MLTG P2- "Down In Whispers"

"Down In Whispers" is the second Part of "Miracula Luxia: The Guilt". It was released on 19.07.2020.
== Plot ==
Jared enters the mysterious cave, eager to find the source of the strange whispering coming from within and curious if it will reveal anything valuable to him.
However, his adventure will not be a pleasant one. He has to be careful, because if he does not, it might end... badly.
It is time for our hero to find the truth behind all the nightmares that have occurred to him in the past few days.
== Story ==
Jared looks around the cave.
It seems to be a completely normal cave, from the looks of it. However, something seems to be... off.
Jared is unsure if this is just an eerie feeling or a strange reality, but he can hear a voice trying to tell him something. The sound is at the edge of perception, barely audible to him.
However, one thing is very clear. Whatever it is trying to tell him, it must be very, very important.
Jared sighs.
"I would be better off delivering the loot that I scavenged to my father, but... "- He says to himself- "This cavern might have information that I desperately need. Something that must not be dismissed with a light hand."
"I must find whatever is in this cave... despite the possible risk of being attacked by some nasty monsters that are living within."
Jared draws his sword, half-expecting that monsters are going to attack him soon.
"Any minute now... Any minute... "
Surprisingly, the cave seems to be very quiet. Only the distant sound of dripping water breaks the curtain of eerie silence.
Something about this really worries Jared and gives him the feeling that he is being constantly watched by something. Or someone.
Moments later, he hears the sound of someone running toward him. Not in front of him. Quite the opposite.
Jared turns around just in time to see a huge hound about to pounce on him. He quickly parries its blow and pushes it back with his sword.
It is at this moment that our hero realizes that the hound is also radiating fire energy.
"Dear God... "- Jared says when he realizes what he is fighting.
It is a Hellhound- one of the most dangerous mammals that can be encountered in the underworld. Fortunately, the surface people have slain most of those creatures, barely leaving any survivors behind.
However, this is not the case here, in Avernum.
Sadly, the huge creature does not give more time to Jared (So he can wonder about why it is here) and immediately charges at him, fangs barred and ready to bite.
Jared successfuly slices the creature in the back, but is pushed to the ground before he can push it back again.
The creature does not take any time to let him stand up. It quickly gets closer and bares its fangs at him.
It is clear that the creature is hungry, that it has not eaten anything in days (Maybe even a whole week). Maybe that's the reason why it lives over here: It waits hungrily for curious fools and devours them before they know what is really going on.
It is at this moment that Jared notices all of the bones around him. Some are small (Presumably from small mammals), some bigger ones (Possibly from wandering humans or other smaller Humanoids) and some very big (Possibly from bigger Humanoids, like Ogres and maybe even Orcs). It is clear that many creatures have met their demise here, at the hands (Or rather paws) of this powerful beast.
Jared grins, realizing that he has just met a challenging, evil beast to fight, one that will surely earn him the gratitude of all the people in Formello.
"Finally, a worthy opponent!"- He says- "Alright. Let us do this!"
Surprisingly, the mighty beast is no match for our brave and powerful hero. With a combination of a lot of bravery and intense fighting, he manages to bring the creature to its knees and stab it in the back of its furry head, ending its life and putting an end to its reign of terror over the nearby area.
Having slain the beast, Jared thinks about skinning it, seeing that it has very nice fur. However, he decides against it. Not because he does not want the skin, but because he knows that the fur is the creature's pride and joy, even in a time of death.
"I would never do something like this! Why did I even think about that?!"- He says to himself- "Besides, skinning it is not my mission. Right now, I have to get to the end of this mystery."
He stands up and washes his bloody sword in the water, staring at it and seeing his reflection on the pure metal.
He spins it a few times, for practice.
"And I am not planning to let anything stop me from doing so."
The rest of his adventure within the mysterious cave is boring and uneventful. No monsters. No loot. And the only sounds are from the dripping water and the chirping of the small bats on the ceiling.
After two minutes, Jared arrives at the end of the cave and sees a small, white pedestal.
Looking closer, he sees a crystal resting on the pedestal, on a small, velvet pillow.
"Is this... the object that has been causing all the whispering that I heard not too long ago?"- He says to himself.
He gently picks it up and inspects it.
"Amazing!"- He says to himself, recognizing who might have created it- "It's Vahnatai work! One of their crystal souls!"
He continues to stare at it, amazed by its design and dazzling white color.
He is very distracted, so much that he does not immediately notice the approaching Vahnatai behind him.
As they try to apprehend him, he looks back, jumps away from them and draws his sword.
"That did not work."- One of them mutters in English.
"Too bad. We have to kill him now."- The other responds.
Jared smiles.
"And why do you want to kill me, gentlemen?"- He says- "Please explain yourselves."
The first Vahnatai shakes his head and points his Waveblade at him.
"You human peoples killed Rentar-ihrno and you are going to pay. Unless you want to come be executed in front of our peoples."
Jared raises his eyebrow, immediately realizing what they are talking about.
"Rentar-Ihrno?!"- He says in disbelief- "B-but she has been dead for years, maybe even a decade now!"
Both Vahnatai shake their heads.
"Did you think that we forgot? Did you think that we forgave you?!"- The first one says angrily- "Well, you are wrong! All these years, we have been waiting for the moment to strike down the one who killed our dear leader."
"The one whose name is Aleks Kaos"- The other one adds.
Jared is very shocked by this. His father is the one who killed Rentar-Ihrno a decade ago?
And he told him nothing about it?
"My father... was the one who killed your leader?"
The Vahnatai nod.
"Yes. And we are going to send him a bloody message when we kill the one he cares for the most- his beloved son. You, Jared Kaos."- The first one continues- "So, you have two choices. You either come with us to be slain or die on the spot, in this cave."
Jared shakes his head angrily.
"No way!"- He says- "Your leader killed many innocent people with her cruel actions. And I plan to purge what remains of her evil army."
"I do not want to die without a fight. I will die with honor, so bring it on!!"
The first Vahnatai smirks and draws its blade. The second does the same.
"Then pay with your blood!"- It yells and charges, knocking the crystal soul out of Jared's hand.
Our hero barely catches it before it falls to the ground and shatters into pieces. He sets it back on the pedestal and sighs.
"I will take you home later, O Brave One. I promise."- He says- "Just... give me more time. Please."
Then he turns around and attacks the Vahnatai.
He manages to swiftly swing his blade at the first one and kill him on the spot. The other one seems to be a hard customer since it manages to parry almost all of his blows.
However, this is only what it seems at first. In reality, it is only a petty coward who is also very lucky. Jared puts up more strength in his blows and manages to stab it in the stomach, forcing it to fall on the ground behind it.
He watches coldly as the creature slowly expires. However, it does not close its eyes and continues to stare at Jared with pure loathing, even in death.
Jared decides to be merciful. He approaches the dead creature and closing its eyes, putting it into a truly eternal rest.
Then, he drags both of the Vahnatai's corpses outside and buries them with his own two hands. A small bit of kindness, even if it is done for the enemy.
Jared returns to the cave and sees that the crystal soul is still there, sitting on the pedestal where he left it.
When he picks it up, he begins to hear the whispering again. He does not hear a lot, but he does manage to catch a bit of what it is saying to him:
"... mother's death was not... coincidence. The evil Vahnatai's leaders plotted... Farrar and his army. Take them down... at all costs. Do not let... reach your father. Stop them, for the... of Avernum.
Having delivered the message that it was designed to give to Jared, it goes silent.
Jare ponders the words of the soul.
"From what I heard... "- He says to himself- "I think that the poor soul wanted to inform me about mom's death, that it was not a pure coincidence. That the humanoids were sent by the evil Vahnatai's vengeful leaders, to make us feel pain and sorrow, all while working with Farrar to take over Avernum. One thing is for sure, though: I must find the source of the problems and take it down as quickly as I can, or Avernum will never be truly safe. Especially against such a potentially dangerous threat, like the worshippers of the late Rentar-Ihrno."
He stands up.
"And I will not waste any time. I will go find those traitors... and bring them to their knees. Show them that they should never mess with us. Once... and for all."
He picks up the crystal soul (He might need it later. Who knows?) and leaves the mysterious cave behind him, eager to find those new enemies and stop this new madness for the safety of Avernum.
== Trivia ==
* The words "Then pay with your blood!" are a reference to "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion", where the guards say the same sentence when the player has done a crime and refuses to pay the fine/go to jail.