ML C10, P1- "A New King"

"A New King" is the first Part of "Miracula Luxia" 's final Chapter. It was released on 04.06.2020.
== Plot ==
Everything is now quiet and peaceful in the lands of Avernum, where a series of vicious battles happened not long ago. Jared can finally rest for a while.
However, he doesn't have a lot of time to do so as bad news come both from the lands above the ground and the royal court, news which will make Jared question himself about why he is the Hero.
== Story ==
Jared and Akari arrive at the Castle along with a small caravan. Once they make sure that everyone is safe inside, they go in as well.
As Akari stares at the walls and well-armed guards in awe, Jared looks around the interior of the place.
It seems like the dedicated residents of the Castle have been hard at work recently and have managed to repair most of the damage done by the raiders, making the Castle almost as glorious and impervious as it used to be not too long ago.
"Amazing."- Akari mutters while staring at the interior as well- "Simply amazing."
Jared nods.
"I agree, Aki. This place is indeed truly amazing."
Akari smiles and hugs Jared.
"Thank you for bringing me here, Jared. I'm looking forward to helping those people out in the future."
Jared smiles.
"Do you remember the promise that you gave me not very long ago?"- He asks her- "You will keep it, right?"
Akari nods excitedly.
"Of course I will!"- She responds- "When I helped Farrar, I made so many mistakes that I didn't even realize that I've done."
"But now? Now Farrar rots in the Castle's prison and I am here- with you, trying to fix what he and his army destroyed. And I won't hesitate to kill any of the thugs who try to get revenge for their former leader's capture. I promise."
Jared smiles and winks at her.
Akari blushes and smiles back.
"I would never doubt your dedication and abilities, my dear friend."- He says- "I know that you will always choose the good side, even after you change your ways. Sooner or later."
Akari nods and looks down. A tear rolls down her cheek.
"Yeah."- She says- "I just wish that I wasn't so foolish to follow Farrar's cruel way. That I wasn't so caring about the well-being of everyone around me... "
Jared puts his hand on Akari's shoulder.
"Akari, look at me."
She looks up. He smiles.
"What you are talking about is a thing that is in the past now. I know that you wish that it never happened in the first place, but there is no time machine for that to happen yet!"
"Anyway, you should stop worrying about the past and think about the future. And do not live for today! Every day we live, every day we spend together, we do things that are important for our future, our bright future."
"We are in this together. We will continue helping those people... until we are no more. Am I right, my friend?"
Akari nods tearfully.
"But... what about my father? My mother?"- She says- "Your mother? Your uncle?"
Jared smiles.
"They lived good lives and served their purpose. They wanted to protect us from harm. And they did. They made us stronger, more capable, more determined. They made us true survivors, Akari. And we should not let their sacrifices go to waste."
Akari nods and starts to cry.
"But... but that doesn't mean that I won't miss them!"- She says.
Jared smiles and hugs his friend.
"Shh. It's okay. Do not worry about anything. I am right here."- He comforts her, his soothing voice slowly drifting into her ear- "I will always be here for you, not matter what happens. We are more than just mere classmates, Aki."
"We... *sniff*... we are?"- She wonders.
Jared nods.
"Of course! We are a team. And a team never lets each other down. We always fight for what is right, especially for the well-being of each other."
"And I will never stop caring about your well-being, even if you fight against me and try to kill me. Even then, when you slap my face, when you slap it as hard as you want to, I will still respond with love and care. Always."
Akari stares at Jared's eyes. Something makes her feel nervous.
Then she starts to cry. She hugs Jared. Tightly.
"You're the best friend I could have ever had. One in a million!"- She says- "Please don't leave me! Stay with me!"
Jared smiles and hugs her back.
"I already said it earlier and I will say it again. I forgive you, not because I am forced to, but because you are way too important to me. So important that I won't trade you for anything."
"I love you, Akari Minamino."- He says and gently lifts her chin up.
Then, he kisses her.
The kiss makes Akari feel better.
"You're such a loyal ally."- She says- "I... I don't want to lose you either."
"You will not."- Jared responds- "In flesh or in spirit, I will always be here for you."
As Akari slowly nods and backs away a little, a guard approaches Jared and bows down.
"Yes, soldier?"- Jared asks.
The guard stands up.
"Great hero, I am afraid that something very unfortunate happened. And I have to be the bearer of the bad news."
Jared raises his eyebrow.
"What happened? Is it... is it about the Castle? Is someone attacking it again?"
The soldier shakes his head.
"Happily, that is not the case."- He says- "It's about the King, sir. The King is... is... "
Jared realizes what the soldier is trying to tell him. He shakes his head in disbelief.
"I understand. There is no easy way to say this. But at least tell me this: How did he end up like that?"
The soldier looks down.
"Sickness, sir."
Jared raises his eyebrow. He definitely did not expect this answer.
"Sickness? But he seemed to be well when I met him last week!"
The soldiers shrugs.
"I don't really know how he caught it. Maybe a sick soldier? A wild beast? It doesn't really matter anymore. He's not... among us. Anymore."
Jared shakes his head.
"Poor man."- He says- "I know that this is a bad time to do so, but may I talk to the Council for a moment? We need to figure out what we are going to do next."
The soldier nods.
"Yes. In fact, they said that they want to see you. Go right ahead."
Just before he leaves, Jared stops the soldier for a moment.
"Before you go, please send my condolences to the King's family. I feel like I owe them at least that, for all that the King has done for me before."
The soldier nods.
"It will be done, sir."- He says and departs.
Akari watches him slowly walk away in shame.
"So... he's... gone?"- She asks Jared.
He nods.
"Sadly, yes. And the Council has to choose a new King. Let's go discuss this matter with them."
Jared and Akari go the Council's meeting room.
All three of its members are there, waiting for Jared to arrive. Once he does, they stand up and shake his hand, one by one.
"Thank god that you're here, Jared."- One of the councilmembers says- "The King is no longer among us. We have to make a decision."
"And fast!"- The second one says- "Who knows what will happen if the rest of Avernum learns what happened to him?"
Jared nods.
"Well, I am not sure. You are the ones who choose the new King. I can only help you carry out the order."
The men nod.
"At first, we wanted to make you the King."- The final councilmember says- "But you are still too young to be one, so we had to make the decision to let someone who is older than you to do the job."
"And the only one who seems to be the most competent for that... "- The first continues- "Is your grandfather, Lethal."
Jared raises his eyebrow.
"My grandfather?"- He wonders- "Why so?"
The councilmembers look at each other. They nod.
"Well, your grandfather used to be a ruler of some sort when he was young. Is that right?"
Jared nods.
"Indeed it is."
"Then it makes him a natural selection for our new leader."
Jared nods again.
"Very well, then. I shall bring him here."
The councilmembers nod.
"We will await your return."
Jared and Akari leave the Castle and head to Formello where Jared's grandfather is located. Then inform him about what happened to the King, along with the ultimate decision that the Council has made.
Lethal gasps.
"Oh, poor Starrus! He... he was so young. And now... he's gone?"- He says.
Jared nods.
"Unfortunately, yes. And you must be the leader now."
"But I am still worried about you. Do you think that you can handle this?"
Lethal looks down for a moment, lost in thought. Then he looks up again.
"As a matter of fact, it's not an easy decision for me either. But those people need someone to give them a helping hand and to give them orders. They need moral support, Jared. And it seems like Destiny has chosen me to be the one. I must not hold back, because this might mean that they will be alone... and afraid. So, that's why I will accept this offer."
Jared sighs.
"It's not about the fact that you will be King! It's about the fact that you will have very little time for me. To see me. I am worried, grandpa."
Lethal nods.
"I understand. But this is what the King must do for his nation. He has to put safety and freedom first and family second. I have to be a good leader. This is the least that I owe the people of Avernum right now."
He smiles.
"But I am sure that your friends will always have your back. John, Annie and even Akari!"
He turns to Akari.
"Is that right, dear?"
She nods.
"As he is always there for me, I will always be there for him. I'll never let him down."
Tears start to roll down on Jared's face. He wipes them off.
"I will miss you, grandpa."
Lethal smiles.
"Me too, my boy. But don't forget that you'll always be on my mind. I'll keep think about you and worrying about you. I will never stop. Never."
He bids farewell to everyone and enters the royal caravan.
One of the soldiers approaches Jared.
"Sir, don't you want to come with us?"- He asks- "The lands need you as well."
Everyone looks at Jared hopefully. However, he shakes his head.
"No, soldier."- He responds- "I have been a hero for too long. Right now, I want to go back from where I came and be a completely normal person. My grandfather will help you by being the King and I want nothing more than that. He will be the beacon of light that will gude you. As for me, it is time for me to take my leave."
The soldiers nod.
"Very well, sir. Your wish is our command. Good luck."
"Good luck to you, too."- Jared says and approaches the portal.
John and Annie see that the two of them are staring at the portal and approach them.
"Is it time to go?"- John asks Jared.
Jared nods.
"Yes. Yes, it is."
Annie looks around. She seems to be looking for something.
Or someone.
"Hey, where's your grandfather? Isn't he going to come back with us?"- She wonders.
Jared shakes his head and explains what happened recently.
Annie stands still, unable to say anything. John sighs and shakes his head.
"Looks like our problems will never end, huh?"- He says.
Jared sighs as well.
"We will never have a moment of rest."- He responds.
Akari steps between them.
"Boys, don't be so sad!"- She says, trying to cheer them up- "We're going back to Paris!"
Jared looks up and smiles.
He looks at John.
"Akari's right. We have to think about the future, not the past."
He slowly approaches the portal and looks at it.
Then he turns back to his friends.
"Well then. Shall we?"
His friends nod.
"Let's do this."- John says.
The citizens of Formello bid them farewell as they step through the portal.
As they reach the other side, they see that everything has gone back to normal. The blood on the streets has been cleared. There are no more wandering humanoids. Instead, there are attentive soldiers, always very careful not to make a mistake and endanger the people around them.
One of them notices Jared and notifies the other soldiers. They approach the four of them.
"It's great to see you again, Jared."- One of them says- "How has your visit in Avernum been?"
Jared shakes his head.
"I would rather not talk about it for now."
The soldiers nod.
"Well, I hope that you're ready for more trouble. Because it ain't going to end. Not yet."
Jared raises his eyebrow.
"Trouble? Oh dear. What is it now?"- He asks them.
One of the soldiers fidgets his fingers nervously.
"An old man came into our city not long ago. He tried to warn us about some kind of apocalypse. We sent him away. He left, but before he did, he intimidated us, saying that we will pay for not listening to him."
Jared shakes his head.
"Another enemy, huh? We better get ready for the worst."
"Where is the mayor?"
The soldier points at the city hall.
"In his office. He's been trying to find a way to solve this problem, to no avail."
Jared nods.
"Then I will help him."
The soldiers nod.
"Yes. You've already done that once. And we're sure that you can do it again."
"Now go ahead. Don't let us stop you."
Jared nods. He and his three allies head to the mayor's office.