MLSD- Part 1

This is the first Part of "Miracula Luxia: Symphony of Despair".
It was released on 14.07.2023.
== Plot ==
Many years have passed since the end of Redmark's tyranny and the liberation of the world from the jaws of his evil empire. Now timid and subordinate to the Order of this world, their tale of evil has come to an end. No emperor shall ever perform as many heinous deeds as Marcus Redmark, and the heroes of this world will make sure of that.
Meanwhile, Geralt Kaos- the newest hero who managed to keep the world from becoming a massive, evil empire- has finally managed to settle into his new home, alongside his new family. Having worked very hard in the past few years, he has managed to achieve a lot and keep the order in the settlement where he lives under control. Feared and revered at the same time, he has become some kind of a local legend. Everyone is talking about him, even in the present day and age.
However, Geralt has grown tired of being the hero all the time. Sometimes, he just wants to spend some time with his family and be a normal person, away from all the perils. Thus, he has decided to go on a little trip to Sunrise Sanctuary- a place that is known to be filled with monsters, but is also very peaceful. Instead of going alone, however, he decides to take his nephew- William- with him, to show him that there is nothing to be afraid of. He wants to construct his heroic personality, piece by piece, and turn him into a greater hero than he was in the past.
And yet, not all things go according to plan. But that is not surprising- nothing goes according to plan nowadays. 
On their way to the docks, they are spied on by a little girl. A gorgeous young maiden who seems to be quite close to both of them. She wants to join them on the trip, but her reasons to do so are quite unclear. Mysterious and unseen, she slips into the shadows and waits for the right moment to emerge.
But she is not the only one to hide in the dark parts of the ship. Several miscreants and outlaws have managed to find their way into the mighty vessel and are inspecting the belongings of the passengers, intending to take them away along with the ship itself. It is quite a long shot, but it is not impossible.
Will our heroes be able to avert this disaster before it is too late for all of them?
== Story ==
All dreams have a meaning of their own. Even the most insignificant ones could be the harbringers of a greater event. None of them should be underestimated and ignored. They are in our minds for a reason, and that reason is to send us messages from beyond the mortal veil, mysteries that our minds cannot understand with ease.
Such is the case with young William Kaos- newest wannabe hero of the Kaos family. Even though he and his brother were newborn infants when their mother died in childbirth, he still has dreams of both of his parents, appearing as fragments of a certain memory. Destined events that happened in the past, words left unsaid, bonds unbroken by the flow of Time- he can feel the all, almost as if he were there himself. 
Many people would argue that the minds of Will and his uncle are liked and the suffering that they endure is felt by both of them. Others dismiss this as simple nonsense, believing that the child is simply hallucinating. Whatever the truth may turn out to be, however, one thing is still clear to him and his family- the pain and despair that he feels in those dreams is quite real. And he cannot escape from it, no matter how far he goes.
"The tower of evil... the prophecy of despair... "- Will mutters in his sleep- "Must end... it all. Must save... the souls... of my dear family."
Lying on his bed, he nervously turns from one side to another, as if he is being tortured by some sort of malevolent force. Drenched in sweat, all he can do is mutter and mutter. However, for some reason, he cannot wake up from this painful nightmare. It almost feels like has been locked inside of it.
"Father... my sin... it is the life you have given me... "- He continues to mutter- "I can't go on like this. I don't want to feel anymore."
And then, his bloodshot eyes open. The nightmare has freed him from its grasp, albeit temporarily.
"Wah!"- He yells- "No!"
He looks around and notices that he is still in his room, a wonderful place that he called his home for a large portion of his life.
"You felt that dream again, huh?"- He hears a voice to the left of him- "But it took you longer to wake us this time. You're starting to endure it."
Will looks up and sees his uncle, Geralt. He is standing near the bed, arms crossed and waiting for the inevitable.
"Were you here for a long time, uncle?"
Geralt nods.
"Longer than you can imagine."
Will looks down and sighs.
"All this time, I believed in something that my mind couldn't comprehend. I never dared to listen to you."- He says- "But I guess that I was the fool. I shied away from the truth, and look where it got me. I'm a mess, at best. I can't think straight, and I can't enjoy what I'm doing."
He looks up at his uncle.
"I am not like you, uncle."- He says- "And I will never be."
Geralt smiles.
"You do not have to be like me, kiddo. I never wanted to make you like that."- He says- "You have a personality of your own. You have a happy life, you try to enjoy it to the fullest. People like you because you're not afraid of being your true self. In fact, having your own persona is much more interesting than trying to be like someone else."
Will sighs.
"I just wish Quinn could be like that, too."
Geralt is about to say something. However, he is interrupted by Aurelia, who enters the room moments later. She runs up and hugs her nephew, making sure that he is in a good mental condition and that he is not afraid of anything.
"What happened here, sweetie?! Did the demons get you again?!"- She asks- "Have you had any trouble with them? Did they manage to fight you? Auntie's ready to help, no matter what they try to do to you!"
Will shakes his head.
"It's okay , auntie. It was like a flash- it only happened briefly."- He reassures her- "If it was more painful, I would have screamed louder."
Aurelia raises her eyebrow.
"I know, but... this is so unlike you."- She says- "You're becoming so cold. So emotionless. And yet, there's still a chance for redemption. We can still fix you."
Will raises his eyebrow.
"Do I need a fix, though?"- He asks- "Isn't our world the one that needs fixing?"
Geralt sighs.
"Believe me, we have asked ourselves the same question over and over again."- He says- "As of yet, there has been no clear answer."
Aurelia looks at her nephew and smiles.
"Anyway, it's almost breakfast time."- She says- "Quinn and aunt Kiara are already downstairs. We're waiting for you."
Will nods.
"I'll be there in a minute."
Aurelia smiles.
"Excellent!"- She exclaims- "See you there, then!"
With a quick kiss on Will's cheek and a final, cheerful wave, Aurelia runs downstairs to prepare breakfast for the family.
"Auntie's always worried about me."- Will says to his uncle- "Has she always been like this?"
Geralt nods.
"Ever since the moment I met her in the dark city of Brigantia, she has never changed."- He says- "Ah, my sweet Aurelia. The love of my life. I have never seen a woman so pure, so caring and sweet. I love her so much... "
Will clears his throat.
"Umm, uncle!"- He exclaims- "The promise!"
Geralt tilts his head and raises his eyebrow.
"Ah! That is right!"- He exclaims- "I told you that we're going on a trip, right?"
Will nods.
"Yes!"- He exclaims- "And it's happening today!"
Geralt smiles.
"Of course!"- He says, pretending that he knew it all along- "I was just going to tell you about it!"
Will lies on his bed and smiles.
"So. What's Sunrise Sanctuary all about?"- He asks- "Is it a good place for a trip? Or are we going to, you know, have a bad time again?"
Geralt nods.
"Well. I can't say that it is the most pleasant destination. However, it is better than most of them, so it is perfect for an initiate such as yourself."- He says- "Sunrise Sanctuary is an island that is mostly unexplored by the inhabitants of the world. It is rumored to be the heart of an ancient civilization, hidden away from the sun and the stars. Nobody knows what kind of horrors await you within the depths, but for the most part, it is a peaceful place, perfect for relaxation."
Will looks at him.
"Is it just going to be the two of us?"
Geralt nods.
"Sadly, it has to be this way."- He says- "I want to take your aunt and Quinn, but they're just too busy with their own affairs. Aurelia always has people to take care of and Quinn is always lost in his massive books, too absorbed in his studies to pay any significant attention to us. So, yes, we are on our own."
Will shies away.
"But I don't want to be alone!"- He exclaims- "The world is scary!"
Geralt smiles sadly and places his hand on Will's tiny shoulder.
"Who said that you're in this nightmare alone?"- He says- "No, Willy. I never allowed you to travel alone and I won't let you do it now. We are in this together. Our bond is stronger than the fear in our minds. We fought it before... and we can do it again."
Will looks down.
"I want to believe it."- He says- "But, in the end, there's always something that goes wrong."
Geralt nods.
"And when it does, we shall stand together."- He says- "Side by side, we shall fears our fears without surrendering to them."
Then, he smiles.
"So! What do you say, little legend?"- He asks him- "Are you ready for the ride of a lifetime?"
Will stands up and smiles.
"Maybe you're right about this, uncle. Being paranoid will lead me nowhere, but I still have to be cautious."- He says- "Thank you for putting my mind at ease, uncle. I promise to be a more useful defender of our world in the future."
Geralt nods.
"Just don't let the darkness overtake your sense of responsibility, and you will be alright."- He says- "Now, we should get going. It is not a good idea to keep your aunt waiting."
Will smiles and walks toward the door.
"Then let's begin this new day with a smile!"
As the two of them walk downstairs to receive their daily allotment of food, Aurelia stares at them from behind the counter. The kitchen is very large and she is in charge to keep it immaculate and pristine.
"Ah! You made it out of the beauty sleep, at long last!"- She exclaims- "Come in, my dears!"
Geralt sighs.
"Sarcastic as always, Auri."- He says- "How nice of you."
As Will sits next to his twin brother, he looks up and glares at him.
"Took your sweet time, didn't ya?"- He says and smirks- "You've never been much of a fast thinker."
Will looks at him, perplexed.
"What's your problem?"
Quinn sighs.
"Nothing right now."- He says- "I just wanted to make sure you're not stuck in that dream."
Will raises his eyebrow.
"Do I look like I'm stuck?"
Quinn looks back at his book.
"No."
Geralt sits next to his nephew and sighs.
"Don't bother with him."- He says to Will- "The best that I got out of him today was to clean his own dish. And it was still a big challenge."
Will looks at him.
"Will Quinn's selfishness ever fade away?"
Geralt sighs.
"They say that people can change their skin, but not their personality."- He says- "I'm not sure how true that is, but I'm confident about one thing- whatever Quinn may become in the distant future, it will not be a hero."
Quinn looks up from his book.
"I never wanted to be like you, anyway."- He mutters defiantly- "I'm another man. I do things my way."
Geralt sighs.
"You don't need to tell me twice."
Will looks at his twin brother.
"We'll wipe that frown off your face!"- He exclaims- "Sooner or later, you will see the light!"
Quinn smirks and returns to his book.
"Whatever."
In the meantime, Aurelia arrives at the table carring a large plate of food with her.
"Here you go, boys!"- She exclaims as she sets it down- "Eat up!"
Will raises his eyebrow.
"What is this thing, auntie?"
Quinn smirks.
"It's food."- He mutters sarcastically- "Can't you tell?"
Aurelia glares at Quinn, then smiles at Will.
"This is raspberry pie, dear! The food that you wanted for breakfast!"- She says- "Are you still willing to eat it?"
Will grins.
"Obviously!"- He exclaims- "Let's dig in!"
As uncle and nephew grab forks and start to devour the large pie all by themselves, Aurelia stares at Quinn for a while. The boy is still lost in his books, unwilling to join the feast himself and refusing to listen to his aunt.
"Quinnie, you've clearly gone off the deep end."- She says to herself- "I've always known that your soul was lost to the Abyss, maybe ever since you were brought to this world. But I never knew that you could be so... disdainful. Toward your own family, no less."
Will looks at his brother.
"Hey Quinn!"- He exclaims- "Why aren't you eating?"
Quinn looks up briefly.
"I'd rather eat wild berries in the forest than to eat alongside the three of you."
Aurelia stands up and glares at Quinn.
"Mind your tongue, young man!"- She exclaims- "This is our house! You have nowhere else to go!"
Quinn looks at her.
"And neither did you."
Aurelia stumbles back into her chair, shocked by her nephew's words. Geralt takes the matter in his own hands.
"That is enough."- He says- "Mind your business, Quinn. If you don't want to eat, don't do it. Nobody's forcing you."
Quinn smirks.
"Did you force your philosophy on anyone else?"
Geralt shakes his head in disbelief. Such attittude is common in the child, but he has never seen him act so reckless and impulsive.
Fed up with his brother's insolent attitude, Will stands up from his chair. He approaches him and, much to everyone's surprise, slaps him in the face, leaving a large red mark behind for him to comprehend.
"Don't you dare talk to uncle and auntie like that!"- He yells- "Both of them have done so much so we could be happy! If it were not for them, we could have been orphans! Mom and dad are not coming back, so either keep quiet about your awful predicament or leave this place and don't come back! I am tired of your pointless bickering!"
Quinn glares at his brother, staring at him with pure disdain (and just a sprinkle of loathing). He looks down, trying to hide his fresh mark, but the book does little to shield him from the judgmental eyes of his family.
"I'll make you pay for that."
Will nods.
"And so will I."
Flustered that someone dares to respond to his insolent remarks, Quinn buries his face in his book and stays quiet. He grabs a small piece of pie and starts nibbling on it.
"You are aware that violence does not solve everything."- Geralt says- "Right, Will?"
Will sighs.
"With people like Quinn... "- He says- "... it is best to be stern and cold."
Quinn hears his brother's words, but does not respond. He just smirks angrily and continues to read.
"You surely put a dent in his massive ego."- Aurelia says and smiles- "Now, how about you put a dent in this pie, as well?"
Will grins.
"You got it, auntie!"- He exclaims- "Let's do this!"
As the three of them continue to eat, Quinn's eyes shift away from his book and glare at the family. He is clearly unnerved by the recent situation, but takes great pains not to show it to anyone else.
"So this is how it has to be, huh?"- He says to himself- "Very well. I understand."
Aurelia looks up at Will and Geralt. Then, she smiles.
"So! I heard that you two are going on a trip!"- She exclaims- "How is that going for you?"
Geralt nods.
"Everthing has been planned accordingly, as we had anticipated."- He says- "The ship that will take us to Sunrise Sanctuary will arrive in an hour or two. It will take us to our destination in approximately four hours. Hundreds of passengers will be on board, and we will just be a small part of them."
Aurelia gasps.
"Hundreds of them?!"- She exclaims- "By the Gods, honey. Don't you think that this is a little bit... dangerous?"
Geralt sighs.
"It is the very first trip to Sunrise, love."- He says- "There is always a little danger behind the first steps of a journey."
She looks at Will.
"And Willy doesn't mind?"
Will shakes his head.
"Not at all, auntie."- He says- "No shark is going to scare me."
Aurelia sighs.
"Dearest."- She says- "I fear that there may be more dangerous things than sharks out there... "
Will nods.
"Sharks or not, I want to see something different."
Quinn looks up.
"You're brave, brother."- He remarks- "Brave and foolish."
Will nods.
"I know."- He says- "But it still won't change my mind."
Quinn smirks.
"Well, don't come crying to me if a shark bites your little velvet wings off."
Will sighs.
"Whatever."
Quinn nods and returns to his book.
"Indeed."
Aurelia looks at the duo and nods.
"Anyway, I think that you should get going soon."- She says- "Should I... bring you your coats? Your belongings?"
Geralt shakes his head.
"We appreciate it, Auri. But there is no need for that."- He says- "We are already prepared."
Aurelia nods.
"Alrighty then."- She says- "I wish you a good journey! Stay happy and don't let the sharks bite you!"
Geralt nods, as well. Then, he leans close to his wife, making sure that his children do not hear what he's saying.
"In our absence, I want to keep a look out for Quinn. A very good look."- He whispers to her- "I fear that his mental stability is degrading too fast. Make sure to keep him busy while we're out of here, alright?"
Aurelia sighs.
"I'll make sure that he's quiet and tame."- She whispers back- "Like a little kitten."
Geralt smiles.
"That is good to hear."
Then, he looks back at his nephew.
"So."- He says- "Are you ready?"
Will nods and smiles.
"I was born ready, uncle!"- He exclaims- "Bring it on!"
Geralt nods.
"Then let us begin this journey."
Fifteen minutes later, Will and his uncle arrive at the docks. As expected, they are filled with people. Many of them are going to travel on the ship. Some are just here for a walk.
Among the crowd, they see two familiar faces. They run up to them, intending to start a conversation before the duo departs.
"Finally! Do you know how long we've been waiting for you to arrive?!"- Kiara says and hugs her brother- "We've been so worried about you. The preparations went well, but the fears are still here. Are you sure that you can endure this."
Geralt smiles.
"Kiki. I have faced events much worse than a little ride to a mysterious island."- He says- "Believe me, if there were any danger out there, I would have never paid for those tickets."
Kiara shakes her head.
"Yeah. I... I understand."- She says- "It's your choice, anyway. I have no right to stop you."
She looks down.
"Anyway, the reason why I waited for you was because I... I wanted to let you know."- She adds- "You said that there is going to be a meeting between the highest officials of the region next week. Well, unfortunately, neither of us will be able to attend. My husband got sick recently and I've done a lot to keep him up so he can keep working. But that... is the best that I can do. No more. I'm at my limit and I can't help, even though I really want to."
Geralt smiles.
"I understand. You are concerned about Aaron's well-being. And, truth be told, so am I."- He says- "I will do my best to postpone the event to a later date an visit you as soon as possible. I wish my good friend quick healing and a wonderful week."
Kiara smiles back.
"You've always been so caring, Geralt."- She says- "Maybe that's why you can't let go of him."
Geralt looks at his nephew and nods.
"When Kai bestowed their lives upon me, I took matters in my own hands and did my best to give them a fair shot in Life."- He says- "For Will, this has been a wonderful experience. He is a brilliant young man. Someday, he will become a great hero. As for Quinn... "
Sophia, Kiara's daughter, sighs.
"Ugh. Him again?"- She says, her lips curling in disgust- "When will he stop being such a jerk?"
Geralt sighs.
"Only time will tell, honey."- He responds- "And time is not in his favor."
Kiara shakes her head.
"And neither has his dreaded ego."
Geralt sighs and pats his sister on the shoulder.
"We'll talk about him later."- He says- "There is a lot to discuss."
Kiara nods.
"Right you are, little bro. As always."- She says- "Don't worry, I'll make sure to put that little brat in his place. Sooner or later, he will fall back in line."
Geralt sighs.
"Just don't treat him like trash."- He warns her- "Nobody deserves this kind of treatment. Even people like him."
Kiara nods.
"I'll do my best."- She says- "But no promises. You know that I'm not good at them."
Then, she turns around, looks at her nephew and smiles.
"Anyway, dear! We still haven't talked about you!"- She exclaims- "How has life been treating you so far?"
Will smiles.
"Pretty well, auntie!"- He exclaims- "I am still breathing. I am still standing. That means that I haven't given up."
Kiara nods.
"That's a good thing, sugar."- She says- "I'm worried that something might happen to you. If it does, it means that I've lost both you and him... "
Then, she shakes her head.
"But that doesn't matter."- She says- "You have a trip to attend to, right? Well, get on with it. I hope that the god of the sun illuminates your path to happiness."
Will nods,
"Stay safe, auntie."- He says- "You too, Sophie."
Sophia smiles.
"I'll miss you, cousin Willy!"
As the two of them embrace, Will smiles.
"Heh. Don't worry about it."- He says- "I will not be gone for long."
Sophia looks at him.
"Are you sure?"
Will nods.
"Yes!"- He exclaims- "Pinky promise!"
Hearing those words, Geralt looks down, seemingly lost in thought.
"Pinky... promise... "
Kiara raises her eyebrow.
"Umm."- She says- "Are you okay, little bro?"
Geralt snaps back to reality. He looks at his sister and raises his eyebrow, as well.
"Do I look okay, Kiki?"
Kiara stares at her brother for a few seconds. Then, much to his surprise, she giggles.
"Oh, you little rascal! I knew that you were just pretending!"- She exclaims- "We should have made an actor out of you!"
Geralt smiles.
"Well."- He says- "It is still possible, you know."
Kiara nods.
"Indeed, Geralt."- She says- "Indeed, it is."
Then, she and her daughter take a step back.
"Well, I guess that we'll be going now."- She says- "I'll leave Sophia in the Kaos residence for a couple of weeks. I'm sure that she's going to enjoy her time with you."
Sophia hops up and down excitedly.
"Yes! Yes, I will!"- She exclaims- "I can't wait for you to come back, uncle and cousin Willy!"
Geralt smiles.
"Listen to your mama while we are gone, alright?"
Sophia nods.
"I will!"
Will smiles.
"No, cousin."- He says sarcastically- "You are Sophia."
Sophia rolls her eyes.
"Yes, cousin Willy."- She says- "Very funny."
Geralt nods.
"Anyway, I think that it is time for us to go."- He says- "I wish you a safe journey back."
Kiara smiles.
"And we wish you a safe journey forth."- She says- "Good luck, little bro."
As Kiara and Sophia leave, the duo lets out sighs of relief. Their family is completely safe and they can proceed to get on the ship without worrying about any of them,
Once they get on the ship to Sunrise Sanctuary, the final passengers join them. The door behind them closes and they start to explore the ship, eager to discover more about the place where they will be staying until the end of the ride.
As they walk around a pile of crates, Will feels like he is being watched. Paired with the feeling of nausea, this makes him lay next to a nearby wall, just to recover from this sudden change of mood.
"Are you doing okay, kiddo?"- Geralt asks him- "You look like you've seen a phantom."
Will shakes his head.
"I don't know, uncle. But... it feels quite familiar."- He says- "Maybe it's a sense of deja vu. Or maybe it's just the feeling of riding a ship for the first time. Either way, I do not like it at all. I'm serious."
Geralt shakes his head.
"I know the feeling, Will. I've felt the same when I was younger."- He says- "But don't worry about it. It is merely a hallucination, brought up by the darker corners of your mind. If you decide to ignore it, then it shall ignore you, as well."
Will sighs.
"I guess that I don't have another choice."
As the two of them prepare to walk away, a lone figure jumps out from behind the crates!
"Willy!"- She exclaims- "I've finally found you!"
Will looks back, puzzled. He sees his girlfriend- Stella- standing in front of him. Such a dramatic appearance can only be described with two words: Very. Weird.
"Stel! What in the world?!"- He exclaims- "How did you get in here?"
Stella chuckles.
"I have my ways."- She says- "My irresistible charm is more than just for show."
Will nods.
"Well, it managed to woo me two years ago."- He says- "So, I guess that I shouldn't be surprised."
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"Is this your girlfriend, Will?"- He asks- "Well, she's so... so... "
Will's face lights up.
"Beautiful? Graceful? Perfect?! Yes! It is true!"- He exclaims- "And you better get to know her, because she'll become my wife someday!"
Geralt looks at his nephew, surprised that he is thinking so far ahead. Stella blushes and looks down. William's words strike true, and it is clear that he is quite honest.
"Well, it doesn't matter if you want me to go or not."- Stella says- "I'm here. You're here, too. We're all here to stay."
As she continues to speak, the three of them hear the buzzing of a walkie talkie. Stella pulls something out of her pocket, realizing that her parents managed to sneak it into her pocket while she was busy.
"Stella!"- A female voice can be heard- "Stella Starling! Where are you?!"
Stella rolls her eyes.
"Not the right time, mom."- She mutters- "I don't want you to ruin this moment."
Then, intending to keep her parents out of her love life, she grabs the walkie talkie and throws it into the ocean.
"There we go."- She says- "They won't bother us anymore."
Stella leans close to Will and gently grabs his arm.
"So, my love."- She says- "Shall we get on this field of roses together?"
Will sighs.
"This is no joke, Stel. Our trip is not a safe, nor relaxing one."- He says- "But if you're so intent of being with us, I guess that we have no choice than to keep you around."
He looks at her.
"Just make sure that your parents don't try to track us down."
Stella smiles.
"Don't worry about that."- She says- "I already made sure that they'll stay away from us."
Will nods.
"That is good."
As the three of them leave the boarding area, a few more people stare at them from behind the piles of crates. Unlike Stella, they don't seem to be friendly and intend to do something else than have tea with the passengers and the crew.
"What do you say, Mr. Burns?"- A nearby person whispers- "Shall we ambush them?"
Another nearby person, this one with a bandage on his nose, shakes his head.
"Not yet, Nash. This is not the right time."- He says- "Maybe if we wait a little longer... "