MLII C6, P5- "Story Of My Life"

"Story Of My Life" is the fifth Part of "Miracula Luxia II" 's sixth Chapter. It was released on 01.06.2021.
== Plot ==
Jared and Allister stay in the city of Paris as Aleks informs the King of Avernum about an imminent threat which will disrupt the delicate peace in the kingdom... and the world.
While the two boys are away from danger, Allister decides to share the story of how he came to be here with his new friend. A story that will make our hero understand why this poor soul is being chased by such a powerful and dangerous group of bandits.
== Story ==
It takes Jared two hours to bring Allister back in Paris. There, they are welcomed by Jared's grandfather and hidden within the Kaos residence as bandits roam the streets.
The two boys watch silently as they are killed by members of Paris' militia. One by one, every single one of them realizes that the citizens of Paris are going to protect their heroes at all costs.
As a major battle ensues in the center of the city, Lethal watches sadly as some of the soldiers are killed in the process.
"If what you're saying is right, then we might still have a chance."- He says to his grandson- "However, it is way too risky for us to go out there and fight."
Marinette nods.
"It is as if those soldiers are protecting someone of very high importance."
Both of them turn to Jared.
"Is it... is it you?"- She asks him- "You and Allister?"
Jared nods.
"Allister is the grandson of Lokia's captain. He is an important figure and must be protected from evil. He does not deserve a fate like this."- He responds- "As for me? Well, I guess I am some kind of a hero for them. I do not know why they always revere me so much, I am just doing my job."
He sighs.
"But it does not matter."- He continues- "If they wish to protect us, so it be."
Lethal nods.
"You will see that it's better not to fight from time to time, child."- He says- "Sometimes, it is better to stay away from the fire to prevent yourself from getting burned."
Jared sighs.
"It is just... I... "- He says- "I... am worried about them, grandpa."
Lethal stands next to him.
"The soldiers of Paris are well-prepared for this kind of confrontation."- He says- "They will fight their way past whatever threats endanger the balance of our worlds. Monsters, vahnatai, even our own kind. They're always ready to-- "
Suddenly, a massive explosion erupts in the town square. Both bandits and soldiers fly into the air... and then onto the ground, dead. It seems like the bandits have finally found a way to strike back against their powerful enemies- by eliminating them in a quick... and painful way.
As more explosions ring Lethal's ears, he slowly loses hope that the soldiers can succeed my themselves.
"Let's hope that your father has a plan."- He says to Jared- "The situation is not looking good!"
Marinette stares at the window, wishing to go outside and kill as many bandits as she can. However, the safety of her brother is the most important thing to her, so she decides to wait for their father to arrive.
It takes the bandits ten minutes to eliminate a large portion of the band of soldiers that was sent to fight them. However, their efforts seem to be in vain, as more soldiers arrive to replace their fallen comrades.
Soon, the situation is under control. The last bandit is slain by one of the soldiers. 
A few moments after the failed attempt to seize the town square, everything falls silent. The soldiers look down, mourning their brave comrades who died in the battle. Then, they light a large fire and throw each bandit corpse into it.
Jared and his grandfather watch as the soldiers carry the ashes away and return to their barracks.
When Jared looks back at Allister, he watches as he slowly stands up from a nearby corner.
"Jared."- He says as he looks around- "I... I never told you about how I came here. Why I came here. You never came to know me that well."
He looks him in the eye.
"Why?"- He asks him- "Why did you and your family decide to help me? The bandits, they were hunting me and only me. But you stepped in to help me out. And now, they're hunting you as well. Why are you so willing to get yourself into trouble for other people?"
Jared, Lethal and Marinette stare at each other briefly. Then, Lethal looks at Allister and says.
"The Kaos family hasn't always been like this. Once, we were a family filled with villains, wicked people who would do anything to terrorize the innocent souls around them and take whatever they want from anything... and anyone. The story has been going for centuries... until the birth of my father. He saw the errors in our ways and tried to correct them. Unfortunately, he became too old. That prevented him from starting a line of order."
He sighs.
"He... he was angry at me, because I was just like our ancestors- evil, cruel and uncaring for anyone but myself and my rising "empire". I was a man with visions of grandeur, just like all of the villains that you will see out there. I was confused, misleaded, foolish and young. When I married my wife, I saw her as nothing more than the person who would help me continue our line of villains."
He wipes a tear from his left eye.
"I never respected my beloved. I never saw how beautiful, how charming she was. Not until she died because of a mistake that I made."
Allister shakes his head.
"Did... did something bad happen to her?"
Lethal sighs.
"Nothing special. She just gave her life away to protect us. It all ended for her near the docks of our beautiful city."- He says- "I was left alone, with nothing more than my two children... and the memory of her. The only thing that helped me move on and care about those two innocent souls... and see them become real men. Real heroes. Not like me and my ancestors."
He looks at the window behind him.
"Many years passed. We forgot everything related to the tragedy and tried to live a normal life. But... it just wasn't the same. Something was missing in our lives. Something that was dragging us towards an inexorable sorrow."
"The birth of my first grandchild did not lighten our mood. Marinette was a new person in our lives, but she was just a baby. A new soul, brought into this dark, dark world."
Marinette shakes her head.
"Grandpa."- She says- "I... I'm so sorry."
Lethal smiles sadly.
"You don't need to be, my dear."- He says to her- "Both of you are very important to me. Rest assured of that."
He turns back to Allister.
"Just when we were thinking that all hope was lost, this little boy came into our lives and illuminated them with a light that we have never seen before."- He continues, looks at Jared and pats him on the shoulder- "Like an angel who fell from the sky, he brought joy and peace with his presence. A ray of hope in the lives of many people, he has always wanted to protect the innocent people around us. He had the qualities of a true hero ever since he was born... and he never let go of them, no matter what happened to him. Everything that he witnessed, that he experienced... it made him stronger. It made him more determined. A better person. And, soon enough, he finally embodied the true spirit of the Kaos family- the one that his most noble ancestors had when they were still alive. Jared has been a hero ever since he helped the first person, ever since he stood by the side of justice, ever since he swinged a weapon for the first time. All of us have been trying to keep him that way. We have been trying to nurture his talents, to help him become what he is now- a brave soul who is ready to protect his kind from evil at all costs. A tireless and smart hero whose actions actually matter in this dark world that we call our home."
He turns to his grandson again and smiles.
"And I am glad that we succeeded."
Jared nods.
"I owe everything to our family, grandpa."- He says- "You and everyone else, you showed something important to me. Something important that helped me become a hero to those people and perform good deeds to ensure their safety."
He stares at the window and smiles.
"We are talking about hope."- He continues- "And hope is what will guide us towards victory."
Lethal nods. Then, he looks back at Allister.
"So."- He says- "What about you, my boy? Tell us something about your life."
Allister decides that it is best to tell his allies about his past. It is a good way to gain their trust, after all.
"I was born in the Lokian capital, to a mother who worked as a shopkeeper there... and a father, who is still working as the general of the Lokian army. I was honored to be recruited in the army from a very young age, but then, my... my life started to go downhill."
Lethal raises his eyebrow.
"How so?"- He asks him- "With a family like this, nobody would dare to stand in your way!"
Allister shrugs.
"Well, that's what I thought, too."- He says- "But the problem didn't come from the outside."
He looks down.
"It came from the inside."
Everyone gasps.
"Did your family hurt you?!"- Jared asks him- "If so, I promise that we will make them pay. A problem like this will never go unanswered! We will make sure of that!"
Allister shakes his head.
"Not physically. But they... they hurt me verbally when they told me that I wouldn't become a hero."- He responds- "They didn't believe in me and did whatever they could to make me realize how dangerous it is. Sure, they cared about me, but this was an outrage that I couldn't take anymore."
Lethal takes a step forward and angrily slams his fist against a nearby table.
"This is horrible!'"- He says- "They were trying to push you away from the right path? My boy, this is truly an outrage! People like them must be punished for their actions. Parents or not, you do not deserve to be treated like this!"
He sighs.
"Anyway, me and my grandfather moved away from them and started living with my uncle. He... he was a much nicer person than my parents. Unlike them, he actually believed that I would become a hero and motivated me to help people, to do good deeds. In his eyes, I saw a sea of solace that will help me become the person that I am destined to me. To become the person who my parents failed to be- a reliable member of my family, who would do anything to protect us."- He says- "However, this feeling of safety... well, it... it didn't last for too long. When my grandfather discovered where the Darkness of Duskwood gang were hiding, he went out there. Uncle went outside to help him."
Suddenly, his eyes fill with tears. They start to fall down, but he does not make an effort to wipe them off.
"I tried to warn him that it is too dangerous!"- He says, his voice getting louder and louder- "I told him that it is better to let grandpa do this alone! But he... he just told me to stay inside! To hide until the chaos is over! He assured me that everything would be okay, that the three of us will live as a happy family!"
He looks down. Noticing the tears on his cheeks, he finally wipes them off.
"He... he never came back."- He continues- "When grandpa returned, he told me that he remained near the bandits camp, to keep them away from us. Both of us were hoping that he would be fine, but I knew better."
He clenches his fist.
"When I learned about my uncle's death, I immediately sought a way to hunt down the ones who killed him. I searched every piece of land around the capital... until I finally found them. I attacked them all by myself."
"Of course, I was severely outnumbered."- He hastens to add- "But I was so angry. I did not care. I swinged my weapon at them, killing many and leaving others mortally wounded. I sought revenge for my uncle's untimely demise... and I received it. I killed every single one of them. That was the worst day of my life, but I am not ashamed of my deed! I am not fearful that they will hunt me down! I was born a hero... and I will die as a hero! I have no regrets!"
He sighs.
"And that is the story of my troubled life."- He concludes his speech- "That is how I came to be here. Why I am hated by those vagabonds."
Jared looks down.
"I know how it feels to lose a loved one."- He says- "When you lose them, you feel helpless. Unsure. Usually very angry. You want to let out your anger and avenge them, but you know that there are other people that you must protect. And thus, a painful memory remains. A memory that burns like a fire in your mind, that you cannot forget, no matter how hard you try. It always remains. Always."
Then, he looks up. Without hesitating, he pats his new friend on the shoulder and smiles.
"If your family does not want to treat you right, then we definitely will."- He continues- "As I said before, we will never let an ally down. So, if it makes you feel better, I want you to know that you are a part of a bigger family. The family of brave heroes that we have assembled together, that will help and keep helping as time passes by. And you, my friend, are welcome to stay with us. We may not be your real family, but we will do our best to make you feel at home. We promise."
Allister looks up and nods.
"Thank you for the kindness."- He says- "I... I've never felt safer before I came here. Truly, the only time when I actually felt safe was years ago, but that doesn't matter anymore."
He looks at the window.
"Today, I learned a lesson that I will never forget. A piece of wisdom that will always be remembered."- He continues- "We shouldn't talk about the past and keep mourning those who willingly gave their lives away to protect us. People who live in the past never understand the world as it is now. Instead, we must move on and walk towards a brighter future. A time when we will be truly safe, when we will be free from the clutches of evil."
He sighs.
"And when that time comes."- He adds- "We will stand proud and look upon at the dawn of a new world."
Just as Allister finishes his speech, the front door of the Kaos residence is opened. Everyone runs downstairs to see who is visiting them.
Jared gets a good look at the visitor... and sees that his father has arrived!
He runs forward to hug him.
"There you are, son."- Aleks says- "There you are."
A few moments later, he lets go of his son and looks at the people behind him. In a matter of seconds, he gets stern. His eyes gleam with determination.
"Everyone."- He begins- "I spoke to His Majesty, the King of Avernum. I told him about the Darkness of Duskwood, the gang that has been troubling us for so long. The vagabonds who must be purged at all costs.
He smiles.
"And I... have good news for you!"
Everyone gasps.
"Tell us, son. What's going on?"- Lethal says to him- "Is it time to be heroes again?"
Aleks smiles.
"With the help of Avernum's tacticians, I formulated a plan that will help us turn the tables of this meaningless battle."- He says- "We still have a chance."