MLII C4, ExP 0- "Heart Challenger"

"Heart Challenger" is the Extra Part of "Miracula Luxia II" 's fourth Chapter.
It was released on 14.02.2021.
== Plot ==
Jared and Annie stay together for a while, away from the rest of their group. They talk about everything that they had to face to be here, about their parents and about the inevitable choice that the young hero must make in the future- choosing the love of his life out of all the girls that he has met.
It is an unsettling conversation, but some things must be taken care of once and for all. There is no time left to look into the dark past, now is the time to look at the future, at the road ahead.
== Story ==
Jared and his allies enter a small cave near Fort Saffron, searching for raiders to defeat.
Ever since the Slithzerikai invasion started, they have always been on their guard. They know that every move they make is capable of saving a life. Or lives. Especially in a situation like this.
"It's empty, sir."- Devin says to Aleks.
Aleks lets out a sigh of relief.
"Looks like the invasion hasn't reached this far just yet."- He mutters- "That's good. We still have a chance."
Jared sits on a rock. He seems to be exausted.
His father notices this and approaches him.
He pats him on the shoulder and smiles.
"Don't worry."- He says- "Once we make sure that the Slithzerikai are not in this area and get past the Spire Fortress, we will take our friend to the city of Bargha."
Jared looks up.
"Do you promise it?"
Aleks sighs.
"You know that promises don't matter as much as they did before, right?"- He responds- "But don't worry. When you want me to do something for you, I will do my best to make it happen. Rest assured of it."
Jared nods and looks down.
"It seems like those battles have finally taken a toll on you."- His father says- "Do you want to rest for a while before we go further ahead?"
Jared shakes his head.
"No."- He mutters- "There is no time to rest. We must go to Bargha, finish our business and fight the invaders. Every second that we spend away from the chaos is a wasted opportunity. We must not let that happen."
Annie sighs and sits next to Jared.
"Jared, I know that you're worried, but even heroes like you need to rest."- She says- "We want you to be in perfect condition when we have to face those traitors. I'm sure that you want the same. Isn't it better to rest while you still can? Because you won't get a chance like this in the future."
Aleks nods.
"She's right, son."- He says- "The situation is only getting worse. Every day, the army of evil is getting closer and, once they are on our lands, nobody will be able to rest. Not anymore. So, take the chance while you still can."
Jared sighs. He clearly wants to stop the invasion as early as possible, to prevent further damage to the countryside and its residents. But this cannot be achieved when you are not prepared for such an arduous battle, such a tiring campaign. He knows that he has to rest from all the enemies that he had to face recently.
Regretfully, he says:
"All right. But this is still far from over."
Aleks nods.
"Good. I'm glad that we were able to convince you."- He says- "Stay here with Annie. Me and Devin are going to go outside and search the area for hidden units."
He looks at Annie.
"Make sure that my son is okay while I'm absent."
Annie nods.
"Of course, Mr. Kaos."- She says- "I'll protect him with my life."
Now assured that his son will be fine, Aleks leaves with Devin.
Jared and Annie sit on two stones and nervously stare at each other for a few minutes.
Seeing that there is nothing to be gained from sitting in one place, Jared leaves the cave and goes outside. Annie does the same.
Jared sighs. Something is clearly on his mind.
"You're still thinking about her, aren't you?"- Annie asks him.
Jared turns around and nods.
"Nothing has ever been the same without her. My world... it is in pieces. A ruined land with no purpose."- He says- "But there is one thing that is still keeping me afloat, despite the chaos that is happening around us. The fact that she still loves me. That she knows that I will succeed, no matter what. That is the power that helps me stay awake, that gives me the strength to fight and protect. It is not easy, but here we are."
Suddenly, he starts to cry. He hugs his friend.
Annie sighs.
"I know, I know. It hurts to think about it. It's best not to do that, for the sake of what we still have left."- She mutters- "However, all the battles that we won. All the people that we lost. Everything that we did for the people of this small world, family or not, it was all thanks to the determination in our hearts, fueled by a power deep within. You fight to keep the promise that you made to your mother and I fight to keep you safe. We both fight for noble causes, and that's a fact."
Jared nods and lets go of her.
"What about your father?"- He asks her- "Is he... is he still proud of you, after all that you have done against us when you joined the Vahnatai?"
Annie sighs again. Louder, this time.
"When I told him what I had to do to survive, he was angry. He was concerned. He did not want me to end up like... like this."- She responds- "But his anger soon faded away, as if it wasn't there in the first place. He let go of his rage and started treating me like he did before. His words still echo within my mind- "I would never be angry with my little girl. What you did was wrong, but what matters the most is that you changed for the boy that you wish to protect. And I will always love you for it. Your mother would do the same." "
A tear starts to fall from her eye. She wipes it off.
"That's when I realized something important."- She says, stoically- "Your parents will always love you, no matter how far away you are from them. When you do something bad, they won't approve of it. They will express their distaste and try to lead you towards a better path. But one thing's for sure- Your parents will never be truly mad at you. Sure, they might get angry for a while, but it doesn't matter. Their love for you always wins in the end, and that's a fact that we cannot deny."
She wipes another tear from her eye and weeps for a few seconds.
"I just... I just wish that I could stay with my father for a little longer. Tell him that I still love him, that I will change, that I will become a better person."- She mutters- "But the chaos has separated me from him, once again. WIll I ever get to stay with him for a time longer than a week? I don't know."
Jared smiles and takes Annie's hands in his.
"Do not worry, Annie."- He says- "Once we defeat the enemy, I will take you back to Fort Monastery personally. You and your father will be reunited again and you will be happy. Just like you helped me so many times before, I will help you as well. Rest assured of it."
Annie cannot hold her tears back any longer. She hugs Jared and starts to cry.
"Thank... thank you, Jared!"- She says- "You're a saint!"
Jared smiles again and shakes his head.
"I am no saint, Annie. I am just a boy who wishes to protect his friend from harm."- He responds- "A boy who wishes to see her happy, to see her pretty smile... at least once more."
Annie smiles.
"Yes. Just like that."- Jared continues- "A smile is what makes a person truly beautiful. So, keep smiling in the face of sadness and despair. Even when everything seems to be lost for us."
Annie nods and sighs. She takes a step closer to Jared.
Jared realizes that she is trying to tell him something important.
"Jared, I... I already know what your answer will be, but I want to hear it again."- She says- "When we talked at the hospital, you told me that you're too hurt to be able to start a relationship with me, after what happened between me and John."
She looks up at him.
"Is that still so."- She asks him nervously- "Do you still think that it's better for us to not be together?"
Jared sighs and shakes his head.
"It pains me to say something like this, but I must let it out. It will only be a pain for us in the future."- He responds- "Yes, I had feelings for you. Once. I was scared to admit it. I did not want to hurt you, not after what happened in my dream. I must protect you from the inevitable, at all costs."
He looks at her.
"Annie, I do not love you. I do not want you to be sad, so please, let go of your feelings and... "
"To be honest, I feel the same."- Annie interrupts him.
Jared takes a step back. He is surprised by his friend's answer.
"What do you mean?"
Annie sighs.
"I know that nothing will happen between us, so I let go of my love for you when we came back."- She says- "I knew that it wouldn't be fair to force you to love another person without them truly loving you back. I knew that I was a pain in your heart, Jared. I didn't want you to suffer because of me, because of my one-sided love for you."
She sighs again.
"So, I let go. The old, annoying, childish Annie is gone. I am a new person now, no longer a victim of my own conflicted emotions."
Jared nods.
"I understand that. But can you still consider me a friend, even after everything that we were put through, after everything that I put you through?"
Annie looks up and smiles. She takes Jared's hand into hers.
"Friend?"- She says- "You're way more than just a friend to me! You are one of the most important people in my life, one of the few people who laid the foundations of a new future for me, that showed me love and care... even when I tried to hurt you and the others. You still believed in me, you knew that I would change for good. And I will always respect you for that."
She smiles, seemingly forgetting the topic in an instant after what she said to Jared.
"So, who is the lucky lady with whom you will spend the rest of your immortal life, if it's not a secret?"- She asks him- "Whoever she is, I know that she is very lucky."
Jared sighs. It is clearly a hard choice for him.
"It is not something that you can ask a person of the opposite gender just like that, you know?"- He responds- "I will find a girl, but it will take time. Right now, I wish to focus on the main task that we have to complete- saving the world from another evil."
Annie nods.
"Many ladies have started to like you. I can see that. Akari, Florence and many, many more girls in your hometown. You're like a gem to them."- She says and smiles- "And, as Akari once called you when we were talking to each other, you are the "Heart Challenger". A boy who can easily swoon a girl with his cool attitude and heroic personality. Most girls like heroes, so you are like a magnet to 'em. There's no need to look for them, they are the ones who are looking for you."
Jared smiles.
" "Heart Challenger", hm?"- He responds- "I did not know that this is what I am for her."
Annie giggles.
"No, Jared."- She says- "This is what you are to every young girl."
Suddenly, she gets serious.
"Many girls will try to win the heart of the "Heart Challenger", but only one will be lucky enough to actually succeed."- She continues- "Choose carefully, Jared."
Jared rolls his eyes. He is clearly not interested in this topic.
"Whatever."- He says- "Focus on the task at hand. Do not let your mind wander elsewhere."
Annie sighs.
"Fiiine... "- She says- "Whatever you say, boss!'
Jared nods and stares ahead, patiently waiting for his father and Devin to come back.
"It's never been the same. Ever since we came back from that realm, he has always been thinking about his duties. No time to think about love and affection."- Annie says to herself- "But I know that even a serious boy like himself needs a girl by his side. And, once the evil has been purged from our lands, I'm sure that he will try to find such a girl. He can't remain alone forever!"
She sighs.
"I'm sure that she will be beautiful. A brave lady that will always love him for who he is, more than I ever will. He will be happy with her and forget about the mess that we got into, because of our nonexistent love. One day, he will be away from me, happy with his new, meaningful life."
Moments later, Jared sees something in the vicinity. He steps forward and sees his father and Devin.
When they get closer to him and Annie, he sees that his father is concerned. Something is wrong and concern is written all over his face.
"Dad! You are back!"- Jared exclaims- "Is something wrong? Did you get in trouble with the monsters?"
Aleks shakes his head. He points at Fort Saffron.
"There's no time to waste. The Slithzerikai forces managed to sneak into the Abyss and the two cities within are under attack!"- He responds- "We must get to Spire and Bargha and help them out as soon as possible!"
Annie gasps.
"But... they weren't there earlier!"
Devin sighs.
"We thought so, too."- He says- "But those savages managed to fool us. And now, the Abyss is in danger."
Jared shakes his head, staring at the fort in disbelief.
"I cannot believe it. The Abyss- the wildest and most uncontrolled land where the savages would gain the most support, is being attacked? Even after everything that Avernum did to prevent this invasion from spreading elsewhere?! This is not good!"- He says to himself- "Even though I dislike that land, I do not want anyone that lives there to die because of our own mistakes. Dad is right. We must help them and I do not want to waste time when the lives of innocent people are in danger."
He nods.
"We heard you loud and clear, dad."- He responds- "Let us help the Abyss survive this nightmare."
And so, the four of them pick up whatever they can from the cave and the surrounding region and leave as soon as possible.
Half an hour later, they leave the Spire Fortress and get very close to the city of Spire.
They hear the screams coming from within the city. Civilians are fleeing from the incoming bands of hostiles. The guards are trying to protect them for as long as they are able to. Some of the buildings have been burned down by the Slithzerikai's wicked, fire magic.
Jared draws his sword.
"Let us make those amphibians regret that they ever challenged the warriors of this land."- He says- "For Avernum!"
With that, he charges towards the nearest band of Slithzerikai, his allies standing firmly behind him.
The battle between the forces of good and evil has just begun. And it is far from over. Today, the cities of Spire of Bargha are in flames. Soon, the whole world will be in flames. None will be spared from the fires of vengeance that the foolish lizard people are trying to spread, in an attempt to have their revenge on Avernum and its inhabitants.
Once again, the young hero known as Jared Kaos has to prove himself to the world and prevent yet another disaster. 
Will he succeed?
There is only one way to find that out...
== Trivia ==
* This Extra Part's name- "Heart Challenger" is named after the newest song by Takanashi Kiara (A VTuber that the creator of this story- AleksProdzBG, really loves to watch in his free time) whose name is the same as this Part. Coincidentally, both the song and the Extra Part were released on the same day (14.02.2021).
* "Heart Challenger" wass released on 14.02.2021- Valentine's Day.