ML C8, P4- "Reasons To Live"

"Reasons To Live" is the fourth Part of "MIracula Luxia" 's eighth Chapter- "For Whom The Bell Tolls". It was released on 28.03.2020.
== Plot ==
Aleks and Commander Jones find a boat underground. They use it to cross the subterranean river and reach the Kaos residence, from where they can plan their next move and let Seiko recover in the meantime.
However, this journey won't be as easy as it sounds. Unbecknownst to them, the humanoids are coming after them in hot pursuit, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
In this Part, Jared will also remind Commander Jones why his mother needs to live, no matter if she is unconscious or not.
== Story ==
The trio reach the subterranean river and see the boat.
Jared inspects it carefully, looking for possible flaws in the design.
"Well."- He says- "It looks like it will last for a few more runs. It's stable, strong and able to carry at least 4 people at once.
"Very nice."- Commander Jones says- "Then let's put your mother on the boat and get out of-- "
He stops and listens to something in the distance. 
Jared realizes that there is something (or someone) ahead, but the sound is too inaudible to make out its origin.
Meanwhile, the young hero hears something from behind them and notices a few goblins peeking their heads from nearby corners.
Satisfied that they've found their prey, the creatures whistle to their allies in the distance and prepare to attack.
"Um. Commander... "- Jared mumbles.
Commander Jones looks behind him and notices the incoming creatures.
"Oh, dear."- He says.
"This will be much more difficult than I had anticipated."
Jared nods.
"We need to hurry! Who knows how many more are coming for us?"
"Indeed. Let's go."
Jared quickly positions his mother in the boat and sits in it, along with Commander Jones, who manages to kill some of the closest goblins before he gets in.
Commander Jones notices two oars.
"Jared?"
"Yes?"
"Do you know how to drive a boat?"
Jared shakes his head.
"I know how to do many things, but this is not one of them."
Commander Jones nods.
"Then I'll drive. You can make sure that Seiko doesn't fall of the boat while I do so. Sound good?"
Jared nods.
"You can count on me."- He says.
The two of them get on the boat and start boarding it towards the other side of the river.
The goblins behind them stop near the river and look at it. Then they look at them and at something that is ahead of them. They laugh.
Jared and Commander Jones stare ahead and realize, in shock that there are multiple creatures ahead.
Orcs. Goblins. Even a young Giant.
"What are we going to do?"- Commander Jones wonders.
Jared smiles as he puts his hands behind his back to reach something.
"Leave this to me, Commander. I will show them the magnitude of their mistake."
The creatures laugh. One of them even makes a crude gesture, as if to say "You are surrounded, humans!".
Jared smiles again.
"Let's see how strong you really are."- He says and takes the object from his back out.
Somehow, Jared has managed to pick up a bow and some arrows from somewhere, possibly from the Kaos residence.
He surprises the humanoids by shooting all of the goblins both behind and in front of the two heroes.
The orcs get angry and try to reach them by swimming.
However, Jared manages to shoot all of them in the head before they can even get close to them.
When they reach the land, Jared and Commander Jones carefully carry Seiko further ahead.
However, the Giant surprises Jared from behind and hits him on the head.
Fortunately, the boy survives the blow, suffering only a minor wound from the blow. He smiles when the giant realizes that he didn't kill him.
"Nice try, buddy."- He says.
The giant's plan to kill Jared failed, but the boy doesn't realize that it has a backup plan.
A few goblins manage to distract Commander Jones, who is forced to leave Seiko on the ground to fight them.
Meanwhile, four orcs surround Seiko and prepare to kill her.
Jared tries to step in, but Commander Jones stops him.
"No. Don't."- He says.
"Why?"
"There are too many of them. We must run before they surround us as well."
He turns to run towards the exit.
"Coward!"- Jared yells and charges at the orcs, intending to save his mother. No matter what happens to him.
Commander Jones sees that Jared isn't with him and notices how he fights against the orcs while the rest of the humanoids surround him.
"Jared! Leave your mother there! Save yourself!"
Jared ignores Commander Jones's request.
"No way!"- He yells- "I won't let anyone else die! Never!"
Commander Jones tries to convince him a few more times, but the boy says nothing.
The commander decides to run away, leaving Jared behind.
At first, it looks like the boy has no chance to survive this. There are a few orcs, lots of goblins and even a giant, ready to kill him.
Jared fights valiantly, killing as many of the humanoids as possible to save his mother from them. He knows that he won't survive this battle, but he does his best to leave as few of them alive as possible before he dies.
A few moments later, the giant manages to knock our hero down and aims his club at him.
However, before the creature is able to kill him, a sword goes through its head, killing it. It slowly falls to the ground, almost crushing Jared and his mother.
The person who just killed the giant reveals himself. Jared smiles when he realizes that he's friendly.
He helps Jared stand up.
"Are you okay?"- He says.
Jared nods.
"Yes. We need to get my mother out of here."
The person stares at the unconscious woman.
"Mother?"
Jared stares at him.
"Indeed."- He says- "Please. Help me out. We need to carry her to safety."
The person smiles.
"We will, but first we need to take care of the hostiles around us."
He points at the fleeing humanoids.
Jared nods.
"Keep my mother safe. I will handle them."
The person stands near the unconscious Seiko while Jared chases down the cowardly goblins, taking them down in the process.
Once he is finally done with them, the boy cleans his blade, satisfied with another job well done.
Jared and the mysterious person carry Seiko outside and enter the kitchen of the Kaos residence.
Jared is surprised that there is a stairway, leading to the sewers below. He has never seen it before, that is for sure.
In fact, the stairway is new. His mother and father dug it with picks and shovels by themselves two years ago, with the intention to have an easy way to reach the sewer and escape the residence, should an attack occur. An attack that would take the whole mansion down with it.
But that does not matter now. It doesn't matter when, or why it was built. All that matters now is that it exists and that it helped them escape.
Jared closes the trapdoor, preventing the rest of the humanoids from reaching them.
"I think that we're safe."- He sighs.
The person who helped him out shakes his head.
"You're never truly safe in a time like this. Trust me."
Jared raises his eyebrow.
"Who are you, anyway?"- He wonders.
The person lifts his hood and Jared sees his good friend.
"John... "- He mumbles.
It is John Braveheart- Jared's best friend, who risked his own life to save Jared and his mother from the humanoids below the ground.
"Why did you save her, Jared? Why didn't you just leave her there? It was... hopeless."- Commander Jones says.
Something in the commander's words makes John lash out at him.
"Who are you to say what my friend will do and will not do?! You don't know him! He is devoted in protecting his family from harm and he is never going to let them die! He will risk his life, like he always has until now. He won't stop fighting to keep them safe from harm and death until he, himself dies. Don't you understand that?! Or do I need to repeat myself, so you can finally understand it?"
Commander Jones is shocked by this sudden outburst.
"But... his life... "
"He is a hero. His duty is to protect and serve. And he won't stop doing this just because someone told him not to. No way. He will not. He will keep fighting, even if it means that he will die in a battle. He's a hero in my eyes and I will help him out until the bitter end for both of us."
Jared smiles.
"Jon, I... I don't know what to say. Your words are so... motivational."
John smiles back.
"You don't need to do so, my friend. Your eyes say it all. You are grateful that I helped you out. Your gratitude is what matters the most to me."
Commander Jones sighs, remembering how his soldiers used to risk their own lives while they were under his command.
"We need to protect each other. I know that well. I made a mistake and I'm sorry for that. I promise that I'll keep the three of you safe as best as I can. You don't need to worry."
John nods.
"Then prove it, sir. If you want us to trust you, help us. Don't be the person that we think you are right now- a coward who can't decide what is right and what is not."
Commander Jones smiles.
"I will."- He says and walks towards the front door of the residence.
He hears a loud sound coming from it. A few goblins are trying to break through the makeshift barricade.
He grabs a bunch of metal from the ground, crafts it into thick sheets and uses a hammer to barricade the door even further.
Everything is pretty much the same. However, the difference between the previous barricade and this one is that the current is much more resistant to enemy attacks.
The creatures to break through it, but get hurt while doing so. Unable to do anything, they leave the area and go back to the portal.
Commander Jones also hears a few stomps. It seems like some ogres have joined the goblins in trying to break through, but leave along with them when that doesn't happen.
He goes back to Jared and John and smiles.
"It is done. The residence is safe from humanoids."
John nods.
"I would like to believe it. However, we don't know what will happen later. We must be ready for the worst."
"What do you say, Jared?"
"... Jared?"
Jared doesn't respond. He just watches over his unconscious mother, not listening to what the others have to say to him.
"Mom, please wake up. We still need you. Please, don't leave us alone."- He whispers to her as John and Commander Jones watch him sadly.
== Trivia ==
* Jared watching over an unconscious Seiko is similar to one of the first Part of "Miracula Luxia" 's Chapter I when Seiko watches over a wounded Jared and tries to keep him alive.
* On the contrary to what some readers might have thought about Jared's situation in the sewers, he was not going to die either way, whether John helped him out or not.
* This is the first Part in Chapter VIII of "Miracula Luxia" that features more than one Main Character, who is not a part of the Kaos family.
* The Part's title- "Reasons To Live" is a reference to some of the reasons why Jared is still alive- to keep his family safe and sound, to help the people in need and to keep the world itself safe from the hostile forces all around it.
=== Deleted Sequences ===
* Commander Gareth Jones was supposed to die in this Part, sacrificing his own life to save Jared and his mother, Seiko. However, this idea was discarded and he fled the sewers instead, not even trying to help an unconscious Seiko and her son.
* John was not supposed to appear in this Part of "Miracula Luxia", but the idea for his appearance was added after the idea for Commander Jones running away from the humanoids, just so Jared could till have emotional support after this sudden betrayal.
* Seiko was supposed to wake up around the end of this Part, but the idea was scrapped in favor of John's first appearance in this Chapter.