MLII C3.1, P9- "Envoy Of Heaven"

"Envoy Of Heaven" is the ninth and penultimate Part of "Miracula Luxia II" 's third Chapter (Episode Two).
It was released on 28.01.2021.
== Plot ==
When a hero intends to do something for someone they love, they do anything to make it come true... even if they must face certain death in the process.
Such is the case with our hero- Jared Kaos, who has just left the Realm of Dreams with the soul of his dear friend- Annie and is intending to return it to whom it rightfully belongs, a task that is sure to be excruciatingly hard to complete.
To do this, he has to overcome the forces of chaos that will do anything to stop him. And we are not just talking about the Guardians of the Realm, who are intending to make him suffer for breaking their rules on purpose.
Jared has to come face to face with his greatest fear- losing people close to him and overcome it to show that he is not afraid of the worst that has yet to come.
Helped by the spirit of his dear, late mother, the young hero shall find enlightenment within his own actions and a purpose to move on and keep fighting for the innocent souls that are screaming for help.
True heroes never give up, no matter what circumstances they are forced to endure to succeed. And Jared is about to prove this. Not just to everyone around him, but to himself. To his doubtful soul that has been trying to guide him towards the wrong path ever since he became what he is now.
It is time to be heroes. Once again!
== Story ==
Jared shakes his head.
"I said it to my uncle and I will say it to you as well."- He says- "I have gone too far to have any regrets about my actions. So, stop mocking me about my choices in life and stay out of my way!"
The guardians laugh.
"You dare defy us? Do you know what you are about to face, you foolish child?!"- They yell.
Jared sighs and continues flying towards the Earth.
"The motivation for one's actions depends on the soul that they carry within their mortal bodies, the determining factor that will drag them out, even from the Abyss itself."- He says- "I may have doubted myself once. I may have shown regret towards doing the right thing for someone. But the Jared that you knew before he was born is long gone. Now, you see someone who is ready to do anything to save a dear friend, even if he must pay a terrible price in the end."
His eyes flash.
"I am not afraid of Death itself, if it means that a person dear to me will be spared from an eternity of endless suffering which they did not deserve at all. So, bring... it... on!"
The guardians smirk.
"We warned you so many times. We tried to give you guidance. And now, you break the rules of our Realm, just to save a... a friend?"- One of them says.
"But what if your friend is not what she seems to be?"- Another one of them adds- "What if the soul that you are holding is as dark and corrupted as those of the enemies that you have slain? What if she does not do the same thing that you are doing for her right now, the risk that you are taking to return her in the Realm of the Living? What is the point of saving such a traitor instead of thinking about your own life for a short time?"
Jared holds Annie's soul close to his heart, once again.
One thing is clear. She is infuriated by the lies that the guardians are saying to Jared. And she cannot hold her emotions under control anymore.
Her soul turns red, enveloped in a burning flame. As powerful and unpredictable as a wildfire could be. 
Jared understands her anger. And he is just as infuriated as she is.
"You have no right to insult her like this!"- He yells- "Annie's life has been a suffering. Shortly after we met for the first time, she lost her mother to an illness that she barely escaped from herself. She managed to reunite with her biological father, but at a terrible cost. She watched her grandfather- a kindhearted person who was ready to anything to ensure her safety, a promise carried to the grave and back, die in her arms as she screamed for him to stay, to not leave her alone."
He looks at Annie's soul and smiles.
"She got through so much pain, endured terrible things that I do not anyone else to experience, even those who are my worst enemies."- He continues- "But, in the end, she never gave up. She fought for her own future, doing whatever she could to make it brighter. Happier. Filled with hope. Her actions helped us realize that friends like her are a rarity in this harsh world, that they are people to whom we must always show respect for the things that they have done, cherish our friendship with them and treat them as if they are a part of our own families. However, even people like her are not invulnerable to the threats of the outside world. In the end, she... she... "
He shakes his head and begins to cry.
"She did not deserve to die like this! Her treacherous actions were completely justified and forgiven by everyone, yet she still came out of her shell to help a person in need, to save a life as she was losing her own."- He says- "And if you think that she got what she deserved, that she deserves to go into the place she was destined to go, then you are as heartless as every villain that we have defeated together, beings devoid of any positive emotions who only wish to maintain the balance of their own universe and to punish those who are trying to do the right thing, just because they have sentimentality within their hearts!"
The guardians sigh.
"Such a pity. If we do this, a brave and determined soul will be lost in the realm forever."- One of them says- "Believe us, this is not what we want to do. But we cannot allow someone to break our rules just like that, can we? Because, if we do, others will realize what you have done and follow your lead. Then, the Realm of Dreams will be plunged into chaos. And we cannot allow that to happen."
As Jared flies towards the Earth, his wings start to burn. Slowly, the flames envelp the boon that was given to him when he arrived in the realm.
"This is the fate that you have chosen!"- One of the guardians says- "The suffering that you shall face for not listening to us!"
"Your wings shall burn like a tree in a forest, weak and doomed!"- Another one adds- "Your feet shall be as heavy as iron. Your thoughts shall be as foggy as the darkest corners of your mind, leading you towards your inevitable end, a never-ending cycle of pain and suffering that you shall never escape, no matter how hard you try!"
"Burn!"
"Suffer!"
"Die!"
Moments later, the last of the flames fades away and the wings are completely gone.
Jared starts to fall down into the void, stripped of his only chance to survive. As he does, he looks at Annie's soul.
He shakes his head.
"Annie, I wanted to give you a second chance, despite the things that happened between us when you were still alive. I did it, because I knew that it was not your fault. That you were forced to do such an evil deed in order to protect someone that you love very much."- He says- "I wanted both of us to return to the Earth, to hug you and assure you that everything will be okay, just like I have always done when you were worried. To give you the hope that you need to move on and fight for what is right. To be your guiding light in this sea of darkness and conflicting emotions. To see your smile, your beautiful smile that I have always loved, one last time before I am forced to endure my destiny. But I can see it now. My dream of reuniting with you is doomed and will never happen."
He sets her soul free and watches as it floats towards the Earth- the place where her body is waiting for her to return.
"Be free, Annie! Free yourself from the shackles of Life and return to your rightful place in this universe!"- He continues- "And, when you get there, please forget about me. Forget about the horrible moments that you had to endure because of me. Forget about the pain that we suffered together and live a new life, filled with positive emotions, one that you deserve!"
Even from where he is standing, Jared can hear that Annie is crying.
"No! Do not cry! It is for the best!"- He says- "I am sacrificing myself to give you a second chance, to help you overcome one of the greatest obstacles in your life. It is the way of the universe. You win some and you lose some."
"Life is always changing, Annie. It can either be your brightest dream... or your worst nightmare. And the only way to turn the tables is to fight back with all your might."- He continues- "So, go there and show the world that you can overcome anything that it sends towards you! Treat it like we treated you and you shall see the light deep within."
He smiles and wipes a tear from his eye.
"Stay safe, dear Annie."- He says- "And please, do not give up!"
Annie's soul watches Jared fall into the void, never to see him again. As she does, she tries to say something.
Moments later, the hero hears her voice.
"Jared, please! Don't leave me! I beg you!"
Suddenly, the whole universe turns white. Jared stops falling.
He looks around and then at the ground below him. It seems that he is standing on thin air.
As he starts moving forward, he realizes that it is true. He is indeed walking on thin air!"
"Where... am I?"- He says to himself- "What am I doing here?"
Lost in thought, he does not notice the spirit of a woman approaching him.
When she is close enough, he looks up.
"M-mom?"- He mutters.
Seiko smiles.
"Still as brave as ever, I see."- She says- "Well done, Jared. You are truly a capable and caring hero. And I'm very proud of you."
Jared nods.
"Yes, but... why... why are you standing here?"- He asks her- "Is there something that you want to tell me?"
Suddenly, Seiko gets very serious.
"What you are doing, it's not right. You're sacrificing your own life to save another. You know the consequences, yet you blindly fight for this cause."- She says- "Don't get me wrong. I am not blaming you for this. I just want to ask you something... "
She takes a deep breath and says:
"Why are you giving up?"
Jared raises his eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
Seiko shakes her head.
"By coming in terms with your impending doom, you are watching all of the hard work that you have been fighting for fall apart in front of your own eyes."- She continues- "Why? Why are you giving up on life in a situation like this? Why are you letting all those people down, the ones that you swore to protect from anything and everything? And, most importantly, why are you not trusting your heart to help you do what is right and why are you letting your tortured soul lead you towards a path of ruin?"
Jared shakes his head.
"No, mom. You are wrong. The people that I fought for, I never let them down. And I never will, even if I am not a part of this world anymore."- He says- "As for the matter of Life and Death that we are discussing, I will tell you this. The lives of the innocents around us are more important than my own. And I will do anything to save them from a fate worse than death, even if it means that I have to face this painful trial myself."
Seiko sighs. She places her ghostly hand on Jared's shoulder and looks into his eyes.
"Let me tell you a story that happened before you existed in this world."- She says- "When I was pregnant with you, I used to look at the stars at night. They spoke of the arrival of a young hero, a boy whose heart would be as pure as the Heaven itself, that is not afraid to do the right thing for anyone, even if they are not a part of his family, that always thinks about the others more than he thinks about himself. Of course, I did not believe those whispers. I thought that it was nonsense. But, when you were born, I looked at your face. When I did, I saw the eyes of a true hero. I sensed a soul filled with kindness and shining like a star, giving hope to everyone around it. A small gift, given only to the most compassionate people of our world. From that moment, my life changed. I realized that I have a purpose in this meaningless life, a purpose that keeps me alive, that gives me a million reasons to show love and care towards my favorite creature, the one to whom I gave the most important gift- the gift of Life. And so, I fought. I tried. I cried. I burned in the wildest of fires and I sat in the darkest corners of my own mind. And all of this was done for you, my child. To ensure your safety... and your happiness. I sacrificed my own moments of joy to provide ones that you could experience one day, as a young man."
She smiles.
"It is the truth, Jared. Many respect you. Others fear you. Fools like those guardians think that they can push you off the right path, but they are about to see the magnitude of their mistake."- She says- "I am not allowed to give such a boon to anyone. But it doesn't matter. Knowing that you are safe and sound is the biggest reward that anyone can give to me. Your life is more valuable to everything else and I will not let it waste away like that!"
Suddenly, a large pair of angeling wings appears on Jared's back.
"Another pair of wings?"- He says, barely believing that this is truly happening.
Seiko smiles again.
"They underestimate us. They think that they can defeat us just by snapping their fingers. They think that we're a part of The Mass, just like those who will always lose hope in the end. But they do not know who we truly are."- She continues- "Now rise up, my little angel. Fly towards the light, embrace your destiny and become the force that will pierce the veil of darkness and change the world for good. Illuminate the void with your ray of hope as they call our your true name, as they witness your true self, the one who is a blessing to the innocent... and a bane to all evil... "
"... Jared Heavenheart!"
A ray of light blinds Jared for a moment. When he looks up, his mother gives him a mirror. He looks at himself and gasps.
"So, this is who I really am!"
His eyes are glowing in a beautiful, white color. He has a smile on his face. And his determination is bigger that it ever was before.
Seiko smiles.
"Are you ready to show those fools what you are really capable of?"
Jared nods and smiles.
"I will not let you down, mom."- He says- "Mark my words, I will show them the true meaning of the word "determination" !"
Suddenly, he is transported back into the void. As he looks around, he hears his mother's voice.
"Have a good life, my sweet child. My dearest creation."- She says- "Know that I will always love you and stand by your side, no matter what happens next. Nothing can stop us anymore!"
Meanwhile, the guardians gasp as they watch Jared emerge from the void.
"H-how is this possible?!"- One of them says.
"We thought that you were dead!"
Jared smiles and closes his eyes. A pair of angeling wings appears on his back.
"So what?"- One of the guardians says- "We will burn them down. This doesn't change anything!"
Jared smiles.
"Oh. So you really think that you can destroy the hope that rests within my heart?"- He says- "I would like to see you try!"
A small flame appears on top of the wings, but disappears immediately after its creation.
"I-impossible!"
Suddenly, another pair of wings appears on Jared's back.
"Th-there's four of them now!"- One of the guardians says, staring in disbelief.
Moments later, a third pair of wings joins them.
"Six! Six wings!"
Then a fourth pair.
"Eight?!"- One of the guardians screams- "This cannot be!"
At last, a final pair of wings materializes on Jared's back, showing the boy's true power.
"A ten-winged angel!"- One of the guardians says, barely believing what he is seeing- "How can a being in this world be so powerful?!"
The last of the guardians, the eldest of them, says:
"We have seen many angels, beings of light with good hearts and misguided souls. They think that they are doing something good for the world below. But we have never seen one who possesses such immeasurable power, a force of light that we cannot take care of with our own powers."- He croaks- "Who are you? Who gave you the gift of life? And why do you have so much determination within your heart?"
Jared looks back at his wings and smiles. His eyes glow white.
"Have you ever heard the story of the young angel who was sent to the Earth as a human being to help the people in need, to show them that there is still hope and be the one that gives it to them? That vowed to protect them from the most powerful villains, the most inevitable disasters and even Death itself?"- He says.
The elder guardian gasps.
"Wait a minute! Are you... J-Jared Heavenheart?!"
Jared smiles. A massive gate appears behind him and opens, revealing a brilliant white light.
"All my life, I have aimed to be a good person. I helped the people in need, I killed those who were destroying the balance of our world and I spared those who were eager to renounce their evil ways and become good people, like me. I fought to keep this world safe, to keep its inhabitants happy, to ensure their survival, even if I had to let go of some people along the way."- He says- "Sure, the deaths of people dear to me have kept me down for a while, made me weak and helpless. But I did not let them drag me down towards the path of pain and sorrow! I knew that they still loved me, even after I let them die. And I know that they always will."
He looks up at the sky.
"Up there, I can see my mother. She gave me the strength to become a hero for those people. She cared for me, loved me. Respected me for who I am, for what I am doing. She did things that few people in this world ever could. And she taught me a valuable lesson, even after I was separated from her... "
"... When you are stuck in a corner, do not back down. Stand your ground and fight. Remember that, even if it means that you will face a certain doom, this is not the end for you. And if there are people who still believe in you, they will always give you the strength to get back up and face the dangers of this world."
His eyes flash white.
"So, stand away from the fire if you don't want to burn!"- He yells- "Get your dirty thoughts out of our minds and leave them alone!"
He dashes forward as the light coming from the gate becomes blinding.
As the guardians' voices within his mind scream in agony, he says:
"Do you feel it?!"- He yells- "Do you feel the rage of the ones who were abandoned, forgotten and betrayed? Do you feel their pain, their pleas for another chance, their desire to make things better? Today, I fight for them. I fight to let their voices of reason be heard by the entire universe, by beings who think that they are doing the right thing, but hurt many innocent souls in the process. Beings like you, who guard thousands of broken hopes and dreams! Beings who deserve to be punished!"
As Jared speaks, thousands of voices join him in the fight- a powerful force that can make every villain consider surrendering, even the strongest and boldest of them.
"Begone from this world! Return to the Realm of Dreams from whence you came!"- Everyone yells.
The guardians' screaming slowly becomes more and more inaudible. Soon, their presence completely disappears from Jared's mind.
Free from this nightmare, our hero descends upon the Earth, looking for his dear friend's soul.
"Annie?"- He says- "Annie, where are you?"
He hears a voice coming from nearby.
"Jared! I'm here!"- It says weakly.
Jared notices a soul falling down towards the Earth slowly. He dashes towards it and catches it just in time.
"I knew it!"- Annie's soul says- "I knew that you wouldn't give up!"
Jared smiles.
"Remember what I told you when we were younger?"- He says- "When a hero makes a promise to someone they love, they do everything that they can to make it happen, even if they must face certain demise. What I had to endure today was truly terrifying. I had to overcome Death itself to save you, my dear friend. It was painful, to say at the very least."
He sighs.
"But, in the end, it was all worthwhile. The mission that I decided to take care of has been completed. And I have been awarded with a gift that means more than a thousand words- your salvation."
He looks at the Earth below them. He looks back at Annie's soul and smiles.
"So. Are you ready to return to the Earth- our rightful home?"
Annie's soul makes a reassuring noise.
"I am always ready when you are, Jared Heavenheart!"