ML C8, P2- "Home Is Where The Mother Is"

"Home Is Where The Mother Is" is the second Part of "Miracula Luxia" 's eighth Chapter- "For Whom The Bell Tolls". It was released on 24.03.2020.
== Plot ==
Jared finally reunites with his mother, as well as with one of his very good friends- Commander Jones. Although this union has been awaited for a long time, it will be short-lived, because of all the monsters that currently roam the city of Paris.
The situation is far more serious than expected, and only a brave and capable hero will be able to save the city from a total destruction.
== Story ==
Jared hugs his mother, overjoyed to see her once again.
"Mom! I finally found you!"- He says.
Seiko smiles.
"Sweetheart, I never would have left you, if the thing you did two years ago didn't happen."
Jared shakes his head.
"I made a mistake. I... I am sorry.
"No, son. I know that you feel bad about what happened, but I can feel the new power within you. In your time of absence from your hometown, you grew stronger and more responsible."
"Am I right about that?"
Jared nods.
"Of course. Of course I did, mom. And it's all because of you, dad and sister."
"I grew stronger so I could protect you better than I ever have before. You mean so much to me."
Commander Jones coughs.
"I know that you have a very emotional reunion, Seiko, but there is still a huge army of monsters still threatening the safety of Paris. We cannot just ignore it!"
Seiko shakes her head.
"I know, Gary. But this is my son! I haven't seen him for two years. How do you think I would feel about it?"
Commander Jones doesn't say anything. Instead, he backs away and smiles.
"Then I will leave you alone. I will return if there's something amiss."
With that, Commander Jones leaves the mother and her son alone.
"So, what happened to your father? He said that he'll try to find you himself, but he didn't return. Is he okay? Did he find you?"
Jared nods.
"Yes, he did. He's back in Avernum. I found him there and we traveled together for a while."
Seiko smiles.
"Oh, joy! I'm so glad that he's alive."
"But... you said Avernum. Your uncle Jason went there many years ago. We lost track of him and we were worried about where he is. Did you see him? Or, did you find signs that he is in there, at the very least?"
The mention of his late uncle Jason makes Jared very sad. He doesn't say amything. He just looks down and a single tear rolls to his cheek.
Seiko realizes that something happened to her brother-in-law. Instead of forcing an answer out of Jared, she simply hugs him.
"We did find him, mom. He came with us. He helped us out. I was so happy to see him again. But then... when I was about to die fighting against the leaders of a powerful dark army... he sacrificed his own life and died instead of me. I... I had to put him down afterwards."
Seiko gasps and looks down as well, surprised by what happened to Jason.
"Dear god... poor child."- She says to herself- "He saw something that no child should be seeing at this age- losing a family member. And it's all because I wasn't a good sister. Why? Why did I let him go with that girl? I should have gone there with him. As a mother who wishes to protect her family."
"Mom? Are you alright?"- Jared asks her.
Seiko doesn't respond to her son.
"Come on, mom. Please say something."
Seiko sighs and looks up.
"Jared, I know how tough it is for you to lose someone like your uncle Jason, but believe me, it is not a rarity for something like that to happen. Sometimes, you have to lose someone important to you to truly understand what this life is doing to you. How it brings you both moments of happiness... and sadness."
"But now you are here, with me and Mr. Jones. We'll do what your father has not done for even his own brother whom he lost many year ago. We will keep you alive and well."
Jared nods, still in tears from what he said about his uncle.
"Thank you, mom. I missed you so much."
"Me too, dear. But know this- nobody. And I mean- nobody will separate us ever again. I learned from my mistakes and I have become a stronger woman. And mother. And I am ready to do my sacred duty- to protect my own child, my greatest creation from harm."
Commander Jones comes into the room and taps Seiko on the shoulder.
"Uh, Seiko."- He begins- "We've got a little problem downstairs."
Seiko raises her eyebrow.
"Problem?"
"Yes. Some of the goblins managed to break through the front door and now they're coming towards us."
"I managed to slay some of them, but they're still too many. And too annoying. Can you help me out?"
Seiko nods.
"Sure I can, my friend. Let's do this."
She draws out a blade from her lap.
Jared is surprised that his mother is no longer using a staff to fight.
"Umm, mom? Why are you using a sword."
Seiko sighs.
"Times change, my dear son. And people change, too. We have to adapt to face what is coming next. And I already have."
With that, she goes downstairs to fight the goblins.
"You can join us, if you want."- Commander Jones says and goes downstairs as well.
Jared nods and draws his sword.
"I owe them a lot. They saved me from the monsters outside the residence, now I will save them from those troublemakers.
He goes downstairs and sees that his mother is surrounded by some of the goblins.
Without thinking twice, the boy jumps in the way of the incoming blows, managing to take quite a few hits to save his mother from harm.
Angered by the way that the goblins hurt her son, Seiko starts to fight back, killing three of the goblins with ease.
This surprises the goblins, who are easily taken out by Jared and Commander Jones with combined effort.
The rest of the goblins try to run towards the door, but find out that it is locked. While they're distracted, Jared pulls out his bow and shoots all four of them in the head.
Having killed all of the attackers, Jared, his mother and Commander Jones sigh and put their weapons on the ground.
"We did it."- Jared says.
Commander Jones shakes his head.
"This was only a portion of them. More of them will be coming soon. We need to leave this place."
"What?! And leave a perfectly leavable residence behind?"- Seiko yells- "Sorry, Mr. Jones, but I ain't going nowhere. I'm not going to give this place up to those fiends without a fair fight."
Commander Jones sighs and turns to Jared.
"And that's why your mother wants me to protect this place. As she says, it's too "valuable"."
"Of course it is!"- Seiko replies- "This is the place that me and my husband have built for many years and have lived in for even more than that!"
Jared nods.
"I agree with my mother, Mr. Jones. I won't abandon this place just because we'll be frequently attacked by those hostile mobs."
"I know, but... we don't know how strong they will be. Today they were goblins. Tomorrow they might be ogres. Or maybe even worse than that."
Seiko shakes her head.
"I'm staying here."- She says.
Jared looks through the window and sees something in the distance."
"Look."- He points at the mysterious purple light.
Commander Jones and Seiko stare at it and see some of the humanoids coming from that way.
"Could it be... ?"- Seiko mumbles.
"I knew it!"- Commander Jones exclaims.
Seiko raises her eyebrow.
"What do you mean by that?"
Commander Jones smiles.
"You see, my dear, monsters usually come from somewhere else. And this is the case with the monsters that currently infest the city of Paris."
"You mean... ?"
"They come through a Portal!"- Jared adds- "If we destroy the portal, there won't be anymore monsters and the rest of them will just run away."
Seiko nods.
"I like the plan, but we can't just barge in there!"
Jared smiles.
"Exactly! And that's why we need to think of a plan."
Seiko realizes that her son has a plan. She nods.
"I see. Then we'll let you think about it. What do you say?"
Jared is not sure about a solid decision, but he knows that there is little time left and soon, the monsters will start breaking into the houses and kill the residents within. If nothing is done, the city is as good as overtaken by the humanoids.
"Well... there is only one thing for us to do. We need to sneak up there and analyze the current situation. See how many of those fiends are stepping through the portal at once and entering the city without being seen."
Seiko smiles.
"Brilliant as always, my child. But... what do we do with the house? The monsters are almost certain to break in when we're gone."
Jared looks around and finds an item that will help them in keeping the house safe."
"I have a solution about that problem as well. Leave it to me. I can handle this."
Jared takes Seiko and Commander Jones outside and picks up a chain from the right end of the entryway. Then, he chains up the door. He gives the door a sharp kick and smiles when it doesn't budge.
"Here."- He says- "That should keep them out. At least until we return."
Seiko nods.
"Very well. Let's go."
"But be very careful, you two. We don't know how many of them are there and how dangerous they are. So, stay quiet and don't make any sudden movements."
Jared nods.
"You know it, mom. I am ready. Let's try to find a way to stop this madness once and for all."
Commander Jones smiles.
"I'm not very good at being quiet, but I will try to do so, if you're the one to say it."
Jared looks at the streets and sees how much the world around him has truly changed.
There are indeed a few brave souls out on the streets, unlike what our hero saw when he arrived into the city, but those people are getting slain by the increasing hordes of monsters. Just a few more victims, falling victim to the darkness below.
However, there is still hope for our heroes to save the city from the monsters. And now is the time to act and try to do so, at the very least.
Jared, Seiko and Commander Jones leave the Kaos residence and approach the swirling portal.