MLIII C2, P4- "Left Behind"

"Left Behind" is the fourth Part of "Miracula Luxia III" 's second Chapter.
It was released on 02.12.2021.
== Plot ==
Although Adam and his allies travelled to an unknown land, their problems are far from over, especially the ones with Steele and his gang.
Apparently, it didn't take long for the bandit leader to discover the secret passage and get through it, knowing that his enemies will be waiting for him at the other side. This gives him the motivation to strike back and do... the usual evil things that he does, of course.
He and his large group are ready for anything. However, they are not aware that Adam has allied himself with a new group, much more powerful than them.
Soon, he will have the option of either fight... or flight.
== Story ==
As Adam and his allies prepare to attack, Derion stares at Steele. 
"Is this the man whom you mentioned earlier?"- He asks Adam- "He seems rather... crazy."
Adam nods.
"Your assumptions are correct, Derion."- He responds- "This is Steele- the leader of the infamous Order of the Black Fist."
Derion gasps.
"I... I've heard of them!"- He says- "Those vagabonds used to waylay innocents on our roads a few months ago. Some of my people were slain my them and I swore to avenge them by finding their leader."
He angrily aims his bow at Steele.
"So this is the fool who thinks that he can send his petty criminals after us... and get away with it?!"
Adam nods.
"Yes. This is him."- He says- "However, you should-- "
Derion cuts him off by firing a barrage of arrows at Steele.
"Die, bandit!"- He yells and continues to shoot.
The rest of the bandits are caught off-guard by Derion's attack. They didn't expect Adam's allies to strike back with such aggression, but there is a first time for everything.
"Come on, everyone."- Adam says- "Let's help him!"
Emela wastes no time to make her move. She casts a powerful water spell and drowns three of the incoming bandits.
Meanwhile, Elwyen enchants Mardek's blade with magical energy and he charges at their attackers, swiftly slaying a large portion of them without getting tired.
A large force of bandits surrounds Adam, preparing to close in and kill him. Seeing that her pupil is in danger, Emela clears a path through the wall of bandits and stands close to him.
"How do they make you feel dear?"- She says, trying to awaken the rage within him- "What do you want to do with them?"
Adam does not take long to respond to her question. His inner rage rises as soon as he looks at them.
The power that he obtained from the Geneforge earlier has a... strange effect upon him. And this might be the right time to use it.
He draws his weapon and lets out a fierce battle cry.
"I will kill them!"- He yells- "I will kill them all!"
Although Steele's bandits claim that they fear nothing and that they are able to care of anyone (and anything), this is just a weak facade that hides their greatest fears.
And one of them... is being killed in battle.
As they wonder how to save their own skins, Adam attacks them. 
Without any self-control, he mercilessly strikes them down. One by one, they all go down like a bunch of small, frail trees.
Some of them desperately try to defend themselves, but that doesn't work. It only makes our hero angrier.
When the skirmish is over, Adam stares at the carnage, horrified.
"Did I... did I do this?"- He says.
It is almost as if something possessed him for a short time. An invisible force that forces him to destroy his enemies without any mercy.
But it doesn't matter. Not anymore. What happened now will simply remain in the past... and he cannot change it.
Emela places her hand on his shoulder.
"Don't be sad, dear."- She says to him- "Those bandits were bad people. They deserved what was coming to them. You did the right thing... and that's all you need to know."
Adam sighs.
"I guess so."- He says- "I just wish we could make them surrender instead."
Emela is about to respond, but soon realizes that Derion is in danger.
"Look! Your friend needs help!"- She says- "Hurry!"
Adam draws his weapon and stands between Derion and Steele, slicing the latter in the stomach.
"Nice try, Steele."- He says- "But you are not going to win!"
Steele looks down at his wound and smiles.
"That's it?"- He says- "C'mon, man. I thought you'd do better than that."
He places his hand on the wound and mutters a dark incantation. Soon, the damage that he took is healed completely.
It is almost as if it wasn't there in the first place.
"What?!"- Adam says, surprised- "I-impossible!"
Steele grins.
"He gave me incredible power, in exchange for doin' his bidding."- He says- "He sent me to either collect all of the crystals or slay those who oppose him. And you know what? I think that I'm gonna make him proud by doin' both!"
Derion aims his bow at him.
"Who sent you here, villain?"- He asks him- "Tell us!"
Normally, Derion does not use the word "us" when he talks about his team. He usually travels alone and therefore does not care whether he will address his temporary companions or not. However, the presence of Adam gives him the motivation to say otherwise.
"Come on! You really don't know who I'm workin' for?"- Steele says- "You really thought that I'm doin' this stuff all alone?"
Adam shakes his head.
"Only a fool would invoke the wrath of two entire kingdoms."- He says- "But I can tell that you are no fool."
Steele grins.
"Indeed."- He responds- "My employer is well-known throughout these parts. He's a saint to those who wish to be by his side... and a nightmare to those who wish to oppose him. The legendary man whom I'm talkin' about is, of course, Mordred Darkthrop!"
Adam and Derion stare at each other for a few seconds.
"Mordred Darkthrop? The evil sorcerer?"- Derion asks- "But he's been dead for hundreds of years!"
Steele grins.
"Oh, really?"- He says- "Then how 'bout you see him in person? I think that he'd love to see you both, especially the young hero who's been a threat to his plans for more than one year!"
For a moment, Adam feels something... sinister. It is almost as if part of Mordred's soul is hidden within Steele, patiently waiting to emerge and wreck havoc upon all of the known lands.
The fact that the evil sorcerer might still be alive terrifies the young hero, but he has no intention to back down. Hunted or not, he is always ready to smite down all of Mordred's hunters and make him pay for the grave mistake of challenging him.
"Well."- He says- "Then why does your employer hide in his fortress like a coward? Why doesn't he come out and face me like a man? Sending you to kill me does not bode well for his reputation, you know."
Steele sighs.
"I'm aware of that."- He says- "However, the mighty Darkthrop's workin' on a plan that'll soon be made a reality by us. And it involves someone whom you care about."
Now Adam is truly surprised. Someone whom he knows dares to help Mordred Darkthrop... and is close to him?
It is clear that someone told the evil sorcerer many things about him. Thus, he knows where he is, what he plans to do and where he is headed to.
"But nevermind that."- Steele adds- "Right now, I'm Steele- conqueror of the world and future owner of the elemental crystals. Nobody can stop me!"
Derion patiently aims his bow at him, looking for a sign of weakness.
"We'll see about that, villain."- He mutters and shoots an arrow at him.
Steele notices that he is under attack and dodges the arrow. Then, he lunges forward and punches Derion a few times, stunning him for a few seconds.
Derion is surprised that Steele fights with nothing more than his bare hands.
"Does this man even try to fight with a weapon?"- He wonders- "I think that I should teach him a lesson, one that he will never forget."
Having said that, he draws his daggers and charges, intending to take him by surprise.
However, Steele is prepared for this. He jumps back and infuses his fists with powerful, dark magic.
In a matter of ten seconds, he throws Mardek away from him and slams both of his fists into the ground, creating a massive earthquake.
A large rock juts out of the ground, striking Derion and knocking him back.
As Derion tries to get up, Steele quickly approaches him and smiles.
"I know everything about ya."- He says- "You're the rebellious elven prince who wishes to dethrone his own papa and make him pay for what you did to yer dear mama."
He grins.
"You know what I think about it?"- He continues- "That ain't gonna work. Sooner or later, your daddy is gonna find ya and make ya regret yer decisions. You're a wanted man, Derion. Dead or alive, they're gonna take you back. I guarantee it."
Derion angrily aims his bow at the villain.
"You don't know anything about me!"- He says and prepares to shoot.
However, Steele is one step ahead of him. Seeing that he is ready to make his move, he swiftly takes his bow from his hands and breaks it in half.
Derion is shocked.
"My bow!"- He says- "It was a gift by my mother. And you... you ruined it!"
Emela notices that Derion's rage is rising and tries to comfort him.
"It's okay, prince. We'll repair it."- She says- "It will be as good as new."
Derion shakes his head.
"No."- He says- "Nothing is okay."
He draws his daggers.
"Nothing is okay!"
Emela tries to warn him not to get angry, but her pleas are left unanswered by the elven prince.
He lunges toward Steele, intending to make him pay for what he has done.
Steele tries to fight back, but is easily disarmed and wounded by Derion. 
Seeing that his plan is not working, he decides to run for his life, away from the infuriated prince. However, his plan is thwarted by Adam who trips him and makes sure that he doesn't escape.
"I saw what you did back there."- He says- "Nobody breaks the possessions of my friends and thinks that he can get away with it."
He grabs him by the shoulders and forcefully twists his body to face Derion.
"Go ahead, my friend!"- He yells- "He is all yours!"
Derion does not say anything. Instead, he lunges forward and stabs him mercilessly.
Slowly but surely, Steele's energy is being poured out as his wounds bleed at an alarming rate. He tries to free himself, but this only prompts Adam to tighten his grip.
Meanwhile, Derion continues to plunge the daggers into the villain's body and swiftly pull them back, only to plunge them into a different part of his body.
After three minutes of endless punishment, Adam realizes that Steele is too weak to do anything. He lets go of him and watches as he falls on the ground below.
"This is it."- He says- "We did it."
Derion stares at Steele's (seemingly lifeless) body and smirks.
"I could have done worse."- He says- "The way he broke it, it made me... furious."
Adam nods and places his hand on the elven prince's shoulder.
"Your anger was justified."- He says- "I know the feeling of losing something important to you."
Derion sighs.
"So, we're cut from the same cloth."- He says- "We fight for what's dear to us and we're bound to lose part of it, sooner or later. Heroes until the end."
Adam nods.
"Exactly."- He says- "So. What should we do with him."
Derion looks at Steele and sighs.
"Burn his remains until there's nothing left."- He says- "Villains deserve nothing more."
Adam nods.
"I hate to admit it, but you are right."- He says- "Come on. Let us take care of him."
As Adam prepares to take Steele's body away, he gasps and takes a step back.
"What?"- Derion asks him- "What is it?"
Adam points at Steele.
"He... he is alive!"
Derion looks at the villain. He soon realizes that Adam is telling the truth.
Steele weakly gets up, bloodied and bruised. He tries to attack them, but thinks better of it.
"It's not worth it. Not... anymore."- He says- "My gang's gone, so I'm gonna proceed with Plan Two."
Adam and Derion stare at each other.
"Plan Two?"- Adam asks Steele- "What do you mean?"
Steele grins weakly.
"Fools."- He says- "You thought that it didn't have another plan? How sad."
He quickly pulls a small, black orb out of his pocket.
"I still have a trick up my sleeve."- He continues- "And I'm gonna use it!"
Adam rushes forward and tries to knock the orb out of his hand.
"Back off, hero!"- Steele yells and pushes him away- "You ain't gonna stop me!"
With a swift motion of his right hand, he casts a powerful wind spell. A dark wind pushes both Adam and Derion back and allows him to make his move, this time unimpeded by anyone.
"See ya at the temple, suckers!"- Steele says and throws the orb on the ground.
It doesn't take long for the young heroes to realize that the item Steele is holding is a teleportation device. As soon as the mist emanating from its broken surface touches the villain, he starts to fade away.
Soon, he is completely gone.
"He... he escaped."- Derion says- "We failed to kill him."
Adam shakes his head.
"It is my fault."- He says- "I should have... should have..."
Elwyen hugs her friend as Emela inspects the glass shards on the ground.
"Looks like Mordred Darkthrop has armed his allies with much more than just a common purpose."- She says- "Defeating Steele has been an arduous task for all us. But now? I can see that it will be nearly impossible."
Mardek nods.
"Well."- He says- "Looks like our old friend has decided to use more than just petty insults and punches, eh?"
Emela sighs.
"You said it, Mardek."- She responds- "However, our mission is still the same. No matter what happens next, Steele must die. There's no other way to get rid of him."
Adam looks up at her.
"But how? How can we possibly put him down for good?"- He asks her- "Do we even know where is going?"
Emela is surprised by Adam's question. She is not quite sure how to respond.
"Honestly, I'm not sure."- She says and shrugs- "I may be the Water Guardian, but I can't sense the evil within any other temple than my own. I'm sorry."
Mardek sighs.
"Well."- He says- "Trial and error is our next option, then."
Adam shakes his head.
"There must be a way to find him."- He says- "I will not let him take any of the crystals."
Emela sighs.
"If only there were an easier way to locate him."- She says- "Mardek's right. Our best bet at this moment is to explore all of the temples until we find a clue that will lead us to his current location. I'm afraid that we don't have a choice."
Adam and his allies argue what to do next. They are so preoccupied with their new problem that they fail to notice a person who is approaching them.
He gets very close to them, but they still ignore him.
"Excuse me."- He says- "Are you Adam Kaos?"
Adam turns around. Finally, he notices him.
"Yes. That is me."- He says- "How can I help you?'
The person approaches him and looks down.
"Gloria told me a lot of good things about you. It is an honor for me to meet a great hero such as yourself."- He says- "I also can't help but overhear that you were talking about the infamous bandit Steele Brennte- Gloria's half-brother."
Adam nods.
"Did Gloria send you here?"- He asks him- "If so, welcome to the team. Any help is appreciated right now."
The young man nods.
"My name is Aiden, by the way."- He says.
Emela seems to recognize him.
"Hey, kiddo."- She says to him- "What is your last name?"
Aiden looks down. He seems to be nervous.
"I... am afraid that I can't answer."
Emela raises her eyebrow.
"How so?"- She asks him- "I'm quite sure that-- "
Adam interrupts her.
"It does not matter."- He says- "Last name or not, I can tell that you are a good person. Carry on."
Aiden looks up and smiles.
"I normally don't talk about my last name, so I hope that you understand."- He says- "Is that fine by you?"
Adam smiles.
"Of course!"- He says- "If you have a secret that you do not wish to share with us, so be it. I will allow you to keep it."
He looks back at his allies.
"And I will make sure that it remains this way."
He turns back to Aiden.
"So. You wanted to talk about Steele, right?"- He says- "We are all ears."
Aiden nods.
"You see. Steele has always wanted to take all of the crystals."- He begins- "However, there is one that he has always despised and that he wants to destroy."
Emela raises her eyebrow.
"What are you implying?"
Aiden looks at the shards of glass.
"Although he is not able to use the power of the Light Crystal for his own nefarious purposes, Steele still wants to pry it out of its hiding place. When I was spying on him, he mentioned that it would be the first one that he will try to take."- He says- "In other words, Steele is going to Castle Goznor!"
Adam, Emela and Derion stare at each other.
"Should we trust him?"- Derion mutters- "He seems rather... suspicious."
Emela shrugs.
"Our options are limited."- She mutters- "Thus, this might be our only chance to find him."
Derion nods.
"Sure. Maybe he'll lead us to the villain. Maybe he'll be true to his word."- He mutters- "But what if he betrays us? The last thing we want to see is another enemy to fight."
Adam sighs.
"If that is the case, then rest assured that he will pay for his treachery. I will not let him run away after committing a crime of this magnitude."- He mutters- "He will be buried along with Steele and his gang. Period."
They whisper to each other for a while longer, worrying Aiden.
"Donnie, I'm doing this for you."- He says to himself- "I hope that you're proud of me."
Finally, the three of them turn back to Aiden. Having made their decision, they decide to continue their conversation with him.
"Very well, Aiden."- Adam says- "We will trust you."
He takes a step forward and stares at him.
"However, I am going to give you a fair warning."- He continues- "If you decide to betray us, things will not go well for you."
He steps back.
"That is all."- He finishes- "Please continue."
Aiden nods and smiles nervously.
"You will not regret this."- He says- "I promise."