Miracula Luxia C5, P9- "The Beginning Of Something Truly Great"

"The Beginning Of Something Truly Great" is the ninth Part of "Miracula Luxia" 's fifth Chapter- "The Forgotten". It was released on 18.11.2019.
== Plot ==
After a long and tedious journey, our heroes arrive in Vahnatai lands, at last!
They enter a small town known as Stonelight which is populated by both Vahnatai and Humans who have always lived in harmony ever since the humans arrived in Vahnatai lands and decided to join their communities.
The heroes decide to stop by and talk to the leader of the town- A wise Vahnatai who has been its assigned leader ever since it was constructed by the humans many decades ago. 
== Story ==
After many wrong turns and dead ends, our heroes finally found a way forward.
"Great. More rapids."- Jason sighed, not surprised by what was going to happen after they try to get past them.
"Let's be optimistic, Uncle! This might be the way to Vahnatai lands!"
"Or it might be a way to our doom. I genuinely hope it's the former, but... you never know."
"Just keep quiet and watch for enemies. Who knows if some of Bucky's crazy cousins will try to attack us in the water."
"Don't ya worry, Master's dad! Bucky's cousins cannot swim, so we're safe from 'em!"
"I hope so!"- Aleks exclaimed and pushed forward.
Fortunately, this time our heroes were spared from wetting their craft further and didn't lose any of the food they had before attempting to cross the rapids.
The new location they arrived into was a huge cave system with almost nothing of interest.
Except for an island. A really big island with a cave.
"This seems familiar."- Jared noted the cave as he and the others approached the island.
"Indeed. Another cave for us to explore."- Said Jason, hoping that there are no cave bears in there."
This is it. The island seems to be the last stop for the adventurers. From here on, they have to move on land.
They also have to explore the cave at all costs. But... if the cave is just a dead end, they are in very serious trouble.
But what if it leads to the lands of the Vahnatai?
There is only one way to find out.
Jared looked at the waterfalls nearby and stopped for a moment, so he could admire their perfect water streams.
He noticed that the whole river was flowing into a huge, seemingly endless pit. Now that is a sight to see!
Jared pulled out a coin and tossed it to see if it actually hits the bottom.
No sound. Apparently the pit is endless.
Still, Jared was amazed by this phenomenon.
Galantis-Bok stood next to him.
"Beautiful, isn't it Jared?"- He asked the boy.
"What? Oh... yes! Yes it is! A real gem of the river. An actual endless hole!"
"Yes."- Galantis-Bok muttered and stared at the hole.
"We Vahnatai have always admired such beautiful sights. They remind us of the beauty which the Underworld is always offering to its inhabitants. This beauty... unlike us, it always stays here. It is eternal. A gem for the next generations to admire."
"Decades ago, my people thought that we had to conquer more lands in order to gain more resources. That is not what we want to do now. We wish to establish a durable peace between our peoples as much as you humans do."
Galantis-Bok looked at Jared who was still amazed by the endless hole.
"And I know that our leaders will actually listen to you and help you establish this peace. But... before it happens, we have to reach the Vahnatai lands alive."
"So, are you ready to go?"
Jared turned to look at him.
"Y-yes."
"Let us proceed then."
The heroes moved forward, but were stopped by a small band of Vahnatai.
They didn't greet them. They didn't ask them to identify themselves.
They simply approached them for the kill, weapons drawn and chains in hand.
Those chains were holding two huge wolves, one of which was emitting a flaming aura and the other- a freezing aura.
They pounced onto their targets as soon as their masters told them to.
The Vahnatai thought that our heroes were easy prey for their mighty hounds.
However, two slashes from Aleks's sword and two explosive shots from Jason's wristflinger brought the beasts down with ease.
The Vahnatai charged in desperation, hoping to kill at least one of them.
Jared managed to aim his bow and shot one of them down, but the other charged at him, making him drop his weapon.
He stood on the ground, not knowing what to do. Suddenly, Galantis-Bok tossed him a knife.
He quickly grabbed it and stabbed the Vahnatai in the stomach, leaving it to slowly bleed out.
Our heroes couldn't force it to say anything about who sent them or why.
"Unfortunate. This must be a Vahnatai from a hostile faction. It's a shame that we had to kill them."- Galantis-Bok shaked his head in dismay.
"Wait. There is more than one faction of Vahnatai? I thought that there is only one!"- Jared exclaimed.
"There are factions who wish to ally themselves with the humans and others who only wish to kill every single one of them. Those Vahnatai were from the former... until we killed them and their pets."
"There will be more coming to avenge them, so we have to escape into the cavern in order to stay alive."
At that moment Aleks noticed a secret passage opening and Vahnatai running after them.
"You're right, Galantis-Bok. Alright everyone, into the cave we go!"
The heroes quickly escaped into the dark (and surprisingly cool) cave.
Suddenly, a rock fell down on the Vahnatai who were running after them and crushed most of them, leaving a few on the outside of the cave and effectively trapping the heroes in it.
The surviving Vahnatai muttered something incomprehensible and decided to leave them to die in there.
"They said that it's not worth wasting more of their people to hunt us down. Fortunate."- Galantis-Bok smiled.
"But why did they leave us in here?"- Jared wondered.
"Well, as my people love to say- The surest and most effective poison is time. They know that we will eventually starve to death. Or dehydrate. Or something like that."
"Either way, they know that we will eventually die."
"How stupid of them to think so. I refuse to die in such a pathetic way!'- Jason exclaimed.
"It's okay, friend. There is a whole cave for us to explore, so let's get to it."
The team nodded.
"It is probably for the best. There's no way back. Only forward."- Aleks noted.
Our heroes journeyed further into the cave and noticed some red lizards.
"Oh, how cute! It's a little lizard!"- Jared smiled and tried to pet it, but noticed a bigger lizard behind it.
Suddenly, the bigger lizard started blowing fire from its mouth.
"Son, watch out!"- Aleks yelled and saved its son from the flames by using his magical shield.
"D-dad? Did you just... ?"
"Yes. I know how to use magic. I've learned to do so when I was your age."
"Now watch as I slay those creatures."
Aleks raised his hand and casted an Ice spell, managing to pierce one of the creatures with an ice spike.
The second tried to pounce onto him, but he took it down with his sword.
Sadly, the creature emitted a loud yell before dying, alarming most (if not all) of the lizards in the cave.
Soon, the cave was filled with fire-breathing lizards who wanted to avenge their fallen brothers.
"There's more of them! Watch out, everybody!"- Aleks warned his allies and started casting a new spell.
As the creatures tried to kill them with their magical fire, the heroes protected Aleks, as he was vulnerable to their attacks at this moment.
"Now!"
Aleks casted a powerful Ice spell which froze all of the lizards.
"What now, Dad?"- Jared wondered.
"Now we have to kill them before the freezing effect fades."
"Ready? 3... "
"2... "
"1... "
"STRIKE!"
With a well-aimed blow Aleks completely obliterated one of the lizards.
So did the others with the rest of the reptiles.
The cave was clear of lizards.
Aleks noticed a small cave ahead.
"Let's go."- He said and approached the cave.
In there they found three nests, filled with precious items.
"This must be the place where the lizards were staying at before they attacked us."
"They're called Salamanders, brother."- Jared corrected him.
"Oh, right! Salamanders! I almost forgot how they were called."
"Nevermind. Looks like we've got some stuff to take, so let's do so, shall we?"
Aleks nodded and pulled out a potion from one of the nests.
"A healing potion. It will definitely come in handy."- He said as he handed it to Jared.
"You'll need it more than I will. Take it."
Jared put it in his pack.
"Thank you, Dad."
Aleks nodded, as if to say "You're welcome." and continued searching the nests.
Jared tried to help him. Soon, he found a medium-sized red egg.
"What is this egg? It looks... stranger than your regular egg."- Aleks wondered.
"Finally something that I know! This is a Phoenix Egg."- Jared exclaimed.
"Phoenix Egg?"
Galantis-Bok decided to tell them about it.
"The Phoenix Egg is not exactly a normal egg. It is a very rare artifact which has the power to create Quickfire by simply throwing it on the ground."
"What a dangerous and rare artifact. I've only seen one. And it was years ago."- Aleks nodded.
"But tell me Nephew, how do you know about the Phoenix Egg?"
"Well, me and Akari read a lot of strange books in the library of our school. There was a book about the strange aliens inhabiting the underworld, the king of the underworld. And about this artifact."
"It's a really rare and useful treasure, so let's save it."
Jared put it in his pack for safe-keeping.
The heroes noticed another passage ahead, a natural stairway.
"Seems like this is the way. Well then, shall we?"- Aleks turned to his team of adventurers.
"We are with you, Dad. Wherever you go, we will be here!"
"No matter where we go dear brother, know that we will always stay by your side!"
Galantis-Bok thought about what to say. He decided to say something as well:
"As much of a powerful leader I was decades ago, I knew that you cannot go ahead without the help of someone else. And that is why I always wanted to help my people, so they could help me back. Just a little kindness from a former leader."
"And that is why I will be here to help you complete your quest. Onward, my friend!"
Aleks smiled.
"I'm glad we have you as our ally, Galantis-Bok. You have been very helpful so far and I'm sure that you will beever more helpful as we progress. So, welcome to the team, my friend!"
Galantis-Bok smiled.
"In my life, I've met humans, but I haven't allied myself with any of them. Or went to adventures with them. I consider that a big mistake and I will correct it now that I am revived."
"Well, then what are we waiting for? Let's make a change, together!"- Jason stood next to the stairway impatiently.
Galantis-Bok nodded and began walking towards the stairway.
The others came after him, knowing that he is one of the wisest in their team of adventurers.
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After five minutes of intense climbing, huffing and puffing, our heroes reached a new cave.
This one led to another passage.
A bright light was coming out of it.
"This must be the exit! We did it, everyone!"- Aleks exclaimed, relieved that they found the way out.
"Finally! I knew there was one around here somewhere!"- Jared said excitedly.
"Who knows where it leads?"- Jason wondered.
"Well, this must be way to Vahnatai lands. Or, at least I hope so. Like you said, who knows where it leads?"- Galantis-Bok agreed with Jason.
Hoping that this is the way out, the heroes went through the passage.
Soon, they found themselves near a small town.
"I think this is the town of Stonelight- A town created by the humans decades ago, when we still had a peace in our hands."- Galantis-Bok looked at the town.
"I hope that they still live there under peaceful conditions."
"So, there are humans there?"- Aleks wondered.
"Yes. Quite a lot of them, too."
"Let's go!"- Jared exclaimed, excited to meet more of the strange creatures.
When they entered the town, they were greeted by a Vahnatai in a beautiful silk robe.
"Welcome, adventurers! I have been expecting you ever since you left your lands. Come closer, so we can speak about this urgent matter which has fallen into our hands."
The heroes had a chance to talk to one of the Vahnatai leaders. They stepped forward to do so.
== Trivia ==
* This Part signifies a new beginning for our heroes. A new beginning which is filled with lots of adventures, challenges and new allies (as well as foes). It is a pivotal moment to the story- the discovery of the Vahnatai lands after decades of neglect.