MLIII C5, P8.1- "Deep Beneath"

"Deep Beneath" is "Miracula Luxia III" 's penultimate Extra Part, as well as one of the two Extra Parts included in its fifth Chapter.

It was released on 25.04.2022.

## Plot

One week has passed since Mordred Darkthrop and his people were defeated by the hand of our brave heroes. Peace has returned to their common homeland. The forces of darkness, now leaderless and reckless, have retreated back into the shadows. The world has started to see Adam Kaos the way his family wants him to be- as a revered warrior whose actions bring forth a better future for all.

Even so, Adam is not satisfied with this result. Although he tries to be as friendly and communicative as he possibly could, there is still tension left in his heart. Something is worrying him greatly, and few will be able to truly understand his grief now. Even the people who fought so hard to be by his side are beneath his notice, as long as one person is still on his mind.

This is the short story of the young and innocent hero known as Adam Kaos, haunted by the guilt of losing the one who gave everything away, just to give him a second chance.

## Story

Adam swings his blade lazily. He is clearly not fond of doing all the hard work, even though he already saved the world once.

"Come on, Adam."- Deugan says- "You're a hero. Act like one."

Adam shrugs.

"What is the point?"- He asks- "I have already saved the world. Nobody needs me anymore."

Deugan shakes his head.

"Are you serious?"- He says- "Many people would fight to the death, just to reach the first step toward the summit where you're standing right now. All of them see you as their savior, their guide toward the light. Are you truly intent on disappointing them, even after you've gone so far?"

Adam shakes his head.

"Of course."- He says and sighs- "I will do my best."

Deugan smiles.

"See that you do."

Deugan teaches Adam the art of handling his weapon properly, his primary example being the incompetence of his previous peers.

"Although many warriors have volunteered to be heroes, very few would live to even consider themselves a part of them."- He says- "Just a single blow could end it all for them, even if it's from their hand."

Adam nods.

"And how do you know that?"

Deugan sighs.

"Even though I am known as Lone Wolf, I sometimes work with those who are foolhardy enough to step up. My brothers-in-arms, many would call them."- He says- "Believe me when I say that the only thing keeping them alive is sheer dedication. And yet, even that won't be enough when you face a group of angry monsters who want to tear into your flesh."

Adam sighs.

"So, I should consider them lucky."- He says- "Is that what you are implying?"

Deugan smiles.

"Well. I guess you can say that. And yet, it's not quite true."- He says- "You see. Unlike them, you have actual potential. Diminished powers that remained lost within that mind of yours. You claim that you're eager to see what you're capable of, but what matters is your inside self."

Having said that, he becomes much more serious.

"Ignorance is a deadly toxin, my friend."- He continues- "To battle it, you must remember that you're not alone."

Adam's eyes light up. For a second.

"I am... *not?*"

Deugan nods.

"No matter where you go, many would do anything just to fight by your side."- He says- "We're not the only people who want to fight the darkness."

Adam sighs.

"And yet, they are still cowardly enough to hide when a major disaster occurs.

Deugan sighs as well.

"Can you blame them?"- He asks- "Unlike us, they're not fit for the job. Just a bunch of hearty civilians, eager to accept anyone as their number one hero."

He smiles.

"Now!"- He exclaims- "Onto the training!"

He swings his sword a few times.

"Come on, Adam!"- He says- "One! Two! Three!"

Just as he prepares to strike, Adam manages to push the sword out of his hand. Without even looking.

"See?"- Deugan says- "Even when you're not really here, skill is still at your side."

He takes a few steps back and motions for him to do the same.

"Now, it's your turn."- He says- "Show me what you've learned."

Adam realizes that he has nowhere else to go. Finally seeing how serious this training is, he nods.

"You want the best of me?"- He says- "Be careful what you wish for."

As he advances upon his unsuspecting teacher, Deugan cannot help but realize how fast he is on his feet.

Searching for a weakness within his opponent, he lets his guard down, allowing Deugan to perform a few deadly attacks that nearly make him drop his sword. But his reflexes allow him to avoid the worst of them, emerging nearly undamaged.

However, it soon becomes clear that his moment of weakness was just a ruse. As soon as Deugan retreats, Adam lunges forward and whacks him in the leg.

While the mighty hero whinces in pain, the young warrior performs a series of swift and fierce slashes with his sword, known simply as the "Eagle Style Slash".

"The Eagle Style Slash?!"- Deugan says to himself, surprised- "I thought that he'd given up on that one!"

Then, with a final leap behind his target, Adam trips him with relative ease.

Standing over his fallen partner like a bloodthirsty lion, Adam points his sword at him.

"Does that convince you of my competence?"

Deugan grins.

"Now *that's* what I've been waiting for!"- He says- "Your daddy was right. For an eighteen year-old, you fight better than most of the kids I've trained."

As Adam helps him stand up, he pats him on the back.

"Such valor. Such rationality. Such wisdom."- He says- "My boy, perhaps I underestimated you. The way you defeated Darkthrop was no mere coincidence."

Adam smiles.

"And I will gladly do it again!"

Deugan smiles and nods.

"I'm sure you will."- He says- "Someday, the evil wizard will return. And when he does, he'll receive a nasty surprise. And it won't just be his fallen empire!"

Adam sighs.

"I will avenge her."- He says- "That, I promise."

Deugan pats him on the shoulder.

"I understand that it's hard for you to think about it."- He says- "When I was separated from my best friend, I felt like I would never be reunited with him. And yet, live goes on. I lived, and he did the same. We may not recognize each other anymore, but the kinship still lasts."

Adam looks up.

"Do I still have a chance to redeem myself?"

Deugan shrugs.

"Nobody knows."- He says- "But the real question is whether she's ready to act with passion and love. Whether she's worthy enough to be forgiven."

Adam blinks a few times, confused.

"Does this really matter?"- He asks- "She made peace with her demons. She lived long enough to see the results of her change of heart. I think that delving deeper into her treachery would be... unwise."

Deugan sighs.

"Ah, whatever. Forget it."- He says- "She's gone anyway. Hunting for a dead man's chest will get us nowhere."

He turns to Adam.

"That should be everything, for now."- He says- "Classes resume next week."

He winks.

"And we'll have a special guest!"

Adam smiles and nods.

"Excellent."- He says- "Working with someone else will be a challenge, but in a good way."

Deugan smiles.

"Of course, kiddo."- He says- "Now go to your home. Miss Emela must be worried about you."

Adam sighs and nods.

"I will. Thank you, sir."- He says- "See you next week!"

Deugan waves at him as he leaves. He waves back.

As he leaves, Deugan watches the door close and sighs.

"*Poor kid.*"- He says to himself- "*Without her by his side, he'll never be the same.*"

Adam looks up at the sky and, annoyed, realizes that it is past six o'clock in the evening.

"I guess that my day is... over."

He sits on a nearby bench and watches as the rest of the townsfolk slowly return into their homes.

As he sighs and looks down, the spirit of his aunt appears next to him. A bright apparition to him, yet unseen by others.

"Feeling sad again?"- She asks him- "If there's something you want to say, don't be afraid. I'm not going to yell at you."

Adam looks up and sighs again.

"Look at all those people."- He says to her- "Happy. Productive. Optimistic."

He looks down.

"Why can't I be like them?"

Marinette shakes her head.

"They may seem like they're living normal lives, but the problems lie deep beneath this pleasant exterior."- She says- "Even though they think that they're happy, there is something that bothers them. Many of them only pretend to see the truth, in a way they want it to be. And yet, the world is harsh. Villains hide around every corner and they know it."

She sighs.

"Sometimes, I also wish it were otherside."- She says- "But it's not. We must move on."

Adam shakes his head.

"We fight for the future, but we always neglect the past."- He says- "And yet, the past is what makes us feel special. Every moment that we spent together, it was priceless. Letting it all go would be... be... "

He looks down. Although he does not dare to cry anymore, the tears in his eyes say it all.

"Have you ever believed a thing they said about her?"- Marinette asks him- "Or do you want to see for yourself?"

Adam nods and sighs.

"I want to find something that tells me that she made it. A step in the sand. A broken arrow or shattered sword. Even a simple rumor would be enough to keep me going."- He says- "And yet, I will never feel at peace. I want to give up, but I cannot. It is impossible to forgive myself, not when there is still another chance."

Marinette smiles.

"Then go for it!"- She says- "If the others can't solve this mystery, then do it yourself! Find the key to redemption and unlock the gates of purity! Let your very mind be the guiding star! Make a difference and show them that you're not a simple kid anymore!"

Adam looks up and smiles.

"Maybe you are right."- He says- "I am strong enough to carve my own destiny. Nobody will stop me from being myself."

He turns to his aunt.

"Auntie, do you understand what this means?"

Marinette smiles.

"Of course I do."- She says- "Then, go ahead. You can do it."

In the middle of the night, Adam wakes up. He realizes that he has slept on the bench all day.

"Is it time yet?"

He looks around and notices that the streets are empty. Nobody will notice his absence.

Having gathered a few supplies from Emela's home earlier, Adam puts the supply bag on his back and sets off.

The town where he lives now is not very big. Crossing its streets is child's play for the young wayfarer.

Soon, he reaches the gates and realizes that their defenses are active. Startled, he leaps back, only to realize that they are simple turrets.

"*Excellent engineering. Reliable structure and strong release.*"- He says to himself- "*Many consider me the true protector of this settlement. And yet, those defenses are strong enough to withstand an entire assault, be it of humanoids or actual humans.*"

He sighs.

"*And yet, they are still no match for the superior armies of darkness.*"- He continues- "*If I stray too far from home, then those people will get in real trouble.*"

He takes a step forward, well aware that the defenses may still malfunction... even though they are manufactured by competent people.

However, such a thing fails to happen. The turrets let him pass peacefully, knowing that he belongs here.

Looking back at his new home one last time, the young hero sighs.

"I guess that this is it."- He says- "It is either do or die. There is no other way."

He stares at the stars above confidently.

"I will not surrender!"

Having said that, he leaves the area, not intending to return until the deed is done.

After days of arduous adventuring and inadequate information, Adam finally feels like he made some progress. Taking notes on the small map that he took with him, the young hero frequently consults it, hoping to find the exact location of the ruins. It is his only hope for salvation, after all.

But hope is not enough to keep him going. Survival in harsh environments has allowed him to last, even in the darkest depths and hottest badlands.

Thus, he keeps on moving. And moving.

A single day later, he stumbles upon a small river. He contemplates whether he should set up a temporary camp and take advantage of this rare opportunity, but soon decides against it.

However, such a wonderful sight is too hard to ignore. While our hero does not want to stay for long, he still feels very thirsty. And tired.

Having exhausted his water resources earlier, Adam eagerly bends down and refills it.

Just as it finally gets full, Adam stares at the water within.

Although he has managed to avoid the initial effects of the appetizing liquid, Adam soon realizes that he cannot hold back anymore. His mouth waters as he thinks how unwise it would be to leave without drinking from the river.

"I suppose a little sip would not hurt."

Having decided what to do, the young hero bends deeper to drink from the liquid.

At first, it tastes like normal water. However, at the second sip, he realizes that he needs more of it.

Drinking more and more, his belly gets filled with the refreshing liquid, satisfying his thirst and giving him the energy to move on.

He looks up at the path ahead of him and realizes that it is shining. The magical energy within the water fills him with a strong desire to make a difference.

Before he moves on, however, he sits down and stares at the lake, remembering some of the brightest moments that he and his sister spent before they were separated. Happiness returns in his mind as he reminisces the times when he was truly happy and faithful.

One time, before Darkthrop rose from the ashes, he and Akira went to a river near their hometown. It was Adam's 15th birthday and he always wanted to spend some time away from the cacophonic streets of Paris. At the same time, Akira herself was feeling fed up with all the bustling activity around them and wanted to take a break as well. It was clear that both children wanted to stay somewhere else and that is why Akira thought that this would be the best way to grant her little brother's wish. However, their parents were always worried about their safety and often advised Akira that it's best if they simply ignore the outside world, thinking that it would be better if they never had to encounter any dangers that would put them at risk. As a result, both brother and sister felt like it is best to leave all of the arduous work to the adults.

And yet, Akira does not listen to everything her parents say. She is a rebel. Her mind drifts away from reality, just to find another way to live her life.

But this does not apply to her responsibilities. Although she is a little wild in heart and soul, she is still a loving daughter and a caring sister. Thus, her desire to bring her little brother away from the chains that have been binding them to the city for years has become more than just a simple wish. Now, it is a sacred task that easily outweighs all of the insecurities that make her feel worried about him.

She wants him to be happy, even when she doesn't feel the same way. And that's what makes her special in his eyes.

"Akira, I will be honest with you."- Adam says- "This is the best birthday present ever!"

Akira smiles from ear to ear.

"I knew that you would like this place!"- She says- "Invigorating, isn't it? All of the trees around here, they fill us with joy. The grass is so soft. The birds are so adorable. This place is a little paradise among the nightmare of a city that we live in."

Adam nods.

"I have always wanted to see what it feels like to be in nature."- He says- "And thanks to you, I can finally pretend that I am one and the same with it!"

Akira giggles.

"Maybe you can even talk with the animals!"

Adam smiles.

"Someday, I will be strong enough to give it a try."- He says- "Hopefully, it will not be a total failure."

Akira and her brother spend some time near the sparking river, watching as the waves silently float by.

"Easy come. Easy go."- She says- "I've always admired how gracious those waves are."

Adam nods.

"Such a carefree attitude."- He says- "Do they even have anything to worry about?"

Akira sighs.

"Inanimate objects."- She says- "I wish I was like them."

Adam sighs as well.

"Being an insentient object is rather boring, but inspiring nonetheless."- He says- "We should be like the waves. Calm. Silent. Brave. Those waves are not afraid of crossing the river left and right, so we should not be afraid of facing our problems either."

Akira smiles.

"And that's why I've always admired your enthusiasm."- She says- "How are you able to stay so optimistic, even though there's barely any light to hold onto? How do you manage to keep your feelings under control?"

Adam sighs.

"Mom and Dad may be strict and demanding, but they are not omnipotent. I have a mind of my own and they know it well."- He says- "So, when I feel afraid, I look into the future ahead. I see the desire to keep the Order intact. And I keep moving. Day after day, I get older, but I also get wiser."

He lays back and smiles.

"And yet, it is all worth it in the end."- He adds- "Look at this place! Were we not brave enough to be heroes, then rivers like those would be marred with the-- "

Suddenly, he looks around and sees that his sister is worried about him. He sighs and shakes his head.

"You know what? Nevermind that."- He says- "Let us just enjoy the moment while it lasts."

The two siblings lay back as a small boat crosses the river and enters the city.

"Busy as always, I see."- Akira says- "Even those who travel by water have their place in this world."

Adam smiles.

"And so do we."

He looks at Akira.

"So."- He says- "What are you dreaming of right now?"

Akira raises her eyebrow.

"Do I have... dreams?"

Adam nods.

"Yes."

Akira scratches her head, unsure how to respond.

"Oh. I don't know."- She says- "I never thought about it."

A few seconds later, a memory of the past makes her remember that she does indeed believe in achieving something important to her.

"Actually, I think that I do."- She adds- "My biggest dream is to stay by your side. To be your favorite sister and to stay happy forever and ever."

Adam smiles.

"That is so sweet of you."

Akira giggles.

"No, little brother."- She says- "*You* are the sweet one!"

Then, without hesitation, she leans forward and hugs him.

"Don't let life corrupt you, little brother."- Adam hears his sister's last words in his mind- "No matter what happens next, I want you to stay strong. Mom and Dad won't always be here to protect us, but I know that you can do it. As your sibling, I'm certain that you can reach the light.

Akira smiles.

"And I'll always be here, by your side."

Adam looks up at her and smiles back.

"Do you promise it?"

Akira smiles again.

"Of course I do!"

Then, the two of them share one last hug before being called back by their parents.

Suddenly, the flashback ends. Adam opens his eyes and realizes that he has been sitting near the river for hours.

"*What a dream.*"- He says to himself- "*All of the things that happened back then... it felt like I saw them with my own two eyes. With the sight of my previous self.*"

He looks down.

"*Akira was right.*"- He continues- "*Even though she is gone, part of her still exists. Somewhere inside of me, she still lives on.*"

He gently touches his chest and smiles.

"I will always love you, big sister."- He says- "In my heart, you will always be my favorite. And nobody will ever replace you."

Having decided that there is little time left, he drinks more of the sparkling water and leaves the oasis behind.

The next few hours are filled with turmoil and peril. Surrounded by darkness and despair, our hero has no choice but to cross the nearby woods. A pack of wolves spots him and attempts to hunt him down, but he manages to use his superior intellect to trick them into thinking of him as an easy target. Then, when the time is right, he pulls out his sword and smites them down.

As he prepares to go further, he notices a wounded wolf. The poor creature, a rival of some kind, was attacked by the pack and nearly killed, were it not for its sheer will and determination. Adam decides to take the risk in helping it. Knowing that it might mean certain doom for him if the wolf turns out to be hostile, he still bends down and casts healing spells on the poor creature's skin. Fortunately, his magic is enough to keep the wound from getting worse and soon, the wolf is back to normal.

Feeling like his mission here is done, Adam packs his things and leaves. However, the creature refuses to simply let him go. Standing by his side, it vows to help him out, using its brain in the same way a grateful human would.

Amazed by the creature's supreme intelligence, Adam decides to let it accompany him.

On the road, the two of them face more dangers. Flamboyant bandits. Bloodthirsty wildlife. And, most importantly, Darkthrop's outcasts.

Although Adam is able to fend off a large amount of them, he still gets very tired. He is not impervious to the pain and suffering, after all.

As the darklings close in on him, they prepare to exact their revenge and avenge their fallen leader. However, Adam's new companion proves to be invaluable in protecting him. He bravely stands in their way, barking at them like a dog and threatening to bite them if they get closer. The darklings are not scared of this and attack anyway, but the creature manages to protect both of them. Using its supreme training in strength and agility, it manages to leap away when one of the darklings attacks and sinks its teeth into its neck forcing it to bleed to death and scaring the rest of them. This leaves them vulnerable to Adam's counterattack, sealing their fate and allowing the two of them to run away before their reinforcements arrive.

Now closer to the city, Adam and his new companion feel the harsh heat that has been haunting the citizens of the evil city for years. A massive sandstorm hits them as they prepare their next move, nearly blowing them away.

However, the young hero uses the techniques that he learned from Deugan to shield both himself and the brave wolf from the harsh weather, allowing them to travel further toward their destination.

On the way there, some sand gets in Adam's eyes. He stumbles around aimlessly and hits his head in a nearby rock. However, the young wolf manages to pull its new friend away before anything worse happens to him.

"I have to say it."- Adam says to the creature as they walk away- "You are smarter than most humans that I met in my travels."

The wolf whines.

"Oh, do not worry."- Adam adds- "Being smarter than an actual human is amazing. You should feel honored."

Hours pass as master and servant work together to get past the sandstorm and into the outskirts of Underfall. However, in the end, they finally succeed and leave the wastelands behind for good.

As they finally reach the ruined city, the wolf takes a step back and growls quietly.

"What is it, boy?"- He asks him- "Do you feel the dark energy?"

The wolf growls in response.

"I see."- He says- "Something must be hiding nearby."

The wolf sniffs its way toward a nearby giant bush and growls in response. Smart or not, wolves tend to be very wary of their surroundings.

Suddenly, a horse jumps out of the bush and tries to gallop away.

Adam thinks of simply letting it go, but the wolf decides otherwise. As it runs after the horse, the young hero decides to do the same.

Horses are nimble creatures. And yet, they easily get spooked by anything. This allows Adam to match its running speed and jump on its back.

As the horse gallops toward a massive rock, Adam attempts to rein the foolish creature away from it. However, it is too scared to move anywhere else.

Just as our hero considers that collision is inevitable, the wolf jumps in their way, scaring the horse and forcing it to turn back toward the city.

This gives Adam the chance to grab it by the reins again and forcibly slow it down.

As Adam attempts to calm the horse, his wolf companion appears again and growls at the beast. However, he is able to calm them both down before the situation can get worse.

"Easy, boy."- He says- "I am sure that he does not want to hurt us."

The wolf whines, unsure whether to believe it.

However, Adam is certain that this horse is not evil like its masters. He pets it and gently combs its mane, managing to calm it down and allow it to look at them for more than just a few seconds.

After making peace with human and wolf, the horse neighs and looks at the ruined city, feeling sad for some reason.

"It feels like it lost someone."- He says- "But... who could it be?"

As he checks its name tag, he takes a step back and gasps.

"Hold on!"- He says- "This is my sister's horse!"

The horse neighs happily, finally recognizing her owner's brother.

"It is okay, little lady."- Adam says and hugs her- "You are safe. Nobody will hurt you when you are with us."

The horse neighs happily, clearly overjoyed that the bad things are over.

"Now, we must move on."- He says and hops back on his sister's horse- "Come on, friends. We are very close."

As Adam moves the horse toward Underfall, the wolf stares longily at the forest to the north and whines. Somewhere in the distance, his whine is answered by gentle barking.

"This did not sound like an echo of your voice."- Adam says- "Is your family there?"

The wolf nods.

"I understand."- He says- "Now that you helped me out, I guess that it is time for you to leave. You need to find your true family, after all."

The wolf whines sadly.

"I love you too, little one!"- Adam says, hops down from the horse and pets him- "You were a wonderful companion. I will always remember our friendship."

The wolf whines again and runs toward the forest. There, it meets a slightly smaller wolf, as well as four wolf cubs.

As his new friend licks his newborn, Adam smiles and watches them enter the forest together.

"This is so... adorable."- He says- "Even the animals have families to take care of."

He turns toward the ruins of Underfall and sighs.

"I guess that it is time to finish what we started."- He says- "Come on, girl. To Underfall."

As Adam rides his horse into the ruins, he takes a look at his surroundings. He is amazed to see how much damage Erdam did during his final battle.

Even though most of the buildings are made of stone, many of them were burned to a crisp by the dragon's fire. Others were crushed by the numerous skirmishes that happened during the assault. And, while the city is eerie and abandoned, the bodies of humans and darklings alike litter the streets around them, serving as a clear testimonial of how dangerous it is to underestimate the warriors of light.

Adam hops down from his horse and looks around. He searches for the corpse of his sister, but it is nowhere to be found.

Then, he tries to find Aiden- the friend whom he lost in the final battle against Darkthrop. However, he has no such luck. The corpse was seemingly dragged away (by predators or worse) and any traces that would indicate where he was taken were erased by the harsh winds.

"Aiden, I... I am so sorry, my friend."- He says- "I wish that I was not so foolish."

Then, he hears a sound coming from nearby. He investigates its source, but finds nothing.

However, he soon stumbles upon a rare opportunity.

Nearby, he finds a large piece of clothing. Tattered remain of a robe, torn off from someone's clothing and left to decay in the tainted dirt.

"I can recognize those anywhere."- He says- "Those must belong to... Akira!"

Suddenly, he hears how a stranger emerges from the bushes. He tries to leap away, but he easily catches him.

Having the clear advantage, he points his gun at the back of his head.

"Don't move, sinner."

Adam raises his eyebrow.

"I do not know what you want from me, but rest assured that I am no sinner."

The person, clearly a man, smirks.

"They all say it until their true colors show up."- He says- "Now, stand up. Let me see your hands. I am serious, so don't even try to run away."

Adam sighs.

"Very well, bandit."- He says- "If you really want to see my face, who am I to refuse?"

As he turns around, he realizes that the person pointing his gun at him is an actual sheriff.

The sheriff himself is quite surprised to see who he actually is.

"Holy moly! It's you!"- He exclaims- "Akira said that you exist, yet I never dared to believe her!"

Adam gasps.

"Wait!"- He says- "So, you know my sister?!"

The sheriff tips his hat and smiles.

"Sheriff Dawson, at your service."- He says- "I reckon it's best if you introduced yourself, too."

Adam raises his eyebrow.

"Oh my! I almost forgot about that!"- He says- "Well, my name is Adam. Adam Kaos. I am the son of Jared Kaos, a traveller from far away who only wants to fulfill his duties."

Sheriff Dawson grins.

"Well, you're just like me!"- He says- "I've been looking for my son for days!"

Adam looks at him.

"Your... son?"

Sheriff Dawson sighs.

"Come with me."- He says- "It's not safe here."

Having said that, he takes Adam away from Underfall and leads him toward a seemingly abandoned hut.

As the young hero wonders what is going on, the sheriff smiles.

"You want to know where your sis went?"- He asks him- "Well. I think that this is the right place."

He puts his pistol away.

"Akira, where are you?"- He says- "I've got a surprise. And it's a really good one."

As a young woman emerges from the hut, Adam instantly recognizes her.

And, for the woman herself, it is the same.

"Akira!"- Adam yells- "I cannot believe it!"

Adam rushes forward and hugs his sister.

"I missed you!"- He says- "I missed you so much!"

Akira is incredibly relieved that her brother is still alive. She hugs him back and starts to cry.

"Thank the gods! We're finally reunited!"- She says- "I never thought that I'd see you again. And yet, here you are!"

She smiles.

"I'm so happy, sheriff."- She says- "Thank you!"

Sheriff Dawson smiles.

"It's my pleasure, my dear."- He says- "After all, I'm always here to help."