Miracula Luxia C2, P8- "Two Brave Hearts"

"Two Brave Hearts" is the eighth Chapter of "Miracula Luxia" 's Second Chapter- "From Zero to Hero". It was released on 22.08.2019.
== Plot ==
Jared and Annie are unable to find Jared's sister and John, so they search the area around the Darkness of Duskwood gang's hideout, hoping to find them (or at least clues that lead to their whereabouts).
They manage to find someone who really needs help. The person leads them to a mysterious land through an even more mysterious portal.
Will they manage to help the person and, most importantly... will they manage to find who they're looking for?
Find the answers here!
== Story ==
That night, Jared couldn't sleep at all.
He had a dream of a man in black robes.
"Who... who are you?"- The boy asked the mysterious figure, afraid of the answer.
The person grinned.
"I am... the stronger part of you!"
He lifted his hood. Jared was surprised to see who he was facing.
The person was looking exactly like him- same hairstyle and face, except... his hair was pure white.
And his grinning face... was radiating pure hatred, something that really disturbed Jared.
This was another part of Jared, formed by the sadness, darkness and grief in his heart.
"I am Vanitas. I take the form of the bravest of heroes and become their darker counterpart."
"I did so with your father and I will do the same to you."
He approached the confused boy and drew a Keyblade in the air.
It was Jared's Keyblade.
"Hey! Give it back!"- Jared screamed at the dark version of himself.
"Heh. I could. But I want to see if you can actually survive for a while without it helping you."
The man grinned once again. The grin was definitely not that of a happy or well-meaning person. It was that of someone who was mocking his prey, testing it, trying to make it weak... and waiting for the perfect moment.
"Until then... you won't need this anymore"
The Keyblade slowly faded away. "Vanitas" laughed.
"Hahahaha! See you later, other me!"
And with a blinding flash, he disappeared.
"Hey, wait! I want answers!"- Jared begged him to stay for a bit more.
"Be warned. Your quest shall begin soon. Do not fail it, unless you want to make me angry."- He heard the man's voice through the darkness.
Then... he woke up,
"Bad dreams?"- Annie asked him, having woken up earlier than him.
"My... My Keyblade... "- He whispered.
He held out his hand in the air, but to no avail. The Keyblade was not appearing in it.
"What... are you trying to do?"- Annie asked, confused by what he was trying to do.
"Some man that looked like me took my Keyblade!"
"Wh- What?!"
Annie was surprised. Really, really surprised.
Then, they heard a voice behind them. It was weak, but still coprehensible.
"Someone needs help!"- Jared exclaimed and ran in the direction where the voice came from, Annie running after him.
"How do you know that?"- She asked him.
"The man told me there would be a challenge. Maybe this is it!"
After about two minutes of running straight forward, they found a man, collapsed on the ground.
"Water, please... "- the man mumbled weakly.
The man himself was an old man, probably in his late 80s. He looked extremely weak, more than any elderly person Jared and Annie have ever seen.
"Here!"
Jared handed him his water bottle. The man drinked as much as he could.
"I risked everything to reach you, Jared. My town needs your help."
"Town?"- Jared asked in a confused voice.
"But, there's... no town nearby!"- Annie exclaimed.
"No, not here. Through the Portal."- The man replied.
It was at that moment that Jared and Annie noticed a Portal in front of the man.
"My town... is attacked by Orcs. My people heard of your deeds and... they sent me to ask you to help us humble people out, but... even if I am the oldest, most wise Mage in the town, I am not immortal, for I have my own limits as well."
"But... I beg you... please help us... and we will be forever in your debt.
"They definitely need my help! I cannot refuse help to someone who has clearly risked everything to find me. Can you stay with him until I help them out?"- Jared whispered to Annie.
"Will do! Stay safe, please! Orcs are formidable foes and you'll need to be careful around them without me!"
"Heh. Do not worry. I will do my best."
Annie smiled.
"My friend will stay here to help you out. I will go crush those creatures!"
"Oh, thank you! Thank you for your kindness! I wish you... good luck!"- The old Mage smiled.
Jared prepared himself.
"Wait! Before you go in... take this."
Annie gave Jared a sword.
It was a simple weapon, but clearly a powerful one.
"I think you'll need it in there."
"Thank you."- Jared said to his friend and entered the Portal.
"Don't worry, Sir! I will make sure that you make it until my friend returns from that place and even after that."- Annie said to the old man.
"Thank you, cutie. But I think my time is finally up."
"I can only give one thing to young Jared before I go. So... before I do that, can you help me stand up."
"Y- yes, Sir!"- Annie exclaimed, helping the man.
He rose his staff in the air and chanted a long spell.
"Now he will be able to use more powerful spells, especially ones that can enhance his weapon with a powerful element."
"So... go help him out. He need you more... than I do!"- He added.
Annie was reluctant about leaving the man, but seeing that he was slowly fading away, she had no other choice than to step into the Portal.
"Will do, but... can you tell me the name of your land and town, please? In case I get lost?"
"Avernum is my land. And my town is known as... Formello."
"Oh and I know that you didn't ask for my name, but... it is Miles. Miles... the Grand Sage."
"Thank you, Sir Miles. I will never forget you."
"And neither will Jared, I'm sure."- She added.
Miles smiled.
"Thank you, cutie. I see that you have grown a lot and your will to fight and help your friends is still within you. Do not lose any of it, never ever, you hear me?!"- He said, cheerfully.
Having said that, the kind old man finally faded away completely.
Suddenly, Annie noticed tears in her eyes. She wiped them off.
"Am I... crying?" She said to herself, unsure why.
Then she remembered.
"That old man... he reminded me of my Grandpa whom I lost when I was five. He was such a kind and loving man and always spoke of a mysterious land, called... Avernum where he was a mage once. His name was also Miles, but I often called him "Grandpa Milesy". And he used to call me "Cutie" very often."
"But... one night he mysterously disappeared. My Mom said that the Police couldn't find any signs that he was still alive, not even his body. Could this... could this be him."
Suddenly, an image of her Grandfather flashed in front of her, as well as that of the mysterious old man. She realized that the kind old man she was seeing only two minutes ago... was really her Grandpa.
Suddenly, she bursted into tears.
"Grandpa! No!"- She wailed, but then she heard a voice.
"Don't think I'll ever left you, cutie. Not until this World ends, and even after that!"
"Grandpa!"- She said, clearly confused where the voice was coming from.
"Yes, it's me! I may be only a fragment of memory in my mind for now, but I think I can become an incorporeal being. Just a moment... "
Suddenly, a ghost appeared in front of her.
"G- GHOST!"- She screamed, but her ghostly Grandpa placed a hand on her shoulder.
"It's me! It's me, cutie!"- He exclaimed.
"Grandpa... "- She teared up once again, but smiled.
"Now, we have to help your friend. He's a powerful one, but he'll need your help!"
"What about you, Grandpa?"
He stood next to her and smiled.
"Right next to you, cutie. Let's go!"
She smiled as well.
"Don't be scared, my dear friend Jared. We're coming to aid you, soon!"- She said to herself while she approached the mysterious Portal along with her ghostly Grandpa, confident that she will find her friend eventually. 
== Trivia ==
* This Part was posted in celebration of AleksProdzBG (Creator of the "Miracula Luxia" series)'s Birthday (on the 22.08.2019).