MLII C4, P1- "In Memoriam"

"In Memoriam" is the first Part of "Miracula Luxia II" 's fourth Chapter. It was released on 27.02.2021.
== Plot ==
Jared and his allies arrive in the city of Bargha which is a former shell of its glorious self that has been this way ever since the departure of its leader.
After helping the people there, our hero prepares to leave the relatively safe confines of Avernum, but not before saying goodbye to a dear friend whom he failed to protect from the forces of evil.
== Story ==
Jared stares at something in the distance.
"What do you see, son?"- Aleks asks him.
Jared points at an approaching force to the north.
"Just as I expected. A raiding party!"- He yells- "Kill them!"
The soldiers climb their walls and aim their bows at the invaders. Once they get close enough, they shower them with arrows.
Most of the attackers die from this unexpected retaliation. The rest are easily finished off by Devin who is sitting by the north gate.
Jared looks at the dead Slithzerikai warriors. He sighs and shakes his head.
"If only they listened to reason, we would still be at peace."- He says to himself- "What a shame."
He turns to the soldiers.
"Well done, my friends. We won this battle. A small victory has been achieved."- He congratulates them- "But this war is far from over."
He looks at the area to the north.
"You are the sacred guardians of this pass. The Abyss depends on you to protect it from those who are foolish enough to invade and attack the innocents deeper within it."- He continues- "Try to make no mistakes in this situation. Because, if you do... "
He shakes his head again.
"Everyone will suffer."
The soldiers salute him.
"We will do our best, sir."- One of them says- "We'll make them pay for their crimes!"
Jared smiles.
"See that you do."- He mutters and wanders off.
He leaves through the east gate. Once he is a fair distance away from the settlement, he takes a look at it.
It is the city of Bargha- former home of a powerful and determined warrior known as Farrar- leader of the proud city, former sworn enemy of our hero and, most recently, one of his most trusted allies in the war against Rentar-Ihrno and her force of evil Vahnatai who tried to destroy Avernum and the Surface. However, thanks to the two of them, Rentar-Ihrno was finally laid back to rest and the rest of her warriors were taken out by the brave souls who volunteered to fight against them.
After Farrar decided to travel to Paris and leave his warriors behind, the city began to fall apart. Its defenses weakened, its warriors lost their enthusiasm to protect it. And, most importantly, the large amount of resources which they once had were distributed to other cities by Avernum's goverment, by the order of King Starrus himself.
The city of Bargha was left with little more than a small amount of them. Enough to keep them alive, should they be attacked from the north or south, but entirely inadequate for more than that.
However, their luck increased as time passed. Their leader- Farrar, died while fighting Rentar-Ihrno's forces and trying to protect Jared. After his charred body was recovered from the ruins of her keep, our hero performed yet another very noble deed, in the name of his late friend and trusted ally. He donated all of Farrar's remaining resources to the struggling city of Bargha and convinced King Starrus to send couriers to the Abyss that would constantly supply both cities with a large amount of resources, key components that would ensure their survival against anything and anyone that would threaten them in a time like this.
Soon, Bargha turned into a sanctuary for those who are brave enough to help protect the city from the clutches of evil, as well as those who are unable to fight and seek a safe haven until the chaos is over. 
Now, it is one of the most protected settlements in Avernum. Its walls are ready to withstand even the most well-planned assault that its enemies would launch. A large amount of archers stands on both of its walls, constantly alert and ready to inflict pain to those who are foolish enough to attack them and the rest of Avernum. Well-trained warriors stand next to the gates, eager to support their allies above and prove how disciplined and determined they are.
Jared stares at the warriors on the walls. They see that he is looking at them and they salute him.
He nods.
"It was Farrar's final wish to hear that his city is still under control, that its warriors are still brave and determined. It is a shame that he is not here to witness what is going on."- He says to himself- "Still, I am glad that his sacrifice was not in vain."
He takes a few steps forward and arrives at a small location near the city's walls. There, he sees a few graves, placed there to remind Bargha of its leaders, of what they did for the city and what they sacrificed to bring it to its current glory.
One of them is Farrar.
Jared looks at his grave. He sees the bouquet of flowers that he left for him when he was buried in this location.
He carefully picks them up and sees a note attacked to them:
"For my dear friend Farrar, whose loyalty towards those that he wanted to protect never faltered. Whose bravery was always shining like a bright light. Whose heart beated only for the good of the innocents around him. We miss you."
Jared leaves them back onto the grave and wipes a tear from his eye. Then, he shakes his head.
Annie sees that he is worried and approaches him.
"You still miss him, don't you?"- She asks him.
Jared looks at her and shakes his head again.
"This was not meant to happen."- He mutters- "He... he did not deserve to die. He had so much to live for."
Annie sighs.
"Nobody does, Jared."- She says- "Nobody wants to die like this. But sometimes, you must risk your own life to save someone who's important to you, just like Farrar did."
Jared looks down. His eyes are filled with guilt.
"Do not remind me of my past mistakes."- He says tearfully- "Because, every time I hear them, I dig into a forgotten memory that I try to forget."
Annie stands still for a few seconds. At first, Jared thinks that she is done talking to him.
Then, she says:
"We all make mistakes in our lives, no matter if we acknowledge them or not."- She mutters- "It is a question of whether you try to correct them or not."
She looks at him.
"Your efforts to make a better world have always inspired everyone around you. Farrar was no exception."- She continues- "He wanted to fix his past mistakes and be a hero, like you. And, when you were in danger, he took the opportunity to save an innocent's life from the inevitable."
Jared nods.
"He... he died a hero. He was once a villain, but he died a hero."- He says- "And that is why we honor him now. We cherish the moments that we spent with him, whether they were in battle or not."
He shakes his head.
"Sometimes, you respect someone much more when they are gone."- He continues- "I regret the fact that I was so ignorant towards him, that I did not try to understand him better. It pains me."
Annie sighs.
"This world will become a better place, eventually. But the people that we lose along the way... they... they... "
She sighs again and wipes a tear from her eye.
"It's painful. Really painful."
Jared looks at her.
"We both lost so much. We endured so much pain. Yet, we still strive to create a better world for those around us, to make them feel safe and happy."- He says- "And strive we will. To fight our enemies. To show that we care. To protect and serve. This is what we will do."
Aleks and Devin approach them.
"Son, we secured the defenses of the city and sealed all the gaps in the walls."- He says to him- "I know that you're still in pain, but it's time for us to go."
Jared nods and looks at Farrar's grave one last time.
"Mark my words, dear friend. Your sacrifice shall not be in vain."- He says- "We will keep fighting in your name and prove that the power of Justice will never fade away, no matter what or whom we lose. Rest assured that this world will become a better place. Rest. In. Peace."
He bows. His father, Annie and Devin do the same.
Then, he stands up and looks at them.
"Very well. There is no time to lose."- He says, determination flashing in his eyes like a bright candle- "Let us find the Elders and end this war once and for all."
With that, the four of them depart, leaving the safety of Bargha behind them to go back on the Surface... and find the Elders.
As his allies pass by the city of Spire, Jared looks back at Bargha. Its lights are still flickering in the distance. Its soldiers are still standing at attention.
He smiles.
"Good luck, brave warriors."- He says and leaves.