MLIII C2, P1- "Bad Blood"

"Bad Blood" is the first Part of "Miracula Luxia III" 's second Chapter.
It was released on 27.11.2021.
== Plot ==
One year after the Sucia incident, Adam lives happily in the Kingdom of Goznor, blissfully ignorant of the things that have been happening around the world during the time when he was forced to stay there.
Although everything seems to be peaceful for now, something bad is bound to happen. The world is not safe... yet.
We skip the details of Adam's arrival in the settlement of Canonia and the months of training under the wing of his mentor- the wise and kind Emela and we jump to the present, when a new evil is close to rising.
Sometime during the first half of year 2056, Canonia's shaman has a brief vision the world five years into the future, seeing her stepbrother in the middle of the ensuing chaos. She also realizes that there is still hope for them and desperately searches for the only person who can save the kingdom- Adam.
Although Trajkov and Goettsch are long gone, other villains have risen to take their places. But not for long.
== Story ==
In a dark and mysterious-looking building, not far away from Adam and his new friends, a wicked man with an eyepatch and his small gang of bandits live secluded and plan their next move.
Right now, all of them are standing on a long table, staring at a large map of the region around them.
"Do you see this stuff, Steve?"- The man with the eyepatch says to the person next to him and points at a small beach- "There's gotta be somethin' over here!"
Steven nods.
"Yes, Mr. Steele. I can see that this location is rather... intriguing, so to say."- He responds- "Maybe this is where they hide the Water Crystal."
Steele grins.
"That's what I'm hopin' for!"- He says- "But we can't just barge in and take it! The guardian's gonna blow us into smithereens!"
Steven sighs.
"We are aware of that, sir. The Water Guardian's grasp of magical abilities is truly exceptional. Only a fool would underestimate her."- He says- "And I trust that you're no fool."
Steele starts to sweat. Being called a "fool" is something that happened pretty often in the past... for a good reason, too.
"Err, yes. I'm Steele Brennte!"- He responds- "I'm big! I'm strong! And I don't fear no guardian! I'm not gonna underestimate her, swear!"
Steven smiles.
"That's the leader that we've always wanted."- He says- "Now, what shall be out next move?"
Now that the matter has been settled, Steele grins again. His usual aggressive and abusive demeanor is back.
"Plain and simple, my dear Steven."- He says- "We barge in there and take what's rightfully ours. No need to think about it too much, right?"
Steven sighs.
"What if something attack us?"- He asks him- "There's a high chance that the resistance will be more fearsome than the ones in other places that we... visited."
Steele grins again.
"Again, no need to worry about it."- He responds- "Kill everything that moves. Leave no survivors."
He turns around and looks at his fellow bandits.
"I'm sure that Gloria's gonna find more heroes to repel us. She's always done it before and she won't stop 'til we're all dead."- He says to them- "Remember. Always keep your hands close to yer weapons. Don't let fear drag ya down."
One of the soldiers starts to shake involuntarily once Steele mentions his stepsister's name. He starts to say something, but Steele silences him with a glare.
"Stay strong, ya mutts!"- He yells at them- "I fought those bastards and lived! And I can see that it's the same for you! Plus, even if someone dies out there, it'll be for a good cause. I'm sure of it."
Most of the bandits sense that he is not quite as honest as he claims to be, but decide that it will be best if they stay quiet and not talk about it. The last time when someone said something bad about their revered bandit leader, he was thrown into the wilds and left to die... all alone.
"So. Glory. Riches. Infinite power."- He says- "How does that sound to you, comrades?"
The bandits cheer.
Steele grins.
"I thought so!"- He says- "Come on, then! Let's make those fools feel our power!"
He turns around.
"Once we're done with them, the crystal will be hours. And soon, we'll raid the other temples and take the rest of 'em."- He says- "None shall be spared! The glory and power shall be in our mighty hands!"
As the rest of the bandits continue to cheer, Steele walks out of the room and finds a quiet corner where he will not be bothered by anyone.
"Gloria, you've always been a pain in the butt. You've always been an obstacle in my life. For years, you've been thrwarting my plans and ruining my dreams without thinking twice."- He says to himself- "It took me quite a while, but I finally know what you fear the most. Mark my words. Once I get there, I'll make sure that it's gone. Forever."
He laughs maniacally.
"Soon, dear sister."- He says- "Soon, I will make you pay! You and all of yer friends are gonna suffer! Real hard!"
Somewhere in Canonia, a young shaman feels a disturbance in the balance.
"Something's wrong. Very wrong."- She says- "Could it be... "
She carefully stares at the image of the perpetrator, struggling to discover who he really is.
When she finally gets a satisfactory response, she gasps.
"No. I-impossible!"- She says- "Is this really him?!"
She shakes her head.
"If this pool shows me the truth, then our kingdom is truly in danger!"- She continues- "If we allow this fiend to get his dirty hands on the crystals, then we shall face a threat that is greater than the undead invasion our ancestors were forced to face more than a century ago."
She stands up.
"I must warn the others."- She says- "I must warn... Adam... "
Exhausted, the shaman stumbles forward. Unable to keep her balance anymore, she falls on her knees. Soon, she is going to fall into the pool in front of her...
In the last minute, she is saved by a beautiful, blue-haired maiden. She pulls her away and helps her up.
"Gloria! Is everything alright?"- She says, concerned about the shaman's well-being- "I heard you talking to yourself."
Gloria shakes her head.
"Elwyen."- She mutters- "You need to go out there. Find Adam. He's the only one who can... stop him."
Elwyen recognizes the person that Gloria is talking about. She turns to leave, but quickly remembers that the young shaman is not in a good shape.
"I can't leave you like this, my friend."- She says to her- "Let me stay with you! I promise to tell Adam about this. However, protecting you is my top priority right now. I can't abandon you, not in this state!"
Gloria shakes his head.
"No. It's too dangerous."- She responds- "Don't think about me. Think about the future. We... we're all in danger."
At this moment, a young knight enters the glade and finds the two knights.
"Mardek!"- Elwyen yells- "Over here!"
Mardek approaches them.
"Well. Hey, Ellie."- He says- "What happened?"
Elwyen starts to respond, but Gloria interrupts her.
"My stepbrother is going to attack the Water Temple. We need to stop him, as soon as possible."- She says to him- "Go to Adam and warn him about this imminent threat! I fear this situation might be more dangerous that I expected."
Mardek shrugs.
"Well. Actually, Adam is going to come here in a minute or so."- He says- "If you want to ask him about this, this is the right time."
It turns out that he is right. Not long after saying this, Adam joins them.
"Shaman Gloria, I have arrived to seek your incredible wisdom."- He says to her- "Not too long ago, a small group of bandits appeared on our gates. I hid from them and watched as they asked the guards on duty for me. It was clear that they did not have good intentions, so I am unsure what to do with them. Therefore, I came to ask you for help, hoping that you can provide me with an answer."
Gloria gasps and darts to her feet.
"Oh my!"- She exclaims- "I feared that they might come for us, but... so soon? The fact that they're so close to us is... truly unsettling."
She turns to Adam.
"Young hero, I fear that something horrible is going to happen."- She says to him- "Our world is endangered by an unspeakable evil and I... I... "
Adam leans forward and smiles.
"Fear not, wise and powerful shaman. I already know about this."- He responds- "I predicted this apocalypse and I knew that someone had to be stopped."
Gloria looks up.
"You... already know?"
Adam nods.
"Yes."- He says- "All this time, I feared that someone is going to disrupt the balance of this world. I read books about the former residents of our kingdom and asked the people for help. I prepared for the worst, knowing that it is going to happen, sooner or later. And now, I know who the true troublemaker is."
He stares at the pool.
"I saw him with my own eyes."- He says- "There is no doubt."
Gloria shivers.
"The person behind the mask of fear and despair... is the dreaded man whom you used to call your stepbrother."- He continues- "Steele."
Gloria gasps.
"I-it's true."- She responds- "I knew that he was up to no good, but I didn't want to see him again. I wanted to let him do whatever he wants, However, he recently became quite a nuisance and I fear that we can't ignore him. Not anymore."
Adam nods.
"I understand."- He says- "With your permission, I want to begin an investigation and search for his secret base. We might be getting close to getting an answer, but I cannot proceed without your blessing."
He kneels down, gently takes her hand in his and presses his forehead into it.
"Please."- He says- "I promise that it will be the good of our kingdom. Just... give me a chance. To prove myself to you... and everyone else."
Elwyen nods.
"Adam has grown up a lot. He can make his own decisions. He's a caring leader and a passionate warrior."- She says- "If my opinion matters to you, then I'll say that I trust him. I believe that he can discover where this thug is located and take care of him before he can make his move."
Gloria stands up and looks at Adam. She knows that it is a very bad idea to send someone as young and untrained as Adam, but she is aware that he is not a fool. He has defeated countless enemies before and there is no doubt that he is eager to defeat many more. In the name of peace and prosperity, he is ready to do almost anything.
"Adam."- She begins- "Right now, my mind is on fire. Part of me wants to convince you to stay. To let the soldiers do their job without your help. However, something's telling me that it's a bad idea. Thus, the rest of me wants to send you out there, to finish what others started. I know that it's dangerous and I'm aware that you're up for this job. Your heroism has been noted and I think that this is going to be a good way to test both your brawns... and your brains."
She takes a step forward.
"Be my guest, but be warned."- She continues- "Steele is very... erratic. Dangerous. If you're trying to use diplomacy, I promise that it won't go well for you. The best way to handle my fiendish stepbrother... is by bashing the truth into his head. Only death will make him understand the horrible things that he has done in the past... and the ones that he has yet to do."
She pats him on the shoulder and smiles.
"You... you've been very dear to me. Letting you go like this... it's hard for me. You're like the little brother that I've never had and I have a responsibility to protect you from evil."- She finishes- "However, I know that the world outside is your true home. You're forced to stay here and I can tell that you're eager to explore it as soon as possible. Well, what are you waiting for? It's all yours."
Adam bows to her.
"I will make sure that this villain pays for his crimes."- He says- "I do not intend to kill him, but I will. If I must."
Gloria smiles.
"Very well, then. Go ahead."- She says- "Good luck. I hope that you'll bring back some good news for us."
She watches as Adam and Mardek leave and sighs.
"Ellie."- She says to Elwyen- "I think that it's best if you go with them."
Elwyen turns around and looks around.
"Why?"- She asks her- "I can't leave you alone!"
Gloria smiles.
"You're worrying too much."- She responds- "It won't take long for me to recover. I'll make sure of it."
She looks at her.
"In the meantime, go with Adam and Mardek and assist them."- She says- "They need your help more than I do. Your presence makes then feel... safe."
Regretfully, Elwyen decides to let go of Gloria as two guards rush to help her out.
"Alright. I'll go with them."- She says- "But remember this. As soon as this madness is over, I'll be back. I won't leave you unattended for long. I promise."
Gloria smiles.
"I know that you won't."- She says and watches as she leaves.
Adam and his allies approach the southern gates of Canonia. As soon as they get close to them, they are stopped by Emela- Adam's mentor.
"Going somewhere?"- She asks them- "Well. You're not going anywhere without me."
Adam shakes his head.
"I am sorry, miss Emela. We are going on a dangerous mission, but I promise that we will be back."- He says to her- "In the meantime, try to look after the Water Temple. You are its guardian and it would be really dangerous to leave it and come with us."
Emela sighs.
"I know, dear. I know."- She says- "However, I can't just let you go alone. I hate Steele as much as all of you do and I want to redeem myself by helping you defeat him. Plus, I struck him with a lightning bolt a few years ago and I know that I can do it again."
Adam rolls his eyes, defeated.
"I guess that you have a point. Defeating Steele will be an arduous task for all of us and help is appreciated."- He responds- "I want to trust you, but I fear that his bandits may sneak into the temple in your absence. Thus, things might become pretty... bad. For all of us."
Emela places her hand on his shoulder.
"As a Water Guardian, I have the responsibility to protect more than just the crystal. I am bound to protect every single person in this kingdom, especially those who matter as much as all of you do."- She says- "Don't worry. I'm leaving the crystal in good hands. Thanks to modern technology, I have managed to build defenses that are able to tear the toughest armor to hundreds of shreds. The creatures that I summoned are also very fearsome, so anyone who dares to trespass the sacred territory will have a very bad time. Rest assured that they will be fine. Both the temple... and the crystal within."
Adam looks at his friends. They seem to be as unsure as he is right now.
"I... hate to take you with us when so much is at stake."- He says- "However, you are wiser and older than me. I will trust your judgement, miss Emela, and I hope that you will do the same."
Emela nods and smiles.
"Of course, dear. Thank you for trusting me."- She says- "I promise that I will stand by your side."
Adam looks at her.
"Just like mom and dad?"
She nods.
"Yes."- She responds- "They mean a lot to me and I'm not going to let them down."
Mardek takes a step forward.
"Well, the matter is settled."- He says- "The road is clear, at least for now. I think that it's a good idea to leave and begin our exploration before night comes."
Adam nods.
"I agree with you, Sir Mardek."- He responds- "Every seconds matters in catching those villains red-handed. Every clue can be vital to us. So, let us go ahead and do what must be done."
Mardek puts his helmet on. He lifts its visor and smiles.
"Let's do this."- He says- "I'm ready to confront this evil guy. Again."
Emela nods.
"It's the same for us, Mardek."- She says- "Come on. Time is of essence and it's a sin to waste it like this."
Having said that, she is the first to take a step outside.
Soon, Adam does the same, followed by Mardek and Elwyen.
"Steele, rest assured that you will pay for your crimes."- Adam says to himself- "Watch your back, because we are coming for you."
He turns to his allies.
"Are you ready, everyone?"
They nod.
"Yes."- They say in unison.
Adam smiles and turns around.
"Good."- He says- "Our journey has just begun. Let us do this."