Miracula Luxia C5, P2- "An Unexpected Journey"

"An Unexpected Journey" is the second Part of "Miracula Luxia" 's fifth Chapter- "The Forgotten". It was released on 04.11.2019.
== Plot ==
Jared, Aleks, Jason and Annie sail the seemingly endless seas of the Vahnatai Lands in order to reach their most populated parts and (Hopefully) find the creatures and speak to them.
Unfortunately, some of the Vahnatai are completely hostile and only wish to impede the heroes' progress to peace.
Will the heroes survive? And will they reach the civilized lands successfully? Find out here!
== Story ==
Aleks looked at the boat.
"We cannot take any risks here." 
He turned to his brother.
"Jason, I know that you're very entusiastic when it comes to boats, but leave this job to me."
"At least until we're out of possible danger."
Jason nodded and hopped into the boat along with his nephew and Annie.
"Let's go, brother. I am ready!"- He exclaimed.
Aleks took one last breath from the clean air of this beautiful isolated island and proceeded to hop into the boat as well.
He began turning the steering wheel and maneuver the boat to the south.
"So it begins. Father, Nephew, Uncle and Nephew's friend traverse the seas to reach new lands. This will be great!"- Jason exclaimed, clearly excited by the fact that he will see new lands and teach his nephew how to fight properly.
"Indeed, Brother. So many interesting sights to see."- Aleks mumbled while maneuvering the boat.
Suddenly, he stopped.
"For God's sake, no!"- He exclaimed, fearful of what was ahead.
Jared and Jason looked ahead. They gasped.
Ahead they could see a few small, but deadly rapids.
"So... we cannot go past them?"- Annie asked the two men.
Aleks looked at his surroundings, but couldn't see anything that would indicate a second path.
"Seems like it. We have to... to... "
The words were stuck in his mouth. He wanted to say it, but he didn't have the courage to do so.
Jared looked at him, understanding that his dad was experiencing difficulties.
"Come on, Dad! We need to go further! We might even find Mom soon."
"And she wouldn't want you to give up just because of some rapids! Seiko is always very brave, and so you must be, too!"- Jason added.
Aleks looked up. He was seeing a subterrenean ceiling covered with glowing fungus.
He remembered the beautiful moments he had with Seiko.
"We were so happy. Us, a family of four were the happiest family ever. And what happened? Because of the mistakes of a single man... this family was ruined! No, I won't let this family fully fall apart. Pull yourself together, Aleks! You've got a lot of work to do!"
He stood up, proudly and grabbed the steering wheel like a sword. Without a single shed of doubt.
"Alright then, everyone. Prepare to get a little wet, because we're definitely going to survive those waterfalls!"- He exclaimed and began maneuvering towards them.
Tremendous speed was the key. Aleks managed to overcome his fears and traversed down the waterfalls, grinning.
"I'm coming, Seiko! I'm coming, my love!"- He exclaimed, his love for Seiko never seeming to truly end.
"That's it, my dear brother! Do it for Seiko! Do it for your friends and family! Show those waterfalls that you are not afraid!"- Jason cheered for his brother, knowing that Aleks's courage will save them from the waterfalls.
Suddenly, Jared yelped.
"Dad, stop! The food!"
Jason looked down. The food was falling off the boat.
"Aleks, slow down! We're losing the food!"
Aleks listened to his brother's call and slowed the boat down.
Enough for the last waterfall to splash a huge amount of water on his face.
They slowed down. Soon the boat was stopped.
"... Is it over?"- Annie wondered.
"I think so. I don't see more of them."- Aleks said.
The band of heroes sighed.
"That's a relief."- Jared said while looking ahead.
The lands ahead were enormous. Numerous abandoned islands with interesting landmarks- Ruined cities, ancient tombs and even the occasional fort.
"Don't rest yet. The troubles have just started.
Jared looked at one of the ruined cities.
"Seems like it was abandoned long ago, from the state of the walls."
He was correct. This was a former city, destroyed by the eternal sands of time. Left to crumble by the Vahnatai who were forced to hybernate after they ran out of supplies.
The city's buildings were not a thing anymore. They were beyond repair, even by the most talented person. They just stood there- pieces of barely standing walls doomed to fall as well as time passes. There was nothing a band of mere adventurers could do here, other than take anything blissfully left behind by the bands of looters.
They sailed towards it and landed on a nearby shore.
While looking at the buildings inside the city, Jared was alarmed by a small grey creature.
It waved at them in a seemingly friendly manner and motioned for them to approach.
While they looked at it, more creatures appeared.
"Gremlins."- Jason mumbled.
"Gremlins?"- Jared wondered.
"Pesky creatures. Not to be trusted around your supplies."
Jared realized the danger they were in, but before he and the others could react, they looked in their pockets.
Most of their food was gone.
"Come back here, you little thiefs!"- Aleks ran after the fleeing creatures and managed to slay a few of them with his sword.
The rest were easily taken down by Jared who shot them down with his bow, sending some of them in the sea.
However, some of them managed to scratch Aleks.
Annie stood over him.
She looked at the scratches, caused by the nasty creatures.
"It's okay, Mr. Kaos! Just a few scratches. Nothing really serious."
She casted a healing spell to relieve his sudden pain.
"Thank you, Annie. I must say it- you've definitely become much better than when I first met you."
Annie smiled.
"I thank you for your compliment, sir. I'm always doing my best when it comes to saving the ones I care about."
"And that's how it should be, my girl. Heroes must always be brave and care about the innocents. And you are definitely doing that."
Jared shushed them.
"I think I spotted another Gremlin."
Jason approached it and grabbed it by its dirty shirt.
"Tell me! Who sent you?!"- He growled in a mindless rage.
The creature laughed at him.
He approached the shore and plunged his hand (Along with the Gremlin's head) into the nearby river.
"Stupid creature. If you don't want to talk, this will be your punishment."
"Wait, uncle! Let him live!"- Jared urged him to spare the creature, but to no avail.
Jason wasn't stopping.
It wasn't until Aleks phisically made him to stop drowning the Gremlin that he did so.
However, it was too late. The creature was dead. It laid its head on the side.
Jared listened to its heart, trying to detect a heartbeat.
"No. Nothing. The creature is dead."
"Wait!"- Annie exclaimed and pulled out her CPR kit.
Jason tried to stop her, but Jared pulled him away angrily.
"Why?! Why did you kill the poor creature?!"- He yelled at Jason.
"Because it laughed at me!"
"But it didn't want to kill you, right?"- Aleks voiced in, firmly at his son's side.
Jason sighed.
"Sometimes you must do horrible things to save the ones that you love."
These words made Jared remember what Ansem the Wise told him not long ago in his dream.
"Maybe it will live?"- Aleks tried to reassure his son, hoping that the creature is still alive.
"I hope so!"- Jared exclaimed and looked at Annie.
She was trying to perform CPR as best as she could.
Finally, after five long minutes, the creature began breathing again.
Jared and Aleks sighed in relief.
"The creature was still alive. Its heart had just stopped. But it had a chance for survival nonetheless!"- Annie exclaimed and tried to talk to the Gremlin who didn't know what to do at first.
Then he came back to his senses and did something...
He hugged his savior and thanked her in a very human voice.
Jason stood back shocked. He had never seen an alien creature speak almost perfect English in his whole life.
And here it was, a Gremlin which was clearly not very literate, speaking their language without many mistakes.
Jared, on the other hand, was very impressed.
"You can talk? That is amazing!"- He exclaimed and looked at the creature.
It was only a foot tall and had almost every trait commonly seen in Gremlins in general- Toothy grin, torn clothes and some of the famous "Gremlin Wine" hanging in its pocket.
However, it was also smarter than the other Gremlins. The creature had very sharp eyes, able to analyze any threat around it and try to escape when the situation is too dire.
"Looks like you guys need a new buddy to help ya. Well, here I am. Looking for a smart creature? I'm your Gremlin!"
"Lemme just get my thingies and we'll be set to go!"
The Gremlin packed a few things from its camp in a relatively small backpack. Small enough to be worn by a creature this size.
"Are we goin' on adventures? Like ohmygosh, are we?"- It jumped up and down excitedly.
Aleks giggled and looked at his son.
"Looks like you found a new friend, son! And it seems very loyal."
Jared smiled and petted the Gremlin.
"You're awesome. I've never met a Gremlin in my life before and now I'm very happy that I have."
The Gremlin smiled.
"Yes! I'm a good Gremlin! I'm a good buddy!"
It jumped on Jared's back. 
Jared was pretty surprised, at first, but overcame his fears and let the creature stand on his shoulder.
"It's actually pretty light!"- He said to himself, amazed by the low weight of the Gremlin, even with a backpack equipped. 
"Alright then, new buddy. Let's go!"- Jared exclaimed and headed to the boat.
He and the Gremlin waited for the others to loot the other Gremlins's camp.
"Those were bad Gremlins. They always tried to hunt me down, but I managed to push them away. They wanted to attack again, but they were distracted by your arrival. So that's why I am safe."
Jared petted the Gremlin and smiled.
"You must be pretty lucky! You survived many attacks by those Gremlins. You survived living alone out here. You even survived drowning in the river! You are indeed a very lucky Gremlin."
"Heck yeah I am, bud! I'm the luckiest Gremlin around!"- The Gremlin yelled, its eyes beaming with pride and joy.
Jared sat on the boat, lost in thought.
"Do you have a name, Gremlin?"- He asked his new friend.
The Gremlin raised its eyebrow.
"What's a name?"
"It means that you're called by a certain word."
"Oh! A word thing!"- The Gremin exclaimed- "Well, I don't have a name."
"Looks like it still has a lot to learn. But I will give it a chance. It seems smart."- Jared said to himself.
He wondered about a name. Finally, he turned to the Gremlin, with an idea for a name in mind.
"What about Bucky?"- He asked it.
"Bucky?"- It looked at him, confused.
"Sounds like a great name! It's pretty cute, but also very cool."- Annie added from behind them.
The Gremlin smiled.
"Bucky! Very cool! Bucky can stand proud in front of its pesky, unnamed brothers and sisters."
"That'll show 'em!"
Jared smiled as his father and his uncle approached the boat.
"The creatures didn't have much. Seems like the river swept away most of their stuff. They had a few potions, some food, but that's all."- Aleks said while briefly taking one last look at the camp.
"Better than nothing."- Said Annie as Jason counted the potions.
"Let's go. We need to explore the other islands before we go further."
The team nodded and lokked forward to a new exciting adventure.
The four of them were now five. The Gremlin seemed like a loyal friend. Maybe even a good fighter, who knows?
Their adventures were just beginning. A new horizon was opened for them- A horizon which will lead to many exciting adventures and places of power.
They just had to brave forward towards them.
== Trivia ==
* This Part is... Well, the reason why I named it like this is self-explanatory. No need to elaborate.
* The Gremlin's words "Looking for a smart creature? I'm your gremlin!" is a reference to one of the Goblin Tinkerer (An NPC in Terraria)'s quotes- "Looking for a gadgets expert? I'm your goblin!".
* This is the first Part which introduces a non-human as a Main Character.