MLIII C4, P1- "A Date With Fate"

"A Date With Fate" is the first Part of "Miracula Luxia III" 's fourth Chapter.
It was released on 28.02.2022.
== Plot ==
Once again, Destiny has separated Adam from his allies. As the world lies in ruin and chaos settles into the minds of those who fight for freedom, he has to wander alone.
His only ally is his father. Nothing will ever be the same for him. And, should he fail his sacred task, the entire world will crumble and darkness will reign supreme. In a time like this, he must be prepared for the worst to happen. And this is not a lie.
As Adam prepares to fight the darkness once again, the servants of Darkthrop continue to hunt for him. Eventually, his endeavors lead him to a new land, sieged by the evil empire.
It is time for the young hero to show those fools that the hand of justice has not forgotten about them. Or forgiven them.
Onward!
== Story ==
Adam and Jared enter the settlement of Canonia. There, they meet Gloria, who has managed to settle back into her cave.
"Welcome back, my friend."- She says to Adam and shakes his hand- "I'm glad to see that you're safe and sound."
She looks at him sadly.
"I can see that you're worried about something."- She says- "Did something happen when we parted ways?"
Adam tries to give a proper answer, but the feeling of guilt that has settled into his fragile heart has left him feeling insecure. Instead, he shakes his head and looks down.
A single tear runs down his cheek as he remembers how he was separated from his allies.
"Curse you, Darkheart."- He says to himself- "I will make you regret challenging our family. Someday."
Jared notices the unrest within his son and decides to speak for him.
"When we left the elven kingdom, we were... surprised by a certain individual."- He says- "His name is Derek Darkheart."
The mention of the bandit leader's name is enough to make Gloria angry and worried at the same time.
"Derek Darkheart, huh?"- She says and shakes her head- "That outlaw doesn't know how foolish he is. He just keeps on troubling the authorities."
She snorts.
"No respect for anyone, but his own gang."
Jared nods.
"Anyway, we were cornered by him and his bandits. We wanted to leave and continue our journey toward the Darkling Empire, but he had gone mad. He wanted to exact his so-called "vengeance" upon us... and, even though I was the one who killed both his grandpa and his uncle decades ago, he also wants to slaughter Adam. For interfering in his nefarious plans, I would assume."- He continues- "Me and my son tried to reason with him, but to no avail. He lost his mind ages ago. But, when we killed his allies and cornered him ourselves, he was forced to make a choice that would either lead to his survival... or his eventual downfall. And, believe me, it was not easy for either of us."
Gloria listens intently. The reports of Derek Darkheart attacking individuals related to the Kaos family is well-known to her, but she never knew that he would be able to find the one who hunted down his relatives.
"So."- She says- "Is he still out there?"
Jared nods and smiles.
"Even though Derek tried to kill us multiple times, he is still my friend. I could not bring myself to harm, let alone kill him. And it is the same for Adam."- He responds- "So, we had to let him go."
Gloria turns to Adam.
"Do you realize how dangerous he is?!"- She yells at him- "Letting him go doesn't mean that he will leave you alone! He's probably planning his next move and-- "
Adam looks up and gently puts his finger on her mouth.
"It is okay, Gloria. There is no need to worry."- He says to her calmly- "Derek may be mad and deranged but, deep inside, he is not that evil. He is just a person who is lost in his thoughts, an aimless traveler who is searching for a purpose. And, when he met me for the first time, his only purpose was revenge. He wanted to murder my father, but he never knew that both of his relatives were rotten to the core. It was his choice to become evil like them, but I am glad that we managed to help him out. When he made a promise to change for good, I am certain that he was genuine. And, when we have the chance to meet him again, I am sure that he will be a hero. Just like us."
Gloria smiles and hugs him.
"Adam, my dear. You're always so innocent, so pure. Your heart is filled with hope and faith, even in times like these. You always want to help those who are in need of guidance, even though some of them are beyond any kind of help from... well, from anyone."- She says to him- "However, you should try to focus on the task at hand. People are dying out there and they need you to fill their hearts with light. You're the only hope that they have... and I can't imagine how dark and hopeless the world would be without heroes like you."
Adam looks down. He tries to look calm and collected, but his emotions show how determined he really is. An entire world is depending on him and there is no doubt that he will be strong enough to be its savior.
As he remembers those who have fallen to make the world a better place, his eyes fill with tears. Even though he is not afraid of giving his own life away to ensure the safety of everyone, he is still afraid of losing anyone who means anything to him. Such a though often breaks his fragile heart into many pieces.
Gloria realizes that she made a mistake. She hugs Adam and wipes the tears from his eyes.
"Please don't cry, my dear."- She says as he tries to wipe the tears from her own eyes as well, to no avail- "Seeing you cry makes my heart melt. I can't take it."
Jared takes a step forward.
"I understand that you are worried about our commonfuture, but I think that there is no need to do that."- He says to Gloria- "We will save the world from evil, no matter what it takes."
He looks at her.
"If you are unable to trust a young man who has yet to become a true hero, then you can believe in me- the man who has devoted his life to protecting the sacred lands that we call our world without a second thought."- He says- "I have saved the world many times and I am always ready to save it again. And it is same for our noble family."
Gloria smiles.
"I'm sure that you will, Mr. Kaos."- She says and looks down at her large belly- "The future generation of this world believes in you. And so does every single one that came before them. It's what makes us feel special and we know it."
Jared smiles back.
"Do not stop believing."
He turns to his son.
"So."- He says to him- "Are you ready?"
Adam looks up and nods.
"Bring it on."- He says- "I am not afraid."
Gloria looks at the large map behind her. She sighs.
"Canonia's scouts discovered a small town to the west. That's where Darkthrop's lackeys have been most active."- She says- "At first, we thought that the place was completely abandoned. However, we were proven wrong when my scouts heard the screams coming from the tower in the middle. They tried to save whoever was inside, but there were too many enemies surrounding it. It was impossible and I feel sorry that we let them down."
Adam nods.
"Do you know if they are still alive?"
Gloria throws her hands in the air.
"We tried our best, but it's far beyond our reach!"- She responds- "Only a miracle can save them now... "
Adam smiles.
"I can be that miracle."- He says to her- "Let me go out there. No matter what happens out there, I will do my best to save those poor innocents. You know how guilty I will feel if I left them behind when they needed them the most so please, listen to your heart and do the right thing."
It is clear that Gloria does not want Adam and his father to get in trouble, but she has no other choice. Regretfully, she says:
"Okay. You may go."
Adam nods and smiles.
"You will not regret it."- He says- "I will do my best."
Jared nods.
"While we fight those traitors, we will try to find clues that will lead us to Darkthrop's headquarters."- He adds- "I feel like we are getting closer to the source of this disaster. Failing our quest when we have gone so far would be completely unacceptable."
Gloria sighs.
"See that you do."- She says- "Now, I think that it's time to part ways again. I hope that we will meet again, but I'm afraid that I'm a little skeptical about that."
She takes a step forward and looks at the two heroes.
"Before you go, I have something for you."
She pulls out something from her pouch and approaches Adam. Before he can ask what it is, she motions for him to open his hand and gently leaves the item in it.
Adam looks down and gasps. For some reason, he seems to recognize it.
"How can this be?"- He wonders aloud- "I thought that it was lost for good!"
The item in question is a small charm which, on the outside, looks like a completely ordinary item. A white chain with a circular symbol at the end of it.
However, there something stange about it. It is as if an incredible power emanates from it, something that is able to motivate its wearer and allow them to performin noble deeds without asking for guidance. A small item that is meant to be worn by heroes whose purpose is not quite certain yet... like Adam.
Gloria responds to Adam's childlike glee with a wide smile. She knows the feeling of remembering someone who is truly important to her and is genuinely sympathetic to him.
"This item used to belong to your aunt. Before she gave her life away to protect your family, she gave it to my family. She hoped that it would help the future generation of heroes that originates from the Kaos family and I think that she made the right choice."- She says and smiles again- "Remember, Adam. No matter how far you get from home, you will never be alone. It is what your auntie always wanted and it's the same for me."
Jared takes a step forward and hugs Gloria.
"Back then, I thought that my sister was gone forever. Reduced to ashes, never to me remembered again. But now, my hope has finally been restored. There is still a bright memory left of her, a feeling of joy and glee that will guide us to victory."- He says to her- "I am grateful that you took the time to give this charm back to us, my dear. Thanks to you, my sister's mythical legacy will never be forgotten."
Gloria smiles.
"Even though Mrs. Kaos is gone, heroes like you are keeping the memory of her alive, especially in a time like this."- She responds- "If anyone has to thank someone for what they've done, I think that it should be me. So, thank you for your service, sir. Your sister will be proud of you. I'm sure of it."
Jared wipes a tear from his eye. The memory of his sister still burns bright and the mention of her brings both joy and sadness to him.
Overcome by his own emotions, he turns to Adam and sighs.
"Let's go, son."
Adam nods and approaches the exit.
Before he and his father leave, the boy turns around and waves at Gloria. She waves back.
As the two heroes leave, she looks back at the map. She stares at it stoically, still trying to comprehend the fact that she is alone again.
"I may have doubted him once, but I regret it."- She says to herself- "Now, I can see that he's grown a lot. He has become a wonderful friend, a worthy leader and, most importantly, a selfless hero. It would be a crime to hold him back when the world needs him more than we do."
Then, she looks back at the entrance and smiles.
"Good luck, young hero."- She continues- "Let's save this world from the darkness. Hand in hand."
Adam and his father waste no time to make their move. They ask the citizens of Canonia for information regarding the sieged settlement, but soon realize that the people are too afraid to reveal anything. Although they do not reveal any details, it is clear that they fear that Darkthrop's servants will attack them and make them pay for taking part in the liberation of a place that they tried to destroy.
Close to giving up and unsure what they can do, the two heroes continue to wander, hoping that they can achieve something. Happily, their efforts are rewarded when a brave group of citizens reveals crucial information that will allow them to approach the settlement without attracting any unwanted attention to them. Number of troops, current location and even the settlement's condition are only a small part of the provided information.
Having obtained what they wanted, Adam and his father embark on a journey to the exact location as soon as possible.
It takes them an entire day, but they manage to find a place where they will not be seen by the enemy scouts. Standing on a small hill, they aim their weapons at the passing Darklings, watching as they rush to welcome more invaders into the settlement.
"They have dedication on their side, but that will not be enough."- Jared says- "A strong force of determined warriors will easily wipe them out."
Adam sighs.
"And we are not what they are hoping for."
Jared looks at his son.
"Are you telling me that you have given up?"- He asks him- "Look, son. I know that you are worried about me, but remember this. We are heroes. And there is one thing that is always absent- fear. No matter what we do, we show courage. We fight with valor. We dream of peace and prosperity. And, when we are unsure in ourselves, we look up at the sky and remember our purpose. The light is our ally, our guide. Evil trembles as we tear it apart. Our hearts are pure and our minds are strong."
He smiles.
"So. Tell me."- He continues- "Is this truly what you want? To run away and let those people down?"
Adam does not say anything. Instead, he jumps down and fires a tornado of arrows toward the invaders.
Most of them are easily slain, but a few manage to get away. They try to defend themselves, but Adam and Jared track them down and corner them, finishing them off as soon as they charge.
Jared smiles.
"Well done."- He says- "Now, what should we do."
Adam turns to the gate. He aims his bow at the invaders that try to raise an alarm.
"They destroyed this poor, defenseless town. Denied its residents of a peaceful settlement, of normal lives. They turned them into a bunch of pitiful refugees without listening to their pleas."- He says- "Monsters like them deserve to be given the worst punishment known to man- death."
Jared nods.
"Soon, my boy."- He says- "Soon, they will pay for their crimes."
As the two heroes enter the ruins, arrows are fired at them. 
It does not matter, though. Adam easily deflects them all and kills the archers on the walls with his powerful magic.
One of the Darklings crawls in front of him. Gravely wounded, it weakly looks up.
"Please."- It mutters- "Please... have mercy."
Adam glares at the creature. His hatred for its kind is still burning bright.
"Tell me."- He says to it, stoically- "Do you regret attacking those people? Do you feel sorry about driving them out? Destroying their homes and slaying the people dear to them? Do you feel like you deserve any mercy whatsoever?"
The Darkling stares at the town, then at Adam. It shakes its head.
"Our mighty leader decided that this town is too dangerous to be kept intact. We... wanted to teach them a lesson."- It mutters- "I... have no regrets. Those pathetic humans, they had to-- "
Adam does not allow it to finish its last words. As soon as it hints that it has no regret for what happened here, he hurls a fireball at its emaciated body and watches as it quickly burns to death, doing his best not to show any emotion.
"I thought so."
Jared watches as the creature dies. He walks up to it and kicks its charred corpse away from the scene.
"See, Adam?"- He says to his son- "Darkthrop's servants are monsters. Demons who only wish to serve their mad master and lay destruction upon our lands. You should not feel any regret when you kill them."
Adam nods.
"I thought they were people like us, but I guess that I was wrong."- He says- "My principles change here and now. I will not show any mercy to our enemies, especially to those who dared to curse our people with death and despair."
After staring at the creature's corpse one last time, he and his father approach the tower.
Both of them are surprised that it has remained intact. They wonder why it is still standing, but soon notice the faint traces of magic in the air.
There is a nearly unbreakable barrier that is protecting the tower from destruction, keeping whoever is in there safe and sound. It is clear that the Darklings are unable to break in.
However, this defense will not last for very long. No matter how powerful a barrier is, there is still a way to get through... and it is clear that the vile creatures are close to finding it.
Without any sort of help from the settlements around the town, this tower will fall. And, if the darklings do not kill all of the innocents in there, it is clear that starvation and dehydration will do it for them.
"They need our help!"- Adam says- "We must save them!"
Jared shakes his head.
"I am afraid that we cannot do that."- He says- "Those creatures have prepared a trap for heroes like us. Once we make the first move, they will take us down. With ease."
Adam nods.
"Is there anything we can do to save them?"
Jared smiles.
"Of course there is."- He says- "It is only a matter of time before we devise our plan. For now, let us go back to the hill."
Although Adam does not want to leave the citizens to fight the invaders all by themselves, he realizes that it would be risky to help them right now. Charging into this army of vile fiends will only result in his own demise. Regretfully, he leaves the ruins and joins his father on the hill above.
"We are lucky that they did not see us."- Jared says- "Now that their scouts and reinforcements are dead, there is no one left to stop us from helping them."
Adam raises his eyebrow.
"Then why don't we go there?"- He says- "I refuse to abandon those innocents."
Jared smiles.
"Patience, my boy."- He says and pats him on the back- "I know that you want to be a hero again, but try to supress your emotions. It is for the best."
Adam sighs.
"Every second matters to us, but you are the boss."- He says- "If we can save those people by surprising their attackers, then I hope that we can make it happen."
Jared glares at the enemies near the tower.
"I will make sure that they pay for their crimes."- He says- "Mark my words. This meaningless destruction will not go unanswered."
Adam aims his bow at the Darklings. He waits for some of them to stray away and silently shoots them down.
Meanwhile, Jared rushes to the town and builds a circle of wooden planks as close to the creatures as possible. The distraction that his son has managed to make is drawing his enemies away from him.
Once the circle is done, he leaps away before the creatures can spot him and rejoins his son.
Adam and his father watch the clueless creatures for a few minutes. They wait for them to get in place, watching their movements and trying to blink as little as possible. Making a mistake in a situation like this is quite risky for them... and fatal for the people in the tower.
It takes a while, but the creatures finally get near the entrance to the tower. They are more determined than ever and it is clear that our heroes must act fast.
"The stage is set."- Jared says- "Now, it is time for the final performance. The cherry on top."
He turns to his son.
"Are you ready?"
Adam nods, focusing his attention on the planks below.
"Of course I am."- He responds- "It is time for the lead actors to join the cast... and bring a swift end to the villains down there."
At this moment, one of the Darklings notices the two heroes on the hill. It tries to warn its comrades, but it is too late.
Adam enchants one of his arrows with fire and fires it at the planks without any hesitation. This action sparks both chaos and uncontrollable flames near the tower.
As the two of them listen to the screams of the Darklings, they approach the village and draw their weapons.
"I can see it now."- Adam says- "One arrow was enough to start a fire within their hearts... and reveal their true nature."
Jared nods.
"Even though they pretend that they are like their leader, those creatures are just a bunch of cowards in disguise."- He says- "They depend on the shadows around them, hoping that they will hide them from their enemies. However, they fail to realize how desperate they are. How easy it will be to make a mistake. And, when it happens, their entire empire will crumble. Everything that they fought for will be gone."
He sighs.
"It is how I lost your aunt."- He says and clenches his fist- "But that is enough! I will not let anyone else die!"
Adam nods.
"Let's do this, dad!"
Jared smiles.
"Go ahead, son."- He says- "I will be right behind you."
As promised, Jared stands close to his son as they get past the flames that surround the tower.
The two heroes watch as most of the Darklings burn to death. They try to look at their charred corpses, but they are too horrified by the grisly sight that is unfolding in front of them.
"The fire has done its job."- Adam says to himself- "Now, it is our turn to finish what we started."
Jared looks at his son.
"So."- He says to him- "Are you still afraid of doing the right things for those people?"
Adam glares at the dying creatures around him. He is horrified, but he tries not to show it.
However, he soon remembers how he never had the chance to meet his aunt because of villains like those. His eyes start to burn with uncontrollable rage.
"I am not afraid! Not ashamed!"- He says- "Doing the right thing is our duty... and I will not shy away from it!"
As the two heroes approach the entrance to the tower, the flames die down. Every single creature around them is dead... and they can see it well.
"It is over."- Adam says- "This nightmare is finally over."
As he reaches for the door, a large, clawed hand grabs him and throws him back.
Jared manages to push the mysterious attacker away just as he starts to claw at Adam's chest.
"Another creature of the underworld?"- Adam says and leaps to his feet- "Alright. Bring it on."
The creature stares at him and laughs.
It is at this moment that both of our heroes realize who is standing in front of them.
"This... is one of Grah-Hoth's most trusted generals."- Jared says- "How is this possible?"
The demon looks at them again. Realizing who they really are, he bares his fangs.
"You fools!"- It roars- "You thought that you could escape the servants of Darkthrop?!"
Adam gasps.
"You... have allied yourself with him?"
The demon grins.
"Why, yes!"- He responds- "When our master was killed by your father, we joined this new faction. They are true servants of darkness and we know it well!"
He looks at Adam and grins.
"So, Kaos. Darkthrop has asked us to bring him your head."- He says- "How shall we finish you off?"
Adam draws his weapon.
"I will not let you corrupt me, you fiend!"- He yells- "I will send you back to the underworld!"
The demon smiles.
"I see. Then, I'll do it the hard way."- He says and prepares to cast a spell- "There is nowhere left to run. Prepare to meet your demise."