MLII C3.1, P1- "Dungeons And Dragons"

"Dungeons And Dragons" is the first part of "Miracula Luxia II" 's third Chapter (Episode Two).
It was released on 16.01.2021.
== Plot ==
While on their way to speak with His Majesty, King Starrus- the King of Avernum, our heroes (Safe for Jared) are captured by a large band of hostile Vahnatai and taken to their encampment to be executed.
Meanwhile, Jared escapes from their hunters. What seems like a cowardly act that has allowed our hero to save his own skin will soon turn into a plan that he will devise carefully. A plan that will allow his allies escape from that place and avoid a fate, more painful than a death in battle.
It is his duty, after all. Protecting his dear allies is of utmost importance to him.
== Story ==
Jared runs away as fast as he can. Vahnatai hunters are after him and he has to escape from them as soon as possible.
Fortunately, his adventures in Avernum give him an advantage that otherwise confuses those who have little knowledge of the land.
Soon, the creatures get tired and decide to walk back towards their encampment, embarassed that they were unable to catch the boy.
Jared emits a sigh of relief. His pursuers are gone. He is safe... at least for a moment.
However, his allies are still in danger. And, even if he was able to help them in his weakened state, he is still severely outnumbered. Fighting so many enemies at once means certain demise for him.
No. In order to help them, he must search Avernum for help.
And so, Jared explores Avernum. In the hopes of finding someone who can help him out.
Unfortunately, most people are too scared to help him out. The arrival of Rentar-Ihrno's Vahnatai has rendered them helpless and unable to make good decisions... at least not until they are still around.
Three days pass. Jared slowly loses hope as the world around him slowly changes.
His feet have taken him north, far away from the encampment. In a place where few people go.
There, he finds a lair. A huge place that seems to be the domain of a massive creature. 
To say that it is dangerous to go in there will not be enough. The aura radiating from it is... different from the places that Jared has explored.
It is an aura of... confidence. Determination. Fear.
Whoever (Or, rather, whatever) is in there, they clearly desire their privacy and will do anything to keep it intact.
Jared takes a deep breath. He knows that going in a place like this is like inviting Death to your door. In other words, it is better for people like him to avoid it.
However, Jared is not a weak citizen who gets scared by everything around him. He is a Hero who helps people in need... and right now, people depend on him.
He knows that he may have to fight whatever dwells within. If so, he is not afraid. He will fight it with all his might and emerge victorious. This is the way of the Hero, after all.
He draws Demonslayer and cautiously steps into the lair.
There, he realizes that it much larger than it looked on the outside.
The lair is, in fact, a massive cave sistem that can easily allow a massive dragon to live in it. And, in fact, there is indeed one standing deeper within.
Jared gets a good look at him and gasps.
The creature is a massive wall of muscle, capable of tearing down even the most powerful fortification.
When it seems that someone has invaded its domain, it steps forward, intending to repel our hero.
Just as it seems that battle is inevitable, the creature stops and stares at him.
Once it gets a good look, it nods, seemingly approving the quality of the Hero that is in front of him.
Having done that, it steps back. However, it does not stop staring at him... suspiciously.
"I can sense that you are no mere fool."- The dragon says- "Very well. I will listen to what you have to say."
It breathes a gout of flame.
"Now tell me, stranger. Why are you here? Why are you so determined to enter a dragon's lair and try to get his attention?"
While the wyrm speaks, Jared also gets a good look at him. He realizes that he is dealing with Melanchion- one of the mightiest dragons of all time and one of the few that are still alive, despite the current circumstances.
Wishing to show proper respect to someone who is stronger than him, he bows down.
"My name is Jared Kaos, son of Alexander Kaos and protector of the innocent."- He introduces himself- "I have traveled far to seek the help of a kind soul and my journey brought me here- in your domain, mighty dragon."
Melanchion grins, revealing a set of very sharp teeth.
"Ah, a fellow protector."- He says- "I am glad to hear that you are helping the innocents living on this land. 'Tis is truly a very noble deed from someone as young as you!"
He shakes his head.
"Unfortunately, I won't be able to help you."- He continues- "The people of the Abyss, those vengeful fools are chasing me and I am forced to hide from them, in this cave. Getting out of here will risk the life of both me... and my son."
At this moment, a smaller dragon takes a step forward and looks at Melanchion. He looks almost like him, the only differences being their height and age.
"Father, why do we have to keep hiding in here?"- He says- "I'm not afraid of those fools! I will fight them, if I must!"
Melanchion shakes his head.
"I... I cannot afford losing you."- He says- "Not after what happened to your mother... "
He notices that Jared is listening to them and sighs, emitting a huge cloud of smoke.
"Normally, I would refuse to help someone out if it mean that we will be endangered."- He says, then looks at his child- "But my son, I... I will gladly do anything for him. It is what I owe to him, after the tragedy that we were forced to endure five years ago. The pain that came afterwards is what made us more... suspicious. More... determined to stop those who would try to ruin our family further than it already is."
He sighs again.
"Very well. I will help you out."- He says- "But be warned. If you are leading us towards a trap, you will pay a great price for your treachery. Remember that."
Having gotten the dragon's full attention, Jared explains everything to him- how he and his allies were trying to meet the King of Avernum, how they were captured by Rentar-Ihrno's Vahnatai and how he was barely able to escape from them.
Melanchion breathes a gout of flame, angered by what he just heard.
"Those fiends! Haven't they learned their lesson? Oh, the poor souls who were forced to fight them and died as they did!"
He looks down.
"It sounds like you had a lot of trouble too, young hero. I'm glad that you made it out."
He sighs... again.
"If you want me to help you out, so it be."- He says- "I will gladly help souls in need to escape from those troublemakers."
He makes a motion with his claw.
"Jump on my back."- He says- "Now that I know where to go, we shall give them a small surprise. And they won't like it."
He looks at his son.
"Child, come with me."- He says to him- "Let's show those fools what will happen if they mess with the guardians of Avernum!"
The young dragon nods.
"Finally!"- He exclaims and prepares to fly.
And so, Jared and his new allies fly towards the encampment.
Meanwhile, the Vahnatai are preparing the prisoners for execution, among them Jared's allies.
John tries to free himself from the chains, but the Vahnatai guards stop him and push him forward.
"Jared, where in the world are you?!"- He says to himself as he watches the execution of a prisoner.
After the man has been taken care of, one of the Vahnatai approaches John.
"You, warrior boy."- It says- "You have been a close friend of Jared Kaos for a long time. Closer than most of those people, except the family members."
A guards pushes him forward.
"Now, kneel."- The same Vahnatai says- "You have the honor to die first."
Seeing that John is about to be killed, Marinette tries to free herself and help him out.
She grabs a rock from the ground and throws it at one of the Vahnatai guards that are holding her prisoner, stunning him and freeing herself.
Having knocked out the creature, she takes his blade and charges towards the executioner.
"Leave my brother's friend alone!"- She screams and stabs him.
Unfortunately, the creature is very powerful and quickly recovers from his would.
He grabs Marinette by the neck and slams her into the ground with all his might, rendering her unconscious.
"Foolish child."- The Vahnatai advisor says and turns towards two guards- "Apprehend her and beat her up."
The creatures comply, punch her a few times, making sure that she is unconscious. Seeing that she indeed is, they put the shackles on her again.
The advisor turns towards John and smiles.
"Now, now. Where were we?"- It says- "Ah yes, your demise."
It turns towards the executioner.
"Take care of him."- It says- "And fast. Who knows what else they're going to do."
The executioner nods. Without wasting any time, he grabs his large halberd from the ground and prepares to swing it at John's neck.
However, this is indeed not his lucky day. Just as he is about to carry out the command that he was given, an arrow flies towards him and pierces his head, killing him instantly.
The advisor looks around and draws its sword.
"Who?!"- It screams- "Who is foolish enough to-- "
Suddenly, someone throws a fireball at it and pushes it into a wall of spikes.
The rest of the Vahnatai look at what has just killed the Advisor and the executioner. They see a young man who is riding a huge dragon, with a smaller dragon standing right behind them.
"Vahnatai!"- Melanchion growls- "You made the mistake to play with fire. Now, you shall pay the price!"
Seeing that his father is about to burn everything down, his son turns to Jared.
"You must help the others before father kills them as well!"- He says- "Anger may cloud his judgement whenever he attacks. Hurry!"
Jared jumps down and frees his allies from their bonds, killing the Vahnatai guards that are holding them still in the process.
Just as he frees his sister, Melanchion starts to breathe fire.
One of the flames gets close to her, but Jared protects her with a magical shield.
Seeing that the dragon has gone berserk, Jared turns to his allies.
"Leave!"- He screams- "And do not look back, if you value your lives!"
Seeing that there is no time to waste, Jared's allies quickly run away.
Everyone... excepf for John who stays behind.
"What about you?"- He asks his best friend- "Why are you not running away?!"
Jared shakes his head and draws Demonslayer.
"I will make sure that nobody else gets out of here alive, namely those hostiles."- He responds- "Now go! Every second that you spend here is a fiery nightmare that you are forced to endure!"
Making sure that his best friend will be safe, John nods and leaves the burning encampment.
Meanwhile, Jared and Melanchion work together to burn down the encampment and kill its alien residents.
Soon, every enemy in the area is either dead or dying. Most of the tents are slowly burning down. Little else is left after the conclusion of the attack.
Melanchion surveys the carnage. Satisfied with the results, he nods and smiles.
"Well. Mission accomplished, I reckon!"- He says and turns to Jared- "I'm afraid that we must go now. There is so much left to do... and so little time."
Jared nods.
"Thank you for the help."- He says.
Melanchion nods once again and flies away with his son.
Meanwhile, Jared's allies go back into the encampment and look around, amazed.
"Jared, what was that?"- John asks his best friend- "Was that a... a... dragon?!"
Jared sighs and shakes his head.
"There is no time for explanations. We must find evidence towards the location of Rentar-Ihrno's fortress."- He says- "And quickly, before the Vahnatai decide to send a larger force to investigate what happened here!"
With a new goal in mind, our heroes scan the horizon, looking for information that will point them towards the right direction.
A desperate search for a change, sure, but definitely a welcome one. Especially in a situation like this.