MLIV C4, P7- "We Still Have Each Other"

"We Still Have Each Other" is the seventh and final Part of "Miracula Luxia IV" 's fourth Chapter.
It was released on 30.06.2022.
== Plot ==
At last, the world has rid itself of Vexor the Necromancer. No longer will it suffer because of this man's megalomanical desires for revenge and hordes of undead under his command. As his hordes of mindless monstrosities fall, leaderless, the sun grows a little bit brighter. Hope returns in the souls of those who have been tormented for so long and the omnipresent feeling of eternal dread is a little less obvious than usual.
With the demise of Darkthrop's greatest necromancer, a valuable part of the evil wizard's army falls apart alongside him. Due to the fact that their undead units are soon going to rot away, they have to use a living force, limiting the amount of cities that Darkthrop could conquer before he is forced to retreat back into his safe haven. Thus, news of his beloved second-in-command's fall leave the evil man visibly shaken... and angered.
But this is far from the end for our brave heroes. Even though they eliminated one of the most powerful existential threats for the entire world, there is still one more challenge left to take care of. And it shall be the worst of them all.
Will Adam have the strength to accept it- even in his current, desperate state?
== Story ==
Somewhere in the distance, very far away, Mordred Darkthrop sits on his throne in World's End, staring through his window and seeing how much the rest of the world is struggling.
As one of his captains approaches him, he motions him to come closer and look at the lands below.
"Do you see what's happening, my boy?"- He says- "We are the lucky ones. The ones who deserve to inherit this world. We have gained incredible power, at the cost of washing away this pathetic human race."
The captain nods.
"They do look very desperate."- He says- "But is this what we want? Do you sir, in your infinite wisdom, wish for their total destruction?"
Darkthrop grins.
"No. Not for the moment."- He says- "Only when the Orb of Chaos is in my hands, I shall be worthy enough to end them all."
He raises his eyebrow.
"So tell me, my boy."- He says- "How is our conquest toward oblivion going? Have we managed to discover the lost fragments and capture the magic that was lost?"
The captain nods.
"It is no surprise, sir. With every passing day, our army grows much stronger. Our enemies grovel before our feet, beg us for mercy. And the heroes who try to put a stop to our dominion, they all end up in our dungeons, left to rot forever."- He says- "We even managed to find the last shards of the legendary orb you have been speaking of."
Then, he hands him a few fragments- presumably from a former magical device.
Judging from the wide smile on Darkthrop's face when he sees them, it seems like he hit the jackpot. It is exactly what he wants to have in his hands.
"Yes. This is it."- He says and cackles- "Soon, the world shall see that I can't be resisted. It shall obey its new, absolute master. The conqueror of Darkness!"
The captain nods.
"However, we've also estimated that Adam Kaos- the hero whom you have been talking about recently- has discovered the mythical Orb of Light- a device whose power is strong enough to banish the Orb of Darkness and destroy it."- He says- "It's no mystery that he and his friends shall be going for the Orb of Dreams soon. If so, then they shall be able to combine them and form an orb that's more than capable enough to abolish your ancient plan for world dominion."- He says- "Shall we go there and try to stop him?"
Darkthrop shakes his head.
"There is no need to worry for such a minor matter. Not when we could simply shatter it before he even gets there."- He says- "I want you to find the place where the Orb of Dreams is hidden and bring it to me. As soon as this annoyance is taken care of, the final stages of my grand work shall begin, at long last!"
The captain raises his eyebrow.
"But you were the one who hid those orbs before you died!"- He exclaims- "Forgive me for asking this, but don't you, mighty and omnipotent Master Darkthrop, already know about their locations?"
Darkthrop stands up and glares at him, suddenly towering over this unlucky soul. For a moment, the malice in his eyes grows by an incredible amount, making the poor soldier very nervous about his own well-being.
The rest of the residents in the castle stare at the vile man. They consider themselves lucky for not being in this captain's position.
Then, the evil wizard simply sits back in his throne and smiles.
"Sometimes, masters of darkness like myself can forget about those things. It's nothing surprising, given how long I have been away from this world."- He says- "However, I am not that senile. I do remember the lands where we could search for them and, even though I may not be able to help you discover the exact spot, I'll still be able to give you pointers that lead toward the right place."
He shakes his head.
"It matters not, though."- He adds- "Now that the Stone of Aja has been completely destroyed, it's only a matter of time before both orbs fall into our hands and end up in the same predicament. Then, those so called "heroes" will have nothing that they could use against me. Their petty weapons will never penetrate through my body of mist."
The captain raises his eyebrow.
"Even the legendary Demonslayer and Ragnarok- the weapons of Jared Kaos?"
Darkthrop cackles.
"Hah! Don't make me laugh!"- He exclaims- "That kid might've been a great hero, once. But now, he's nothing more than a lost cause. A forgotten legend that walks in the lands that we destroy, desperate and unsure in himself."
He smiles.
"He's an old man, just like me."- He adds- "And yet, he's not aware of it. Yet."
He sighs.
"However, I still despair after the news of my beloved generals' deaths."- He continues- "Craig. Isaac. Joseph. They were all exemplary warriors and loyal servants, but they all fell in battle against the forces of humankind. I can use their powers no longer and it feels like a part of me is... gone with them."
The captain raises his eyebrow.
"Forgive me for asking this, but do you, mighty sir, still believe in the superstitions told by our seers?"- He asks- "This whole thing about souls is completely unfamiliar to me."
Darkthrop sighs.
"Sometimes, you have to believe in those things, my boy."- He responds- "They may be a bunch of shenanigans, but there is some truth within them."
The captain tries to say something else, but is soon dismissed when a group of messengers arrives in Darkthrop's throne room.
Darkthrop recognizes them immediately. They hail from the northern lands and, from the looks of it, look very worried.
"Sir! Sir!"- One of them yells- "The prophecy! It happened!"
Darkthrop leans closer.
"What? What is it?"- He asks- "Speak, boy! I want to know it!"
The messenger shakes his head, barely believing what he is about to say.
"It's about Vexor, sir."- He says- "The necromancer that we've cherished for so long, he is gone. Dead by Adam Kaos's hand."
Then, they explain the circumstances of the battle. How Adam and his allies met Vexor. How they fought on the huge tower. And, finally, how Adam unleased all of his rage on the necromancer after hearing about Alcander's death.
Darkthrop gasps.
"H-how can this be?!"- He exclaims- "Vexor? Second most powerful warrior of my empire? Defeated... just like that?!"
The messenger sighs.
"I'm afraid so, sir."- He says- "We tried to get our revenge, but they were too powerful. Too determined to get here."
Darkthrop slams his fist into the throne.
"Curse that insolent child!"- He yells- "I've been tolerating him for far too long!"
He angrily stares at the nearby window.
"Bring forth some of my best warriors and send them out! Command them to slay him and his friends! Leave no survivors behind!"- He says- "And, mark my words, he'll be joining his beloved brother soon enough!"
Then, he looks up the sky above and laughs maniacally.
"My rule is absolute!"- He yells- "I shall never be defeated!"
----As the last of Vexor's fragments are blown away by the wind, Adam falls on his knees again.
"So, this is what it feels like to truly lose a member of your family."- He says to himself- "Perhaps dad is actually right. Family is a weakness."
He shakes his head.
"But this weakness shall soon be transformed into power, because I shall use my grief to avenge my fallen brother."
He looks back at his family and sighs.
"I lost him, everyone."- He says- "It is my fault. I should have been there for him."
Jared shakes his head.
"No, Adam. It is not your fault."- He says- "You did what you could, but fate can act in its own cruel and twisted ways. And this is just another sign of how unfair it can be."
Adam sighs.
"I guess that there is no going back now."- He says- "We must go back to Rentar and inform her of our victory."
Akira nods.
"Roger that."- She says- "Me and Linus are working on it."
As Adam and his father wait, they decide to talk about the past, in the hopes of finding clues that will help them protect the future.
"In the times when you were a hero, were you afraid that you were going to lose someone?"- Adam asks- "Did you march into the lands of darkness, knowing that someday you would have to face it in its purest form?"
Jared nods.
"I will be serious. On many occasions, I did feel very unsure. I feared of doing the right thing, because I was sure that others could suffer because of it."- He says- "But I never let my own fear overtake me. And the only reason for that... is my belief in a better future."
He smiles.
"Yes, son."- He continues- "Hope is a force like no other. A power of light that shines brighter than a thousand suns. When you have it, you feel like a new man. A hero whose abilities have been revealed, even though you are still young and untrained."
He looks up at the sky.
"And that is how I felt."- He says- "I never gave up. And that is why I am still here."
Adam nods.
"But how did you feel when you lost aunt?"
Jared sighs.
"I... never got over it. I was traumatized when it happened and I still am."- He says- "Things like those never leave your mind for as long as you live. But I did my best to get over this flurry of emotions, to keep on fighting and make her feel proud, wherever she may be. And I know that she must be very proud of what you have been doing. I am sure of it."
Adam smiles sadly.
"Do you think that... Al will be proud, too?"
Jared smiles.
"Of course he will!"- He exclaims- "All this time, he has been hoping to have a heroic little brother. He has always wanted his wishes of a better world to become a reality. And I think that he will be very happy, once he learns that you have been fighting for the right side with unwavering loyalty."
He sighs.
"The only thing that I truly regret is the fact that he will not be around to witness the miracles you shall soon perform."- He says- "When Darkthrop is finally dethroned and his dark empire is crushed into pieces, it shall be the happiest day humanity has ever seen."
Adam looks down.
"I wish Al was still here, with us."
Jared pats his son on the shoulder.
"We all do, my boy."- He says- "We all do."
As the two of them look back, they notice that a small group of human warriors is approaching them. However, their appearance seems to be slightly different from that of their fellow comrades. Black plating, sharp spikes and malice in their eyes mark them as very dangerous.
Once they get close enough to our heroes, they draw their weapons.
"You. You're the one who killed our leader."- One of them says and points his blade at Adam- "For that, you shall pay!"
Linus joins Adam and Jared. Amused, he takes a look at the warriors and soon realizes who they are.
"Defenders of Darkthrop, huh?"- He says and aims his bow at them- "It seems like it's time to hunt again."
Jared shakes his head.
"We do not have to fight, brothers."- He says- "Darkthrop has been blinding you for far too long. Now that Vexor is gone, you are free from his control. Free to do whatever you want. So, why don't you surrender and try to see the errors of you wa-- "
Adam shoots an arrow at them and shakes his head.
"Those "people" acted directly against the Order. Whether they participated in Al's last battle or not, they are responsible for the demise of my brother."- He says- "I do not care whether they are fellow humans or not. Treachery against the crown is unacceptable and it shall not be taken lightly! They must pay for it, one way or another!"
Linus nods.
"I couldn't agree more with you, my friend."- He says- "Traitors, prepare yourselves. Because you just met your imminent doom!"
Jared sighs.
"Oh well. I tried."- He says and draws his weapon- "Alright, boys. Fire at will."
Once again, a fierce battle between Good and Evil has begun. Arrows fly from both sides of the conflict as the warriors attempt to gain advantage in the ever-increasing chaos around them.
But nature plays dirty tricks on all of them. Once their footsteps shake the earth, crimson red fumaroles emerge from the ground below, spewing pillars of fire in their wake.
"This is our chance to make a difference."- Linus says- "Attack!"
With that, the three heroes charge at their enemies, pushing the unsuspecting traitors into the fumaroles behind them, listening with horror in their eyes as the screams of the unfortunate pierce the veil of the night, like the loud keen of a forest of crystals when it is disturbed by the forces of nature itself.
As Adam is about to push one of the traitors himself, he looks down and shakes his head.
"I am sorry."- He says- "I wish it had not been this way."
He grabs him by the neck.
"But you brought this upon yourselves!"
Then, he throws him into the raging fumarole without any hesitation.
Soon, only a single traitor is left alive.
The man stares in disbelief at the charred corpses of his own comrades, barely believing what just happened to them.
Adam and Jared approach him and point their swords at his head.
"Alright, warrior of the dark. The gig is up."- Adam says- "You have lost the battle. So, you better reveal everything that you know to us, or you will end up like the rest of them."
At first, the man refuses to talk. However, after taking a second look at the corpses behind him, he becomes too horrified to hold back.
"E-E-Erika! They're going to Erika's Tower!"- He mumbles- "They want the Orb of Dreams! To destroy it! To complete the Orb of Chaos with no obstacles! World dominion will be imminent! The Tome of Nightmares will grant Master Darkthrop unspeakable power!"
Adam raises his eyebrow.
"Tome of Nightmares?"- He asks- "What do you mean?"
The man shakes his head.
"It's an ancient tome of old. Vexor's been looking for it, but Vexor's dead now."- He says- "It's the only tool that can help Darkthrop control the Orb of Chaos's aura of destruction. If not, there will be nothing left. All will be lost."
He looks back just in time to see three fumaroles emerge from behind him, He looks back and quivers in fear.
"Please."- He mutters- "Save... me."
Adam tries to push him away, but it is too late. Soon, a fumarole emerges right under his feet and spews out a pillar of fire, incinerating him on the spot and leaving nothing but charred bones behind.
Jared pulls his son away before he gets hurt.
"Easy now, child. You almost lost yourself."- He says- "That man was helpless, but he was too delusional to tell us anything else."
Adam shakes his head.
"Any bits of information would be useful for us."- He says- "And now, our only source for them... is gone."
Jared sighs.
"At least we still have each other."- He says- "That is all that matters."
Akira looks back and smiles.
"Alright, everyone. The portal is ready."- She says- "Jump in if you want to live!"
Our heroes decide that it is best to try to reach the Spirit World again than to perish in the dangerous wastes, filled with fumaroles and pillars of demise.
"Hopefully, Rentar will make sense of all the shenanigans that man just said."- Jared says- "Come on, everyone! To the Portal! Now!"
With that, the four of them dash past the raging fumaroles, doing their best not to get burned in the process.
Finally, they manage to reach the portal. Jared steps into it. Linus soon does the same.
When it's Akira's turn to enter, she hears a scream. She turns around, only to realize that her brother is trapped by a ring of fumaroles.
"Aki!"- He yells- "Help me! It is too hot in here!"
Realizing that her brother will not survive for much longer than a single minute, Akira makes an incredible effort, easily ignoring the portal to safety in favor of saving her brother from the fire.
"Hold on, Adam!"- She yells- "Do not move! I'm on my way!"
She uses her magic to make herself temporarily invulnerable, passing through the pillars of fire without getting hurt. Then, she casts the same spell on her brother, pulling him out just before he could get hurt.
"Thank you. Aki."- He says and hugs her- "I will never forget what you did for me."
Akira smiles.
"Sure, little brother."- She responds- "It's the least I am capable of doing for you."
Then, the two of them slowly get past the increasing amount of fumaroles around them, seemingly unaffected by the heat and chunks of rock falling on top of them.
"By the way, how did you manage to do this?"- Adam asks- "I thought only servants of Darkthrop are able to cast spells of such high quality."
Akira smiles.
"Let's just say that the evil man taught me a few... valuable spells."- She says- "I decided to forget most of them, but this one was too powerful to avoid. And I am glad that it finally came in handy."
Adam nods.
"Were it not for your spell, I would have been toast."- He says- "I owe you one, Aki."
Akira smiles.
"There's no need to repay me, Adam."- She says- "Your smile is my greatest reward. Nothing else would make me happier than seeing you alive and well."
The two of them soon approach the portal.
"There it is."- Akira says- "Just a little... longer... "
Suddenly, a large fumarole appears in front of them.
"Adam, look out!"- Akira yells and pulls her brother out of the way just as he prepares to step into it.
Unfortunately, saving Adam does not come without a cost for Akira. As she pulls herself away, the flames start to roar, severely burning her hand and making her yell out in pain.
"Agh!"- Akira yells- "Oh my God! This burns!"
Jared emerges from the portal just in time to see the whole scene unfold. He bravely rushes into the raging flames unharmed and manages to pull out his children before it gets any worse for them.
Once on the other side of the portal, Adam and Akira sit on the ground, exhausted.
"I... was not expecting this to happen."- He says- "I saw my entire life flash before my eyes. I thought that I was... a goner."
Jared sighs.
"It was Vexor's plan all along."- He says- "Even if he died, he knew that the fumaroles would have been the end of us. And yet, he never counted on our survivalist knowledge. That was his biggest mistake."
Akira shakes her head.
"Some of us were... not so lucky."
Jared looks down at her and gasps.
"Akira, dear!"- He exclaims- "Your arm, it is not looking good at all!"
Akira sighs.
"I know it, dad."- She says- "But I did it for Adam. Had I not hurried up, he would have ended up like everyone else in there!"
Jared nods.
"And that is why I owe you an apology."- He says- "I underestimated your determination to save Adam. But now, I can see that you truly care about him."
Akira smiles.
"Don't you see it, dad? My little brother, he means everything to me."- She says- "Ever since we met, I felt the bond between us grow stronger and stronger. And now, I can tell that I am ready to do anything to keep him safe."
Jared nods.
"And so would I, dear."
Akira looks down and groans as the pain her arm forces her to pull it away.
"I fear that I won't last for long."- She says- "Not without your help, that is."
Adam looks at his father.
"Please, dad. Help her out."- He says- "She helped me get away from the depths of the Underworld itself. Now, it is time to pay back her belief in us."
Jared nods.
"And help her, we shall."
He bends down and gently holds her arm. He casts a single healing spell on it, hoping that it would ease her pain.
However, it is far from anything that he had ever seen before.
"Akira, dear. It seems like you were burned by magical flames."- He says- "Such a terrible wound cannot be healed by normal means, If I am to save you from a fate worse than death, then I need to channel all of the reserves of magical energy that I have left to cure it."
He looks back at Adam and Linus."
"Stand back, children."- He says- "This situation is about to become very intense."
Linus nods and steps back. However, Adam refuses to simply watch his father struggle to heal Akira.
"No, dad. I am not going anywhere."- He says- "I want to help, too!"
Jared raises his eyebrow.
"You?"- He asks and shakes his head- "No offense, but you are too young for this. Using your healing magic on a single person may only cause harm."
However, before he could say anything else, he is stopped by Akira.
"Let him help me, dad."- She says- "Emela taught him quite a few things about healing magic when he was with her. I'm sure that he will do well."
Jared looks at her with sadness in his eyes.
"But what if something happens to you?"- He asks- "I cannot bear the burden of losing two of my children!"
Akira shakes her head.
"If my belief in Adam is what you want to see, then here you go. I've got a lot of it and I'm not afraid to admit it."- She says- "Now, let my brother be the light of the world once again."
Jared nods.
"As you wish, my dear."
Then, he looks at Adam.
"Very well, my boy. You are in luck."- He says- "Stand by my side and channel your power. Together, I am sure that we can do this."
Adam salutes his father.
"I will not let you down, dad!"- He exclaims- "Let us save Aki!"
Then, the two of them use their immense expertise in healing magic to fix Akira's wound, successfully sealing a sizable part of it.
However, the bleeding still remains, despite their best efforts.
"Come on, Adam!"- Jared says- "We've got to try harder!"
Adam nods.
"You got it dad!"- He exclaims- "Healing surge ultima, coming right up!"
The two of them channel an ever greater extend of their healing powers onto the grievous wound, sealing another part of it.
"It's... working."- Akira mutters- "It's working."
Jared says,
"We are almost there."- He says- "One more time, my boy. We can do it!"
Adam nods.
"Of course dad."
The two of them channel one last surge of healing power onto the wound, this time completely sealing it.
Jared smiles and pats his son on the shoulder.
"Well done, my boy."- He says to him- "Without you, I do not know how we could have made it."
Adam smiles.
"You should give yourself a lot of credit too, dad."- He says- "We all did great."
However, just as they try to help Akira stand up, the wound starts to burn again, this time at a much more alarming rate.
"Agh!"- Akira exclaims- "It's back!"
Adam and Jared attempt to seal it again, only to realize that it is now fatal.
"Akira."- Jared mutters- "No... no..."
However, just as they are about to accept Akira's fate, a ghostly hand reaches for her arm.
The three of them look up and realize that the spirit of Akari has joined them.
"Don't lose hope yet, my dears!"- She exclaims- "Mama Akari is here to help!"
Akira smiles.
"Mama!"- She says- "Oh, thank God!"
Adam smiles.
"Perfect timing, Ms. Minamino!"- He says- "Now, let us finish this!"
With the help of Akari, Adam and Jared channel an even greater surge of healing power toward Akira's wound, completely sealing it. This time for good.
As Adam hugs his sister, Jared approaches Akari and hugs her as well.
"I thought that I lost her."- He says- "Thank you, my love. I knew that I could count on you!"
Akari smiles and hugs him back.
"Of course, dear. I would never let you or our children down."- She says- "When I heard Akira's pained screams, I rushed to her aid immediately. And here I am, in all of my splendor."
Jared nods.
"I owe you a lot for what you did for us."- He admits- "But... how did you manage to cast healing magic, so strong and focused? I thought that you never learned anything like that in life!"
Akari shakes her head.
"Trial and error in the Spirit World have allowed me to master the arts of healing."- She says- "I've helped many people in need, spirits or otherwise. My magic is renowned throughout the known lands in this dimension."
Jared nods.
"So, you have been learning."
Akari smiles.
"Anything to help my dear family out."
Linus approaches them and smiles nervously.
"Umm. I've heard that you're Akira's real mother and I... came to meet you."- He says and extends his hand- "I am Linus- graduate of the School of War and Magic and Akira's beloved. I... was hoping to see you in person, but I never knew that you would be so... gorgeous."
Akira giggles and shakes his head.
"Oh, dear. You're such a kind gentleman, child."- She says- "Anyway, I'm glad that my little girl has finally fallen in love. Such a beautiful feeling."
Linus nods.
"So, could I... you know... "
Akari smiles and nods.
"Of course you can!"- She exclaims- "If Akira truly loves you, then she is all yours!"
Jared smiles.
"Then, you can have my blessing as well."- He says- "True love is something I have been wanting to see for my children for a long time. If it makes you happy to be with my daughter, then feel free to give her all your love."
Linus bows down.
"Thank you! Oh, thank you!"- He says- "It truly means a lot to me!"
Jared and Akari lean closer.
"But make sure that nothing bad happens to her!"- They say in unison.
Linus nods a few times nervously.
"Yes, sir."- He says- "I will, sir. I promise."
Akari looks at Jared.
"Is he always this nervous?"
Jared shakes his head.
"Only when it concerns our daughter."
Akari nods.
"They have each other and so do we."- She says- "But what about Adam? Does he have a maiden that loves him as much as Linus loves Akira?"
Jared smiles.
"Indeed, he does."- He responds- "And I have never seen such true love between two people before. It is clear that they are meant for each other and it makes me the happiest parent in the world."
Akari jumps up and down cheerfully.
"Oh joy! Oh joy!"- She exclaims- "My boy has his own lady! That's so sweet!"
Jared smiles.
"Of course."- He says- "And she is very gorgeous."
Akari smiles.
"I would love to see her with my own eyes."
Jared nods.
"Someday, I will make sure that it happens."- He says- "Mark my words."
The two of them look back at Adam and Akira as they approach them.
"So."- Jared says- "Are you ready to go further?"
Adam nods.
"Akira is ready for the journey."- He says- "So, let us find the rest of the truth before it is too late."
The four of them walk further into the Spirit Realm. 
A few miles ahead, they see Rentar-Ihrno standing still, seemingly waiting for them to approach.
"I knew that it would all come to this."- She says as they approach her- "Darkthrop's minions have gone too drunk with power and dominion. And now, it's our turn to make them pay."
Adam nods.
"Do you know about Erika's Tower?"
Upon hearing Erika's name, Rentar is horrified.
"Erika?"- She says- "You mean... the greatest Archmage of Avernum?!"
Then, with great effort, she calms down.
"Why do want to go to that dangerous place, child?"- She asks- "Most of the traps that the old witch left behind are still active. And I'm sure that, with due time, they are bound to go unstable. Provided that they're not already out of control, that is."
Adam shakes his head.
"Traps or not, we must reach Erika's Tower before Darkthrop does!"- He exclaims- "There is a powerful, necromantic book in there- the Tome of Nightmares. And we must find it as soon as possible, since I fear that Darkthrop will be looking for it as well!"
Rentar raises her eyebrow.
"You believe that such a mere collection of notes and parchments will help him conquer the world?"- She says and shakes her head- "But... if he manages to get his dirty hands on the Orb of Shadows, then it would get more dangerous that I had anticipated... "
She sighs and shakes her head.
"Alright. I shall help you reach Erika's Tower."- She says- "But only a few of you may be able to step into the portal, for it is too dangerous. The magic that hangs within that place, it is very... unstable. Even for someone like me."
She looks at Adam and his allies.
"While a few of you will be able to go there, the rest of you must stay in Darkthrop's lands to ensure that he won't try to hinder your progress."- She says- "I fear that he is already aware of your affairs, so it won't be long before we hear his response."
Linus shakes his head.
"But... I can't just stand there while Adam struggles to fight for his life!"- He exclaims- "I want to go as well!"
Rentar shakes her head.
"I sympathize with your fears, young one. Adam must be a good friend of yours, but that doesn't make the danger any less imminent."- She says- "You must go back there, whether you want it or not."
Akira pats Linus on the shoulder.
"It's okay, love. We'll be back soon."- She says- "Make sure that dad doesn't do anything reckless. I fear that his heroic nature may go too far, sooner or later."
Linus sighs and nods.
"I... will do my best."- He says- "I hope."
Then, as Adam and Akira prepare to help Rentar-Ihrno open the portal to Erika's Tower, a lone figure approaches them.
Alarmed, the two of them draw their weapons and point them at him. However, he raises his hands in the air, as a gesture of peace.
"Easy now, my friends. I do not want to hurt you."- He says- "I just couldn't help but overhear that you were going to Erika's Tower."
Adam nods.
"And what do you want?"
The man smiles.
"I just want to offer my help for your perilous journey, in return for peace."- He says- "Savvy?"
Akira raises her eyebrow.
"Savvy?"- She asks- "What does that mean?"
Adam nods.
"Savvy is a word in the language that pirates use."- He explains to her- "It means that this person wants to talk and we are bound by the law not to make sure that we do not hurt him while it happens."
Akira sheathes her sword, but still holds her hand near her weapon.
"Can't we just strike him down and be done with it?"
Adam shakes his head.
"Look, Aki. I know that you are feeling betrayed after what happened to those traitors."- He says- "However, we cannot just go around and kill everyone that we meet. Diplomacy first, battle second."
He turns to the mysterious man.
"So."- He says- "Before we begin, it would be a nice gesture of peace to introduce yourself."
The man smiles.
"Oh, of course! How silly of me to be so ignorant!"- He exclaims and bows his head- "My name is Balthazar. I am a mage of the southern lands who has been travelling for years to seek the mysteries of the known world. My journeys brought me all the way here and I managed to learn a few things about the man you call Darkthrop."
Jared leans close to his son.
"I know that he does not sound like a spy, but he is still very suspicious."
Adam nods.
"I will be on my guard."
He continues to listen to Balthazar's rambling."
"And that's when I found the clues leading to Erika's Tower- one of Darkthrop's most hated locations."- He says- "It contains the magic of the old archmage, still hidden within and awaiting any unwary traveller to stumble upon it."
Adam nods.
"But why did you decide to join us?"- He asks- "There are many heroes who are trying to dethrone Darkthrop. I am sure that they would have done as well."
Balthazar nods.
"Perhaps you're right. There are many who seek Darkthrop and many who would gladly slay him."- He says- "But there's a spark of hope in your eyes- something that none of them will ever have. Something that they'll give anything to own, yet it cannot be bought with mere money, nor influence."
He smiles.
"And that is why you were the natural selection for this matter."- He adds- "You're a master at dealing with troubles like those."
Rentar nods.
"I know not of your intentions, young one. Perhaps you speak the truth. Or perhaps you are trying to fool us all."- She says- "I shall leave the last word to Adam, in the hopes that he will make the best decision for this perilous journey."
Adam thinks about this for a few minutes. Having a complete stranger travelling with him and Akira could mean a lot of trouble, but it also means that there will be a person whom Darkthrop is never seen before. This will give him the chance to make it to the top of Erika's Tower easier than he normally would, but that still leaves the question for the countless traps that are rigged within.
With great regret, he decides to allow Balthazar to join them.
"Alright then, my friend. Perhaps you could be able to help us out."- He says- "But be warned. We do not take traitors or double agents lightly, so I suggest that you decide what to do before you unknowingly get yourself into trouble. We do not want another dead man on our hands, and I am sure that you understand that."
Akari nods.
"If my son trusts you enough to let you travel alongside him, then I won't mind if you did so."- She says- "However, if something happens to my children in there, I shall enter your dreams and haunt them for as long as you live."
Balthazar nods.
"I already calculated the risks of travelling with you."- He says- "I am ready to suffer if something bad happens. However, I assure you that I'll never harm them myself."
Jared sighs.
"Just like she said, I agree for you to join my son."- He says- "Your reputation is on the line, though. If someone manages to hurt my children, and I hear that you did not protect them when they needed you, then I will make sure that you face the same fate as our friends back there."
Balthazar sighs.
"You know, anything could be better than staying in a huge library for decades."- He says- "Boredom has taken its toll on me and I long for an adventure."
Adam nods.
"Then you shall have it."- He says- "But take heed of my parents' warnings, because they are very serious about them."
Hearing how purely Adam calls her his "parent" flatters Akari. She hugs him and glares at Balthazar.
"Yeah!"- She exclaims- "And you better not forget it!"
Balthazar nods.
"Believe me, I would never."- He says and looks at the portal- "So, are we going in there or not?"
Adam sighs.
"Of course we are."- He says- "But first, I want to do something that I should have done a long time ago."
Having said that, he leans closer to Rentar and whispers something to her, making sure that nobody else hears it.
Rentar understands his desires and nods.
"Of course, child."- She says- "I would never refuse to such a humble request."
Then, she opens up another portal and looks at Akira.
"You and your brother still have a few things left to do."- She says- "Step inside and you shall find the answers."
She motions for her to lean closer and explains what her brother wants to do. Akira is immediately convinced by this and agrees to join him.
"Then it is settled."- She says- "You shall be on your way soon."
She looks at the rest of their allies.
"As for the rest of you, you're staying with me for now."- She says- "Once the children are done, the true work can finally begin."
Jared looks at his son and smiles.
"I do not know what you want to do out there, but I am sure that you can do it."- He says- "I believe in you, my boy. Good luck."
Adam nods and smiles.
"Thank you, dad."- He says- "I appreciate it."
Then, he looks at Akira.
"So."- He says to her- "I am ready to go. Is it the same for you?"
Akira nods.
"Without a doubt."- She says- "I would love to see mama again."
Having said that, the two of them step through the portal, teleporting back to their house, far away from danger.
They look back and realize that the portal is still there.
"Whenever you're ready, say the word."- Rentar says from the other side- "I will be waiting for you."
Adam nods.
"Of course."
Then, he turns around and sees that his mother is still laying on her bed. Derek is staying by her side.
When the two of them see that Adam and Akira are back, they gasp. It is truly a surprise for them.
"What are you two doing here?"- Derek asks- "I thought that you had to fight Darkthrop."
Adam nods.
"Our work is not done yet. We have done a lot, but there is still a long way to go."- He says- "However, he came here to look back at our family's roots. To be with a person who means a lot to us."
He turns to his mother and smiles.
"Mama, we are back."
Meggy nods and weakly stands up to greet them.
"Welcome back, my dear children."- She says, with a smile on her face- "I'm so glad to see you again."
== Trivia ==
* The name of this part is a reference to Jared's words that he says to his son after he is forced to watched as someone he tried to save is burned to death ("And least we still have each other./That is all that matters.")
** In addition, it is also a reference to two of humanity's greatest virtues- Family and Unity.