MLSD- Part 4

This is the fourth and final Part of "ML:SD".
It was released on 20.07.2023.
== Plot ==
Although they met a lot of difficulty in trying to survive on the island, Will and Geralt made their way deeper inside, eventually finding the heart of the problem and being forced to deal with it. The killing of Annawan sparked a revolution between the rival tribes, turning the brief skirmish into a full civil war to determine who whill control the island after its leader's demise.
In the chaos that unfolds, uncle and nephew manage to make it out alive. However, this doesn't change the fact that they are still trapped on the island. With danger still around every corner, they meet a familiar soul and work together to create a pathway toward the mainland, in the hopes of leaving the doomed land behind.
Will there be a happy ending once again?
== Story ==
After the tribesmen leave them alone, Will falls to his knees, barely able to believe that both he and his uncle are alive. The feeling of hope is truly ecstatic for the boy, as he thought that all of it was lost when they were stranded here. Now, with an actual chance of survival in their hands, they might be able to make a difference.
"So. You finally got your first taste in killing enemies."- Geralt says and smiles- "That's good. It will help in the long run. Assumming you're willing to make it happen, that is."
Will looks at his uncle.
"I had so much trouble killing that freak. But... killing an actual god is different."- He says- "For some reason, I can still feel the whispers of anger inside of my soul. But I do not think that they belong to the spirits anymore. Someone else is in anguish, and I do not know why."
Geralt nods.
"The people of this island know about our deed."- He says- "We need to run as soon as possible."
Will stands up.
"Yes. We will."- He says- "But before that, we need to honor the man who led us all the way here, at the cost of his own life."
The two of them stand in front of the captain's corpse, paying their respects to the man who risked everything to make sure that someone would tell the tale. They wonder if they could have made it this far, if it were not for him. After all, he was the one who indirectly revealed Annawan's involvement in the mysterious killings. And then they rememeber the truth- that is the point. People like this man- insignificant and too unimportant- are the ones who make the biggest miracles. And that's why he should be remembered for what he did in life. He was the true hero here, and the two heroes know it well.
"This was so unfair."- Will says and shakes his head- "The captain had a dream. He wanted to build the way toward a brighter future for the naval industry and be with the dearest people in his life- his own family. He did not deserve ending up... like this."
Geralt shakes his head.
"Nobody deserves to become the next victim of evil. That is for sure."- He says- "But the people who willingly throw their lives away are the ones who achieve the most success."
Will looks at his uncle.
"Does this mean that Stella's sacrifice was not in vain?"
Geralt smiles sadly.
"Well. We're still around, aren't we?"- He says- "Stella risked everything for the people she loves. She took a bullet for the love of her life. She was hit by the train of emotions. And, even though she became yet another victim to the forces of darkness, she still lives inside of our hearts."
He kneels and places his hand on Will's shoulder.
"Stella never truly died, Will."- He continues- "She just moved into another plane of existence, to protect us better. Her love for you is still the same."
Will sighs.
"I guess that you are right, uncle."- He says- "I was so oblivious. So blinded by my love for her. I wanted to make sure that her demise is remembered by everyone else. However, I guess that the best way to do so now... is to keep on living."
Geralt nods.
"And to make it happen... "
Will looks at him.
"... we must keep fighting for our lives."
Will and Geralt leave the god's chamber for good. However, before they do so, they take the captain's corpse with them. Leaving him in a dark place like this is no way of honoring him, especially after what he did. They must bury him elsewhere.
Working together, the duo pull him out of the jungle and back to the beach. They discover the ruins of the ship that he owned in life and decide that it is the best place for the honorable burial of a warrior of the Seven Seas. Although they do not have shovels with them, this does not stop them. They use their own hands to create a large, human-sized hole, gently put the captain's mortal remains in there and seal the hole with sand, making sure that the sun does not hit it.
"He was a brave commander, devoted husband and loving parent."- Geralt says, as some sort of euology- "Even though the sea betrayed him, he never dared to do the same. He still fought in its name, up until his final breath. And now, God reclaims the soul that He sent to our planet decades ago. May he rest in peace."
Will bows his head.
"Amen."
The two of them stand silently, heads bowed down, for a few minutes. Everything is eerily quiet around them, the only sound being the gentle roaring of the sea- the captain's true home. Then, with sadness still inside of their noble hearts, they move on, planning to honor the captain's sacrifice by escaping Sunrise Sanctuary alive.
As they move back into the jungle, however, they start to hear screams. Bloodcurling, animal-like howls echo through the woodlands, easily making their way toward their ears. It is at this time that they realize what is going on- what they did to Annawan, indeed, has consequences.
"I think that the natives are... angry."- Will says- "Is their rage directed toward us?"
Geralt shakes his head.
"It is very likely, but it doubt it."- He says- "Listen closer. Those are not the sounds of people on the hunt."
As Will heeds his uncle's advice, he starts to hear the sounds of clashing weapons. Maybe swords against shields, or the other way around. Either way, the situation is unmistakable- the tribesmen are fighting against someone. And, from the looks of it, their enemies are their own people.
"But why are they doing this?"- Will asks- "The natives were so well-organized when we came here. What made them go mad?"
Geralt sighs.
"Annawan was keeping the balance between the tribes. They were always on the edge, even before we were stranded here."- He says- "The demise of their leader was the last straw. The last fuel to the flame. And now, the two sides of the tribe are eager to take control of the island. With an inevitable feud happening, however, this conflict can only turn into a civil war. And we're on the first seats, watching as the men of the jungle slaughter each other."
Will shakes his head.
"This is horrible."- He says- "Let's search elsewhere. I... do not want to hear them."
Geralt nods.
"For the first time in a while, I completely agree with your decision."
As the sounds of battle echo around them, Will and Geralt escape from the forest undetected. However, when they make it back to the beach, they discover a well-trained team of tribal assassins. Being of the more vengeful group of natives, they attack them immediately, intending to exact revenge upon the ones who killed their leader.
However, before they can even get close to them, each one is swiftly stabbed in the back of the head, falling to the ground as their bodies get soaked in their own tainted blood. Surprised, Will and Geralt look around, wondering who did this to them.
It does not take long for them to find the answer. A young, white-haired girl reveals herself. In her hands, she holds a small dagger, covered in the blood of the enemies that she just eradicated with her own hands. She has a cold, analytical look in her eyes, though a single glance at her makes it clear that she did it to save them.
Will immediately recognizes the girl. It is Mysta Windshire- a spirit of the wind who has been his best friend for many years, He and her have been through a lot in their short lives, and their bond is truly strong, even when faced with troubles like those.
At the same time, Mysta recognizes her good friend, as well. She rushes forward and hugs him, tears rolling from her eyes as a tiny smile appears on her face. 
"By the grace of the wind gods, you're still around!"- She exclaims- "When you were lost, I thought that I might never see you again! I'm so glad that I responded to your aunt's call!"
Will raises his eyebrow.
"Aunt sent you all the way here?"
Mysta nods.
"Don't you remember? Miss Aurelia's soul is connected to the ethereal realms. She is one with the light and friend to the wind., much like your uncle Geralt."- She says- "She immediately sensed that something is amiss and contacted my father. Since he was too busy at the time, I volunteered to go instead of him, especially when I heard that you're the one who's in danger. It's a good that I made it in time- I never would have forgiven myself if I didn't find you."
Mysta takes a good look at her friend. Due to the fact that he had to kill a lot of people to be here, his clothes and face are covered in blood. He is tired, angry and on the edge of breaking down, but is still alive. And he is definitely very real.
"You look like you've seen a lot in your travels here."- She says and chuckles- "That's okay, though! It's very fitting! In fact, those primitive freaks might recognize you as one of their own soon."
Will shakes his head.
"This is not the right time to make jokes, Myst."- He says to her- "Many good people died and we are the only survivors. We need to get out of here as soon as possible."
Mysta looks down.
"Oh."- She mutters- "I see."
She looks up at him.
"You still need to take a shower, though."- She admits- "That smell's... not so good."
Will looks at his friend.
"Be honest with me, Myst."- He says- "Do I look like a monster to you?"
Mysta shakes her head.
"The only monsters here are the ones who got you stranded."- She says- "Nobody else can ever be like them."
Will smiles.
"Anyway, it is wonderful to see you here."- He says and hugs her back- "I thought that we were truly alone in here."
Mysta smiles back.
"Well, not anymore."- She says- "And now that I've found you, we can escape from this horrible land."
She stares at the jungle ahead of them.
"But first, I need to find a conduit that will help me open a portal to the Mist Realm."- She adds- "Only then, we'll be able to escape alive."
Geralt looks at her, puzzled,
"Are you really thinking of going in there?"- He asks her- "There's a civil war happening in there! If we even dare to take a step inside, we will be caught in the crossfire and murdered on the spot!"
Mysta looks at him.
"I already heard about those primitive freaks. Their meaningless conflict reached my ears when I came here."- She says- "But there's nothing to fear. Sure, they might be a little busy right now. However, that's the point. They're too busy. We can sneak into the heart of the island undetected."
Geralt sighs.
"That's exactly where we came from an hour ago. I am not sure how you learned about that place."- He says- "But I am quite certain about one thing- that place is infested. Whether it is by one of the rogue clans or by a small horde of undead, I am not quite sure. If we go back there, we will still get in trouble. We should find another way."
Mysta takes a step forward and calmly stares into his eyes. This makes the hero feel a little uncomfortable, mostly because she is still a young girl.
"Look, Mr. Kaos. Me and my family have always revered you. You've always been an idol to all of us. But what you're saying right now... is complete madness."- She says- "Do you really want your nephew to survive? Do you want to see your wife again? Would you rather sit here, whimpering like a motherless lamb, in the middle of a pack of starving wolves?"
Geralt looks back at her. His determination starts to waver as he thinks about the people who mean so much to him.
"Myst."- He says- "I... am not sure."
Resigned to escape from the island alive, Will joins Mysta's side.
"I don't want to leave you here, uncle. You mean the world to me, but I can see that the world does not mean anything to you."- He says to him- "If this is what you want, so it be. Me and Mysta will make it back to the mainland, with or without your aid. And then, you will realize how right she was and beg to be rescued. However, the coward's way back is always the most painful one. Whatever you may do next, people will always remember you for what you did back here, the time when you refused to stick your head for your own nephew.
Geralt shakes his head.
"Will... "
He looks at his nephew.
"Both of you do not understand."- He says- "This is... not the first time I had to make such a decision."
Will raises his eyebrow.
"What do you mean, uncle?"
Geralt sighs.
"When Redmark attacked our family for the first time, my sister died in the raid. She almost got me killed when she reanimated and I was terrified of her."- He admits- "So, without another warning, I turned around and ran away from her. I was not even there when our family organized her burial, because I was too afraid of what our world had become. Even though your father did his best to console me after our loss, I still remembered all of the moments that happened back then. Those terrifying nightmares, fuels of fear and hatred. Like a child lost in the woods, I lost my innocence on that day. Everything that I fought for was in ruins and I didn't know what to do next. It was the most painful moment of my entire life... and it is clear that I am still reliving it right now."
Will shakes his head.
"I... am not sure what to say, uncle. That must have been terrible."- He says- "If this is what's keeping you back, then I do not want to go either."
Mysta sighs.
"I suppose that we can stay here. For the time being."- She says- "But we must make our escape soon. Our supplies are running low and it's only a matter of time before the natives come back to their senses. I prefer not to be stuck in the middle of an angry herd, if that's fine by you."
The trio decides to walk around the island for a while, looking for supplies and putting down any undead that they missed along the way. With each creature slain, the feeling of dread keeps washing over them. It is clear that things keep getting worse all around them. And, if they do not escape soon, they might meet the same fate as the other unfortunates who perished during the incident.
As the heroes walk back to the spot where they left behind the undead Stella, Mysta looks around. It is almost as if she senses that someone familiar is around here and silently vows to find them before it is too late.
"Stella came with you too, right? I noticed her as she was leaving. Poor girl was so anxious to go on a trip with you."- She says to Will- "But I can see that she's not with you right now. Did something... happen to her?"
Will looks around, still traumatized by the experience on this island. He does not want to talk about what happened to his girlfriend and prefers to prevent Stella from being sad like he is right now.
However, just as he is about to tell her that it does not matter, the trio sees an undead girl shambling nearby. With horror in their eyes, all three of them realize that the girl in front of them... is Stella herself.
"No. This is not real."- Mysta mutters- "So, you mean that Stella... is gone?"
Geralt sighs.
"We're afraid so."- He says- "Stella did her best to fight back against villainy. However, she did not make it. We... tried to put an end to her misery when she turned. However, it was very hard for both of us. We had to leave her as she is now."
Horrified by the fact that a friend of hers is dead, Mysta falls to her knees. First, she responds to the bad news with anguish, then with confusion. And then, she stands back on her feet and lets out a loud scream, blissfully unheard by the undead in the area.
Normally, Mysta is a calm girl. Even when she is stuck between the hammer and the anvil, she is still able to keep her own emotions under control. However, with the demise of a close friend and the broken promise that she made to her parents, Mysta cannot help but watch as pure, unrestrained rage fills her entire body.
"Why did this happen?!"- She screams- "Who did this to her?!"
Saddened, Will points at the fresh corpse at the beach. Those are the remains of the ship robber known as Walter Burns- the leader of the group who caused the crash in the first place- partially disemboweled, his brain completely melted... hard as it may be to picture, it is a grisly sight, at best.
"A group of ship robbers attempted to take control of the ship. They took Stella hostage and we had to fight back against them."- He says- "Stella... gave her own life to kill many of those freaks. But the price, it was too big. She sacrificed her own life to save the dearest person in her life and, despite our best efforts to save her, her fate was still the same. No matter how hard we tried, the odds were against us. And thus, we all ended up here."
He sighs.
"Walter Burns... he survived the crash and travelled all the way here. He was still angry at us for executing his comrades and wanted revenge. Truth be told, he almost succeeded."- He adds- "And yet, Stella never abandoned us. Even when shackled by the bonds of unlife, she still remembered the people responsible for her joy and anguish. She... attacked Walter. Tore his stomach. This gave us the chance to end his life and avenge her, though I still do not feel like we achieved anything."
Mysta's eyes slowly get wider as her look gets wilder and wilder with each passing second. Will has never seen her like this, so he decides to keep his distance. For now.
"What?! He killed her?!"- She yells- "I knew that I shouldn't have trusted that guy! I was certain that he was trouble, ever since I saw him for the first time!"
Will raises his eyebrow.
"You know him?"
Mysta nods.
"I passed by this freak while I was undercover. I followed his story and figured that he was some kind of outlaw in the past. Didn't think that he would come back to his roots, though. He was docile. Or, at least he pretended to be. It fools people easier, you see."- She says- "Eventually, I was going to expose him. He and his goons would've been sent to prison. Everything that happened there could have been avoided. But... I was too careless. I let him out of my sight. By the time I came back to my senses, he was gone. And I knew that he was going to do something very illegal. I was certain of it."
She glares at the corpse of Walter Burns. Burning hatred swirls in her young, untrained eyes. She rises to her feet and calmly walks up to him. And yet, a single glance at the palms of her hands show just how angry she is.
"I won't let him escape so easily!"- She yells- "He killed my friend! Our friend! And he thinks that he will take the easy ticket out of this world?! No! I'll make his life miserable, even when he's not around!"
Then, without a single drop of hesitation, she starts running toward him.
"Myst, wait."- Will says, running after her- "I know that you are angry, but it is most unwise to disrespect the dead."
Mysta shakes her head.
"There's no sense of respect when it comes to a murderer!"- She exclaims- "Now, stand out of my way! I don't want you to get involved!"
Will listens to his friend's words. He stands back as she runs toward Walter's corpse and starts fiercely stomping his skull, not stopping even for a second. She keeps hitting him as her rage slowly grows higher. Soon, all that is left of Walter's skull is an unrecognizable mess, never to be discovered by his comrades back on the mainland.
Left bloody from all the stomping, Mysta walks back to Will and Geralt, her face returning back to its usual calm state.
"There. The job is done."- She mutters- "Now, it would be nice if we could leave this place."
Will nods.
"Seeing how much pain this is causing you, I think that this is the best course of action that we could think of."- He says- "Come on. Let's... get moving."
However, just as they're about to leave the area, the undead Stella starts shambling further. The three of them see her getting closer, saddened that they have to deal with her again. As if once was not enough.
Realizing that both Will and Geralt are unable to put her out of her misery, Mysta kindly asks for Geralt's gun. When he gives it to her, she aims it at her undead friend, hoping to put her soul to rest with a single move. Tears roll down from her brown eyes as she prepares to pull the trigger and end Stella's suffering.
And yet, much like Will himself, she is unable to do so. She drops the gun on the ground and falls to her knees, her past memories of her friend finally catching up with her. She sees images of the games that they played, the nice things that they said to each other. She remembers how Stella always used to compliment her hair and admire her good looks, hoping that she would become beautiful like her someday. How she used to assure her that she's the most beautiful, suitable girl for Will. All of those things combined prevent her from ending the undead Stella's life.
"Stella. I-it's my fault. I never should've let you come here."- She says- "Had I asked you to play with me, you never would have ended up... like this."
She shakes her head as tears continue to roll down from her eyes.
"Please forgive me, my friend."- She mutters and bows her head- "I failed you. I don't deserve to be respected an angel like you."
Will looks at his friend.
"Myst... "
Then, the undead Stella notices them. However, instead of shambling forward, she simply stares at the three of them. Her eyes betray a worrying amount of intelligence, seldom found in creatures like those. And then, without another growl, she shambles away, refusing to harm the people whom she cherished in life.
"How interesting."- Geralt says- "She did not even try."
Will smiles sadly.
"That is my Stel to you."- He says to his uncle- "She was always so innocent and pure. Even when pressured by her parents, she never dared to harm anyone. Even a fly. And I guess that it is the same thing for her undead self."
Mysta stands on her feet, completely baffled by this experience. The undead Stella's attitude toward them left her completely speechless.
"Shall we go, Myst?"- Will says- "We need to find a source of magical energy as soon as possible. I hope that you remember that."
Mysta looks at her best friend. She alternates between glaring at him and acting confused. Then, she simply smiles and hugs him, a sign of true friendship.
"Please."- She mutters- "Don't end up like her."
Will smiles and hugs her back.
"I will not."- He says- "I promise."
Mysta nods.
"Good to know."
Then, she turns back, looks around and takes a few steps into the jungle.
"Let's go."
The trio cuts their way through the seemingly impenetrable jungle, stopping only to briefly catch their breath. The journey to find a suitable source of magic proves to be quite long and exhausting, but the heroes refuse to stop. Their fate is once again in their hands and it is only a matter of time before something exciting happens to them.
Eventually, their footsteps lead them back into the mausoleum that they discovered earlier. The same place where they found Annawan's chamber. Will hesitates for a while before entering, but soon decides that this is their best bet so far. He and the group move forward, determined to find their way home by any means necessary.
Soon, the three of them stumble back into Annawan's unholy grounds. Myst nearly throws up as she stares at the remains of all the people that he and his people sacrificed, barely believing that such a god was allowed to exist until now.
"My father never knew that this god was sent to Earth. He heard that he was quite unruly, but he never thought that the higher gods... would make it happen."- She says- "Witnessing the foul celestial's heinous crimes fills my heart with guilt. Nausea, too. Why would he lure people here, only to kill them off?"
Geralt shakes his head.
"Annawan really hated humankind. He only respected those who decided to yield to his absolute will. And his own tribe, of course."- He says- "Many people fell victim to his cowardly ways. Their lives ended in this very circle. I told him that he was doing something very wrong, but he just laughed at me. In my eyes, he was completely deranged."
Then, he walks up to the circle and raises his hands in the air.
"But before we begin the creation of the portal to the Mist Realm, we still have some work to do."- He adds- "The spirits of the fallen ones must be freed from the chains of unlife."
Will and Mysta nod, completely agreeing with Geralt's decision.
"Then it shall be done."- Mysta says- "Bring them forth. I will try to send them all home."
As his eyes start to glow white, Geralt mutters the same words again. Syllables that cannot be understood by the untrained human ear, part of the holy ritual that brought the spirits back to this realm last time. Soon, he completes the ritual and watches as the spirits of the fallen surround them.
"Why did you awaken us from our eternal slumber, Geralt Kaos?"- One of them asks- "Isn't our work already done?"
Geralt nods.
"It is. Annawan is gone forever."- He says- "However, there is still one more task, yet to be completed. Despite the fact that your souls were freed, you are still chained to this world. Your time is up. We must send you toward the Spirit Realm."
The spirit nods.
"We understand. It is quite noble of you to attempt such a dangerous task."- He says- "But it will not be easy. A skilled master of the ethereal realms is required to guide us. And I doubt that either of you are capable of doing this."
Mysta smiles.
"Actually, I am attuned to the higher realms myself. It has been this way ever since I was born."- She says- "I can help you leave this realm, but only if you trust me."
The spirit raises his eyebrow. He is quite surprised to see Mysta. However, he decides to stick to the original plan that he and the other spirits had in mind.
"We appreciate the offer, little miss. However, we are not ready to go just yet."- He says- "You see, we already know that you're trying to open a portal yourselves. To the Mist Realm, I can only assume. However, we are aware that you were followed all the way here. You cannot do the job before all threats are eradicated."
Will raises his eyebrow.
"Does this mean that the tribe managed to unite against us?!"
The spirit shakes his head.
"Not quite, young Kaos."- He responds- "Some of the people who were slain on this island... they did not understand the motives behind their slaughter as well as we did. They were driven crazy by their own thoughts and became... deranged. At best, that is. They noticed your arrival and decided to use you three as promising scapegoats for freeing themselves from the chains that bind them to this world. So, if you want to escape from this cursed land, you must first take care of the cursed souls who still reside in it. Present company excluded."
Will nods.
"We understand."- He says- "Maybe it is for the best. Those tortured souls have suffered as much as we have. Perhaps we can put them all to rest while preparing our escape route."
Mysta smiles.
"I agree with my friend."- She says as her hands start to glow- "I'll get the spell ready. Make sure that they don't get close, else they will disrupt the energy that I'll be trying to summon. And please, be careful."
Will and Geralt draw their weapons.
"Well, uncle. It seems like we have one more epic task to accomplish."- Will says- "Are you ready for battle?"
Geralt smiles.
"With you children by my side, I am ready to travel to the end of the world."- He says- "Let the horde inside! We are ready!"
The spirit nods.
"Give them a few minutes. They are preparing."- He says- "Once they get here, however, there is no going back."
Will nods.
"Fine by us, fallen one."- He says- "We will never surrender to our enemies, corporeal or not."
The spirit smiles faintly.
"Then it is settled. The final battle may begin."- He says- "May the Gods smile down upon you today."
Geralt draws his weapon and starts watching the entryway.
"Alright."- He says- "Let's do this."
Humans and spirits wait for their common enemies to arrive. They walk around anxiously, awaiting the inevitable in their final sanctuary. While they do so, Myst inspects the writings on a nearby wall and drains them of their power. She uses her magic to built a small portal and powers it up with the magical energy, partially empowering it in the process.
"Well, everyone. We're making progress."- She says and looks back- "I don't know when those ectoplasmic madmen will arrive, but please, hold them back. We're so close to our goal."
Will nods.
"You got it, Myst!"- He exclaims- "We will not let them get close!"
Myst smiles.
"I appreciate it, Will."
As she starts adjusting the portal's energy values, Will and company start to hear the angry moans of the spirits in question. They ready their weapons, knowing that the first wave is not far away. And it seems like their fears are about to be justified.
Will tries to yell at his allies to be careful, but they get surprised by the first wave. Dark spirits pour they way through the walls, aiming for the warmth of humans and fellow spirits alike. The battle begins, and there is no going back.
Slashing incorporeal enemies left and right, Will and Geralt stand together, back to back, as more enemies pur through the walls. Even though most of them go down with a single attack, they fear that this is far from the end.
"Not bad, everyone!"- Mysta yells- "I'm making progress! Keep it up!"
As the allied forces prepare for the next wave, dark spirits appear from both sides of the chamber. They attempt to reach Mysta, but Will jumps in their way, slashing five of them down with a single strike and incinerating three more with a single fireball.
Meanwhile, Geralt manages to form a temporary magical wall against the creatures. They attempt to cut through it, but soon realize that it will take some time. This gives the hero a valuable chance to teach them a lesson. Soon, many of them are struck by the wall's defenses, screaming and fading into nothingness as more and more spirits appear to take their fallen comrades' places.
As suddenly as it started, the second wave of dark spirits is defeated. All of them vanish from this realm, leaving nothing but vague memories of their existence. Victory seems possible for the ragtag group of humans and spirits. The way to victory is clear now.
"Are you still with me?"- Mysta says and smiles- "Good! There's only one fragment left to set. Just keep them away from me and we'll be fine!"
Soon, the third and final wave manages to cut its way through the final wall. From all directions, dark spirits launch themselves toward the portal, in a desperate attempt to prevent the humans from escaping the place. Their sheer numbers are enough to cut through the powerful traps that Will and company left behind for them. They do their best to hold them off, but are soon thrown back.
In just a few moments, order turns into chaos. Light turns into darkness. The dark spirits who were challenged by the heroes easily make their way past their futile defenses, making their way toward the portal.
Forced to repel the spirits herself, Mysta uses her wind magic to throw them back. However, the creatures are far too resilient to give up and go back to their realm. They continue to pour in, throwing Mysta back against the wall. Helplessly she watches as the dark spirits surround the portal and prepare to nullify all of her hard work.
"No!"- She yells- "Stop them! Please!"
She tries to lunge at them, but realizes that she has become too weak to fight.
"Oh no."- She mutters and shakes her head- "We are doomed."
As the spirits are about to shut the portal down, a few of them start to get pulled away. Then, a few more are pulled, and then some more. In a few seconds, all of the enemies are pulled toward a mysterious force preventing them from destroying the portal.
Everyone looks at the entrance to the chamber and realize that a large group of tribesmen has arrived to assist them. One of them, possibly their chief, holds up a large black crystal, pulling the dark spirits toward it and sealing them all inside of it.
"Natives of Sunrise Sanctuary!"- Will exclaims and smiles- "You came to help us out?"
The chief-like figure takes a step forward and nods.
"Humen helped defeat big bad god. Humen saved tribe from bad rivals."- He says, using his poor English- "Humen allies now. We help allies defeat bad ghosts."
Will and Mysta stare at each other.
"He has a case of bad pronunciation, but his words couldn't be clearer than this."- Mysta says- "Those strange people are on our side. They'll help us drive the dark ones back."
Will smiles.
"There is hope for us!"
Mysta grins.
"Indeed, there is!"
As the chief swiftly pulls the all of the dark spirits into the crystal, he makes sure that he took care of all of them. Then, without any hesitation, he throws the crystal on the ground, smashes it and watches as the remains of the vile ones float back to the place from whence they came- the Underworld.
"Job is done."- He says and nods- "Pleasure doing business with you."
As he and his people prepare to leave, more tribesmen run toward them. However, they seem to be part of the rival trible, intending to take them all by surprise while they still have the chance to do so.
"Oh no! Bad tribe is here!"- The chief exclaims- "Need to run! Too many!"
Will shakes his head.
"No."- He says defiantly- "We will not run anymore."
Then, he and Geralt stand in the rival tribesmen's way. They draw their weapons, surprising and startling them.
"This may be your land, but it is not your destiny!"- Will yells- "You have no right to harm those people! Get out of here! Now!"
Recognizing Will and Geralt as the ones who killed their god, the tribesmen quickly get terrified. They realize that there is a much better chance of survival on the surface and decide to leave this chamber alone for the time being. They excuse themselves, in their crude dialect, and leave the heroes alone.
Seeing that the heroes just gave them a chance to escape unharmed, the friendly tribesmen thank them profusely. Then they pack their things and leave the area, allowing Will and his group to finish the job without any interruptions.
Now that all of the dark spirits are dead, the fallen spirits that helped Will and his allies have nothing else to do in this world. Each one of them approaches the young hero, bows down to him, then vanishes into the endless nothingness. When their leader approaches them, he smiles and puts his hand on the hero's shoulder.
"You know, I've seen many heroes when I was still alive. But I have never seen one with your spark. Your determination and devotion."- He says, continuing to smile as he talks- "Treasure those feelings while you still can, young samaritan. Someday, you will have to face horrors beyond your imagination. If there is anything that can save you from them, it is the spark inside of your pure soul."
He smiles again.
"But those are events that shall be witnessed in the future."- He adds- "For now, farewell to you. May God continue to shine his light upon you and your friends."
And then, he vanishes alongside his allies, leaving the heroes alone in the dark chamber.
"Wow."- Mysta says and smiles- "Did we really seem like friends?"
Will looks at her.
"Well."- He says- "Aren't we?"
Mysta sighs.
"I've always thought of you as my closest, most likeminded and kindred companion. All that you've done for me justifies my trust in you."- She says- "But... friendship. Love. I've never thought about those crucial fragments of the human soul in my life. Maybe it's finally time I see your world with a fresh pair of eyes."
Geralt nods.
"That is the spirit, maiden of the winds."- He says- "But for now, we must focus on getting out of here."
Mysta smiles.
"Right you are, Mr. Kaos."- She says- "Thankfully, the portal to the mainland is fully charged. We should be able to use it without any trouble."
Will smiles, as well.
"Then what are we waiting for?"- He says- "Let's leave this horrible place!"
Mysta nods.
"I'm right behind you, my friend."
Will looks at Mysta for a few seconds. He realizes that she means what she just said to him.
"Wow. She is calling me her friend."- He says to himself- "I guess that our relationship just took a full turn toward the light. How wonderful."
The three of them step into the active portal, arriving in the realm of mists not long after. Will and Geralt take a good look around, surprised that this foreign land is quite similar to their own, except for the fact that it is hidden by the clouds.
"Woah!"- Will exclaims- "Did we just end up in Heaven?!"
Mysta smiles.
"Not really. But we are quite close."- She says- "The Mist Realm is always directly connected to the Heaven above. The angels send us gifts, bestowed upon us by the almighty one. However, all of the work here is done by us. We shape the lands in our world. The dirt and the trees are molded, as if by a sculptor, to the liking of the lands of our brothers and sisters. Except that we have our own ways to move around. And make a living."
Will takes a few steps forward and almost falls into a chasm.
"Watch your step!"- Mysta exclaims- "This place is like the islands in your world. One wrong step and you'll be sleeping with the fishes. Here, you will sleep with the birds. The only difference is that you can get out of the water. In our realm, well, it's not that easy."
Will looks at her.
"Then how do we get out of here?"
Mysta sighs.
"That's the hard part."- She says- "Our platforms can only support one creature at a time. Having multiple people trying to cross... let's just say that it won't end well."
Geralt smiles.
"There is no need to worry, little lady."- He says- "I have the perfect solution for our problem."
Having said that, he inspects one of the platforms. Then he kneels and mutters a brief spell. Suddenly, the platform grows twice as big, allowing all three of the heroes to board it at the same time.
"Impressive, Mr. Kaos!"- Mysta exclaims- "I never thought that you were capable of miracles like those!"
Geralt smiles.
"It is no wonder why they call me the "Lord of Miracles", then."
Mysta nods.
"Yes, sir."- She says- "I can see it clearly."
Now that the problem has been solved, the three heroes step on the platform. It starts to move, taking them toward the next island in the chain.
"Umm."- Will says- "How many islands do we have to cross, if you do not mind me asking?"
Mysta raises her eyebrow.
"What do you mean, Will?"
Will looks around.
"Well, we still need to get out of here."- He says- "Staying on a trip is not our intention. Is there a way to get out of here?"
Mysta nods.
"There is. It's far away, though."- She says- "For now, just sit back and enjoy the ride."
The three of them arrive on the next island. Geralt uses the spell on the platform again and they climb it. As Mysta steps on it, however, she trips and nearly falls down into the chasm below. Fortunately, Will is there to save her, grabbing her hand just as she starts to descend.
"Wow, Will. Thanks for that."- Mysta says and blushes. A little bit- "You saved my life again."
Will smiles.
"Don't mention it, Myst."- He says- "I know that you would have done the same thing."
Mysta smiles.
"Absolutely!"
As the three of them arrive on the third island, they realize that something is wrong. They inspect the place where the stone platform is supposed to be, only to find out that it is missing. This means that they are trapped on this island, unless they can find another way out.
"I know that the situation looks dire, but don't be afraid!"- Geralt exclaims- "I will save the day again!"
Having said that, he takes a step forward, puts his hands in the air and casts another spell. This time, a bridge of pure light is formed in front of them, allowing all three of them to cross without worrying about the lack of a stone platform.
On the fourth island, they discover a lone control panel. Curious about its purpose, they inspect it, only to be hindered by the language inscribed on the buttons.
"Oh! I know this one!"- Mysta says- "Me and my brother used to study it when we were younger. It's one of the languages of the angels."
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"One of them?"
Mysta sighs.
"It's a complicated matter."- She says- "I know."
Will looks at the strange buttons and nods.
"I know this language, too. To some extent."- He says- "Do you want to work together?"
Mysta grins.
"Absolutely, my friend!"- She exclaims- "Let's go!"
As Mysta stands by his side, Will smiles.
"Wow!"- He says to himself- "She said it again!"
The two of them start to click the buttons and pull the levers, all at the same time. They check every single one of the labels, to make sure that no mistakes will be made in the process of hard work. Soon, they manage to make a giant stone bridge in front of them, conquering the fourth island.
"This is really starting to seem like some sort of challenging videogame."- Will says- "I mean, there are always challenges in the games that I have played so far. But this? Truly, it is something else."
Mysta shrugs.
"It ain't a lie."
On the fifth island, the trio encounters a mist guardian. He towers over them, five feet tall and made of pure muscle. Even though his body is made of mist, he seems to be quite real. And, should they fail to deal peacefully with him, things might get very ugly.
"So. My father placed mist guardians, in case some intruders stumbled into our realm."- Mysta says and sighs- "That's quite typical of him, though. After our mother died, he's always been a little paranoid. If only he dared to listen... "
Will looks at his uncle.
"Do you have a solution for this one, uncle?"
Geralt sighs.
"I am afraid not."- He says- "I cannot speak their language."
Mysta nods.
"Let us try."- She says- "We might have more luck."
Will and Mysta approach the mist guardian. He stares down at them, like a judgmental father at his own children.
"Child of the heavens. Daughter of the winds."- He says- "If you want to cross, you must solve this riddle first."
Will nods.
"Say your piece, warrior of the winds."
The mist guardian nods.
"I am the wind, and the wind is me. Everywhere I go, a storm is coming."- He says- "Try as hard as you might, but you cannot catch me."
Mysta thinks about the riddle.
"Hmm. That's a good one. Tricky, too."- She says- "This will be more challenging than I thought."
She starts to respond, but Will is faster.
"The answer to the riddle is... Wind Waker."
An eerie silence fills the realm of mist as everyone looks at the young hero. The mist guardian, satisfied with the answer, nods.
"Very impressive, young lightbringer."- He says and steps aside- "All of you may pass. Good luck."
With that, Will and his allies proceed toward the final island.
"How did you know the answer?"- Mysta asks her friend- "I was struggling to comprehend the meaning. And you just... went for it, without any doubt inside of your mind."
Will smiles.
"Well, I guess that I know more than I think."
Mysta smiles back.
"I completely agree with that."
Soon, the two of them reach the final island. There lies the portal to the mainland.
"Alright, everyone."- Will says- "Are you ready?"
Geralt and Mysta nod.
"Then let us proceed."- He says- "To home!"
And so, they step into the portal, fearless an resolute, as the world starts to swirl around them. Days feel like mere seconds as the portal's energy wrenches them in and out of reality, until their bodies are uncertain where they are.
Just as they suspect that this loop will never end, they arrive near the city of Silverdale- one of the last sanctuaries of left after the war with Redmark. Many people stare at them, understandably surprised by their arrival, but decide that they should simply ignore this sudden event.
"Wow. We are really back."- Will says and kisses the ground- "Finally! We are home!"
Geralt smiles.
"I never thought that we would make it out of that godforsaken land."- He says- "Well done, Mysta. You have done us a service."
Mysta smiles.
"You've helped me so many times. You gave me a reason to be kind to others."- She says- "Now, it's my turn to repay you. And I can do it forevermore."
Will smiles back.
"Right now is just fine."- He says- "Thank you for the help, Myst!"
Mysta nods. She prepares to leave, but something keeps her from going away. She stands by Will's side as a group of people approaches them.
"Look, uncle!"- Will exclaims- "It's aunt Aurelia and Quinn!"
Geralt nods.
"And Stella's parents."- He says- "What are they doing here?"
When the people approach them, Aurelia rushes forward and hugs her nephew.
"Oh, joy! The gods protected you from evil again!"- She exclaims- "I thought that this right was your last one! I was so worried!"
Will smiles.
"You know that I don't go down easily."- He says- "Right, aunt?"
Aurelia nods.
"Of course you won't. You have your father's unbreakable spirit. It is no wonder."- She says- "But we heard what happened out there. We rushed to help as soon as possible, but the ship took off very quickly. All that we were able to do was to sit and watch it burn from afar."
Stella's parents step forward, understandably worried.
"We heard that our daughter went on the trip with you. Somehow."- Her father says- "What happened to our girl? Why is she not with you?"
Will looks down. The mention of his beloved girlfriend sparks sadness inside of his soul. He shakes his head as tears start rolling down from his eyes. It is clear that he cannot say anything about her fate, but his traumatized state is the one that says it all.
Everyone looks at him, horrified. Stella was such a kind, loving and beautiful young girl. And yet, even she was not spared from the horrors of the doomed ride. Does this mean that she is gone forever... or will she come back sometime soon?
It does not matter, though. Stella's parents are heartbroken. Her mother, merciless tyrant as she is, grabs Will by the neck and glares at him.
"You! I knew you were trouble from the moment I saw you!"- She yells at him- "My baby fell in love with you because you were so kind to her! But she didn't know what you're truly capable of! You and your family are unworthy fools, sugarcoated in your own heroism! How could you lure my girl into dying for you?!"
Geralt shakes his head.
"Excuse me, lady. With all due respect, but your pointless blabbering is not true."- He says- "Our family has always loved everyone. We have achieved things no human being would ever witness. We have endured horrible things in our lives. And you claim that we are the ones who are unworthy?"
Stella's father sighs.
"Please, Mr. Kaos."- He mutters- "My wife is speaking. Please do not disturb her."
The woman continues to glare at Will and yell at him, telling him how worthless and disloyal he is. She starts to insult all of his family members for being responsible to bring him to this world. However, when she finally gets to his uncle and aunt, he loses his temper and punches her in the face, surprising everyone around them.
"You have no right to judge the people that we are, lady! Just because you are person of a higher class does not mean that you can lord over everyone else! Some people are far superior to you, even if they never mention it!"- He yells back at her- "Stella fell in love with me because I was the only person who truly understood her. Because she was afraid of you! She was scared of the kind of monster that you've become, the fiend that lives inside of you! Every night, she was crying because her life was a wreck! She even wanted to end it all once, but I talked her out of it! For many years, this poor girl spent her life alone, living in fear, hatred and inner misery! And what did you do to make her feel better? Nothing! So, stop complaining and open your mind! Maybe you will realize that you are the reason why she died... because you never showed her how to protect herself!"
He stares at everyone else, seeing that they completely approve with him. Even though he does not dare to say it in front of his wife, Stella's father is also on the same page. He lost his daughter because he never managed to show her how to hold a weapon. In a world like this, it could be a fatal mistake. And he feels really, really guilty about it.
"Is that so? Well, you're a fool to think like this!"- Stella's mother continues- "Your family never changed, no matter how many heroes came by! All of you are a bunch of law-loving freaks. Family destroyers and bond crushers! You've never done anything good in your entire lives!"
Will shakes his head.
"The only one who breaks bonds and destroys families is you, lady!"- He yells- "Stella died because of you! You were mean to her and allowed her to become weak and dependant! Me and my uncle tried to let her see what it feels like to be a strong person. And that is something that you will never understand, you money-loving freak!"
Stella's mother starts to insult him again. However, just before she can hurt his feelings, Mysta decides that she has stayed neutral for long enough. She approaches the woman and presses her dagger against her neck, surprising everyone again.
"I've had enough of you, pathetic human filth! People like you are the reason why I avoid this planet!"- She screams- "But that ends here! I won't let you talk to my good friend like that! He has gone through so much in just a few days, and you dare to put all of his work into the trash?! Well, screw you! You are the one who belongs there, not him!"
As the woman glares at Mysta, the wraith does the same thing. She leans close to her, burning her skin with her furious glare, as she prepares to finish her off with her words.
"One more thing. Stay away from everyone in the Kaos family from now on."- She mutters angrily- "If you don't listen to my words, I'll make a big example out of you. You shall be hanged in the realms above, to show my kin how pathetic and egotistical the human race could be. I will make sure that you bleed slowly and watch as your blood spills on the cold, hard floor below your feet. And when you scream for mercy, I will just glare at you, just like you glared at my friend! Do you understand that?!"
Will shivers a little bit.
"Jesus, Myst."- He says- "Isn't that a bit... harsh?"
Mysta sighs.
"I have to be harsh to prove my point, Willy."- She says- "I'm sorry if I'm scaring all of you with my words."
However, the woman refuses to listen. She foolishly tries to attack Mysta, but the wraith throws her to the ground and prepares to stab her in front of everyone. However, as the blade slowly reaches her chest, she has a change of heart. Deciding that she will not fall victim to temptation, she sheathes the dagger and continues to glare at her.
"No. I won't become like you."- She says- "Just remember what I said. Maybe one day, you'll realize that I was right."
Then, she stares at Stella's father.
"You."- She says- "Take your pathetic imitation of a wife out of here. I don't want to see her any longer."
The man immediately obeys her orders, out of fear that she might say the same thing to him if he tries to defend his wife. As the woman tries to lunge at Mysta again, he restrains her and takes her away.
"I am sorry for the inconvenience, everyone. No hard feelings, I hope."- He says and smiles sadly- "Let's just try to honor our daughter's sacrifice. She deserves it as much as the heroes in front of you."
Will nods.
"As long as Stel's loved ones still exist, her memory will always be honored."- He says- "Farewell, sir. Thank you for the understanding."
Stella's father smiles and nods.
"Likewise, William."
Stella's parents depart, leaving the Kaos family alone in the middle of Silverdale.
"Well, that woman was very crazy."- Quinn admits- "Simply thinking about her hurts my brain. What an absolute freak."
Mysta smiles.
"Just don't try to hurt yourself in your confusion, Quinn."- She says- "It's happened many times already."
Quinn glares at her.
"I'm not that type of guy!"
Mysta nods.
"Then what type are you?"- She asks- "Bookworm? Nerd? Loser?"
Will smirks.
"Nerd-Type sounds like the perfect one for him."
Mysta giggles.
"I couldn't agree more!"
Quinn shakes his head.
"I've done much more than you ever could."- He says- "Don't judge me."
Will raises his eyebrow.
"Well, have you ever thrown hands with an actual god? Or survived a giant ship crash unharmed?"- He asks him- "I bet that you only heard about those things in your books, my brother. But they are, so to say, not real."
Quinn raises his eyebrow.
"Wait."- He says, seemingly interested- "You fought a god? Like, an actual god?"
Then, he loses his interest as soon as he gained it.
"Whatever."- He says- "I'll assume that he beat you and that you started crying out loud. End of story."
Will sighs.
"Some people will never change."
Mysta shakes her head.
"You don't need to tell me twice."- She says- "What a loser."
Then, she turns around to look at Geralt and Aurelia, now holding hands. She smiles at them.
"Anyway, my work here is done. However, I want to stay here for a little longer, just to be with my friend."- She says- "Do you mind if I... join you?"
Geralt and Aurelia smile and nods.
"You're always welcome in our humble abode, little Mysta!"- Aurelia exclaims- "We're always happy to have you around!"
Mysta smiles back.
"Thank you so much."
Geralt nods.
"Sure thing, sweetheart."- He says- "Do not mention it."
And then, the five of them walk back toward the coast, a long journey ahead of them. However, considering what happened in the past few days, the road home is merely a light breeze when compared to the tornado of events Will and Geralt had to come face to face with. Soon, everyone arrives home safely. Life continues as intended.
A few days later, Will is sitting at the porch to the new Kaos residence. He stares at the sky, dreaming about something only he can see. While he does, he is joined by Geralt and Mysta, looking much better after their adventure.
"You know, I'm very glad that you took a shower!"- Mysta says to her friend- "You look so much better now!"
Will, however, does not respond. Mysta stares at him for a few seconds, wondering what he is thinking about.
"Hmm."- She says- "You're still thinking about him, aren't you?"
Will nods.
"All this time, I aimed to be a different person . I did not want to be like my father. Even though he's a hero, I didn't like the darker side of him. I wanted to be myself."- He says- "And yet, I still can't help it. I continue to think about the things that he's done in his life. And I can't help but wonder- is he truly proud of me?"
Mysta smiles.
"Tell me this, Willy."- She says- "Is your mum proud of you?"
Will nods.
"Well."- He says- "I am not quite sure, but I have a feeling that she is."
Mysta nods.
"Then your father must feel the same way."
Will sighs.
"As I grew older, I tried to decode the life that he lived as a young man. He was deeply scarred by aunt's demise and started drinking heavily, ruining his health. He fell in love with a girl very quickly and had children while he was still young. Very irresponsible, in my opinion. You should never do things like those."- He says- "And I have to be honest- I do not want to be like him. I want to be like me, and me alone."
Geralt smiles.
"That is the spirit, my boy!"- He exclaims- "A free spirit, exclusively yours, is just the right thing for a noble soul like you!"
Will looks at his uncle and smiles.
"Thank you for standing by my side, uncle."- He says- "Without you, I was never going to see the truth about my father."
Geralt nods.
"Just try to understand that we still love him."- He says- "It's just... the mistakes that he made. They are the ones that tear us apart."
Mysta raises her eyebrow.
"I have a question."- She says- "If Will's father is still alive, how come he didn't even try to visit him once in his life?"
Geralt sighs.
"I guess that he must be afraid of his family, hard as it might be to believe."- He says- "But don't worry about it. Someday, I know that my big bro will come back here. And when it happens, I want you to respect him as much as you respect me."
Will shakes his head.
"I could never respect anyone else as much as you, uncle."- He admits- "Even my own father."
Geralt nods.
"And that why the people who take care of you... are the ones who deserve the most respect."
Mysta rolls her eyes.
"If only people like that stupid woman could understand that."- She says- "People never see you as anything more than a hero, Mr. Kaos. They never manage to see the softer side of you, the one that truly cares about everyone else. You're an angel in disguise, but few people know about it."
Geralt smiles.
"It is alright, Mysta."- He says- "As long as people remember that there is still hope in this world, I am content to be ignored by the human race."
Mysta looks at him.
"Wow."- She says- "That's very... passive of you."
Geralt nods.
"I am aware of that."
Will looks at them and smiles.
"I think that we should drop this topic. At least until next week."- He says- "In the meantime, how about we boy some ice cream? The old ice cream shop recently opened its doors again. I can't wait to visit it!"
Geralt smiles.
"It sounds like a wonderful idea."- He says- "Let's go, children. To the ice cream shop!"
And so, the three of them walk toward the sunset, happy and content. At long last.