Alcander looks at the sea.
"In dark times like those, everyone can lose fragments of themselves."- He says- "However, it's up to them whether they want to forgets that to all that pain or not."
He turns to Donovan.
"I'm not an expert in the spirit world. I don't know how to speak with the souls beyond the mortal veil."- He says- "But I can tell you one thing without a doubt. Aiden may be gone, but he also deeply misses you. He regrets ever causing you pain like this and wants you move on with your life without chaining yourself to the past."
Donovan looks down.
"But how can I do that?"- He asks- "I'm no longer the Donovan that I used to be. I'm just a... servant of the Order. Without my little brother, I will never be the same."
Alcander smiles.
"You still think about him, right?"- He says- "Well. That is enough to tell me that you're still the cool, caring Donnie that I used to know many years ago. It's what makes you so perfect. To me. To our friends and family. And, most importantly, to Aiden himself."
He smiles again.
"So. Do you want to continue his legacy? Will you avenge him and show that you haven't forgotten about what he did for you?"- He says- "The path to redemption is long and tedious, but I'm confident that you're strong enough to face your own insecurities with a smile."
Donovan stands up and clenches his fist.
"Yes. I get it now."- He says- "This is what my brother would have wanted. He never told me such a thing, but I knew that he had it inside of him."
He turns to Alcander.
"Al. I'm ready to find those outlaws and end their lives."- He says confidently- "In the name of my brother, no evil shall stand on my path."
Alcander smiles.
"That's the spirit, my friend."- He says- "Now that we let our feelings out, let's go back to our camp. The others must be worried about us."
As the two of them get back, Amelia emerges and hugs Alcander.
"Finally."- She says- "It's been too long."
Alcander shakes his head.
"Sorry, dear."- He says- "Me and Donovan were... hunting for seashells.
Both of them grin, as if to prove their point.
Amelia sighs.
"Whatever you did back there, it doesn't matter."- She says- "You're here. You're safe and sound. And it's all that I care about."
She looks at a large pot near the campfire and smiles.
"So, gentlemen."- She says- "Are you hungry?"
Alcander nods.
"You bet."- He says- "What is on the menu?"
Amelia grabs a small wooden bowl, takes some cooked leaves from the pot with a wooden fork and presents her creation to them.
"Today's specialty is this forest salad. A mix of bush and tree leaves, it'll leave you happy and satisfied!"- She exclaims- "In all seriousness, though, it ain't that much to begin with. Our supplies are running low and there's no meat sources in the woods. It's the best we prepared for around half an hour."
Alcander sighs.
"I suppose that it will suffice."- He says- "Thank you, Amelia. It's the thought that counts, not the quality or quantity."
Having said that, he shares some of his salad with Donovan and they try to chew the leaves and extract whatever nutrients may be hiding inside.
After five minutes, they leave the bowl on the ground and sit down.
"Well. I can't say that it was the best salad that I've ever eaten, but it's definitely better than nothing."- Donovan says- "Thank you, Amelia. It looks like Sharla taught you well."
Amelia smiles and salutes him.
"I learn from the best of the best."
As the four of them rest from the long trip, Alcander and Donovan continue to talk to each other.
"Can you believe it?"- He says to him- "Our classmate, Eva, had such incredible potential in magery. Her parents wanted her to become a sorceress and help coordinate the efforts of her fellow mages in discovering new crops for humanity. And yet, she chose the simple life of an accountant!"
Donovan gasps.
"What an incredible waste."- He says and shakes his head- "It's almost as bad as the situation with Jimmy."
Alcander raises his eyebrow.
"What about Jim?"
Donovan sighs.
"His parents disappeared after Darkthrop and his forces attacked. When he learned of that, he went crazy and escaped the city not long afterwards."- He says- "Witnesses say that he went into hiding and became a lone hermit."
Alcander sighs.
"So much for his lifelong dreams, I guess."- He says- "Maybe someone else will take his place as a captain in the army."
Donovan nods.
"They might."- He says- "If the special forces don't get them first."
Amelia looks at them.
"Boys, it's time to go to sleep."- She says- "It's getting late and we need to get ready for tomorrow."
Alcander nods.
"Of course, dear."- He says- "A well-rested warrior is the best warrior."
Amelia smiles, gets closer and sits next to him.
"Sorry, Donnie."- She says to her brother- "Al's my sleeping partner for the night."
Donovan rolls his eyes.
"Whatever you say, Amelia."
Amelia smiles and kisses Alcander on the cheek.
"Sweet dreams, my prince."- She says to him- "Tomorrow, you shall be a hero again. And together, we shall vanquish evil."
Alcander smiles and hugs her.
"Good night, my dear."
The two of them fall asleep quickly. 
As Donovan and Jon watch, Amelia lies on Alcander's shoulder.
"You know, I think those two are really meant for each other."- Jon says- "It hasn't been long since they knew each other. And yet, the sparks between them are shining bright. That's a clear sign of true love."
Donovan smiles.
"I've always wanted Amelia to meet the right man."- He says- "When she proclaimed Al to be her beloved, I refused to believe it. At first. But then, I saw how protective she is. I noticed her determination, the love that she expressed with every word to him. And then, I realized something. When a young girl falls in love, it's best to be respectful and keep your distance."
Jon nods.
"And this is how it will be."
Donovan yawns.
"I think that I feel tired, too."
Jon nods.
"I feel the same."- He says- "Let's go to sleep."
Donovan lays back.
"Right."- He says- "Go to sleep. That's what I will... "
Then, he falls asleep.
Jon looks around for a few seconds and smiles.
"Grandma."- He says to himself- "If only you could see us now."
Then, he lays back and falls asleep as well.
The next morning, Alcander helps his allies cross the beach unnoticed.
"Do you see something, Al?"- Donovan asks him.
Alcander stares at the huge silhouette ahead and nods.
"Well. Nothing seems clear yet."- He says- "But I feel like it must be important. Somehow."
Then, the four of them get closer and notice that it is a large ship.
"Wait a second."- Jon says- "That's the vessel that sunk our boat!"
Alcander leans closer to him.
"Shh."- He says- "We don't want them to hear us."
The two of them hide behind a nearby giant rock and watch as workers emerge from the ship, unloading goods.
"Lots of activity's happening over there."- Amelia says- "Is it even possible to enter without attracting any attention to ourselves?"
Alcander shakes his head.
"Not in those clothes."- He says- "We need another plan."
Suddenly, a small group of four scouts emerges from the ship. Their weapons are drawn and they are heading into the woods.
As our heroes continue to hide, one of the scouts turns to his companions.
"Are you sure that it'll solve the problem?"- He asks- "Blowing up the forest will only destroy our ship. Once started, the fires will consume us. They're too fast to run away from and too strong to extinguish."
A second scout shakes his head.
"It's not wise to question the boss."- He says- "Doubting his intentions will send you on a one-way trip into the sea."
Amelia gasps quietly.
"Yikes."- She whispers- "That sounds like a mean punishment."
Alcander shakes his head.
"Nevermind that, dear."- He says- "We have the right people for the job."
Donovan raises his eyebrow.
"But how can we take care of them?"- He asks- "They're too proud to escape and too afraid of their master to join us."
Alcander draws his weapon.
"I didn't say that we will deal with them peacefully, my friend."- He says- "Not every problem can be solved with diplomacy."
The four of them approach the scouts without being seen by the rest of the crew.
As the men wonder whether someone is watching them or not, the heroes make their move. They whack the scouts with their weapons until they are completely knocked out.
"Is this what we planned to do in the first place?"- Jon asks.
Alcander raises his eyebrow.
"What? You really think that I was planning to kill them?"- He says- "I may be a battle-hardened warrior, but I am not a heartless soul. If I have to kill someone, it's done only to protect you from them."
Donovan nods.
"And did they count in this criteria?"
Alcander shakes his head.
"That is of no concern to us now."- He says- "What's truly important is the fact that we finally have clothes that will allow us to blend in with the crew."
He takes the clothes off of the first scout and puts them on.
"They are... not a perfect fit, I have to admit."- He says- "But they'll do the job. At least for now."
WIth that, the four of them enter the ship.
Two of the guards approach them.
"New recruits, I assume?"- One of them asks- "Welcome aboard, kids. You must have a reason to be here, right?"
Alcander nods.
"Of course."- He replies- "We're part of an organization that hires young recruits to fight in the name of Master Darkthrop. We are their newest numbers."
The guard nods.
"So they sent you all the way here?"- He says- "To work for a measly crew like ours?"
Alcander nods.
"It's our first mission."- He says- "We have to start from somewhere."
The guard sighs.
"That's fair enough, I suppose."- He says- "Alright then. Get in."
As the four of them get further into the ship, the first guard turns around.
"One more thing before you go."- He adds- "The captain's cabin is to the north. Our boss wishes to see all new recruits, so you may want to meet him before you begin your daily tasks. Just a little suggestion."
Alcander nods.
"Thank you."- He says- "We will see him immediately."
While the four of them leave, the two guards stare at each other and shake their heads.
"What a bunch of poor souls."- The first one says- "To be dragged in a place like this is another level of despair."
The second guard sighs.
"How can you blame them?"- He says- "It's not their fault bureaucracy's so unfair."
The first one nods.
"Maybe they should learn to respect those who volunteer to help Master Darkthrop."
The second one shakes his head.
"It's not our place to blame our allies, you know?"- He says- "A single breach of protocol could cost our heads these days."
The first one sighs.
"Yeah."- He says- "It's always this way."
A third guard approaches them.
"Good to see ya, boys."- He says- "The sailors' rooms are left unguarded. You must protect them until Squad Two arrives."
The guards nod.
"You got it."- The first one says.
The third one watches them leave and sighs.
"Lately, the guards have become rather lenient."- He says to himself- "If only I saw it earlier."
With that, he leaves as well.
Meanwhile, our heroes get past the remainders of the crew, trying to look as normal as possible.
"Looks like we got some new faces."- One crew member says- "You work directly for Darkthrop, right?"
Alcander smiles.
"Yes, we do."- He says and salutes- "Hail Darkthrop!"
With that, the four of them leave.
As a second crewmember joins him, the first one shrugs.
"What a bunch of weird fellas."
Our heroes stand next to the door leading to the captain's office.
"Alright. This is it."- Alcander whispers- "Try to act normal. We can't afford to be recognized."
He knocks on the door.
"Come in."- An annoyed voice sounds from the other side.
The four of them enter the room and notice Isaac sitting on his desk.
"Yes, yes. More orders."- He says without looking- "Let's get on with it."
Alcander takes a step forward.
"We're new here, sir."- He says- "Can you show us the place?"
Isaac turns around and nods.
"You don't seem to be overly energetic or confident."- He says- "Finally, some perfectly normal crewmembers."
He stands up and shakes their hands.
"My name is Isaac Darkshade. General of Darkthrop and commander of the southern forces."- He says- "I'm sure that you know a few things about me."
Alcander smiles.
"It's an honor to meet you for the first time, sir."
As Isaac shakes Jon's hand, the young shaman slightly tightens his grip.
"Hmm?"- Isaac says- "Is something wrong, kiddo?"
Jon realizes where he is. He pulls his hand back and nervously shakes his head.
"Nothing, sir."- He replies and grins- "I'm just... umm... really glad to see you. That's all."
Isaac nods.
"Of course. I know how it feels."- He says- "Most new recruits act different when I'm around. It is as if they're completely different people."
Alcander sighs.
"You outrank them, sir."- He says- "If you don't mind me saying, that's a perfectly understandable reason to be feared."
Isaac nods.
"I don't want them to feel this way, but that's fine."- He says- "So long as they keep working, I don't have any problems with them."
He takes a step forward.
"Now. I'm sure that you want to see the rest of this ship."- He says- "Shall we go?"
Alcander nods.
"Lead the way, sir."
The five of them leave the office behind and get on top of the ship.
"Nice construction, isn't it?"- Isaac says and smiles- "Our master uses some of the best materials to keep us safe."
Alcander nods.
"What kind of material is this?"
Isaac smiles.
"It's cavewood."- He replies- "Not the fanciest one, but it's incredibly sturdy. For a resource from a tree living in the caves."
He stares at the sea ahead and smiles.
"Sometimes, I wish we could've operated from the underworld instead."- He says- "The only thing that we have to worry about in there are the wild monsters."
Alcander nods.
"Maybe we could work something out in the future, sir."- He says- "What if Master Darkthrop, in his incredible wisdom, decides that the underworld has to become his domain?"
Isaac thinks about this for a few minutes and smiles.
"You know what? Maybe your words have some kind of significance, young sailor."- He says- "Perhaps I will have a thing or two to say to him, after all."
He takes a step sideways.
"Why don't you take a look at the sea yourself?"- He suggests- "Sailors often see it as a source of peace and wisdom. Maybe you'll feel the same way."
As Alcander reluctantly takes a few steps forward, Isaac grins.
"Because the only source it will be for you... "- He continues- "... is of pain and despair."
As Alcander turns around, Isaac pushes him on the plank and smiles.
"Look on the bright side, kid."- He says- "You won't have to suffer for long."
A group of guards emerges from the shadows, capturing Donovan, Amelia and Jon.
"Sir, you are making a big mistake."- Alcander says, still trying to maintain his disguise- "You know that we won't betray you, right?"
Isaac smiles.
"You're the only mistake in here... Alcander."
Alcander gasps.
"How did you know it was me?"
Isaac smiles.
"I've already hidden from the Order many times."- He replies- "You can't fool me with your petty tricks."
He turns around to look at the captives.
"The only reason I allowed the guards to let you in was to give you a better view of your impending doom."- He says- "Pretty demoralizing, am I right?"
He motions for one of his sailors to join him.
"Zane, my boy. Get over here."- He says- "You'll have the honor of taking care of this... person."
Not long after, a young and muscular sailor arrives. He points his weapon- a long, nasty-looking cutlass- at him and smirks.
"Walk the plank."
Without another choice to get out of this situation, Alcander sighs and takes a few steps forward.
"You know, Isaac."- He says and turns around- "Back then, I saw you as my mentor. My ally. My friend. But now, I can see how foolish I was to trust you. I never should have tried to know you better, since you're nothing more than a petty traitor."
Isaac laughs.
"You call me a traitor, but you're the one who betrayed your family to be a hero."- He says- "Look at yourself, Alcander. Do you ever stare at the mirror, thinking whether they actually forgave you for what you did? Do you think that you truly deserve their sympathy? You, my boy, are just an outcast. Shunned away by others, you had no choice but to join them."
He stares at him.
"But tell me."- He continues- "If you never met your new family, were you going to become a hero either way?"
Alcander shakes his head.
"I will not allow you to speak ill of my family!"- He yells- "All of them are good people. They have done things that people never truly appreciated. And we had to take risks. Great risks that divided us and made us feel weak. But you know what? In the end, it was for the good of the world. Someday, we shall reunite again. But we won't despise each other for the past. No. We'll despise you and Darkthrop, because you made us different."
Isaac smirks.
"Enough inspiring words."- He says- "Yes. You shall join your family. But it will be in the Afterlife!"
He turns to Zane.
"Alright, kid. Do your job."- He says to him- "Don't keep me waiting."
Zane nods.
"Your wish is my command, sir."
Having said that, he grabs Alcander by the neck and forces him to take a few steps backwards.
"This is the end of the line for you, rooster."
Alcander smiles.
"I would like to see that, tough guy."
Zane grits his teeth.
"I've dealt with many wannabe heroes like you, but you're perhaps the most annoying of them."- He says- "Maybe a little water will shut you up."
Just before he could throw Alcander off, he hears a scream and turns around.
"What's going on?"
One of the guards holds his finger, terrified.
"She bit me!"- He exclaims- "That crazy girl bit me!"
Everyone looks at Amelia, surprised.
"She's the one who caused all the ruckus?"- Isaac asks- "She can't even hurt a fly!"
Amelia smiles and stands up.
"Don't judge a book by its cover."- She says- "Unless it crashes into your face."
She grabs a knife and stabs the other two guards in the chest, freeing Donovan and Jon.
"Let's rescue my beloved!"
Isaac shakes his head and draws his weapon.
"Oh no, you don't!"- He yells- "Not after I've gone so far to get rid of him!"
He turns around.
"Zane!"- He yells- "Get going!"
Zane nods.
"Of course."
Before he could carry out the command, however, Alcander stands up and punches him in the stomach, temporarily disorienting him. Then, he kicks him back on the ship and lunges at him.
"A persistent one, huh?"- Zane says and draws his dagger- "This makes my victory much sweeter."
Alcander smiles.
"Or your defeat more bitter."
Zane glares at him.
"Stop with this nonsense and fight like a man already."
Alcander nods and draws his weapon.
"With pleasure."
One of the sailors raises his gun and attempts to shoot Amelia, but Donovan sneaks up behind him and chokes him with a small rope, strangling him to death and taking his gun.
Another sailor attempts to ram into Jon, but is shot in the back by Donovan before he could get anywhere close to him.
Two guards emerge from the lower levels and attempt to apprehend Donovan, only to be struck by a giant fireball in the process.
"You're fighting pretty well."- Amelia compliments him- "Looks like your time in Castle Goznor was well spent, after all."
Donovan smiles.
"I couldn't have said it better."- He says- "Still, it's all thanks to you. Watching you learn new moves helped me remember what I knew as a mage."
Jon attacks Isaac and manages to force him to defend himself instead of attacking back. 
He swings his blade wildly, not caring whether he will get hurt or not. He knows that the job must be done and uses his strength and agility to make it happen.
"Har, har, har. How disappointing."- Isaac says- "I thought that I could see more from you, Jon."
Jon glares at him.
"Are you even aware of how much I hate you right now?"- He says to him- "Back then, you shattered our ship to pieces. You stranded us on a small island, with no hope for escape. And, worst of all, Al died because of you!"
Isaac smirks.
"So what?"- He says- "The four of you were just obstacles in my way. I got rid of you. And now, you came back to haunt me."
Jon glares at him.
"Such an insult will not be taken lightly!"- He yells- "En garde, servant of Darkthrop."
As the two of them continue to clang their blades against each other, Jon casts an empowering spell on himself. Suddenly, his attacks become even stronger, allowing the young hero to find a flaw in Isaac's defense and trick him into lowering his guard.
Once the job is done, he lunges forward and attempts to stab him in the chest. However, Isaac manages to parry the attack in the last moment."
"Bad luck, kiddo."- Isaac says- "Maybe you should have studied more."
Jon glares at him.
"The only think that I shall study is the many ways to defeat a villain like you!"
Meanwhile, Zane leaps back and parries Alcander's attack. He tries to stab him in the neck, but misses and has his arm sliced by his enemy.
"Perhaps I underestimated you. A little bit."- He says- "No matter. You shall fall either way."
Alcander shakes his head.
"Nothing is decided until the last move is made."
He uses his magic to make magical vines emerge from the ground below.
The overgrown vegetation entangles Zane and holds him in place, but the villain has other plans, easily slashing the vines into pieces before they could completely immobilize him.
"Using magic will not help you out."- He taunts Alcander- "I've seen many heroes try to use spells to protect themselves. But they were only temporary measures for fighting with me. Either way, they didn't last for long."
Alcander shakes his head.
"I am not like most heroes."- He says- "So, you better watch out."
Zane smirks.
"I am always vigilant."
Isaac finally recognizes that his enemies are a threat to both him and his crew. He looks at the door behind him.
"Hey, Nelson!"- He yells- "If you hear me, call for reinforcements! We can't do this alone!"
Jon smiles.
"Is that what you do when you're scared? Showing how much of a coward you are?"- He says to him- "Come on, Isaac. I thought that you were better than this."
Isaac glares at him.
"I don't need help to get rid of you!"
Jon's serious expression returns.
"Then prove it to me."
After a few minutes of fighting, the door opens. A small group of guards joins the fight.
"Took you long enough!"- Isaac exclaims- "Now get rid of those annoying children! I don't have all d-- "
Suddenly, the guards pull out their guns and gun down many members of Isaac's crew, allowing our heroes to fight back.
"What's going on?!"- Isaac yells- "Is this some kind of mutiny?"
A young man, dressed in nice clothes, steps up.
"Nelson, my boy?"- Isaac says- "Did you cause all of this?"
Nelson shakes his head.
"No, sir."- He says- "The people did not like how you treated those poor strangers. They wanted to do something. So, they trusted me and selected me as their leader."
He raises his gun.
"I shall lead those people toward a better future, free of non-believers like you."
Isaac is shocked.
"How dare you rebel against the laws of our mighty master?!"- He yells- "You'll pay for this, I say! This will not go unanswered!"
Nelson glares at him.
"Maybe our treachery won't go unpunished."- He says- "But it's best to go down like heroes than to see ourselves as the villains."
Then, he motions for his allies to gun down the rest of the villains, leaving Isaac with very few members of his crew left.
"Any last words, sir?"
Isaac grins.
"Nothing more than farewell!"
Suddenly, a small group of villains attacks them, killing a few of the rebels and leaving the rest of them shaken by this unexpected ambush as they defend themselves.
Isaac laughs.
"See, Nelson?"- He says- "No matter what you do to stop me, it will always be futile!"
As he moves forward to deliver a final blow, he feels a sharp pain in his leg.
He looks down and sees red. Then, he touches it and feels how the palm of his hand is stained with blood.
"What?!"- He yells- "But... how can this be p-- "
Suddenly, he is tackled by Alcander.
"This one is for all the people that you hurt with your crimes!"
Then, he pushes forward and successfully throws him out of the ship, at the cost of falling down himself.
"Honey!"- Amelia says as she rushes to the edge of the ship- "No!"
She falls on her knees.
"Why'd he have to do this?"
Donovan pats her on the shoulder.
"Relax, Amelia."- He says to her- "I'm sure that he's fine."
Amelia sighs.
"I hope so."
She turns back and looks at the remaining villains.
"It's time to get rid of those pests."
As the last ones of them are killed, one manages to sneak behind Amelia. He draws his weapon and prepares to kill her.
"Amelia, look out!"- Jon yells.
Amelia tries to duck, but she is too slow. The bandit grabs her by the neck and points his dagger at her.
"Sorry, girl. Nothing personal."- He says- "You're pretty, but I have to get this job d-- "
Suddenly, a single gunshot flies forward and pierces him in the back of the head.
Amelia looks back, surprised. She sees Alcander, holding onto the plank with one hand and holding a revolver in the other.
She rushes to his side, helping him get back on the ship.
"You made it back!"- She exclaims- "I knew that you will!"
Alcander smiles.
"I never abandon the people dear to me, no matter what happens."
He glares at the dead bandit who tried to kill her.
"And that's why you should never mess with Alcander or his girlfriend."
Amelia raises her eyebrow.
"Girlfriend?"
Alcander smiles.
"Yes."- He says- "Girlfriend."
Amelia hugs him and kisses him on the cheek.
"And that's why I love you so much."
The two of them approach Zane, who is standing on his knees.
"So, Zane."- Alcander says- "What do you have to say for yourself?"
Zane smirks.
"Only that I haven't given up yet."
Suddenly, he leaps on his feet, draws his gun and shoots two of the rebels.
"Zane!"- Nelson exclaims- "What in the world are you doing?"
Zane smirks.
"Just doing the job that I was told to do."- He says- "Unlike you and your pathetic squad of fools."
He aims his gun at Alcander.
"You're next, Kaos."
Nelson shakes his head.
"Zane, you're making a mistake."- He says- "Let go of your weapon. I'm sure that we could work this out!"
Zane shakes his head.
"I've been working for Darkthrop for too long. Tainted blood runs in my veins. It beckons me to kill for him and I would never want it to be otherwise."- He says- "Your words don't work on me. If you really thought that you could ever have a chance, then maybe you should have tried to know me better. To understand how I feel."
Nelson blinks a few times.
"But... you were always so quiet. So harmless and uncaring."- He says- "Why did you turn into a murderer?"
Zane smirks.
"What you call a murderer, I call a vigilante."- He says- "Step down, buddy. This ain't no town for the two of us."
Alcander aims his revolver at Zane's head.
"Earlier, you said that you have taken care of a lot of people like me."- He says- "But now, I can tell that you are nothing more than a crafty liar."
Zane smirks.
"And what if I told you that I really did it?"- He says- "Face it, Kaos. There are people in this world who ain't afraid of killing someone to get what they want."
Alcander shakes his head.
"And you think that you can do it by serving Darkthrop?"- He says- "Boy, you must be quite delusional."
Zane smirks.
"I already said it. Those words aren't working on me. I'm not gonna betray my master, even as I fall."- He says- "So. What shall it be, rooster?"
Alcander does not say anything. He simply raises his gun and fires a single bullet into Zane's skull, watching as he falls on the ground and perishes.
He turns around.
"You played the wrong cards."- He says stoically- "And now, you burned yourself. To death."
He turns to his allies and hugs Amelia as she walks toward him.
"Is everyone okay?"- He asks- "This way quite an eventful day."
Donovan shrugs.
"More or less."- He says- "Those thugs haven't put a stop to our breathing."
Jon nods.
"We did our job."- He says- "And now, the sailors are free from Darkthrop's command."
Nelson approaches Alcander and stands next to him.
"You are... Alcander Kaos, right? I've heard so many good things about you."- He says and shakes his hand- "It's an honor to see you in person."
Alcander smiles.
"The pleasure is mine, Nelson."- He says- "Thank you for convincing those sailors to turn against Isaac. Were it not for your valiant efforts, we would have perished ourselves."
Nelson smiles.
"Sure. Don't mention it."- He says- "We were glad to help."
The way Nelson uses "we" instead of "I" makes Donovan very interested in him.
"A fellow hero, I see."- He says- "That's good. I like it when people actually do their job."
Nelson nods and sighs.
"Anyway, the sailors we rescued are interested in hearing what you have to say."- He says- "Go ahead. Talk to them and convince them that you're not a tyrant like Isaac. They've been longing to aid someone who's much more noble than him and I'm sure that you're the right man for the job."
Alcander nods.
"I will try my best."
He turns to the sailors who are watching him and smiles.
"Fellow warriors. Thank you for your aid. Today, we won this battle. But it was not because of us or Nelson. It was all because of you, my friends."- He says, standing tall and proud- "You made the first step toward the right side. You gave up on your desires to serve your dark master, in favor of helping those whom he tried to hurt. And for that, I thank you with all my heart."
He looks at each one of them.
"I know that I may not be the perfect leader for you. All this time, I have served as a follower of someone else and never had the chance to learn what it is to do such a thing."- He says- "But it doesn't matter. Regardless of how much I know about leading a group, I give you my word that I will do my best. I shall protect you from evil and give you the chance to redeem yourselves, at the modest cost of simply staying by my side. I would never ask for your loyalty, because I know that you are noble people, and you would rather show it with actions rather than words."
He smiles.
"Of course, the decision whether to trust me or not falls entirely to you."- He hints- "If you wish to live your lives normally and forget about the pain that you suffered, then you're free to go. Nobody will stop you."
He looks at them again.
"So."- He says- "What will it be?"
The sailors don't say anything. Instead, they simply stand by his side.
Alcander smiles again.
"I expected as much."- He says- "Well. Welcome aboard, my friends. I hope that you enjoy your stay."
He turns to Nelson.
"Could you escort them to the cabins?"
Nelson shakes his head.
"Don't worry about that."- He says- "They already know how this works."
Alcander nods.
"Then lead them downstairs and help them guard the ship from hostiles."
Nelson salutes him.
"Yes, sir!"
He turns to the sailors.
"Alright, men. You heard the boss."- He says- "Get moving. We have a lot of work to do."
The sailors also salute Alcander. Then, they descend into the lower levels with Nelson, leaving only a handful of guards behind to stay with Alcander.
Alcander smiles.
"Well. That went better than I expected."- He says- "Well done, everyone. It seems like this mission was a success."
Donovan nods.
"We couldn't have done it without you, Al."- He says- "You're amazing."
Alcander smiles.
"And so are you, Donnie."- He replies- "And you too, Amelia and Jon."
One of the sailors returns and hands Alcander a piece of paper.
"Sorry to disturb you, sir, but we found this letter on the ground below."- He says- "It was dropped by our old boss while he was escorting you around. Maybe it bears some kind of significance to you?"
Alcander takes the paper.
"Thank you, sailor. Nice work."- He says- "You can get back to work."
The sailor salutes him and leaves.
Alcander and his allies read the letter, realizing that it some sort of order.
"It seems to be rather tattered and old."- Donovan says- "Perhaps it was written long ago?"
Alcander nods.
"It seems like it."
Once he gets to the end of it, Alcander gasps.
"Oh my God."- He mutters- "It... it cannot be."
His allies look at him, concerned.
"What is it, dear?"- Amelia says- "Something worth our time?"
Alcander sighs and shakes his head. He looks at Jon.
He takes a step forward and hugs him.
"Jon. I... I'm so sorry."- He says to him- "This letter is about the destruction of Duskwood a few years ago."
Jon gasps.
"But... how can this be?"- He asks- "I thought that the monsters were responsible for it."
Alcander shakes his head.
"It wasn't the monsters, dear cousin."- He says- "All of the chaos and mayhem that happened over there were the work of Mordred Darkthrop. And Isaac is the one who orchestrated the raid."
Meanwhile, a lone figure swims to the nearby shore. Soaked in water, he takes his clothes off, revealing a number of nasty scars on his body.
"So. Alcander really thought that he could make a fool out of me. Steal my crew and kill my servants, as if he's some kind of a benevolent god."- He says- "Well, I don't care what Darkthrop says. I'll get my revenge soon enough."
He spins his revolver a few times and chuckles.
"Get ready, my boy."- He says- "Because I'll take you for the ride of your life."
== Trivia ==
* The title of this part is a reference to two things in total:
** Isaac's descent into villainy and his unwillingness to allow his previous relations with his former student taint his desire to serve his true master.
** Zane's unwavering loyalty toward his original crew (most notably his employer- Isaac) and his refusal to work with anyone besides them.