MLIV C3, P6- "Always"

"Always" is the sixth and penultimate Part of "Miracula Luxia IV" 's third Chapter.
It was released on 11.06.2022.
== Plot ==
Thanks to their superior skill in trickery and advanced intellect, Alcander and his allies manage to sneak their way into Isaac's inner chambers. However, the man was prepared for this, forcing the heroes to fight for their lives.
And yet, justice prevailed once again. The evil general was banished from his vessel and Alcander took command of his ship, working with his former servants to establish a new Order in the lands of Darkthrop.
On the way to World's End, our heroes stumble upon a lone survivor. Far away from home, he has been searching for a person dear to him, but became the subject of numerous attacks from Darkthrop's servants.
Something seems to be oddly familiar about him. And yet, it also makes him different from the rest of the strangers that they met. A true mystery to the end that only they will be able to solve.
== Story ==
Amelia uses a telescope to survey the lands ahead.
"Well."- Alcander says- "What do you see?"
Amelia shakes her head.
"Nothing out of the ordinary."- She says- "Just rocks. Reefs. And more rocks."
Alcander nods.
"We need to find World's End as soon as possible."- He says- "Concentrate further. We don't want to miss it."
Amelia nods.
"You got it, dear."
Alcander turns around and sighs.
"Ever since we began this adventure, I've been convinced that Darkthrop might be somewhere around here. But now, I am positive about it. I can feel his presence, like a dark miasma seeping into the deepest corners of my soul."- He says- "If my assumptions are correct, then this means that Darkthrop has been revived recently. His power is not at his fullest and his allies have yet to protect him. Should everyone else accept to travel there, we'll be able to prevent a widespread disaster before he even has a chance to retailiate."
He clenches his fist.
"I must do it... for my friends. My family. For Adam."- He continues- "In their name, I shall not fail."
Donovan notices his friend's concern.
"Is something bothering you, Al?"- He asks him- "If so, don't be afraid to ask. I live to help you out."
Alcander sighs.
"It's all about him."- He says- "Everything that he's done for this world, it always meant something."
Donovan raises his eyebrow.
"Excuse me?"
Alcander turns around.
"Have you ever felt a large fragment of your soul being pulled out, Donnie?"- He asks him- "Have you felt the pain that it causes afterwards?"
Donovan nods.
"Of course, I did."- He says- "I felt the same way when I lost Aiden."
Alcander nods.
"You and I are one and the same, then."- He says- "And, once wegot our hands on this ship, sailing toward the destination Adam and his people fear to visit has become our utmost priority."
Donovan nods.
"Did you make a decision about it?"- He says- "I mean, are you certain that we must risk our lives like this?"
Alcander sighs.
"You know. I felt quite unsure about it when we started. I wanted to give up and live my life with Amelia, happily ever after."- He says- "But then, I realized it. In this life, there is no Happy Ever After. Everything that you do is only a matter of survival and skill, determination and valor. If you are to make it somewhere in those godforsaken lands, then you must sacrifice your own happiness to help others keep their own alive."
Donovan looks at him.
"Is that why you've always been so... lonely?"
Alcander nods.
"I've always fought solo. Day after day, I vowed to never hurt another human being again. I wanted to be a hero, but simply helped imprison those who were human, not kill them. And the people who offered me help, I shunned them. I told them that I was... fine. That I preferred if they stayed in their homes."- He says- "But now, I see that I was wrong. Alienating myself like this only caused me more pain. After crossing those desolate wastelands for miles, I realized what my father meant before I left my home. Everything that we do, it's about those people. We fight to keep them safe. We purge the evil, for the sake of creating a new world for them. But we're never alone in what we do. The allies who stand by our side, they're the ones who define us. Who make us feel useful to the world."
He turns to Donovan and smiles.
"And that's why all of you are so special to me."
Donovan smiles.
"Rest assured that we feel the same way, my friend."- He says- "Ever since you stepped in Castle Goznor many years ago, you became one of the few people who truly understand me. And I'll always respect you for it."
Alcander nods.
"We are like brothers. But not just in arms, but also in blood."- He says- "Our bond is what makes us feel so powerful. And, as long as we still have it, every good deed that we do is worth the price."
Donovan nods.
"And I'll never surrender my beliefs for hope and faith, when you're around to turn my life into a chorus of singing angels."- The two of them say, in perfect unison.
The two of them shake hands.
"Does this mean that we shall continue to be friends?"- Alcander asks.
Donovan nods and smiles.
"Always." 
Jon approaches them.
"Sorry to interrupt you, but we think that we made a discovery."- He says- "The sailors said that they noticed a large, dark tower to the north. Does this ring any bells?"
Alcander gasps.
"It must be part of World's End."
He walks over to the pirates.
"Alright, friends. You know what to do."- He says- "Sail toward the dark city and never look back."
The sailors nod.
"As you wish, sir."
As the ship sails toward its destination, Nelson arrives and stands next to Alcander.
"Sir, am I interrupting anything."
Alcander shakes his head.
"Of course not, Nelson."- He says- "What do you have to say?"
Nelson stares at the sea ahead. Without looking at his boss, he hands him a letter.
"The story that you told us about the old man who's searching for his grandson? It was no myth. He truly is out there."- He says- "Our old captain has been looking for him for... well... months. Ever since Darkthrop's people killed most of his family, he's been on the run. And he was really good at hiding. They never managed to see him coming."
Alcander nods.
"So, does this mean that we will find him somewhere around here?"
Nelson nods.
"The chances of that are fairly high, according to our strategists."- He says- "If we are to prevent him from getting killed and gathering whatever useful information he managed to collect about the city's flaws, then we must be on our way."
Alcander nods.
"I already gave the command."- He says- "We should be in enemy lands soon."
Even though his job is done, Nelson makes no move to leave.
"I suppose that you... want to know who I am before you could truly trust me."
Alcander nods.
"I can tell that you are a man of honor. A former noble warrior of the Order, perhaps."- He says- "What brought you into this mess?"
Nelson sighs.
"It was all about my cousin."
Alcander raises his eyebrow.
"Your... cousin?"- He asks- "But you never revealed his existance to anyone."
Nelson nods.
"If Darkthrop's goons knew who he truly is, then I wouldn't be here with you."
Alcander sighs.
"That's understandable."- He says- "From what I know about Darkthrop, he greatly despises traitors and non-believers. Revealing your true intentions would have marked you for a one-way trip to the realm of pain."
Nelson sighs.
"I'm glad that I avoided that."
He stares ahead.
"Anyway, my cousin's name is Orion. He had the unfortunate incident of meeting Darkthrop's Number One Necromancer- Vexor himself. He angered him by killing his right-hand man, causing Vexor to allow him to reanimate and use him as one of his... p-pets."- He says, leans forward and vomits into the sea.
Alcander stands next to him.
"Is everything alright?"- He asks him- "If it's so painful to remember, then there's no need to share it. I already know how much of a monster Vexor is."
Nelson shakes his head.
"No. I can't let his sacrifice go to... waste."- He says- "I must tell his story to... other heroes."
Alcander shakes his head.
"Memories like those are best left alone."- He says- "Please. Try to forget about them and I promise that we will honor his memory."
Nelson looks at him.
"Do you... mean it?"
Alcander nods.
"Once we reach World's End, we shall find Vexor and avenge your cousin. You have my word."- He says- "I shall not rest until the evil necromancer pays for the athrocities that he is responsible for."
Nelson raises his eyebrow.
"All of them?"
Alcander nods.
"All my life, I've punished many criminals. I never let a crime go unanswered."- He says- "If Vexor really thinks that he shall remain this way forever, then I shall relinquish my own dreams, just to prove the point of how wrong he really is."
He looks at Nelson.
"Remember, my friend."- He says to him- "Like there is light in this world, there is also darkness. They create the perfect balance between Order and Chaos. But when gets out of control, every aspect of our common future may be rewritten. Every single event that makes us feel worthy. If we don't fight back against the lawbreakers, then all will surely be lost."
Nelson raises his eyebrow.
"Like Orion did?"
Alcander nods.
"I don't know who your cousin used to be. However, I can tell that he is a great hero."- He says- "If he was brave enough to rise against the tyrants with a clear heart, then I'm certain that he's a true warrior of the Order, whether it is in Life or in Death."
One of the sailors points at the sea ahead.
"Land!"- He exclaims- "We've reached land!"
Alcander nods and prepares to leave.
"Get ready, crew."- He says- "Love it or hate it, we are here."
It takes a few minutes for the sailors to put the ship to a halt and a few more to collect enough weapons to prepare for an assault on World's End.
"All of those people have been tormented by Isaac. They've been starved for a new leader."- Alcander says to himself- "I can see how much they trust me now. And I won't betray them."
He turns to his allies.
"So."- He says- "Are you ready?"
The sailors cheer.
Alcander smiles.
"Very well."- He says- "Then get ready. It shall be a long road to the top of the spire."
A large group of sailors emerges to assist Alcander in raiding World's End. The rest of the warriors stay behind, to ensure that their raid will not get taken away in their absence.
As they walk toward Darkthrop's new home, Alcander kneels for a second.
"Stop."
Once everyone does so, he picks up a tattered piece of cloth and shows it to them.
"This is evidence that something is truly amiss."
One of the sailors recognizes it.
"Didn't this belong to Master Isaac?"
Alcander nods.
"Indeed, my friend."- He says- "And it seems like our fiendish general has managed to scurry away, like the cowardly rat that he's always been."
Nelson raises his eyebrow.
"But... didn't you manage to throw him off earlier? Didn't he drown in the skirmish?"- He says- "We all saw how he sinked deep in the waters. Then, how is this possible?"
Alcander sighs.
"Sometimes, villains can be exceptionally resilient and persistent. They naively believe that they can still achieve their goal and refuse to perish before it happens."- He says- "Such is the case with "Mister Troubled Personality" over here, who is still looking for ways to undermine us."
He clenches his fist.
"But he won't get what he wants."- He adds- "No matter where he is now, he better make his peace, because he won't last for long."
He gives the tattered piece to Donovan.
"If we ever find out the truth behind Darkthrop's generals, then this should be invaluable evidence to bring to court."- He says- "So, make sure to guard it with your life."
Donovan nods and salutes him.
"It shall be done."
Alcander nods and stares at the area ahead.
"Well, we've managed to cover about half of the distance."- He says- "Only a lot more to go."
The closer they get to World's End, the more signs of ruin and despair they see around them. It is as if the tears of the fallen have tainted the soil with their hatred, creating a land of pure darkness for the most notorious criminals to dwell in.
"It feels like we're inside of a horror movie, expect that it looks way too real."- Amelia says- "Could we please hurry?"
Alcander sighs.
"The winds are too strong, my dear."- He says- "Even if we wanted to go any faster than this, we can't do so."
Amelia looks down and nods.
"At least Sharla's not here to see this."
The group reaches a small clearing. They get inside and discover something that oddly looks like an oasis.
"I know how tempted you are to quench your thirst, but don't try it."- Alcander says to his allies- "Most of the things in here are simply a mirage. A dream that could easily turn into a nightmare. Such a place is best avoided, if you value your own lives at least a little bit."
One of the sailors shakes his head.
"But... I'm too thirsty... "
Alcander grabs him by the shoulders.
"Pull yourself together, soldier!"- He yells- "We're at the front! Everything is against us, even the ground itself! If we want to win this battle, then we need to stay focused!"
The rest of the sailors look at him, surprised. However, they soon understand what he means and wisely avoid the "oasis" as it tries to tempt them again.
And yet, one of the sailors is too tired to see the difference. Ignoring the pleas of his companions, he gets closer and takes a drink.
Suddenly, the world around them starts to swirl. Reality shifts and tears itself apart as a small black hole forms behind the unknowing sailor.
"Calm down, everyone."- Alcander says- "This is just an illusion. None of it is real."
He looks at the black hole.
"I hope."
Suddenly, the sailor places both of his hands on his head and starts to scream. He flails wildly, as if trying to ward something away.
"Keep it together, soldier!"- Alcander yells- "You can make it! You will make it!"
The sailor continues to scream for a few seconds. Not long after, he falls limp and kneels, as if giving in to some kind of greater entity.
"I shall fight for you, Master."
Then, he draws his blade with no hesitation and charges at the nearest sailor.
"Soldier, stop this!"- Alcander says- "Don't allow someone else to take control of your own decisions!"
The sailor refuses to stop. He continues to fight, forcing Alcander to pull him away.
However, he only succeeds in angering the sailor further. He screams wildly and charges at Alcander, nearly slicing his shoulder with his cutlass.
"I know that you're still in there!"- Alcander yells- "Don't give up! We shall save you!"
Jon shakes his head.
"It's no use, Al."- He says- "The man's lost his mind! It's best if we put him out of his misery!"
Alcander shakes his head.
"No way!"- He exclaims- "Remember what we promised to each other? That no man shall be left behind? Well, I'm not going to break it, even if I have to fight to make it happen."
The possessed sailor easily knocks Alcander's weapon out of his hand and steps on it.
Then, he looks down at him and laughs.
"Is that all you've got, Kaos?"- He says- "Funny. I thought that you were better than this."
Although the voice sounds almost as the sailor's, there's something that seems a little bit off.
And Alcander recognizes it.
"Vexor?"
Suddenly, the sailor flails around and collapses.
Donovan rushes to his side, smoke still rising from his gun.
"Are you okay, my friend?"- He asks him as he helps him stand up- "That person had really given up on hope!"
Alcander sighs.
"There's no need to worry about me, Donnie. We must worry about the others."- He says- "If Vexor is strong enough to control the minds of living creatures, then he must have grown even stronger than before."
He picks up his weapon and sheathes it.
"Forgive me, my friend."- He says- "It seems like the only cure for the curse was your... demise."
He turns to the rest of his allies.
"I'm sorry about what happened just now. I really am. However, we must go as soon as possible."- He says- "Whenever you are ready, join me outside. The end of the line is near, so we must be prepared for the worst. Because it's already happening."
As the group leaves the imaginary oasis, they encounter a small group of darklings, surrounding an old man.
"That person is in danger!"- Donovan exclaims- "We must save him!"
Alcander nods.
"Don't waste any time, friends."- He says- "Every second counts, so use it to your advantage!"
With that, he gives his allies the command to charge.
Suddenly, the tides of the battle turn as brave sailors risk their lives to protect this complete stranger from the darklings. Many villains are slain as they attempt to do whatever horrible things they were told to, not caring whether it means their doom or not.
And yet, some of the darklings are wise enough to escape. They try to run away, but are easily struck down when some of the sailors throw javelins at them.
Soon, the entire group of darklings is dead. No survivors are left behind.
"And to think that I underestimated their kind when I saw them for the first time."- Alcander says and sighs- "Those creatures are formidable foes. I should have known better than to fight alone."
He turns to Amelia.
"Stay with the old man, dear."- He says- "We'll be back soon."
Amelia nods.
"Try to make it fast."- She says- "I don't know how long I could wait here."
As the group prepares to enter World's End, the old man approaches Alcander.
"Are you the boy everyone's been talking about lately?"
Alcander shakes his head.
"Not quite."- He says, trying to hide his true identity- "I'm just a normal sailor, here to rebel against his former master." 
The man shakes his head.
"Sorry, kid."- He says- "Nobody can hide secrets from ol' Nicholas."
Alcander sighs and looks down.
"I'm sorry, sir."- He says- "We just have to be discreet. If Darkthrop realizes who we are, then it will all be over for us."
Nick smiles.
"Well. Maybe I could tell you a story before you venture into that dark city."- He says- "How does it sound?"
Alcander raises his eyebrow.
"A story?"
Nick smiles.
"It won't take too long."- He says- "And maybe, just maybe, you'll find the answer to that one question you've always wanted to unravel."
He looks him in the eye.
"So?"- He says- "What do you say?"
Alcander looks around. He sees that the rest of his allies are interested in hearing the story, so he decides to do the same.
"Very well, sir."- He responds- "If your story has some kind of meaning, then maybe it could be of value to us."
Nick smiles.
"I would ask no more than that."
As the group sits down, Nick looks at them and smiles.
"You know."- He says- "You remind me of a person I once met in my adventures."
Alcander nods.
"Please continue."
Nick smiles.
"One day, two people were crossing the desolate wastes together. They were in the middle of a battle, but they kept on fighting. They were content with just being in this together. Everything else mattered not when their stars were aligned."- He says- "But the world, it was not kind to them. It tried to wear them down and separate them. In the end, it did. But the memory of the times they spent together, it still remains. And, for as long as the spark of life still burns, they'll never fade away."
Alcander nods.
"I suppose that there is some kind of wisdom hidden in your lesson."- He says- "And you want me to... discover it?"
Nick smiles.
"Perhaps you're as wise as the people claim you to be."- He says- "Few people dare to look for answers in my stories. Are you willing to make this move yourself?"
Alcander nods.
"I call tell it by your words. This story is about someone that you cared about. Someone who made you realize that you're perfect in your own way."- He says- "If so, then this means that the lesson is that one must learn humility in order to achieve the peace of mind and soul that he has sought for so long. Without keeping the balance of law and light within, you shall never find the truth."
Nick nods.
"Times may come and go. You may get popular along the way. People will like you for what you do for them. But the bonds that you make, they are irreplaceable."- He says- "If only I knew that before I... I... "
He looks down and shakes his head.
"One moment, I was with my family. My friends. We were happy together, despite the chaos that unfolded around us."- He says- "But that was just a mirage, set by the dark to make me develop a false sense of security. And then, when I least expected it, I lost everything."
He nods.
"So, my advice for you is to hold on to those memories while you're still standing."
For a moment, Alcander focuses his attention on his right arm. Something must be bothering. He tries to roll up his sleeve, as if to see something.
However, he soon decides against it and shakes his head.
"You and I think the same way, Mr. Nicholas."- He says- "If only others could understand it the same way as we do."
Donovan and Amelia stare at each other and shake their heads. Jon looks up at the sky and sighs.
"Somewhere inside of your soul, I can sense a kindred spirit that is trying to shine again."- Alcander continues- "Are you, perhaps, the person we've been looking for all this time?"
Nick smiles.
"That depends on who is asking."
Alcander nods.
"Just a young hero who's trying to save his own soul from the guilt that he was forced to face."- He says- "I'm not doing this because someone's paying me for it. I ain't fighting in the name of the Order because I'm the best warrior there ever was. I am just a brother who has been looking for redemption, for something that will make me feel whole again."
Nick nods.
"Then you're on the right path."- He says- "Until then, perhaps you could help me with something I left unfinished."
Alcander raises his eyebrow.
"And what might that be, if you don't mind me asking?"
Alcander looks at World's End and sighs.
"Not long ago, I left the safety of my home. Chased by the dark ones, I made my way here, thinking that my boy could have gone the same way."- He says- "And yet, I can't get inside. Not alone. Not like this."
Alcander nods.
"You want us to... rescue him?"- He says- "From what?"
Nick sighs.
"From himself."- He says- "When he and I escaped when our whole family was slaughtered, he was not the same. He wanted to avenge his parents. He searched for ways to eliminate evil, solutions for this one big problem. And then, he found a sign of hope. He left me a message, thinking that he could return someday. And then, he left and never came back."
He looks down.
"It's been months since I last saw him."- He says- "And now, I know that something has definitely gone wrong."
Alcander clenches his fist and nods.
"Rest assured that we'll make sure that your boy makes it out of that place alive."- He says- "No man shall be left behind, especially in a nightmare like this one."
Nick nods.
"Then we should get going as soon as possible."- He says- "I don't know where my boy is, but I'm sure that he's in danger."
As the group prepares to stand up, one of the sailors notices something in the distance.
"The dead have risen!"
Suddenly, a large group of undead surrounds them, growling and slowly stumbling toward them.
"They may be strong, but they're no humans."- Alcander says and draws his weapon- "Keep it up, everyone. We can't let this squad break us down. Not when we're so close to finding the truth!"
Three of the undead try to attack Alcander, but Donovan steps in their way and incinerates them with a single fireball.
Amelia rushes forward and plunges her dagger into the skulls of two of the undead, putting them down with ease.
As the rest of the heroes fight back against the dark force, a single undead manages to grab the seemingly helpless Nicholas. However, he manages to stop it by grabbing the spear on his back and stabbing it in the head.
However, for some reason, the undead does not die immediately. Once again, it rises from the ground and attacks him, forcing Nicholas to go berserk and repeatedly slice it with his spear.
"You killed my family!"- He yells as he thoughtlessly pushes himself to the limit- "It's all your fault! Your fault!"
Eventually, covered in blood and sweat, he manages to put it down.
As he prepares to put down more undead, he feels a sharp pain in his shoulder. He looks down and sees that the creature he just killed managed to scratch him during the battle.
The wound is deep and is bleeding at a worrying rate.
"I guess that no good thing comes without a cost."- He says to himself- "And it looks like I just paid the price."
He looks up and realizes that the rest of the undead are shifting their attention toward him.
"Looks like our new friend's in trouble."- Donovan says- "We've got to help him out."
Alcander tries to fight his way past the undead, but soon realizes that they are too many to take care of.
"Mr. Nicholas, the undead are attracted by your blood!"- He yells- "Run for your life! Save yourself!"
Nick shakes his head.
"No, my boy. It's too late for me."- He says- "I can't run away anymore. I must face the truth with my own eyes."
Instead of trying to move away, he simply watches as the undead approach him, standing tall in the face of certain demise.
"Silas, my boy."- He mutters- "I'm sorry... "
Everyone gasps.
"Mr. Nicholas!"- Alcander yells- "No! Get away from him!"
Suddenly, in a flash of brilliant white light, a mysterious horseman emerges from the shadows and easily cuts it way through the ravenous fiends,
A young warrior swings a long and mighty sword at them, faster than the speed of light and stronger than a titan.
The undead attempt to fight back, but are soon trampled by the horse and sliced in pieces by the warrior.
As the young horseman stands by Nicholas's side, a frustated yell is heard in the distance. Looks like someone is angry about this manslaughter.
"Are you doing okay, sir?"- He says to him- "That surely was a close one."
Nick reflexively scratches his wound and shakes his head.
"I've been better."- He replies- "Maybe you should help the other instead. They're in more danger than I am."
The man shakes his head.
"An elven warrior never abandons his allies."- He says- "And you are one of them."
Nick gasps quietly.
"So, you must be... "
The man takes off his mask and reveals his true identity.
"I am King Derion, master of the United Elven Kingdom."- He says- "I swore an oath to protect the weak and save the world, in the name of the one who saved me. In my years of service, I have fought many enemies with my trusty weapon and I have never failed to save my target."
Nick shakes his head.
"If you really want to save someone, then it must be my grandson."- He says- "Go in World's End and do what your honor compels you to. It's in the best interest of your kingdom and you won't be seeing this wreck of a man again."
Derion looks back and sees that Alcander is in danger.
"Hey, kid!"- He yells- "Watch out!"
Before Alcander can do anything, Derion rushes to his side and kills ten of the undead that are trying to attack him with a single swing of his blade.
The rest of the creatures are easily disposed of when Alcander and Nicholas work together by shooting them down with their bows.
"There's too many of them!"- Derion exclaims- "We must flee somewhere else!"
Alcander looks back at his friends, shocked.
"But we can't leave them behind!"- He yells- "We must save them!"
Derion shakes his head.
"I hate to say it, but it's either them or us."- He says and motions for them to join him- "We can't let those fiends overwhelm us! Keep moving!"
Ignoring Alcander's philosophy, Derion rides away, but not before throwing a makeshift grenade in the middle of the undead horde, blowing up a a large amount of them and lowering their amount enough for the rest of their allies to fight back.
As the rest of the heroes prepare their defense, Alcander and Nicholas are taken away from the action and into World's End.
"Hmm. I expected this place to be bustling with activity."- Alcander says- "So much for this grand metropolis."
Derion shakes his head.
"World's End is a settlement normally hidden from the prying eyes of commoners."- He says- "Let's just say that we are lucky to have found it. And the guards haven't considered it yet."
Alcander nods.
"So, what could we do to find Darkthrop and defeat him before we're overwhelmed again?"
Derion stares at a large tower ahead.
"Maybe this is the answer you are seeking."
Alcander gasps.
"The tower that we saw earlier!"- He exclaims- "So, this must be the location of their headquarters!"
Derion sighs.
"It was easy to find it."- He says- "If only it were this easy to get in as well."
Nick glares at the tower.
"I ain't afraid of no evil wizard!"- He says- "Not when my boy is still out here!"
Derion sighs.
"Relax, sir. I know that you're worried about him, but it's best to worry about where we are now instead."- He says to him- "If Darkthrop's forces find out that we've infiltrated their realm, then they'll charge at us en masse. So, it's in our best interest to be extra wary of our own surroundings."
He looks down at them.
"Got that?"
Alcander nods.
"You can count on us, Derion."- He says- "Together, we shall win this battle and emerge victorious as the saviors of the world."
As the three of them walk past the seemingly abandoned buildings within, Alcander cannot help but notice how big this city truly is.
"It's incredible to see such advanced infrastructure in a time like this."- He says- "If I had more time, I would have brought a camera with me. To provide photo evidence about their unnervingly fast progress in rebuilding their fallen empire, that is."
Derion nods.
"Adam warned me about this place when he sent me to help."- He says- "He knew that it would be stronger than we anticipated, so he did his best to clear the way for us."
Alcander raises his eyebrow.
"Wait a second."- He says- "You know my brother?"
Derion smiles.
"He's the best companion I've ever had."- He says- "Ever since we parted ways, we've been on amicable terms. We worked together to stop countless assaults on key locations and orchestrated attacks on major enemy settlements. We achieved many major victories and dealt our enemies grievous blows that they could hardly recover from. Such battles are truly sights to see for sore eyes."
Alcander gasps.
"My brother sent you all the way here?"- He asks- "But why? Why did he want to take such a risk?"
Derion smiles.
"He's always been a risk-taker, you know?"- He says- "Sometimes, he may be a little reckless. Many powerful enemies are lined up against him and he has to do his job as a general in the most efficient way. But he has a big heart. He is smart. He has gotten through many impossible battles and is ready to keep doing so until we win."
A single tear runs down on Alcander's cheek.
"My brother. He... he's still out there. Still doing the right thing."- He says and smiles- "I never had a doubt. I knew that he was up for the task and I'm very proud of him."
Derion nods.
"And he'll also be proud of you, once you get rid of the mastermind behind this operation."
He stares at the city ahead of them.
"So, Alcander."- He says- "Are you ready to make a difference in those dark times?"
Alcander nods.
"You know that I've always been."- He says and raises his sword- "In the name of my brother, I shall bring forth the light!" 
Derion smiles.
"That's the spirit!"- He exclaims- "Now, let's do this!"
The three heroes get further into the huge city, with a clear mission in their minds and sparks of hope in their hearts.
"Come on, everyone. We've almost made it to the end."- Alcander says- "Buckle up and get ready for the ride of your lives!"
As the two of them get close to the tower, they hear a scream. It is coming from somewhere nearby.
"Just another illusion, set to distract us from our goal."- Derion says- "Move on."
Nick tries to ignore the screams, but they keep getting louder. What the others don't seem to recognize, he knows way too well.
And he is too desperate to leave this opportunity behind.
"Silas, my boy!"- He yells and draws his weapon- "I shall save you!"
Then, he runs to the west.
"Mr. Nicholas!"- Alcander yells- "Wait for us!"
Derion shakes his head.
"Have you lost your mind?!"- He yells- "You're going to draw Darkthrop's warriors to us! Stop it right this instant!"
Nick shakes his head.
"I've been alone for too long."- He says- "I can't let him go again."
Alcander and Derion try to run after him, but he is too fast.
"He's quite nimble."- Alcander says, panting- "For his age."
Derion nods.
"My father was also this way when he was still alive."- He says- "But his speed and skill couldn't save him. And it shall be the same for this poor man, if we don't catch up with him."
When they finally do, they realize that he is standing near a young boy.
"Silas, my boy. I finally found you."- He says- "I'm not going anywhere. Not anymore."
Suddenly, a large pack of undead surrounds him.
"Mr. Nicholas! You have to get out of that place!"- Alcander yells- "Move it! Now!"
Nick and Silas try to run from the approaching undead, but the old man is soon surrounded and separated from his grandson.
Somewhere nearby, our heroes hear two claps and a low whistle.
"Grandpa!"- Silas yells as the creatures maul him down- "We can't fall like this! Fight back! Please!"
Alcander and Derion rush to his aid. They manage to kill a large amount of the undead with their abilities, but soon realize that there are more hiding in the buildings around them.
Once they are alerted to the commotion, they emerge and prepare to attack.
As our heroes wonder how to take care of this, a living person jumps down from one of the buildings and laughs.
"Har, har, har! It seems like you finally made it!"- He exclaims- "Don't know why it took you so long, but it doesn't matter! Now, you can witness the closing curtains of your impending doom!"
Derion shrugs.
"Sounds like this guy's got his own catchphrase."- He says stoically and sighs- "How very original. It makes me quiver in fear."
Alcander draws his weapon.
"Isaac!"- He yells- "Stop this madness immediately!"
Isaac grins.
"Even if I could, the undead have already marked you."- He says- "You can't escape from them, no matter how far you run."
Alcander shakes his head.
"This was your last warning!"- He yells- "Now, I will make you pay for what you've done!"
Isaac smiles.
"I'd like to see that, kid."
He turns to the struggling Nicholas.
"But I'm not here for you now."- He says- "I'm here for them."
Undisturbed by the angered undead, he approaches the two of them and grins.
"So, you must be the Evans family I've heard so much about."- He says- "Nice to see you on this... gloomy day."
As a thunderstorm roars in the distance, Silas looks at Isaac. Having been left with no other choice, he falls on his knees and looks down.
"Whoever you are, please! Have mercy on us!"- He exclaims- "We only came here to help! We don't want to die like this!"
Derion glares at them and shakes his head.
"Is this the legendary Silas Evans I've heard so many tales about?"- He says and sighs- "Hmph. What a wimp."
Alcander shakes his head.
"I understand how he feels."- He says- "If I had to choose between my own life and that of a loved one, then I would definitely beg to ensure their safety."
Derion sighs.
"I tried begging my father not to kill mom before. But, well, you can see how that turned out."- He says- "Mercy is just a distant myth for heartless monsters like them. They don't care whether you'll be sad or not. In their minds, they just want to get the job done. And that's what this guy's going to do."
Isaac raises his eyebrow.
"Oh yeah?"- He says- "And what shall you grant me in return?"
Silas shakes his head.
"Please! I promise to stop being such a reckless vigilante!"- He says- "I'll even give my own life away, if I have to. Just please, spare my grandpa! He's been through way too much and he doesn't deserve this!"
Nick gasps.
"Silas, my boy! Just what do you think you're doing?"- He says- "Are you going to throw it all away, just because of me?"
Silas sighs.
"I have no choice, grandpa."- He says- "It's either my family or my future. And I'll gladly give my future away to keep a fragment of my family alive."
Isaac thinks about this for a second. Then, he looks at Silas and smiles.
"You want me to... save your gramps?"- He says and nods- "Fine. I'll save his life. But not in the way you want to!"
With that, he swiftly pulls out a revolver and fires a single bullet, striking Nicholas square in the chest.
"Grandpa!"- Silas screams- "No!"
As he rushes to his wounded grandpa's side, Alcander angrily points his weapon at Isaac.
"Isaac! You heartless monster!"- He yells- "How could you do such a thing?!"
Isaac laughs.
"Don't bother caring about them, Alcander."- He says- "Because you're next."
Derion draws his weapon.
"No, general of Darkthrop!"- He yells- "You shall be the one to fall!"
Alcander approaches the dying Nicholas.
"Looks like I had a pretty good run, huh?"- Nick says and chuckles dryly- "Oh well. At least I'll die knowing that he's in good hands."
Alcander shakes his head.
"Don't give up, my friend."- He says- "You still have a lot to live for!"
Silas nods.
"He's right, grandpa!"- He says- "Don't leave us!"
Nick looks around and shakes his head.
"The world has changed a lot since I was a hero myself."- He mutters- "But it's good that there are heroes who keep it safe from evil."
He smiles.
"I have confidence in your skills, Alcander."- He says- "Don't... let me down."
Alcander smiles sadly.
"I would never do such a thing, sir."- He says- "We shall defeat the servants of Darkthrop together. And when we do, you shall be avenged."
Nick shakes his head.
"There's no need to avenge me."- He says- "I just want you... to be happy."
He turns to the crying Silas and sighs.
"Silas, my boy. I'm sorry for what you've been through. I should have... stopped you when I had the chance."- He mutters- "I'll say hi to mom and dad from you. Farewell... "
With that, he closes his eyes and willingly gives in to the jaws of demise.
Silas looks down.
"Grandpa! No!"- He says- "No, this can't be happening! It's just another nightmare! Just a horrible figment of my own imagination! This can't be real!"
Derion approaches them and sighs.
"Poor boy."- He says- "He lost his mind."
Alcander turns to him.
"Have you felt the same way when you lost your mother?"
Derion shakes his head.
"It was much worse for me."- He says- "When I saw her die, I became willing to end my own life. I felt angry and betrayed... by my own father, no less. And, worst of all, I became vengeful and wanted to murder the man who brought an end to her."
He looks at him.
"In other words, the elven king that you see here... is completely different from the vengeful and reckless kid who wanted to dethrone his own father."
As Silas continues to cry, Isaac laughs and points his revolver at him.
"Oh, don't worry."- He says- "You'll join him soon enough!"
Just as he is about to shoot, Alcander tackles Isaac away and punches him in the face a few times.
"Your crimes will not go unanswered!"- He yells.
As Alcander and Isaac continue to fight, Derion notices that Nicholas's skin is turning gray.
"Hey, kid!"- He yells- "Your grandpa's going to turn!"
Seeing that Silas doesn't even try to listen to him, he decides to take matters in his own hands and pulls him away just as he opens his cold, dead eyes.
"Oh my god."- He says- "I never imagined that seeing a friend turn into one of them would be so... painful."
Silas looks at his grandfather as he rises back up, confused.
"Grandpa?"- He mutters- "Is that you?"
The undead Nicholas growls and shambles toward him, closing in for a battle.