MLTE P1- "The Message"

"The Message" is the first Part of "Miracula Luxia: The Envoy". It was released on 22.08.2020.
== Plot ==
Both the lands of Avernum and the lands above are at war with a new, very dangerous enemy and unpredictable that has been thriving in the lower caves for too long and lusts for revenge against the ones who took their sacred leader- Rentar-Ihrno, away from them.
At the same time, Seiko- Jared's mother, senses that a Vahnatai has arrived in the lands around the city of Paris. An envoy of the council of Olgai who wishes to speak with the great hero- her son and tell him how to stop the madness that is the war between "the mad ones" (as he describes the evil Vahnatai) and the humans.
Might this be a genuine offer for help against their own kind? Or might this be a simple trap that is intended to draw the hero out of his hiding spot and eliminate him?
Nonetheless, the Vahnatai are extremely unpredictable creatures and, should Jared accept the risk to go outside the safe confines of the city walls and meet the Vahnatai envoy, he has to be very careful.
And, if he accepts the task, will his friends join him in this perilous journey? Let us find out!
== Story ==
Jared watches his father work in his laboratory. He has been working for days like this and he has not taken a break.
He cautiously approaches him, evaluating the current situation and being careful not to make his dear parent angry with him.
"Dad."- He says quietly.
His father turns around.
"Yes, son?"- He responds- "Is there something wrong with the vats again?"
Jared shakes his head.
"No, dad. It's just... recently, I have been very concerned. About your well-being."
Aleks raises his eyebrow.
"How come?"- He says and smiles- "You can see it, don't you? I am alive and well. There's nothing wrong with me."
Jared nods.
"Yes, but... "
His father's look turns hollow for a moment. He understands what his son truly means.
"I'm so sorry, son."- He says coldly- "I am so close to reviving your mother. I mustn't waste any more time. I must bring her back to life. It is best for both of us!"
Jared stares at his father grimly.
"Just a little break! I know that you are longing for it, deep within your soul!"- He says, trying to persuade him into taking an actual break.
Aleks looks around. The offer seems tempting, but the work on the mysterious crystal is more important to him.
He sighs.
"Oh well."- He says- "Maybe it won't hurt if I take a small problem from my work."
He turns to leave the laboratory. However, he turns back to his son before he does so.
"I will be gone for a few minutes. You better not mess anything more that it is already messed up, okay?"- He says to him, like a father who is scolding his little son for being a bad boy, clearly not trusting him around his equipment alone.
"And please don't talk to your mother. She has been acting in a rather... weird way lately."- He adds.
Jared nods and watches his father leave the laboratory.
He approaches the crystal that hold a small part of his mother's soul within it.
"Why did you call for me, mom?"- He asks her- "Is there anything that you want to tell me? Or maybe advise me?"
The crystal hums gently. At first, it does not react to his question.
Moments later, however, it flashes in a beautiful, white light. The image of a young woman appears in it.
It is Seiko- Jared's mother.
"Yes, my child."- She says- "I heard about what is happening in the outside world. How the evil Vahnatai are mindlessly slaughtering innocent people and forcing them to answer for crimes that they have not commited. Starting a long war between them and the rest of the world."
"However, I have great news! I have been contacted by an envoy of the Vahnatai. The good ones. He wishes to speak with you and will not take "No" for an answer. He says that he has information on how to defeat this new, dangerous enemy."
Jared raises his eyebrow.
"An envoy of the good Vahnatai?"- He says quietly- "Are we sure that he is not just an enemy in disguise who is waiting for me to make a mistake and strike?"
Seiko sighs.
"I am afraid that I cannot answer that. I only say what I have been told."
"But!"- She continues- "I have a feeling. A feeling that this creature is actually someone who wants to help us, who is sick of those evil fools and wants to get rid of them, with our help."
Jared nods and stands near the wall.
His mother speaks again:
"You also want advice, right?"- She says- "Well, maybe I can help you in this situation. If you doubt the loyalty of your new ally, always point your weapon at them. Sooner or later, they are going to show their true intentions, if there are any."
Jared nods, clearly appreciating this advice.
"Where can I find this Vahnatai?"- He asks his mother.
"He said that he's going to approach the outskirts of Paris, the west side, to be more specific. And that he will be waiting for you there."
"Go now, my child. And good luck to you."- She says cheerfully- "The fate of the world falls on your hands once again."
As her voice starts to trail off, she takes the opportunity to tell him one last thing:
"Oh, and you should probably leave right now. Your father's going to come back very soon. And he's not going to be happy if he sees you talking to me."
Jared realizes that his father is going to come back. He thanks his mother and departs just as he returns.
"Son?"- Aleks says to Jared as he quickly brushes past him- "Is something wrong? Why are you in a hurry?"
Jared does not say anything, having decided to not share the crucial details with his father just yet.
Aleks watches his son sadly as he leaves the laboratory.
He shakes his head and sighs.
"Poor child."- He says to himself- "So many things have been on his mind lately. His brain is filled with thoughts on how to save the world once again, just like mine."
He shrugs.
"But, I guess that he will be fine. He can fight by himself. Plus, his sister and my father are still with him. He doesn't need my guidance."
"Not anymore."- He adds grimly and enters the lab.
Meanwhile, Jared goes to the western half of the city, trying to reach it without attracting the attention of any of his allies.
Suddenly, he senses that someone is watching him. When he turns around, he sees that this is no mere sense of paranoia.
He sees his best friend- John Braveheart, watching him suspiciously.
"Going somewhere?"- He says stoically.
Jared tries to explain, but his friend shushes him almost immediately.
"You don't need to speak. I already understand that you're in trouble."- He says- "And that you need all the help that you can get."
Suddenly, another person comes out of the shadows behind him.
Jared turns around and sees another good friend of his- Annie Mitchell. The girl who helped him realize how much he has to value his friends and keep them alive at all costs.
She hugs him.
"Did you think that we're going to let you meet that alien without our help, sweetcheeks?"- She says- "Oh no, you don't!"
Jared shakes his head.
"You don't understand!"- He says- "This mission is of uttermost importance. The Vahnatai asked for me. And I will go there alone. I don't want to risk your lives!"
John and Annie shake their heads.
"Spare your energy for talking to the alien, my friend. Don't waste it by trying to send us away. Because it ain't going to happen.
John nods.
"Annie's right. We are your friends and you cannot go anywhere without us."
"Especially if you're in such a predicament."- He adds.
Jared sighs.
"So, I guess that there is no way to turn you back. Is that right?"
John and Annie nod.
"But we won't be the only ones who are going to help you."
He whistles once and more people emerge from the shadows.
Jared recognizes them immediately. Those people are his sister and his grandfather.
"The mission that you have accepted is very dangerous, child."- Jared's grandfather says- "And we want to come with you to ensure your safety as you try to complete it."
"Or, at least, your sister does."- He adds- "She's been very enthusiastic about this."
Marinette nods and approaches Jared.
She holds his left hand gently.
"I would never let my little brother face the horrors of this world alone. I will always protect you."
Jared smiles. His sister's words have convinced him that he does indeed need some help.
"Alright, alright!"- He says- "As you say. But don't blame me if the journey proves to be too hard for you, okay?"
John laughs.
"No adventure is too hard when you are around, my friend!"- He says- "And when you are around, so am I!"
Annie and Marinette nod, clearly agreeing with John's words.
The four of them leave the safe confines of the city as Jared's grandfather waves goodbye to them.
Once they are outside, they scan the area for any sighs of Vahnatai activity. However, all they can find are the numerous tracks of evil Vahnatai's scouts who are trying to gain entry whenever they can.
Just as they are about to give up hope, someone runs to them.
Jared looks up and sees Farrar- the former evil Lord of the city of Bargha who has renounced his evil ways and is now a trusted ally. A very valuable one.
"Annie."- He says, gasping for breath while saying the girl's name- "I... I have something for you."
He gives her an envelope.
Annie opens it and reads the message within. When she finishes reading it, she drops it on the ground and gasps.
"What is it, Annie?"- Jared asks her- "Is something wrong?"
Annie slowly looks at him. Her eyes are beaming with enthusiasm.
"This message, Jared."- She says- "This message... says that my father is still alive!"
Jared gasps.
"Oh my!"- He exclaims- "But... you never told me that your father is still alive!"
Annie nods and smiles.
"I never had the chance to figure out where he is. But now? Now I know that he's out there. And that he's looking for me!"
She looks back towards the city of Paris and sighs when she realizes what she has to do.
"Unfortunately, I have to leave you now."- She says- "I have to see if my father is still out there. One wasted second means that he is farther away.
John raises his eyebrow.
"Maybe we could help you."- He suggests, but the offer is immediately denied.
"This is my fight and my fight alone."- She says stoically- "The current mission that you have embarked is far more important. You mustn't lose focus, understand?!"
Everyone nods.
"Very well."- She says- "Then I will take my leave."
Before she does, however, she hugs Jared one last time and looks at John.
"Take care of him while I'm gone, okay?"- She says- I don't want him to get into more trouble than he already has."
John nods and smiles.
"I will take care of him, just like I always have."- He responds- "That's a promise!"
Annie smiles, waves goodbye to her friends and goes back into the city of Paris.
As Jared's party turns to leave, Farrar stops them.
"I heard that you are looking for the envoy."- He says to Jared- "Maybe I could help you locate him?"
Jared raises his eyebrow.
"Wait a minute."- He says- "You know about the Vahnatai?"
Farrar nods.
"Yes, but there is no time to explain."- He responds- "Now, we must find this poor soul. And save him."
"Save him?"- John asks- "But why? Is he in danger?"
Farrar sighs.
"Every single one of us is in constant danger, my boy. As long as those filthy aliens are attacking us, we will never be truly safe."
He stares at the wasteland ahead.
"But there is no time for small talk right now. Let's go find this unfortunate soul."
Everyone nods and proceeds.
Guided by Farrar, they find the area where the envoy is supposed to be.
"According to my calculations, he should be over... there!"- Farrar says and points at a bush.
Sure enough, a Vahnatai comes out of it and waves at our heroes. They wave back.
At first, it seems like everything is going normally. Our heroes have finally found the envoy and they are going to talk to him.
However, suddenly, a band of hostile Vahnatai comes out and fires a flurry of razordisks at our heroes, disorienting them for a moment.
During their moment of vulnerability, the Vahnatai grab the envoy and slowly take him away.
When the heroes go back to their senses, they notice that most of the hostiles are gone. And so is the envoy.
Some of the Vahnatai have remained to hinder their progress and slow them down.
As most of our heroes draw their blades, Jared stares ahead. He sees something that his allies do not see.
As they fight the enemies valiantly, he kneels and inspects the ground nearby, trying to find out where the rest of his enemies went.