Miracula Luxia C2, P10- "Family is what you make it"

"Family is what you make it" is the tenth and final Part of "Miracula Luxia" 's Chapter 2- "From Zero to Hero". It was released on 28.08.2019.
== Plot ==
Now that Jared saved Formello, he felt like it was better to let his sister and John to find him rather than look for them himself... at least for now.
While resting from his long adventures, he is reunited with some dear friends and someone who he is truly amazed to see again.
Who will it be?
Find out now!
== Story ==
Jared woke up in the morning and heard talking from the outside of his room. Then he entered the main part of the Inn.
However, there was nobody present. Where were all the guests?
"Oh, I see that you're awake, Hero. Good morning!"- Greeted him the Innkeeper. "Quite a long night it was yesterday, eh?"
"I still... feel a little bit woozy. Maybe it's from using too much magic in one battle?"
"Well, magic is not... really safe to use under any circumstances."- Replied the man- "But sometimes things could go really awry for the user. It's a good thing you didn't fall into a state of coma or something even worse than that."
He poured Jared a cup of tea.
Jared looked at it. It had a weird color.
"It's lichen tea."- Said the Inkeeper, noticing Jared's curiosity- "It's not exactly one of the best drinks that can be offered, but it still gives you a lot of energy for the day. Try it!"
Jared sipped the tea. It tasted like a pair of his grandpa's old, smelly socks, as well as mustard. But not like the normal mustard. Instead, it was like 5-week old mustard.
It... wasn't a good taste. 
The Innkeeper noticed the disgust in his expression.
"I know. It's much better with a small spoon of Sugar, but those guys from the Surface don't send us that much. Selfish jerks."
"But... why?"- Jared's eyes suddenly widened, surprised by the Innkeeper's statement- "Aren't they supplying you enough? You're living human beings too, like them!"
"Wise words, my friend, but those guys would definitely decapitate you for that. They only send us a little bonus, enough to keep us alive... barely. And almost no luxuries, like Sugar or Potted Plants."
"How could they? They're such good people, yet they do not receive what they truly deserve. It seems like I'll have a little serious talk with the authorities near the Portal area. Let's see what they have to say about that!"- Jared said to himself, remembering about a Portal area being built recently around Paris.
Lost in thought, our hero didn't notice the arrival of Mayor Samuel.
"Jared?"- The Mayor tried to get his attention.
Jared was still lost in thought.
"Some visitors came into Formello. They said that they're looking for you. They're still here, just outside the Inn. Do you want to see them?"
Jared looked up from his drink.
"I'm sorry, Mayor. I'm lost in thought right now. Can you tell them to wait somewhere, please? I promise that I will go see them as soon as I can."
"Oh. Okay."- The Mayor responded- "I didn't know that. I thought that you were sad or something like that."
"No. Just lost in thought."
"Well, I'll leave you to your thoughts then. Good day."
The Mayor left the Inn. The Innkeeper looked at Jared while cleaning a dirty glass.
"So, you're gonna stay here for now? Or go outside and explore the world of Avernum. Not that it matters anyway, but I'm just curious."
"Well, I think I will stay here, at least for now. This place seems nice and you, Sir are really friendly."
The Innkeeper smiled.
"Well, that is what we Innkeepers do. We're helpful, friendly and trusted. Any Innkeeper that isn't friendly to the visitors of his/her Inn is not a real Innkeeper, let's be honest."
Jared smiled, nodded and looked back at his drink, lost in thought.
15 minutes passed and someone entered the Inn. Jared didn't acknowledge their presence and simply began mumbling to himself:
"I know they're strong and many, but Heartless and Nobodies are not undefeatable. I just have to find out who is creating them... "
The person headed towards Jared. The Innkeeper noticed them.
"Sorry, Jared must not be disturbed. He's lost in thought right now."
"But... I'm an old friend who wants to see him. I promise, it won't be for long."
"Um... okay, I guess. But don't take too much time."
The Innkeeper continued to clean the dirty furniture.
The "old friend" lightly tapped Jared on the shoulder.
"Jared? Look, it's me!"
"Leave me."- He responded- "I'm busy."
"Aw, c'mon! You really don't wanna see your old girly pal?"- The "old friend" said jokingly.
Jared looked up. He was surprised by who was standing before him.
It was Akari, smiling from ear to ear. She hugged him.
"I missed you so much."- She said, almost tearing up as she was doing so.
"Where have you been?"- Jared responded while hugging her back and looking at her clothes.
Her hairstyle was different and she was now wearing what looked like a War Mage's robe and other accessories- the robe was colored in a deep red color. She also had a weapon on her back.
"Oh? Well, I had to join an antagonistic group known as the Darkside Loyalists temporarily, because they told me that they knew were you were located. I learned otherwise only recently and decided to leave them. Then, I was accepted in the Tower of Magi academy where I became a junior War Mage."
Jared noticed that her skin was not entirely pale yet. She must have come recently, like him, but not quite that recently. 
And when she heard of his arrival, she must have traveled all the way to here.
"But... weren't you captured by those bandits... the "Darkness of Duskwood?"
"I was... but after you and your Sister killed the Bandit Leader, I managed to break free and escape after you."
"Speaking of members of your family... Oh, Mr. Kaos! Come here!"
Jared looked up even more as an imposing man stood before him, smiling.
"Son!"- He exclaimed.
"Dad!"- Jared responded and stood up to greet him.
Aleks hugged him.
"We're reunited, at last."
"What happened to Mom and Sister? Did you leave them?"
"Well, I was forced to. After you and Akari mysteriously disappeared, I had to take action to solve this new problem. When I learned that you were going to go into Avernum (I actually overheard that), I decided to teleport before you, so I could help you when needed. But, when I found out that you were in another side of the lands, I traveled and traveled for miles, but then I learned about the new "Hero of Formello" who saved the town from a deadly orc invasion that was almost certainly the doom of the Formelians. So, I traveled to Formello and I found Akari who was also looking for you. I also found two more people who are looking for you- a young girl named Annie and her grandfather Miles."
He glanced at the door. Suddenly, two more people entered the Inn and approached the group.
Those people were Annie and her grandpa.
"Jared!"- She exclaimed, excited- "We found you!"
"Hello, Annie. And you too, Mister."
Miles smiled.
"I saw it within you, kiddo. The rare desire to help everyone you meet, no matter if they're strangers or not. And that's why, I want to thank you for helping my granddaughter."
"It was my pleasure, Sir. I love to help... all the time, if needed,"
The Mayor joined the group as well.
"Well, what happens now?"- He asked Jared- "What will you do next?"
"The plan remains. I stay here for a few more days and rest, then, me, my dad and my friends travel around Avernum."
"Very well then. I will assign two houses- for your dad and for your friend and her grandfather. There aren't that many residents left here now. Most of them left in the night. They thought that the place wasn't safe anymore."
"As for Akari here, I guess that she can stay with you for now. The bed that you sleep on in that room is a double bed, after all.
Jared and Akari looked at each other.
"Well, if we must. Hehe."- They said, smiling and blushing.
"I guess we will leave you then, Son."
"Wair, Dad. Before you go... what is the meaning of the armor that you're wearing?"
"Oh, this one! Well, I joined Fort Draco's military temporarily and Commander Salazar was kind enough to let me keep my armor and weapon while looking for you. Really good man!"
He smiled once more and left with Annie's grandpa- Miles.
Before she left, Annie approached Jared.
He looked at her.
"Yes, Annie?"
"I... I just wanted to thank you for what you did so far. Without you... life wouldn't be so interesting... and eventful."
She kissed on a cheek, a light, but cute kiss that surprised Jared. He blushed even more, his rose cheeks piercing with color through his pale skin.
"You're the best friend I could ever have. Don't tell that to John, okay?"- She whispered to him.
He nodded and she left, happy that she thanked him at last.
Akari was surprised. Then she decided to hear some more things about Annie.
"So, my friend. Is this girl something like... your new love interest?"- She asked him playfully.
He was confused.
"N-No. We're just friends. She's just a big friend of mine. That is all!"
"Yeah, sure, sure."- She nodded. Then she gave him a smug, knowing look, smiled at him and went to their room.
"She's really weird."- The Innkeeper said to Jared.
"Yes. Yes, she is."- Jared responded- "But she's a good person."
The Innkeeper nodded and continued cooking a weird-looking soup, probably of Avernite origin.
Jared went outside and look at the sky.
"Yesterday, I saved a whole city from destruction. Today, I am treated as a Hero and Savior."
"This... does put a smile on my face."
"However, I'm sure that there are many more cities, towns and forts that need my help, even more than the people here, in Formello. While we help them, me and my team must search for a way out and try to find clues where Mom went. As well as Sister and John."
"This is no time to rest. I must prepare. Whatever challenges are lying ahead, I must endure them and show everyone that I am ready to become a real Hero that can save the world from anything!"
Having said all that to himself, he went to a nearby Training Dummy and started training, knowing that he still had to improve.
Meanwhile, the Mayor watched him from afar.
"You are a true hero, Jared. Yesterday, you saved us, tomorrow you will save Avernum. We believe in you!"- He said to himself and smiled, assured that this young boy was a hope for the salvation of Avernum and the World.
== Trivia ==
* This Part's name is a reference to what Sarita says to Kenny in "The Walking Dead: Video Game" (Determinantly) off-screen: "Family is what you make it".