ML C8, P5- "Friends And Enemies"

"Friends And Enemies" is the fifth Part of "Miracula Luxia" 's eighth Chapter- "For Whom The Bell Tolls". It was released on 30.03.2020.
== Plot ==
An unconscious Seiko is laid on a bed back in the Kaos residence, our heroes waiting for her to wake up.
Meanwhile, Jared and John think about what to do next as the monsters try to break into the residence. They have to make this decision quick, or they might end up in the middle of a dangerous situation, from which they might not be able to escape safely.
== Story ==
Jared takes his mother to his room and lays her on his bed.
"Sleep well, mom."- He says- "When you wake up, I will be here for you. Whatever happens next."
He looks at his room and sighs.
"It has been a while since I came here."
He notices that almost everything in the room is still in perfect condition. No rust, no dust, almost nothing that would signify an abandoned room.
He picks up a wooden sword from the ground and swings it a few times.
"Still as useful as it was two years ago."- He says to himself- "My training sword never lets me down."
John enters the room.
"Jared?"
Jared turns around.
"Yes, John?"
John smiles.
"I just... I just wanted to say that I'm glad to see you."
"So am I."- Jared responds- "Thank you for helping me out down there."
John pats Jared on the shoulder.
"It's what friends do. They help each other until the bitter end."
He looks Jared in the eyes.
"Jared, I have a question."
"Yes?"
Suddenly, John starts to look a little nervous.
Jared notices this and sighs.
"I understand that there is something on your mind. You can share it with me, if you want."
John looks up.
"I just wanted to know this. If I am ever in trouble, would you... would you help me out? Or would you just leave me in the dust?"
Jared raises his eyebrow.
"What? And leave a suffering friend die without being helped? I would never do that. If you are in danger, I would definitely help you out. You can count on me."
John smiles.
"I've always counted on you, my friend. I always have."
Commander Jones enters the room.
"Boys, I'll stay with Seiko. In the meantime, would you like to go outside and see what you can do about the monsters?"
Jared and John nod.
"Very well. Good luck, then."
Jared and John leave the room as Commander Jones sits on a nearby chair to watch over an unconscious Seiko.
"Jared? What do you think we should do next?"- John asks him
Jared looks at him suspiciously.
"It's obvious what we should do next."- He says- "Go outside, protect the residence and destroy the portal. Until then, though, we should stay here. The monsters who are trying to break in are eventually going to go back to the portal. A new door will open for us when that happens."
John nods.
"I agree. It's for the best. Let's see how long it will take for that to actually happen."
Jared and John wait in the kitchen for two hours. The sounds coming from the attic do not stop. In fact, they get louder with each passing hour, as if more and more monsters are trying to break into the residence.
This reminds Jared of the zombies and their way of thinking- how the creatures react to a zombie trying to break in, by joining it and creating a horde. It seems like the goblins, orcs and other creatures outside the residence are no different than their zombified cousins. In fact, all of them are classified as "humanoids"- creatures who are close to humans, but cannot think (or act) quite like them. This is something that makes them different from the dominant species on this planet.
However, Jared and John are not afraid of the monsters getitng in. Although they are indeed very annoying and strong, they won't be able to break such a strong barricade down.
Or, at least, this is what our heroes are hoping for right now.
"I saw the portal when I came here."- John says- "There are so many monsters around it!"
Jared shakes his head.
"Unfortunately, that is very true. And we need to get rid of them."
"And the portal. Especially the portal."- He adds.
John nods.
"I agree. This is a huge threat that we need to handle ourselves. Paris depends on us and we need to defend it."
He looks up.
"So, what's the plan?"
Jared thinks about it for a while. Finally, he decides what would be best for them now.
"I think that it's best if we keep the residence protected from those beasts for now, until they lose interest. This usually happens with all humanoids, so it isn't impossible here. But... if we want that to really happen, we need to distract them."
John interrupts him.
"So, you mean that one of us... "
Jared shakes his head.
"No. Both of us can do this. We can go back outside through the sewers and surprise them. When that happens, we can lead them away from the residence, leaving only a few of them for Commander Jones to kill. What do you think?"
John smiles.
"Whatever you do, Jared, I will always be with you. This is what friends do."
Jared smiles back.
"Yes, yes. I know. They protect each other until the bitter end."
John pats Jared on the shoulder.
"And that's why you, Jared, are such a good friend of mine. Ever since you came in Duskwood, I felt like I found a true friend in you."
Jared nods.
"It's the same for me, John. When you and Annie helped me out back there, I felt like you are one of the few people I can truly trust. And you know what? Now, this feeling has become a reality. In this godforsaken world you, Annie, my family and a few other people are the only ones about whom I can only say good things."
"Even though some of you have made some mistakes in the past... "- He mutters and looks down.
However, he looks back up again after a few moments and smiles.
"But don't think that I hate you just because you attacked me back in Vahnatai lands. No, I knew that you were influenced by them. I know that they wanted you to kill me and the others, that you didn't have a choice in that matter. I said it back then and I will say it again- I forgive you for that. Even if you didn't redeem yourself back then, my respect for you was still going to be the same- a lot of unending respect, for one of my biggest friends. Because I knew that, deep in your dark heart, you still had a little light that would eventually shine at its fullest and brightest."
Jared's words strike deep into John's desperate heart. Tears roll down from his eyes, onto his cheeks.
"I would have never hurt you, Jared."- He says- "Even though I said that I would kill you back then, I would have never done that. Not to the person who saved my life two years ago."
"I would never do that."
Jared smiles.
"Then let's do this. Two friends fight hordes of enemies to free a city and save its residents from harm."
"Yes. Let's do this. Together."- John replies.
The two of them go back in Jared's room.
Commander Jones is still watching over Jared's unconscious mother. He looks up when the two boys come in.
"Is something wrong?"- He says quietly.
Jared shakes his head.
"No, commander, but we want to ask you to do something for us.
Commander Jones stands up.
"Of course, Jared. I would do anything for you."
Jared sighs and looks up.
"Me and my friend- John are going to go outside for a while, to distract the monsters and lead them away from the Kaos residence for good. In the meantime, we want you to protect the residence (and my mother) and kill anything hostile that tries to break in."
Commander Jones shakes his head.
"No, Jared. It's too dangerous. You can't just go outside and--- "
"Listen here, sir!"- John interrupts him- "We need to go outside and do something useful, unlike you. And if you don't let us do so, we will--- "
Jared stops him.
"No, John. There's no need to say that. Let me speak."
John lets Jared speak up, although regretfully. He stares coldly at Commander Jones. So much that he begins to shudder.
"Commander, we understand that you're concerned about our well-being, as well as my mother's, but we need to do something to keep the hostiles away from here. We can't just be sitting ducks here. If we do, the monsters are eventually going to break in, no matter how strong the barricade is right now. And then... you know what is going to happen next."
Commander Jones nods.
"Very well, Jared. You have my permission to do so. Good luck and stay safe!"
"In the meantime, I will protect your mother and keep the residence safe."
Jared nods and turns to John.
"John, I am so sorry for the commander's sudden behavior. He's actually a good person. He means well. He's just... a little bit confused when it comes to deciding what to do in this situation. Please forgive him."
John shakes his head.
"No, Jared. It's my fault. I shouldn't have lashed out like that. I should have listened to what the commander has to say. After all, he is probably much older than us."
Commander Jones smiles.
"Well, I'm not actually that old, mind you. I'm 35 years old."
John is surprised by this statement.
"35?!"- He exclaims.
Commander Jones nods.
"Indeed."
"Amazing."- Jared mutters.
Commander Jones looks at the two boys.
"Anyway, my age doesn't matter right now. What truly matters is the fact that the two of you must lure those monsters as far away from this place as you can. To be... well, to be heroes. Understand?"
Jared and John nod.
"It will be done."- They say.
Commander Jones smiles and helps them out by going down into the sewers with them and helping them clear out the rest of the pests that remained there- rats, bats and the occassional goblin.
Having helped the two heroes clear a safe passage towards the second exit, Commander Jones goes back to the residence to protect Seiko from harm.
Meanwhile, Jared and John go outside.
They look around and notice that the monsters have somehow disappeared from the area.
John nods.
"The area seems clear."
Jared agrees, but also shakes his head.
"You're right, but we shouldn't let our guard down. Stay alert and attack anything hostile that tries to kill us."
"Understood."- John responds and begins to scan the area for hostiles.
Meanwhile, Jared looks at Paris's empty streets once again.
He remembers when his mother took him outside for short walks when he was five years old. He knows that those moments won't happen for him anymore, but he wants to clear the city's infestation, so other children can have good memories like him.
"One day."- He says to himself- "One day, Paris will be safe once again. Me, mom and dad will be together once again, and we will be happy, just like we were before all these events happened."
"But, until then... we must fight for our freedom. And we will."
He sharpens his blade on a nearby rock, also looking for intruders.
In the distance, a familiar face looks at the two boys in the distance.
"Well, well, well."- He says- "Look who got back from his long adventure. I've been expecting you, Jared. I knew that you were going to take down both the Darkness of Duskwood and the Order of the Black Fist."
"But no more. The time when you and your allies will meet your end is coming soon. And I will be the hand that will take you down. Get ready, because I'm coming for you."
With a shrill laugh, the old man disappears into a cloud of dark mist, leaving Jared and John to wonder where it came from.
== Trivia ==
* The old man who appears around the end of the Part is actually the same old man, who appeared in the first Part of "Miracula Luxia" 's Chapter II. It is implied that he will have a bigger role in the story very soon.
* The last sentence that the old man says during the end of this Part is a reference to a part of the lyrics of Foo Fighters's "Pretender"- (I'm the hand that will take you down, Bring you to your knees.)
** This is the second reference to the same song for "Miracula Luxia" overall, the first being the title of C4, P6- "Pretender"