MLFW Part 2- "Layers Of Fear"

"Layers Of Fear" is the second Part of "Miracula Luxia: Four Worlds". It was released on 30.01.2020.
== Plot ==
A small force of the new evil army invades and almost manages to enter the city of Paris. However, due to the efforts of two brave heroes, their attempt became unsuccessful.
This, however, is a sign that there is someone in the city who told the hostiles about what the people in Paris are planning to do and how to surprise them before they succeed. This someone must be eradicated at all costs.
== Story ==
Jared and Annie approached the battle and saw what was going on.
A few members of Paris's cavalry were engaged in a fierce battle against a bunch of bandits.
So far, the bandits were succeeding to slay members of the cavalry, striking fast and hard.
It was up to the two heroes to help their fellow defenders.
Jared rushed in and managed to save a member of the cavalry from death by stabbing a bandit in the back.
Annie grabbed a staff from the ground and bonked a bandit on the head. The bandit fell on the ground.
She tried to grab Annie's leg, but the young hero managed to hit her on the head one more time. She did so a few more times, until the bandit stopped struggling.
Meanwhile, Jared grabbed a bandit by the neck, saving another member of the cavalry. Without hesitation, the boy strangled the evil man to death and threw his dead body into a wall, smashing his skull in it.
The other members of the cavalry (who were still alive) noticed that help has come at last and fought even more valiantly than they have until now.
One of the soldiers managed to stab a bandit in the chest. Another managed to kick a bandit into a hay bale and stab him in the stomach, leaving him to bleed out.
A final member of the cavalry managed to defeat one of the last bandits with a blow to the head with his warhammer.
The last bandit saw that everything was lost and tried to run away. However, Jared (thinking fast and grabbing a bow and an arrow from the ground) managed to shoot him in the back of the head. The dead bandit fell on the ground and something fell out of his pocket. It was a message.
Jared picked it up and read it. From what was written there, it was more than sure that someone in Paris was plotting against restoring the city and wanted to help the bandits take over it.
Everyone was surprised by this.
"A person... here, in our beautiful city... plotting against us?"- One of the soldiers said in disbelief.
"It cannot be."- Another added.
Annie was shocked by this and looked at the soldiers. All of them were terrified by what Jared read aloud.
Suspicious of one of them possibly being the person who wrote the message, she inspected what they had with them. However, no one had anything that would serve as evidence that they are, in fact, suspects.
Satisfied that they aren't involved with this in any way and are just normal soldiers who tried to help defend the city, Annie let them go.
Before they left the area, one of the soldiers shaked Jared's hand.
"Thank you, Jared Kaos."- He said- "We knew that we could count on you. Maybe you should have come earlier, you would have saved our friends as well. Nonetheless, we are very thankful for your help and wish you the best of luck to eradicate those evil jerks once and for all."
"As for us, we're going to help protect the city- just like we always did in the past few years."
"Keep up the great work, soldiers."- Jared said- "We might be few, but we definitely aren't weak. We can do it, together!"
The soldiers nodded and bid farewell to Jared and Annie, leaving them to their thoughts.
"Someone is plotting against us. Who do you think might be the suspect?"- Annie asked her boyfriend.
Jared thought about it for a while. Then he realized that it might be someone he knows.
"It might be anyone."- He began- "But we musn't point our fingers at random individuals, not if we have Paris officials to question."
"So, you're suspecting them?"
"Well, I'm not suspecting anyone yet. But I might when I have enough evidence. I am no detective, but I know that it is best to find evidence before acting. Let's go talk to the people."
Jared and Annie left to find Paris's city hall.
Once they found it, they came in and met the mayor of Paris.
They explained what happened near the walls of the city and how there is a person who is plotting against the good people in it.
The mayor was shocked.
"I'm not sure. Just like you said, it could be anyone! But we need to see if we can extract some information from our officials first."- He said.
Annie nodded.
"Rich people sometimes do stupid things to earn more money. It's better to question 'em first before questioning the other people."
The mayor nodded.
"Then it is set. Let the investigation begin!"
"As fo you, my friends, you may go and take a break. The hours of fearlessly protecting the city that you've spent ever since the invasions happened need to rewarded. So go, walk around the city, eat ice cream or something like that. Leave the hard work to us now. When you're needed again, we will inform you."
Jared and Annie agreed (although reluctantly, because of the promise they made when they entered the city- to "Protect and Serve") and left the city hall, wondering what to do next.
Annie suggested going to the nearby park. Jared agreed and they went there.
They sat on a bench and looked at each other.
They were not sure what to talk about. There were so many problems on their minds that they didn't think about anything else.
Finally, Jared mustered up the strength to talk to his girlfriend.
"Annie."- He began- "Remember how we fell in love?"
"When my brother said that we're made for each other?"
"Yes."
"He wasn't wrong. We are made for each other, after all."
"But... I still feel bad about taking you away from Akari. I know that she loved you so much and it breaks my heart that she'll never be with you now."
"Akari is in the past now. She has her own life, I have my own. We're on friendly terms and that is all that matters between us now. The spark of love is long gone."
"But... I saw her face when you said that you love me. A face of hate. She hates me, Jared. She wants to take you away from me."
"Listen, Annie. I am all yours. Akari is no longer my love interest. You are."
"I love you with all my heart and I know that, secretly you do the same. Plus, Akari experienced a lot of traumatic events during the years that we've been adventuring together. I didn't want to ask her out, because I know that she had demons to face and a destiny to fulfill. So I left her to it."
"She was a good friend. It's a shame that she became so jealous."
"Yes. Jealousy doesn't lead to anything good, especially for someone who lost so much and has got a lot more to lose. It is a huge waste of nerves thinking about someone you will never have."
"I just hope that she's better off living in Duskwood than being with us."
"She told me that everything is fine. That there's nothing between us anymore. That she doesn't want to see me again. Man, she really took it hard."
"That's why you shouldn't have let your love for her fade away. You... shouldn't have listened to my brother's words. Sometimes, he doesn't quite think straight, you know."
"Your brother is a very intelligent and friendly person. He taught me many valuable lessons that my father never did. And, no matter what you say about him, I fully respect him and trust his decisions."
Annie nodded.
"I don't say that I don't trust him. I just say that it would be better off if he sometimes listens to what I have to say about the task at hand."
"Just like I do?"
"Yes."
Jared sighed.
"It's all about trust, Annie. All four of us have different ideas on what to do next. I know that it is hard to agree to someone's idea, but you should at least pretend to agree. Refusing to do so might hurt their feelings."
"When we came here, I promised to the Mayor that I will try to unite our party, to make all four of us trust each other. And I am not planning to stop."
Annie smiled.
"Oh, Jared. You've always been like this. Ever since I met you for the first time, you've been very determined to do something good for the ones around you. For me. John. Your parents. Your sister. And, well... pretty much everyone around you!"
"I am loyal to the ones around me, Annie. I wish to help them with what I can and I will not stop until they're all safe and sound. And happy. Even if it results risking my own happiness for them."
"And that's why I love you, my knight in shining armor."- Annie said and kissed Jared on the cheek.
Jared smiled and blushed.
"At least someone still regards me as a "knight in shining armor"."- He said.
"It's not just me. Literally everyone around us regards you as one. You helped so many people, not just in Paris, but practically everywhere we've been. You helped them out and gained their trust."
"Jared, as much as you say otherwise, the people that you helped regard you as a hero and a sign of hope. They've said so many good things about you. And you just nod and move on."
Jared shaked his head.
"Look, Annie, I understand that those people regard me as a hero, but I am no hero. I am just a young boy from a big city who does what all people at my age are supposed to do- help people."
"Not all heroes wear capes, you know."
"And not all heroes live to help more people. Remember what happened to my uncle Jason three years ago?"
Annie looked down and shed a tear.
"Yes. I do. I didn't know a lot about him, but he was so kind. He was always smiling. Everytime he saw me in the prison, he told me that "everything will be okay". Well, not everything is okay! What happened to him... broke my heart into 24."
Suddenly, Annie hugged Jared.
"He was like an uncle to me, Jared. You undestand that, right?"
Jared nodded.
"Of course. He said so many things to cheer you up, to make you smile in that time of war and turmoil. And, in the end he... didn't make it. I grieved for so many years about him, but in the end I realized that heroes don't cry. They can always lose someone important to them, just like I did. But all they must do to stay strong is shed a tear and move on."
"It is hard for me to do so, but it has to be done. Just like uncle told me when he was still alive- "Don't cry for me when I'm gone. Move on and become a hero yourself. Do what I couldn't. Help who I didn't have the chance to." "
"But... those vandals who defaced a part of his statue during the raids... I will not have mercy on them. I saw how they came and laughed as they did so. I remember who they are and what they did. And when they come back, they will feel the rage of a member of the Kaos family."
Annie nodded.
"They will pay. Ruining the statue of someone's long dead relative is punishable only with a good, old-fashioned beating."
"And killing."- Jared added.
"Man, Jared. You've sure become colder than usual."
Jared looked at Annie.
"I know. It's the events that happened during the last 4 years. They made me a hardened survivor who does anything to keep the people around him safe."
Annie smiled.
"Well then. We'll do that when the time comes. Now, let's talk about a more peaceful topic, shall we."
"I agree."- Jared said- "We have very little time to talk about those. You begin."
"Well... "- Annie thought about her question- "When is our marriage going to happen?"
Jared raised his eyebrow.
"Really, Ann? It has been only one year since we fell in love and you want to marry me?"
"I can dream, godd*ngit!"
"But, to answer your question, it will not happen. Not yet. Maybe in a more peaceful time?"
Annie nodded.
"Understandable. The good boyfriend and girlfriend think about the more important things they have to do before getting married. Plus, we're not even engaged yet."
Jared looked down.
"Well?"- Annie said- "Did you buy me a ring? You promised to do so as soon as we got here."
Jared shaked his head. He definitely forgot about it.
Annie crossed her arms.
"I hope that it will happen soon."- She said.
"It will."- He responded- "Let's think about the task at hand first. When those fools are gone, I will buy you a ring."
Annie smiled.
"I know that you will."
She hugged him.
"You're the best boyfriend I could have ever had. So caring. So loyal. And so brave. To save all those people from such a huge army of hostiles is not an easy task."
Jared looked at his watch. It was 3:50 PM now.
"Hey Annie."- He said- "Do you want to come with me?"
Annie raised her eyebrow.
"Come to where?"
"To the Eiffel Tower. I want to see something there before we get back to work. Well?"
Annie nodded.
"Wherever you go, I will go, too. Let's go there."
Jared and Annie left to see the Eiffel Tower.
At this point, it was 4 PM. The sun was still shining brightly over the ruins of the city.
After an hour of walking, Jared and Annie finally reached the area with the Eiffel Tower.
== Trivia ==
* Annie's words "broke my heart into 24" is a reference to a song by Connor Maynard "R U Crazy" where the lyrics read: "Yeah, ain't no need to cry no more; When you break my heart into twenty four."