MLTE- Part 4

This is the fourth Part of "ML:TE".
It was released on 04.09.2023.
== Plot ==
After dealing with the mercurial Apori and surviving the encounter, our heroes delve deeper into the Darkstone temple, discovering parts unknown, unavailable to even the most devout worshippers of the gods. However, even though the scroll is nearly within their holy grasp, a mighty guardian awaits them at the end of the trail. And in order to succeed, they must come face to face with one of their greatest fears- fighting an honest-to-goodness guardian, powerful and resolute.
To make matters worse, the mafia has managed to discover the exact location of our heroes. A caravan is waiting patiently at the entrace, prepared for the departure of Will and his allies, intending to catch them when they're weakened..
Will our heroes manage to emerge on top once again?
== Story ==
As Will and his allies proceed to walk further into the gloomy temple, Geralt sighs.
"Well, this is as bad as it could get."- He says- "Even though we are in a bad situation, though, we should not let our spirits collapse. Let them burn bright, and we shall be at the end of the trail soon enough!"
Mysta raises her eyebrow.
"You sound more positive than you usually are, Mr. Kaos."- She says- "Are you feeling alright?"
Geralt nods and smiles.
"I am more than alright, my dear!"- He exclaims- "I have not felt this alive in years!"
Mysta smiles back.
"Good to know, sir."- She says- "I am glad that Life is treating you well."
Alwyn attempts to shake free from the ethereal chains once again. Seeing that it's hopeless, he sighs and looks down.
"Yes, Alwyn?"- Will asks him- "Is there something that you wish to say? About our current situation, maybe?"
Alwyn shakes his head.
"I'm not the type of guy to delve into the past, but... I miss my old life."- He says- "Sure. It was cruel and unforgiving, but at least I had a house to sleep in. And people who respected me. My father hated me, but other people harbored no ill feelings toward me. I could have simply overthrown him in secret, but I was too lousy. Too proud to not act openly. I should have been more careful."
He sighs.
"Being a fugitive sucks."- He adds- "Once we're done, I'll start a life as... well, a normal person. Maybe I'll have more luck then."
Mysta sighs, as well.
"I feel you, friend. Your life's been nothing but a wreck, and mine's been similar to yours."- She says- "And yet, we're still here. Still standing. Our enemies didn't fell us down. The revolution still runs deep inside our bloodstream. We still have the support of our loved ones. So, this is not the time to wistfully reminisce the past. Our future's just as important as the events that already happened. Making it a reality's in our favor."
Will smiles.
"Myst is right, Alwyn. All of us had a lot of struggles in our lives, none of them easy. Or forgiving."- He says- "We had a lot to write home about. Our adventures led us far into the lands of evil. But we never forgot the fuel that keeps the engines of our hearts running. The spark that lights our hearts on fire. We are the ones who made it out of the darkness, who overcame our own guilt, in favor of selflessly standing in the way of our world's enemies. We are the survivors."
Geralt chuckles.
"Well, I couldn't say it better than them."- He says- "Keep being yourself, kid, and you will go far. Nothing is unachievable, as long as you believe in it hard enough."
Alwyn smiles.
"Thank you, everyone."- He says- "Being a part of such a welcoming crowd is truly astounding. All of the people that I met were just to shy to open up, or too evil to ever change their own ways. Seeing that there's still good, honest people in this world makes my heart blaze anew."
And then, he continues to shake the chains off, allowing the rest of the group to proceed toward the inner parts of the temple.
Further ahead, the temple gets darker and creepier. Will's orb of light starts to waver, barely functioning under the pressure of the omnipresent darkness. It soon becomes clear that it won't be enough to keep them save from the denizens of the dark, so Geralt decides to take matters in his own hands.
"I think that we need some more power."- He says- "Stand back, everyone. I got this."
Using his magic, Geralt grabs a nearby torch and enchants it. Its purple glow is replaced by a brilliant, pure white light, illuminating the way forward like the hero that brought the bright flame to life. This allows Will to absorb the orb of light, restoring a portion of his energy and allowing him to cast it again, should the need arise.
Finally, the four of them stumble into the deep parts of the temple. Everything seems to be very quiet. Way too quiet. And yet, even though there is no sound, they can still hear the angry whispers of the former explorers, annoyed by their current predicament. They listen to the quiet wails of the dead, understanding that they are not the first ones who attempt to obtain the Scroll of The Exiled for their own purposes.
"It is of no surprise to me that this temple is a nest for darkness and despair."- Geralt says and sighs- "Greed has been a problem for our "humble" humankind ever since the early days. It is a sin that is more than capable of corrupting a weak man's soul."
Will raises his eyebrow.
"Have you ever experienced greed firsthand, uncle?"
Geralt chuckles.
"Heh. I guess that I am not an exception myself."- He says- "But my greed is... situational. I am only greedy because I want to save up and help the human race, to make our common future possible to achieve. Still, greed is a bad thing, in all of its forms. We shouldn't fall victim to it."
Will nods.
"Well said, uncle. I completely agree with you."- He says- "On behalf of our entire team, I promise you that we shall heed your advice. No amount of money shall ever tempt us to forget our ways. We shall be unbreakable and resolute."
Geralt smiles.
"Ah. Your honesty is so refreshing."- He says- "I hope, for the sake of you and the entire world, that you are right."
Will nods.
"Well, me too!"
Alwyn stares longily at the darkness ahead.
"Uh, team?"- He reminds them- "The temple... "
Will gasps.
"Oh! Right! We still haven't obtained the scroll that will change our lives!"- He says- "Come on, everyone. There is no point of idling and talking about things that have yet to be achieved."
Geralt nods.
"Indeed, nephew."- He says- "Let's hurry, though. I fear that our enemies are already on the hunt. If that Apori person already told them about our location, then we're definitely in grave danger."
As they proceed further into the temple, Geralt's fears come true. Several of the gargoyle statues nearby come to life and attack our heroes, forcing them to defend themselves. However, as it soon turns out, the stone creatures are animated by the dark forces inside the temple, not the mafia that attempts to get them killed.
"Gargoyles! What a surprise!"- Geralt exclaims- "Creatures like those can end your life in an instant, simply with the swing of their stone sword! They-- "
Mysta shakes her head.
"Can we just cut to the chase already?!"- She yells- "Yes, we know that they're gargoyles! Let's end their lives instead!"
Geralt nods.
"As you wish, maiden of the winds."
Annoyed by the fact that more gargoyles are brought to life, Mysta unleashes a powerful tempest. Most of the gargoyles are thrown back and blown to many pieces, unable to be built and animated again. Quick work, but very effective.
At the same time, WIll and Geralt work together to bring down the rest of them. They manage to decapitate the evil creatures, ending their short existence in this world in a swift, violent way. 
From the looks of it, it seems like they have won. No more gargoyles emerge from the shadows and the ones that already did are not moving anymore. Victory is theirs.
However, just as they start to walk away, the eyes of one of the decapitated gargoyle heads start to glow red again. It lunges at them, but is easily sliced in half by Will. However, the fact that the head just attacked them is truly shocking for our heroes.
"What in the world?"- Will says- "That thing was still... alive?!"
Geralt sighs.
"What a rare occurence."- He says- "It is a shame that those stone beasts don't give up that easily."
Mysta raises her eyebrow.
"What do you know about it?"
Geralt shakes his head.
"Very little. I am not a stonemason. Or a lifecrafter."- He says- "However, those gargoyles are common in folk culture. Many great heroes have been attacked by those mindless beasts, just because they were unwise enough to invade their lairs. All of them fell, of course, but the memory of them remains bright."
Mysta rolls her eyes.
"I'm more of a history lover, not a fiction fan. Creatures like those have never fascinated me. My father warned me to stay away from powers that I don't understand."- She says- "Anyway, what's the best plan to get rid of those animated fiends? Any suggestions, Mr. Kaos?"
Geralt sighs.
"Only that you should hit them with a bladed weapon. Very hard."- He says- "Only then, they will know their place, at long last."
Mysta grins and sharpens her hidden claws.
"Well, I'll be more than happy enough to oblige!"- She exclaims- "Bring them on!"
As more and more gargoyle heads emerge and float toward the party, they use their bladed weapons to slice (and dice) them. Many of the heads are sliced in half, no longer able to attack their enemies. 
However, even though everything seems to be going well, there is always room for mistakes. As soon as Will turns around, a gargoyle head knocks him forward, nearly making him fall into a deep chasm.
"Will, no!"- Mysta says and prepares to pounce- "Leave him alone, rock brain!"
As she does so, the gargoyle turns toward her. His eyes start to glow even more as lasers emerge from them, blasted toward the unsuspecting wraith. She manages to avoid most of them, but one manages to hit her in the shoulder, sending her backwards.
Unimpeded, the gargoyle head looks back at Will and prepares to finish what it started. However, just as it leaps forward, Alwyn does the same. The dark chains that bind him touch the stone head. In the matter of a few second, the remains of the creature disintegrate into a tiny pile of dust.
"Wow, Alwyn. That was... impressive."- Will says and smiles- "Thank you for the help!"
Alwyn smiles.
"Anything for the people who brought me back to life.
As our heroes regroup, Mysta stares at Alwyn, surprised.
"Wait. You had the chance, but you didn't run away."- She says- "Why?"
Alwyn shakes his head.
"I already told you, Mysta. I am loyal to the people who deserve it."- He says, frowning- "Will has helped me overcome my fears and be myself, no matter what kind of circumstaces I must endure. For that, I owe him a lot more than just what I did."
Mysta shrugs.
"Fair enough."- She says- "You can stay."
Alwyn smiles and nods.
"Rest assured that I appreciate it."
Will gets away from the hole, careful not to step close to another one nearby.
"Alright, team. It seems like whoever is keeping this place running does not want us to obtain the scroll. Or, at least, wants to give us a hard time."- He says- "Still, we must be strong. The road ahead is long, but it is paved with good intentions. We must endure this challenge, no matter what."
And so, they proceed to walk further into the temple, soon reaching its deepest, most unexplored parts. When they enter, a flock of dark bats flies out of a nearby hole. Like demons from the underworld, they fly past the heroes, miraculously leaving them unharmed.
"Well, that was, uhh... terrifying!"- Alwyn exclaims- "Is everyone okay?"
Will nods.
"More or less."- He responds- "The bats were not a menace to us, though. The real danger lies at the end of the trail."
Mysta nods.
"I agree."- She says, voicing her approval- "We still have yet to find the final guardian of the scroll. Or maybe the guardians. Who knows?"
Geralt sighs.
"The fact that you are implying that matters could be even worse than we had anticipated is... interesting."- He says- "Still, you might be right about this. Anything could happen in places like this one. The guardian could even be a giant wolf, with teeth as sharp as daggers. Or maybe even a demonic lion, with corrupted, unbreakable will."
Will shakes his head.
"I've had enough of your theories."- He says- "This temple is a place of evil. If we are meant to discover something dangerous, so it be."
Then, he proceeds into the heart of the temple, blade drawn, unafraid of the darkness around him.
Staring at his nephew and admiring his bravery, Geralt smiles.
"Well, you could always learn a thing or two from the young."- He says- "Will is truly an enigma. Such a person is truly valuable. And powerful."
Mysta nods.
"Indeed."- She says- "Will's no ordinary human being, as I'm sure we already know. His motivation is what kept me afloat during all of those horrible years. His voice of reason has always been like a spark of light- brief, but can set your entire world on fire. I'm glad that I got to know him when I had the chance."
Alwyn smiles.
"And I'm just glad that he's not like most heroes."- He says- "Money's not on his mind. And that says a lot about him."
Geralt and Mysta look at him, curious why he is saying this. However, he decides not to elaborate. Sighing, the two of them drag him ahead, eager to meet up with Will and put an end to this nightmare.
As they rejoin Will, they see the same thing that he does. A giant wolf, surrounded by shadows and staring at his most recent victim- a foolhardy adventurer, is standing in the middle of the huge chamber. Fortunately, it has not seen them. Yet.
"Well, this is ironic. A wolf like that can, without a doubt, put an end to our existence. If it wanted to, that is."- Geralt whispers- "Maybe we're not doomed, though. The creature has yet to notice us, so maybe we should search for the scroll before it's too la-- "
Suddenly, he steps on a discarded twig, making a brief, but loud crunch. 
Unfortunately, this is just enough for the giant wolf to see them. It turns around and stares at them, its red eyes piercing their way through the heroes' bright souls. Fear starts to overwhelm them as they wonder what will happen next.
"Intruders!"- The creature roars- "You have stepped into the sacred lands of the dark heart! Few are foolish enough to risk their lives for the meaningless treasures of this temple!"
Then, it takes a better look at them. It is almost as if it senses something, hidden to the human eye.
"And yet, I can see that you are no ordinary hunters."- It adds- "Why are you here?"
Will steps forward and shakes his head.
"O, creature of the great unknown. Me and my allies have arrived to seek the sacred Scroll of The Exiled."- He says- "Our chained friend has been in what turned out to be a very bad predicament. We have been trying to keep him safe, but to no avail. So, the only way to turn the tables of the conflict is to seek help from the greater powers."
The giant wolf glares at the hero with almost humanlike eyes. It evaluates his abilities, judges his deeds and analyzes his potential, all at the same time. The fact that it is capable of more than bark is truly terrifying.
Finally, it nods and steps back.
"You have come a long way, envoy of the gods."- He says- "Your presence has been noted. However, earning the scroll shall not be an easy task. In order to take it home, you must face me in battle. All by yourself."
Will raises his eyebrow.
"You want to test my mettle?"- He asks- "And I must fight you alone?"
The giant wolf.
"That is my only condition."- He says- "Take it. Or maybe leave it."
Will stares at his allies. After all the hardships that they endured together, he is forced to send them away. However, the fate of the world lies in his heroic hands. If what Alwyn says about the mafia is true, then it is mandatory to attempt to obtain the scroll. There is no room for cowards, nor fools.
"Send them back to the surface."- The giant wolf says- "I'll make sure to open a portal for you later. If you survive."
Will sighs.
"I am very sorry, everyone. We went through so much to be here, yet we must separate and continue on our own."- He says- "I promise that I will be back soon, though. I will not allow myself to lose."
Mysta and Alwyn are at a loss of words. Geralt, however, is eager to encourage his nephew.
"It is alright, nephew. Having a weight like that on your shoulders is tiring, but we know that you will get far."- He says- "Trust in your abilities, just like you always have. Only then, you will be strong enough to overcome the fear inside of your heart."
Will nods.
"I will not let you down, uncle."- He says, shedding a tear- "Farewell, for now. In the name of all that is sacred, I will fight for our future."
Then, he watches as his allies are whisked away, taken back to the entrance of Darkheart Temple.
"Well, young warrior."- The giant wolf says- "Are you ready to prove yourself?"
WIll looks up and glares at the giant creature.
"If I am meant to fall, can I at least know the name of my killer?"
The wolf nods.
"I am known by the name of Osmond. As my name is supposed to imply, it signifies my status as a guardian."- He says- "Ever since I was a young pup, I believed that there should be balance in this godforsaken world. I have always dreamed of becoming a keeper of the balance myself. And when I finally had the chance to prove myself, just like you right now, I was deemed to be brilliant and undefeatable. And lo, few have ever had the chance to face me in battle. None of them have managed to tame me."
Will sighs.
"Well, maybe it will be different this time."
Osmond nods.
"You seem to be a truly powerful warrior. Mastering the elements of this world takes a lot of hard work, and you seem to be one of their youngest masters."- He says- "Still, I am a guardian of this temple. I was tasked with protecting the most sacred treasure, and I shall not allow a human like you to put an end to my work, just because you want to save the world."
Will takes a few steps, making sure that his sword is close to his hand.
"In that case, I am eager to prove you wrong."
The wolf grins, his sharp teeth gleaming in the shadows. Even from his current distance, Will cannot help but admire them.
"Then allow me to do the same."
Tired of talking, Osmond pounces toward his target. His enormous size allows him to easily knock Will down, weakening him. Then, without a moment of doubt, the creature attempts to tear him apart, with both its claws and its teeth.
Fortunately, Will does not intend to go down easily. Once again, he spawns of orb of light, temporarily hindering Osmond's vision and annoying him.
"Argh!"- He says- "Petty tricks like those shall not work on me!"
Then, with the swing of a single claw, the giant wolf pops the orb like a bubble. Its white fragments soon turn into nothingness, revealing Will's location.
Osmond raises his claw in the air. Shadows start to dance around him as he calls them forward to repel the challenger. Dark wisps start to flow toward the young hero, intending to put an end to his existence.
Will is, of course, familiar with methods of battle like this one. He bends down and spawns a large wall of lava, preventing most of the creatures from reaching him. Those that do are easily dispatched by his rays of light. Soon, there is nothing but residual essence around the young hero, indicating that he has passed this part of the challenge.
Osmond is, understandably, annoyed by Will's ability to use the elements at his disposal. What he said about his mastery before the battles was just a piece of light mockery. However, the mighty wolf has come to realize that he is facing a professional, not some clueless youth.
Without saying anything, he leaps in the air and starts to spin, becoming a lethal tornado of pain and destruction in mere seconds. Will is not able to stop him, so is forced to run around the halls, avoiding the great beast with difficulty.
"It is only a matter of time before your energy runs out."- Osmond says while spinning toward his target- "Surrender and spare yourself the trouble."
Will shakes his head.
"I have never backed down from a challenge."- He says- "Just because you are capable of spinning like a beyblade doesn't mean that you are invulnerable, though!"
Osmond snorts. It is a creepy sound.
"Then allow me to back you into a corner."- He responds- "Maybe then, I can finally teach you some respect for your elders."
Will sighs.
"Trust me."- He says- "I already have a lot of that."
The next ten minutes are occupied by the same, tedious sequence. Will, helpless and unable to fight back, is forced to avoid his vicious enemy while attempting to devise a plan. It is a truly sad sight. For Will, that is.
"That's right!"- He says to himself- "To stop the Darkness, I must become one with the Light! I must allow the elements to flow in my veins, like blood!"
Finally, Will comes to the realization of one thing- the fusion of two elements can make a spell incredibly powerful. Intending to prove it to himself, he stands tall against the spinning monstrosity ahead of him and begins to mutter a spell.
Suddenly, a giant shield made of light appears in front of him, hindering Osmond's progress and slowing him down.
"It will take more than a simple piece of armor to bring down a guardian!"- He roars- "Try harder, young apprentice!"
Will smiles.
"It is true. A shield like this can last for a long time against a group of enemies, but not against a creature such as yourself."- He says- "With that in mind, if you combine it with another powerful elements, the results could be.., unexpected."
Osmond raises his eyebrow.
"Wait!"- He yells- "What in the name of the seven guardians are you implying?!'
Will continues to smile.
"Watch closely, guardian."- He says- "Today, the student shall become the teacher."
With little effort, Will manages to infuse his giant shield with the power of wind. Then, he lets out a defiant battle cry and pushes the shield forward, just like the paladins in the times of old. 
(As a matter of fact, he could even be a descendant of a member of their glorious kind. Who knows?)
The result of this action is, just like Will predicted, unexpected. The force of the impact is strong enough to send Osmond- the giant wolf guardian- back. Dark pillars crack and break as he is thrown into the direction that leads away from his enemy. And, by the time, he gets back to his senses, many of the pillars are starting to fall apart.
Giant chunks of rock start to fall down. Osmond attempts to avoid them, but even his incredible agility is not enough to guarantee him full protection. Small wounds start to appear on his body as the rocks hit him from all sides, condemning him to a slow and painful death.
However, just as it becomes clear that Osmond will not survive, Will takes pity on the giant wolf. Motivated to save him from the clutches of darkness, he leaps forward and pushes him away. Surprisingly, his strength, combined with his considerable level of spellcasting, is enough to throw Osmond away from danger.
The two of them watch as a small part of the chamber collapses, barely believing that they made it out alive.
"Human, I cannot believe it. You actually decided to save me."- He says- "But why did you do this? Why did you risk your life to save mine? I am your enemy. I tried to get you killed."
Will shakes his head.
"Every creature in this world, no matter how vile and evil they may be, deserves a second chance. I refused to let you lose your life to that anomaly."- He says- "Besides, what you are saying is not true. It is true that we had to battle, but you are not my enemy. You never were. You wanted to test my power and I showed it to you. My work is complete."
Finally convinced, Osmond bows his head- a sign of respect between two keepers of faith.
"Young one. You are, without a doubt, the most fascinating human being I've ever encountered in my long life. The way you fought, without any fear for your own life, shows me that you are truly honest with me."- He says- "I declare your test concluded. You have succeded."
Then, he takes a step back, allowing the hero to obtain what he came for.
"The Scroll of The Exiled is now yours."- He says- "Take it, with my gratitude."
Will slowly approaches the pedestal where te scroll is held. He reverently takes it and holds it in his hands, as if it were a priceless diamond. Seeing that his dream has finally become a reality is truly astounding for him.
Then, he turns to Osmond and bows.
"Thank you, o mighty guardian. However, I fear that this scroll is not so useful to me anymore."- He says- "What I learned today is that power comes from the inside, not the outside. Learning about new abilities simply unlocks talents that you already had inside of you. So, the contents that this scroll offer are useful only to bandits and treasure hunters. The real power lies within the soul."
Osmond grins, clearly amused by Will's statement.
"Few people were wise enough to see the scroll in such a... different light. None of them were smart enough to not get tempted by it, though."- He says- "Your willingness to understand the world beyond human comprehension is the first step toward a very successful carrer. Child, you've got a bright future ahead of you."
Will nods.
"Maybe I do."- He says- "Only time will tell the truth, though."
Osmond sighs.
"With the temple's most valuable treasure gone, I have no choice but to retire."- He says and opens a portal to the surface- "I wish you a safe journey, young one. May your path be illuminated by the light inside of your own heart, and your actions be pure and just."
Will bows to him.
"Thank you for the kind words, mighty guardian."- He says to him- "I promise to proudly wield the sacred item in battle, in the name of the one who gave it to me."
Osmond nods.
"Stay strong, heir of Kaos."
After bidding the wolf a final farewell, Will steps into the portal and appears on the surface. However, as soon as he is teleported, he realizes that something went wrong while he was absent. None of his allies are around to greet him and the ground ahead of him is covered with blood.
"What kind of a monster would do this?"- He wonders to himself- "And why?"
And then, he sees a large caravan approaching him. He realizes that he is next and draws his weapon, carefully concealing the scroll in his pocket.
However, just as he prepares to defend himself, a mysterious figure sneaks up behind him and smiles.
"Lights out, buster!"
And then, he lands a single blow, knocking him out.