MLII C6, P10- "Inner Peace"

"Inner Peace" is the tenth and last Part of "Miracula Luxia II" 's sixth Chapter. It was released on 21.06.2021.
== Plot ==
Once again, a huge disaster has been averted. Our heroes emerge victorious from an epic battle, but not without a cost. A painful memory is remembered by the Kaos family, something that has been haunting them for years. Something that will remind them that a victory cannot be achieved without losing someone that is important to you.
Now that the Darkness of Duskwood has been taken care of (and will never have the chance to come back), Allister can rest assured that he will be safe from them. His mission complete, he wants to return back to his hometown and reunite with his parents, but soon decides otherwise when his new mentor- Aleks- offers him a chance to live in the city of Paris... and to be trained under his watchful eye.
Meanwhile, Jared mourns the death of his grandmother. He finally sees how much pain the actions of his enemies have caused not only to the people around him, but to him as well. Advised by the spirits of his late mother and grandmother, he makes the uneasy decision to leave the city of Paris for the time being and find his inner peace.
A new road opens up for him. Will he choose to take a step forward and forget the past, forging a new future for the generations ahead of him? Or will he try to find what has already been long lost?
That remains to be seen.
== Story ==
Jared looks at the massive hole. He listens to the sounds coming from within, but soon finds out that it is eerily quiet. He shakes his head and turns back.
As soon as he does, a single tear runs down his cheek. He tries to wipe it, but soon decides that he does not want to do it.
"What is the point?"- He says to himself- "I have been holding them back for too long. There is no use trying to pretend like I can forget this. No. Not anymore."
Suddenly, he starts to cry.
"This is not fair."- He mutters- "Why does the world take them away from us? Why?"
Aleks takes a step forward. He looks at his son and notices the sadness in his eyes.
He hugs him.
"I know that you miss her, child. We all do."- Lethal says to Jared while his father tries to comfort him- "Your grandma was an amazing woman. So brave. So determined. An angel who didn't deserve any of this."
He shakes his head.
"But there is no use to cry over what cannot be undone."- He continues- "Benedict is gone. Now we can reform. In her name."
Jared stares at his grandfather. His eyes are filled with rage.
At first, it seems clear that he wants to lash out at him for allowing this mess to happen. But then, as suddenly as he grew angry, he calms down. Then, he leaps away from his father and hugs him.
"I love you grandpa."- He says tearfully- "I love you."
Aleks stares at them and smiles.
"My family. The ones who give me the strength to move on. I'm so proud of them."- He says to himself- "We will never allow the world to weaken us, even when it brings us to our knees. No matter what happens next, we shall always stay strong and help this world."
Lethal shakes his head.
"I love you too, child."- He responds- "I'm sorry. I should have prevented this. But I... I was unable to. I'm so sorry."
Jared looks up at his grandfather. Curiosity overwhelms his sadness and he tries to understand what he means.
Lethal sighs and decides to share his past experience with his grandson.
"When I was young guardian, I found this young bandit in the forest. Me and Allister chased him to his home, the headquarters of a band of rebels. We managed to kill many of them. And, while the rest ran away from us, we approached this boy. I looked at him angrily, deciding what to do with him. I was unsure what to do, since he was still young."
He sighs.
"But then, Allister told me that it's not wise to kill someone as young as him."- He continues- " "Let him live. Should he become evil, maybe one of our descendants will kill him.", he said to me. And I was convinced by his words. I spared the boy, telling him that I will make him pay if he tries to hurt someone else again."
Then, he wipes a tear from his right eye.
"The same boy became the bandit leader that you just killed."- He says- "I feel sorry for giving him a chance to chance. I should have killed him back then. I shouldn't have listened to my young, foolish heart."
Allister takes a step forward and looks at Lethal.
"My grandfather."- He says- "He... he convinced you to spare this monster?"
Lethal turns around and smiles.
"I know, I know. He made a big mistake."- He says- "But it doesn't matter. Everyone makes mistakes. It's only a matter of changing your view towards the world, towards your enemies and your allies."
Lethal pats Allister on the shoulder.
"Your grandfather is a legend, my boy."- He continues- "No matter what he did in the past, he will always remain in our hearts. As a hero."
Allister nods and smiles back.
"Yes, sir."- He says- "Yes. He will."
Lethal nods and turns back to Jared.
"So. What shall we do now?"- He asks him.
Jared thinks about this for a minute. Soon, a single thought lights up his mind, like a ray of light that pierces a veil of darkness.
"If you find any bandits roamind around this area. do not kill them. Capture them alive, instead."- He says- "I want them to see the magnitude of their mistakes. Maybe it will help them realize that they were helping the wrong person all this time. And make other future bandits realize that the path they are taking is very dangerous. A deed that is done with educational purposes, that is what it shall be!"
Lethal nods.
"Excellent decision, child!"- He exclaims- "I shall inform our warriors immediately!"
Having said that, he looks back and starts to walk away. Aleks and Jared watch as he disappears into the mist.
"I think that it's time for us to leave."- Aleks says to Jared, Allister and Meggy- "Paris needs to know that it has been saved again. Let's make sure of it."
The fourof them start to walk away. As they get close to a portal that leads to the Surface, John and Annie approach them.
Jared looks at them and gasps. He realizes that they have managed to capture a small pack of bandits.
"A small band of vagabonds has been taken care of. Now we must decide how to proceed."- John says to Jared- "So. What should we do?"
Jared stares into the eyes of one of the bandits and sees that there is nothing more than pure hatred. He realizes that some of them cannot change, no matter how hard he tries.
"Kill the most unruly of them and take the rest into the prisons of my hometown."- He gives the command to his friends- "That should teach the rest of them to behave,"
John nods and points his sword at the most rebellious bandit.
"You heard him, Annie."- He says- "Let's keep the law going."
Having said that, he stabs the bandit in the chest, killing him. He repeats the process with two other members of the pack.
Soon, half of the bandits are dead. The rest are prepared to taken into the prison.
"We'll see you on the other side."- John says to Jared- "Take care, my friend."
Jared nods and smiles.
"You too, John."- He responds as he steps into the portal.
Then, he looks at his father.
"Some things will never be forgotten."- Aleks says- "Like banditry. It's gone down to the bone and it won't come out easily. Only the most determined will be able to escape from this dark desire."
Jared nods.
"We will keep trying."- He responds- "Every person deserves a second chance. It is their choice whether they want to take it or not."
Having said that, he steps into the portal. His allies do the same.
Moments later, they find themselves in the Kaos residence.
Jared walks up to his room and opens the door.
"There you are again."- He mutters- "My room. My home. My sanctuary."
He looks back and notices that the rest of his allies are staring at him.
"I... want to be alone. For now."- He says- "It has been a long day. I am sure that you understand."
Aleks nods.
"Very well."- He says- "See you tomorrow, son."
With that, he, Allister and Meggy walk out of the residence.
Jared enters his room and lies on his bed. He stares at the ceiling, lost in thought.
"Why would such a monster dare to hurt our family like this?"- He says to himself- "Is it because he wanted... revenge? Is it because he was thirsty for payback? I guess that I will never know that. Not anymore."
As he stares at the ceiling, his eyes start to tear up. He shakes his head.
"It does not matter, though. The damage is already done, whether we like it or not."- He continues- "Our family... it is broken. Like a train that has gone off the rails, our lives have gone astray. We lost so many people, so many souls who were dear to us. We experienced so much pain, just to feel the joy of a world that is safe from evil."
He closes his eyes for a moment. He sees a familiar face, someone who is very close to him.
At first, he thinks that it is the spirit of his mother again. Then, he looks closer and sees someone else.
"Grandma?"- He mutters as he snaps back to reality.
When he wakes up, he sits on his bed and sees someone in front of him. It is the spirit of an old woman, probably in her early 60s or 70s.
And she is smiling.
"I'm glad that we can finally meet in person, grandson."- She says to him- "Up until now, I was only a part of your dream. But today, you made this dream a reality. For that, I congratulate you. You have done well."
Jared stands up and hugs the old woman.
"Welcome back, grandma."- He says and smiles.
At the same time, another spirit appears in front of them. It is Jared's late mother- Seiko.
"Mom!"- Jared exclaims, thrilled to see his mother again.
Seiko smiles.
"You haven't forgotten about me."- She says to him- "Right, my dearest child?"
Jared nods and smiles. He turns away from his grandmother for a moment and hugs her instead.
"Of course I have not."- He says as Tanya hugs them both.
Meanwhile, Aleks and Allister walk on the streets of Paris as Meggy protects them.
"I'm not sure, Mr. Kaos."- Allister says to Aleks- "I want to return. To see my family again."
He sighs.
"But, the way they treated me... "- He mutters- "It makes me doubt whether I still love them or not."
Aleks nods.
"It's tough to decide how to deal with them when memories like those are still burning in your mind."- He says- "But we all learn to forgive our loved ones, sooner or later. I'm sure that they forgave you and I hope that you will do the same. This is the way that will keep the rest of your family intact- with unity."
Allister nods.
"Maybe I should try."- He mutters- "But... I don't want to leave yet. All of the friends that I made here, I feel bad that I have to leave them behind."
Meggy shakes her head.
"He's still feeling guilty about his grandpa's death."- She mutters to Aleks- "Maybe we should help him?"
Aleks smiles.
"Well."- He says- "Perhaps we can make an arrangement. What do you think about staying with us for a couple of months?'
Allister looks at him, surprised. He freezes in place for a second, unable to make a good decision.
Finally, he decides that he can always visit his family in the future. He nods.
"I accept your offer, Mr. Kaos."- He responds- "If it means that I will stay with the rest of your for a little longer, then I'm willing to do this."
Aleks nods and smiles again.
"I'm sure that Jared would love to have a friend like you."- He says- "You can stay in our home- the Kaos residence for the time being. In the meantime, I will help you train and hone your skills."
Allister raises his eyebrow.
"Mr Kaos?"- He mutters- "You... you can help me get stronger?"
He smiles.
"I will gladly train with you!"
Meggy jumps in the air, excited.
"It's decided!"- She exclaims- "Allister's stayin' with us!"
Aleks nods and smiles.
"Yes, Meggy."- He says to her- "Yes, he is!"
He turns to Allister and smiles again.
"Get ready, young hero."- He says- "During your stay, I will make you into what your grandfather wants you to be- A young hero who will always fight for the good of this world."
Allister looks up at him.
"Do you think that he is proud of me, sir?"- He asks him.
Aleks nods.
"I am sure that he is."- He responds- "Up in the skies, he must be smiling from ear to ear, seeing how brave and determined his grandson has become."
He sighs.
"But now, it's time to go back. It's getting late."- He says- "Meggy will join us, too. We will stay together."
Allister nods.
"Let's go."- He says as he walks towards the Kaos residence.
The next morning, someone walks out of the house early. It is Jared.
"Somewhere in the distance, I can see what I am craving to find. My inner peace, away from this troubled world."- He says- "All I have to do is find it... and take it."
As he starts to walk away, he is stopped by his grandfather.
"Jared, my boy!"- He says to him- "Where are you going? It's very early!"
Jared shakes his head.
"There is no time to explain, grandpa."- He responds- "Long story short, I spoke with grandma. She told me about the problem that is causing my inner world to fall apart. And, in order to fix it, I must find a safe place to stay. All by myself."
Lethal nods.
"It's a tough decision, but I think it's better if I let you go instead."- He says- "We've been holding you back for too long, child. It's time for you to become a real man. And the only way you can do that... is when you start to fight without our help."
He hugs him and smiles.
"So, I wish you good luck on your journey. Whatever it is."- He continues- "I hope that you can find your inner peace."
Jared is surprised that his father knows what he is looking for, but decides not to speak further about it. He nods and hugs him back.
"I will miss you, grandpa."- He says- "I will miss you and everyone else."
Lethal nods and wipes a tear from his right eye.
"We will miss you too, child."- He responds- "Stay safe. This journey will be a long one."
Having said that, he waves him goodbye and he walks off into the sunrise.
As he starts to turn back, he sees Meggy standing near the door. It seems like she saw Jared, but was unable to stop him from leaving.
Lethal smiles.
"He will be back, Meggy."- He says to her- "He will be back."
Meggy nods and smiles back.
"I'm sure that he will."- She responds- "I... just wanted to thank him. For welcoming me in this city and making me feel at home. But... I guess that it's not the right time yet. Maybe."
Lethal shakes his head.
"Don't worry about it."- He says- "I think that it's time for us to go back in the house. Didn't Aleks ask you to train with Allister this morning?"
Meggy gasps.
"Oh yes! I almost forgot about it!"- She exclaims- "Be right there!"
Having said that, she turns around, opens the door and enters the residence.
Lethal looks back and watches as his grandson gets further and further away from the city. He smiles.
"I'm sure that you will be back, grandson."- He says- "And when you do, we will welcome you in a way that you deserve. The way of a hero."
He salutes him.
"Safe travels."