MLIV C5, P6- "Ready Or Not"

"Ready Or Not" is the sixth Part of "Miracula Luxia IV" 's fifth Chapter.
It was released on 14.08.2022.
== Plot ==
With Erika's Tower purged of any remaining infiltrators and Erika Redmark herself no longer being a liability to the group, Adam and his allies move on to a nearby settlement, hoping to discover the reason behind the events that shook the entire known world... and the ones that are slowly consuming the light that is still left in Avernum.
Two mysteries in one. Many enemies left unattended. Every step feels like a hundred miles and treachery is not far around the corner.
Will the truth finally come to light?
== Story ==
As Adam stares at the vehicle in the sky, he smiles.
"This is a sign."
Akira nods.
"Our family was never, ever apart."- She says- "All we needed was to find the right star in the sky and soar toward our common destiny."
She sighs.
"And yet, we never looked into it."- She adds- "We always looked for new motives. New goals. We always strived to find more than we already had and went on separate ways. That was our biggest mistake."
Adam looks up.
"Do you think that dad has gotten over what happened to... him?"
Akira sighs.
"I'm not sure. He's taken it all to heart. He's much more desperate than any of us."- She says- "And yet, he's always standing up, even when it all seems lost. He may have changed a lot, but I still admire his altruism. He's done so much for us... and he's ready to do it again."
Adam looks at the nearby settlement.
"So, this is it?"- He asks- "Our next destination is... a place filled with mystery that might take forever to solve?"
Akira shrugs.
"Won't be so long if you stopped complaining about it."- She scolds him.
Adam sighs.
"I am sorry."- He says to her- "I was just... thinking about how we left Al back in Paris. How we thought that he was safe."
Akira looks down.
"I was certain that he would've lived up to his promise. Stayed and made the city safe in our absence."- She says- "But Paris, it wasn't his primary focus. All he wanted to do... was to be with us. And we ruined his dreams of a better world. We abandoned him when he despaired the most. And it's all my fault. I was the bad one, so he wanted to correct me. Give me the chance to redeem myself. In the end, I pushed him to make this decision. I made him sacrifice his own life, in the name of our beautiful Order."
She sighs.
"Perhaps I am the monster that is still roaming alongside you."
Adam shakes his head.
"Aki, what are you talking about?"- He asks her as his face develops a much more serious expression- "Time and time again, I tried to tell you- it is not your fault! It is true that you had lost your way, but that does not mean that you were a bad woman! You kept asking me for reasons, but they were all around you! For example, do you remember how willing to redeem yourself you have always been? How you always tried to help whoever we met, with genuinely good intentions? And if that was not enough to convince you, do you still hold onto the memory of how many times you have saved my life?!"
As Akira starts to cry, Adam leans forward and takes her hands in his.
"This is not the time to doubt yourself, dear sister. We made it so far and I refuse to let our brother's sacrifice be in vain, just because of one who is feeling guilty about the past that we are supposed to leave behind, whether we like it or not."- He says- "But saving the world is still far away. For now, I just want you to know that you are safe. If not with our friends, then with me. I have always valued your life much more than anything else and I would do anything to keep you safe and happy."
Akira looks up, her eyes filled with tears and her voice choked with grief.
"But I thought that the whole world... mattered to you as well."
Adam nods.
"Of course. Everyone else is very dear to me. They are like brothers and sisters of mine, no matter if it is in battle or in life, and I would gladly fight for their freedom from the dark."- He says- "But I will never share the same bond that I have always shared with you."
Akira leans back and smiles serenely. She pulls out something from her pocket and shows it to her brother.
It is a flawless white crystal, with a small cross on top.
"Many years ago, you gave me this little thing as a sign of our newformed bond. Although things like those don't matter to me, I've always had the desire to keep it close to myself. It has always reminded me of you- the dearest person in my life who saved me from becoming a terrible person."- She says- "Nowadays, it is a symbol of hope and peace. My solace in times of sorrow. Every day, I keep thinking how you made such a favor just for me. And then, I remember that you feel the same way I feel about you. That, my dear brother, makes me the happiest sister in this world."
Adam smiles.
"I knew it."- He says- "That talisman has always meant so much to you. Thank you for keeping your promise."
Akira nods.
"When I promise something to my loved ones, I always keep it in mind."- She says- "Especially if your happiness is on the line."
Adam smiles and hugs her.
"I love you, sister."
Akira hugs him back.
"Adam, you mean everything to me."- She says- "You'll always be my number one."
The two of them stare ahead.
"Well, it is time."- Adam says- "Let us do our job."
Akira sighs.
"Ahh. Duties. Always getting in the way of our bond."- She says- "Alright then. Let's get this over with."
The two of them attempt to enter the settlement, but soon realize that it is surrounded by guards. Apparently, there was some kind of a breach in protocol, forcing whoever is leading this place to send defensive units to secure the perimeter...
Okay. Maybe that wasn't the best explanation, we reckon.
In simple words, the place is on the verge of becoming a warzone. Everyone is terrified of what happened in Erika's Tower and think that the same will happen to their settlement. Thus, the guards have decided to act on their own accord and protect the citizens until further notice.
That's better.
Although everything seems foggy from Adam and Akira's current point of view, one thing is more than sure- they will never get inside the settlement alive. At least from the front gates, that is.
"What do you see, Aki?"- Adam asks.
Akira stares ahead, trying to define her surroundings as best as she could.
"Guards. Vigilantes. Even a few town volunteers. There are a lot of them and they seem very jumpy. And nervous, too."- She says, explaining what she could as fast as she can- "A frontal assault is nearly impossible. A peaceful approach will yield the same result. Who knows what those people will do to us if they knew we were here?"
Adam sighs.
"That explains our current situation, then."- He says- "Come with me. We must plan our net move."
As the two of them move out of sight, Akira remembers something. It is as if she has experienced the same situation before, and that facing it for a second time is quite unnerving (if not outright terrifying) to her.
"No."- She mutters quietly- "Not again."
Adam notices that Akira seems worried and moves closer to take a better look. He takes her hands in his and realizes that they are shaking.
No. It is not just that. Her entire body is shaking. And it is up to him to prevent her from doing something foolish again.
"Aki?"- He asks- "Did... something happen while I was gone?"
Akira continues to shake, but gives no answer.
"Aki, please. Talk to me."- He says- "I do not want to watch you suffer again. I beg you."
Akira shakes her head.
"The fire, it was always there. Always burning. The blood was everywhere I stared. And the screams... oh god, the screams... they were deafening. Cacophonic."
She looks up at the sky.
"Will this madness ever e-- "
Seeing that a small platoon of guards is approaching their position, Adam covers his sister's mouth and they hide in a seemingly intact large crate very quickly.
As Adam listens to the barely audible voices of the guards outside, Akira gets his attention again before he can catch a snippet of their conversation.
"Adam, you don't understand."- She says, barely able to contain her madness- "It all happened so suddenly. I didn't even have the chance to warn the townsfolk."
She falls on her knees. Tears start to fall from her eyes as she reminisces the final scenes of that awful memory.
"It's my fault. My fault."- She says- "I shouldn't have accepted his offer. I was better off in the wilds, not among those heartless monsters."
Adam sighs and places his hand on her shoulder.
"I know that it must have been rough for you, but things like those are best left in the past where they belong."- He says- "Right now, we must focus on the bright future that is ahead of us. And please, do not cry. It makes me feel sad as w-- "
Before he could try to console his sister a little bit more, the crate they are hiding in is blown up. They are sent flying outside, seemingly unharmed by this unexpected blast.
The same platoon of guards that Adam saw earlier approach them. Their weapons are drawn. It is clear they intend to capture them... or kill them on the spot.
"Greetings, my friends. It is good to see you."- Adam says, pretending to be as friendly as possible- "What brings you in this place? Right here and... right now?"
One of the guards steps forward, shakes his head and presses a large gun against his forehead.
"Stop with your pleasantries, you peacebreaker! It ain't going to work!"- He yells- "Mr. Freeman informed us of your presence. We've been told to get you out of the way. So, are you going to make it easy for us... or end up like everyone else?"
Adam stands on his feet and draws his sword Burning hatred swirls in his eyes like a raging hurricane in the middle of an innocent, little town.
"Is my answer clear enough to you, vagabonds?"
The guards return the gesture by drawing their weapons as well.
"So it be."- The guard says- "But don't be sorry once you're gone."
Adam glares at them,
"You do not scare me."- He says stoically- "Bring it on."
A flurry of bullets flies toward Adam, but he easily dodges them. Then, he swings his sword and changes the trajectory of the projectiles, forcing them to hit the guards instead.
Eight guards fall as the bullets fly into their skulls, killing them on the spot as the others continue to struggle against this skilled (and particularly dangerous) opponent.
"In the end, it all seems lost. Everything that I do could always turn out against me."- Adam says to himself as a single bullet strikes him in the foot- "But I will not stand back! In the name of all that I love, I will fight! And I would never dare to surrender, not for the ones I still hold dear or the place that we all call our home!"
He turns around and looks at his sister, who is barely standing on her feet and is still seemingly lost in thought.
"I hope that you are watching this, Aki."- He says- "Because I am doing this for you."
Without any fear, he jumps at a group of guards, stands square in the middle and forms a giant wall of raw stone. Then, as the villains attempt to get to him, he strikes it all down with his sword, burying the fools in piles of the rubble that they neglected for so long.
Unfortunately, Adam's action allowed the rest of the survivors to surround him. He uses his magic to push them back, but soon realizes that he is too tired to continue fighting back.
"This is it, then. My final stand has finally come."- He says and sighs- "Fear not, though. I have always dreamed that I would perish like this- surrounded by those that I tried to get rid of. Blade in hand, striking against the tyrants and oppressors who made our lives so miserable. I wanted to be the bane of the darkness in our world and here I am, in the middle of it, alone but unafraid. This is the true self that I have always wanted to see, and that is how I want it to end."
With his back against the wall, Adam fights off the warriors of darkness with both blades and magic. The clanging of blades fills the air as the blood of the fallen flies everywhere, destined to remain as a grim testimonial of Adam Kaos's final battle.
But it does not last very long. Without his reinforcements and with little of his power left in him, Adam is soon subdued by the guards.
As one of them prepares to execute the young, brave hero, the guard captain stops him and laughs.
"Going out the easy way, are ya?"- He says and smirks- "Not so fast! We're not done with you!"
Adam looks up.
"What more do you want?"- He says weakly- "You got me where you want me. This is what you intended to do. You are a bunch of bloodthirsty murderers, so get on with it already."
The captain shakes his head.
"Not yet, kid. We've got a special treatment for troublemakers like you."- He says, showing his sadistic attitude that the militia is seemingly fine with- "But first... "
He pulls out his gun and approaches the nearly helpless Akira. He points his gun at her and smirks.
"Well?"- He asks- "How does that feel? Hmm?"
Suddenly, Adam's bravado is completely shaken. For a short time, his kind and loving attitude returns and he glares at the captain.
"Monster in human skin!"- He yells- "Leave her alone! She has done nothing to deserve this treatment of yours!"
The captain smiles.
"Whether you're guilty or not, you're all the same to me."- He says- "I've heard about your sister. She's a former servant of Darkthrop, accused by the law for acting against it. In my eyes, she's a dangerous woman and is best disposed of."
Adam shakes his head.
"If you even dare to touch her a single time, I will make sure that all of your people are burned down to nothing more than ashes that shall be scattered away by the wind!"
The captain takes a step back and sighs.
"Oh, how scary. I can almost believe this."- He says- "But you don't have a say in this. Whenever Mr. Freeman says that your fate is sealed, nothing could ever change that."
Then, without thinking twice, he aims the gun at Akira again and mercilessly shoots her in the head...
... in front of her little brother.
Adam screams in despair as his sister falls on the ground and expires in a pool of her own blood.
"Aki! AKI!"- He screams- "You monsters! How dare you?!"
The captain laughs and approaches him.
"Don't worry. You'll be joining her soon."- He says- "But first, we'll take you back to our leader."
He grabs both of his hands.
"You should consider yourself lucky, because we often finish off fallen heroes like you."
Adam looks down. It seems like he has lost all of his will to live.
"Aki... "- He mutters as he is taken away, his eyes fixated on his dead sister- "I will find you again. I promise... "
Then, the guards force him to move forward. They yell at the gatekeeper to open the gate and enter the settlement, leaving Akira's corpse unattended.
Or what seems like a corpse, at least.
As soon as her enemies get away, Akira wakes up. She clumsily stumbles back on her feet and stares at her forehead.
"Seven heavens."- She mutters- "That was... a close one."
Without thinking twice, she pulls out the bullet from there, causing a massive blood flow to pour from the fresh wound again. However, she easily manages to seal it up with her healing magic, covering the surface enough for her to survive the ordeal.
"Adam? Are you still here?"- She says weakly, seemingly unaware of what just happened- "I'm sorry about that. I was just thinking about the time I spent with Darkthrop. Man, it was the worst thing ever and I never want it to happen again... "
Moments later, she finally realizes what is going on.
"Adam?"- She asks- "Where did you go?"
She looks up and sees that the guards are whispering about something. She hides behind one of the unguarded walls and attempts to eavesdrop on their conversation.
Eventually, she manages to learn that the residents have captured an especially famed hero. They plan to interrogate, torture, weaken and, eventually, murder him in cold blood. They say that his fate is sealed and that nothing will ever change it, similar to the words that the settlement's captain said to Adam earlier.
"They're planning to make an example? Out of... him?"- She says to herself and takes a step forward- "No! I can't let that happen! If Adam is executed publicly, then Darkthrop's people will surely learn about our plan and expose us to their allies! And I... I don't know what I'll tell dad! He doesn't deserve something like this!"
She draws her weapon and prepares to attack a nearby group of patrol militia, but is stopped by a hooded individual who hides her in a large hole nearby.
"What in the world?"- She attempts to yell- "Excuse me, but who do you think you a-- "
The stranger covers her mouth as the guards get closer.
"Shh."- He says- "You don't want to end up like your brother, do you?"
Akira glares as the guards as they get past them, unaware of the place where they are hiding.
"And what's the big idea, then?"
The man shakes his head.
"I've been hiding here for a while. Spying on them as they passed by."- He says- "They nearly destroyed my mother's tower. Took away some of our best books. I swore that I'll hunt them all down, so I will."
Akira raises her eyebrow.
"Wait. I know you."- She says- "Aren't you the adopted son of Erika Redmark- Darius?"
Darius smiles and nods.
"That is, indeed, me."- He says- "However, I prefer to be called by my birth name and surname. At least for now."
Akira nods.
"And that is?"
Darius smiles.
"William Encanto."
Akira raises her eyebrow.
"You're an Encanto?"- She asks- "But that's one of the richest families in Avernum! Why would your parents ever abandon you?"
Darius shakes his head.
"My parents... never abandoned me. Both of them perished during the humanoid attack in Formello while trying to protect the city from them. And my relatives, they couldn't care less. They simply grabbed their bags and left me behind as an orphan."- He says- "Until mama found me out there, I was all alone. But not anymore. Now, I have something to fight for and to protect."
Akira wipes a tear from her eye.
"I can't imagine how bad it must have been for you."- She says- "Sorry, my friend. I shouldn't have asked.
Darius smiles.
"Oh. It's okay. They never loved me that much anyway."- He says- "I do miss them, from time to time, but this is my new destiny now. People like you are the ones who matter."
Akira reminisces the times that she spent with Alcander and remembers how he shares a similar fate. His father died when the forces of Lucifer Griffin attacked his hometown and his mother met the same fate while they were running away from them.
"He was the sole survivor. One in a million. He never could have been luckier than this."- She mutters- "And yet, he wasted it all. Just like that."
Darius raises his eyebrow.
"Am I missing something?"
Akira shakes her head.
"Not at all."
She looks up at him.
"Say. You look pretty mysterious."- She says- "What's with the robes? And the teal hair? Does it all have some sort of a significance?"
Darius smiles.
"Ah. Now we're talking."- He says- "Most of my time, I spend travelling in the Spirit Realm. I am an Astral Adventurer."
Akira raises her eyebrow.
"Astral what?"
Darius shakes his head.
"Astral adventurers have the ability to choose whether they want to be in the real world or the spirit world. Half of their body is stationed there and thus, they are harder to kill."- He says and smiles= "But those are just some wild superstitions. In real life, I am just like you- a man who just wants to survive."
Akira nods.
"Yeah. Sure."- She says- "We'll see that when we're out of danger."
She pokes out of their hiding place and looks at the walls.
"There are still too many of them."- She says- "We can't risk it. Not without a good plan."
Darius nods.
"How much does he mean to you?"
Akira turns around.
"Why do you care so much?"
Darius sighs.
"I try to know my allies better than most of the people you've likely met before."- He says- "If you tell me what you feel, I will try to sympathize and help however I can."
Akira nods.
"Adam means more than the entire world to me. He's always been a light in my life. His actions have been an inspiration to my tainted soul and I've always felt safer around him."- She says- "Without him, I feel like a part of me is gone. As if life itself is always the same to me."
She sighs.
"And that's why I've always been trying so hard to keep him alive."
Darius looks down. A single tear runs down from his eye, as if he just remembered something painful himself.
"I've heard that the two of you are quite close. And yet, I never dared to believe that you would be like this."- He says- "Alright. I'll help you free your brother. But you have to do something for me in return."
Akira nods.
"So, you also want to find something?"- She asks- "What could it be, if you don't mind me asking?"
Darius looks down.
"It's my mother. I lost her shortly after Connor Freeman and his group attacked us."- He says- "I've been trying to find her ever since."
Akira raises her eyebrow.
"But she said that you went somewhere else!"
Darius looks at her suspiciously.
"What?"- He says- "Does this mean that you were with her? What happened out there? What did I miss?"
Akira sighs.
"Nevermind."- She says, deciding to spare him the trouble for the time being- "Yes. We did meet her, but it's way too complicated for you to understand. Once we get out of this mess, I'll tell you all that you need to know."
Darius nods.
"I ask for no more than that."- He says- "Let's find your brother and devise a plan to take his captors down."
He looks up.
"I'd rather move at night, but I'll let you decide what to do now."- He says- "Shall we travel at day? Or in the safety of the night?"
Akira shakes her head.
"I've never been fond of the night. It has always ruined my desire to be a hero and I've only been going out when I was forced to. Which is most of the time."- She says and sighs- "I would love to spend some time talking to you and staying out of trouble, but it's clear that every moment we spend away from them will be time wasted in meaningless activities."
She turns back to Darius.
"So."- She says- "Are you with me?"
Darius looks up. He evaluates their chances and wisely considers that they must rescue Adam immediately, if he is to emerge from the settlement alive.
"Very well, then."- He says- "If you think that it's the best for your brother, then I shall abide to your wishes. Let's roll."
The two of them emerge from their hiding spot.
Unfortunately, they encounter the same group of guards almost immediately.
"How's this possible?"- One of them says, seeing Akira right in front of him- "We thought you were gone!"
Akira glares at them.
"I'm not."- She says- "But I can tell that someone else will be soon."
As the guards prepare to attack, Akira draws her weapon and prepares to do the same.
"I think that there are too many of them."- Darius says- "We can't handle them. Not while there's only the two of us."
"Well, friend of spirits."- She says to Darius- "If you really are that much of a coward, then feel free to run away. But I'm not going anywhere."
Darius shakes his head.
"I've dealt with problems like this before."- He says- "Stand back. I've got this."
As Akira takes a few steps backwards, Darius summons a small group of spectral swordsmen.
"How... did you do that?"- Akira asks, surprised by Darius' unexpected surge of spiritual magic.
Darius smiles.
"To others, it might be virtually impossible. Few are able to master the spiritual arts."- He says- "But to me, they're like walking and breathing- simple and straightforward."
Akira sighs.
"I'll take it."- She says- "Let's go."
Then, she pulls Darius away as the swordsmen swiftly destroy several members of the militia.
Of course, the group falls in a very short time, since they are unable to hurt the spirits, while the spirits themselves are more than capable enough of causing them pain.
"This was not meant to be!"- One of the last survivors yells as he is being slain- "Tell the captain that-- "
In the end, they all fall to the unrestrained wrath of the eternal. Once again, they prove that they are the greatest allies of humanity, even though they are nothing more than vague fragments of what they were in life.
"So."- Darius says as he and Akira run away- "Are you able to trust me now?"
Akira smiles.
"I guess that you're pretty cool."- She says- "You just saved a life. You should be proud of it."
Darius nods.
"And I'll save many more."- He says- "Just give me the chance. I promise that I'll make it worth your time."
While running, he raises his hand and absorbs the energy of the spirits that he called.
"Umm."- Akira says- "Why did you do that?"
Darius smiles.
"Don't worry about them. They just vanished back into the Spirit World and I recovered the energy that I lost while summoning them."- He says- "When I need them again, I just need to do the same. It's not that hard."
Akira nods.
"Okay."- She responds- "But it still seems unethical to me."
Darius sighs.
"You'll get used to it."- He says- "I hope."
As the two of them prepare to blast their way through the settlement's walls unnoticed, a single figure runs up to them.
"Wait!"- It says- "It's not safe there!"
Akira turns around and realizes that Emela has joined them once again.
"Ah, Emela."- She says- "Welcome back."
She sees that a young girl is standing behind her.
"I see that you found Adam's girl as well."- She adds- "Good job."
Emela smiles. However, her expression changes soon after.
"What happened to my dear Adam?"
Akira stares at the walls and shakes her head.
"Captured. Demoralized. About to be tortured."- She says- "He thinks that I'm gone, so he lost all hope to fight back."
Emela sees the bloody wound on her forehead and gasps.
"What did they do to you?!"
Akira shakes her head.
"I nearly got away with a fatal encounter."- She says- "Let's just say that I was close to not being here, with you."
Aalia looks down.
"That's horrible!"- She exclaims- "Why would they do that? To Adam's sister, no less?"
Akira sighs.
"I guess that they hate me as much as they hate him."- She says- "Why are they like this? I'm not quite sure just yet."
Emela turns to Aalia.
"Adam and Akira have been trying to investigate the strange attitude of the townsfolk in this place. Determine whether their leader is responsible for the physical and emotional damage on them or not."- She says- "If they're found guilty, action must be taken. And I can see that we have more than enough evidence to make a report."
Akira looks down.
"I just want to save my brother right now."- She says- "Exposing those tyrants will happen later."
Emela nods.
"Of course. I understand."- She says- "Adam matters a lot to me as well, so let's try to find a way in."
Akira points at the nearby wall.
"Like this one?"
Emela shakes her head.
"Like another way in."
Akira nods.
"Too noisy for the likes of you? Okay. I got it."- She says- "I'll take anything to rescue him, so please get on with it."
Emela nods.
"Of course, I will."
The four of them search the perimeter and discover a small trapdoor. They open it and discover a secret passage, seemingly unnoticed by any members of the militia.
"Well."- Akira says- "That's a lucky one."
Darius nods.
"If my calculations are correct, this is supposed to lead inside their prison."- He says- "Once we free Adam, we can try to plan our next move."
Emela shakes her head.
"Oh, we've already got a plan of our own."- She says- "We go in. We free Adam. And then, we burn the whole place down, evacuate the innocent and teach them all a valuable lesson of why they shouldn't mess with the wrong people."
Akira gasps quietly.
"Emela, I thought that you were a pacifist."- She says to her- "What happened to you out there?"
Emela smiles.
"Times change and so do I."- She says- "Plus, I'd do anything for the people I love, so this is just making me more certain in my actions."
Akira raises her eyebrow.
"So, you finally embraced the truth."- She says- "Good. I like your new self. You seem more hardened than before and I'm happy to say that I'm proud of you."
Emela smiles.
"Just like I am proud of you."
Akira blushes slightly.
"Thank you for your kindness... Miss Emela."
Emela smiles.
"That's the Akira that I want to see."- She says- "Now, let's get in there."
She takes a step forward.
"Godspeed, everyone."- She adds- "Little Adam is expecting us. And it's our duty to save him from evil, just like he saved us before."
She raises her wand in the air.
"Onward, young heroes!"