MLII C1, P11- "Lost And Found"

"Lost And Found" is the eleventh Part of "Miracula Luxia II" 's first Chapter. It was released on 08.10.2020.
== Plot ==
Jared, Aleks and John return to the city of Paris after the long adventure that they had to endure and the eventual death of the one who caused the destruction of the White Dreams Highschool- Lysstak the Beast.
However, they soon realize that, although Dorikas's right hand man is gone, the Darkside Loyalists have not been defeated (or weakened) yet. Worse, they are still wrecking havoc everywhere...
Meanwhile, Annie is about to reunite with someone who is very dear to her. Someone who she has not seen for decades and is beyond happy to be reunited with.
== Story ==
Jared and his companions return to the city of Formello after defeating Lysstak the Beast. Somehow, the residents of the city have learned of the bravery that Jared has shown by killing the right hand man of Dorikas and applaud him.
Cheered on by the people within the city, our three heroes step through the portal that leads them back to the city of Paris.
When Jared opens his eyes, he realizes that someone is waiting for them.
He sees Annie, who barely believes what she is currently seeing.
Her dear friend is alive. Bloody, wounded and tired, but still alive.
She wastes no time for simple speech and immediately hugs him.
"I knew that you would make it!"- She exclaims.
Then, she steps back and looks at her friend.
"So. Since you're here, this means that Lysstak the Beast... is dead?"
Jared nods.
"Lysstak the Beast has been taken care of, Annie."- He responds- "He will never trouble us anymore. And neither will his savage army. Rest assured of that."
Annie smiles and hugs him again.
"And that's why everyone put so much hope in you!"- She remarks- "You're a man of your word and whenever you promise that you would kill someone or something in the name of peace, you completely devote yourself in succeeding at all costs."
Jared smiles.
"My biggest wish is to see the world happy and safe once again."- He says- "And I will not let anyone... or anything disrupt this delicate peace. Never again."
Annie nods and smiles again.
"By the way, have you seen my father?"- She asks the three of them worryingly- "He wrote to me in a letter that he's going to come back from Avernum sometime soon and try to reunite with me. Have you seen him on your way here, by any chance?"
Aleks shakes his head.
"Unfortunately, we do not know how your father looks like."- He responds- "Besides, we did not meet a lot of people on our way here. It's very likely that your father wasn't among them."
Annie sighs and looks down.
"I see."- She says- "I'm glad that you were honest with me, at the very least."
She clenches her fists. 
"He told me to wait for him, but then he didn't come back!"- She says to herself- "Why? Why does he always have to leave me behind?!"
Jared places his hand on Annie's shoulder.
"I am so sorry, Annie."- He says- "Maybe we can help you find him? I do not want you to feel sad for being separated from him."
Annie looks up. Tears are forming in both of her eyes.
She quickly wipes them off, not wanting to show any signs of weakness in front of her friend.
"I appreciate your concern, Jared."- She responds- "However, this is my fight and my fight alone. I must find my father... alone. As much as I want other people to help me."
Jared nods and steps back.
"Go ahead."- He says stoically- "Do what you must do. We will not intervene."
Annie is surprised by what her friend is saying.
Jared notices her confusion and adds:
"I am stepping back, so I can help you find your inner peace alone. Nothing will be gained from trying to help you by force. I know that you have your own problems and you know that I have my own. And both mine and yours are best solved by having the ability to solve them by yourself."
Annie nods and smiles.
"I won't let you down, my friend."- She says- "I'm going to show you that I am capable of taking care of my problems on my own."
As she tries to leave the portal room, she hears a familiar voice behind her.
"Annie! Annie, sweetie!"- It says.
When she turns back, she sees that Aleks and John are stopping someone from approaching her.
"Where do you think you're going, sir?"- John says to him.
The man shakes his head.
"Please. I just want to see my daughter!"- The man pleads both of them- "I'm not here to hurt her. I promise!"
Aleks places his hand on John's shoulder.
"John, let the man go. He might well be Annie's father."- He says.
John smirks.
"Do you really trust this stranger, Mr. Kaos?!"- He yells- "He attacked us just a moment ago!"
The man shakes his head again.
"It was an accident. I didn't... didn't know that you are friendly people! I thought that you were some of those Loyalists!"
Those words immediately get Jared's attention. He pushes his father and John away and helps the man stand up.
"We are so sorry, sir!"- He says- "We thought that you were one of their number!"
John shakes his head.
"Don't trust him, Jared!"- He says.
Jared shushes him.
"I am absolutely sure that this man is not an enemy, John! Stop worrying about that!"
John nods and looks down. He does not say anything else as a response to what his friend said.
Meanwhile, Jared continues to talk to the man.
"So. You really are Annie's father?"- He asks him, noticing that both of them have kindness in their eyes.
The man nods.
"Yes! I've been looking for her everywhere and I recently sent her a message, telling her that I will meet her here."- He says and shows an orange bracelet on his left arm.
"We have two bracelets that mark us as father and daughter. I have this one and she has the other one."
Annie lifts her left sleeve and, surely enough, there is an orange bracelet that is very similar to the one that this man has.
This is when Annie finally realizes that this is indeed her father. She embraces him as Jared, Aleks and John watch.
"I thought that you were dead!"- She says and slaps him on the face.
Her father looks down.
"I totally deserved that."- He says- "I wasn't a good father."
Annie smiles and shakes her head.
"If you weren't such a good father, would you be here with me right now?"
Her father looks up and raises his eyebrow.
"I guess that you're right, sweetie."- He says- "I never stopped looking for you. And I guess that, sooner or later, I was going to reunite with you."
He looks around, as if expecting to see someone else to come out.
"Annie, where is your mother?"- He asks his daughter suspiciously- "Did something... happen to her? Why is she not with you?"
Tears begin to form in Annie's eyes again. Regretfully, she explains what happened to her mother and the tragin end that she met.
"And I would have joined her long ago, if it weren't for this boy here. The boy who saved my life."- She says and points at Jared.
Annie's father smiles, approaches our hero and shakes his hand.
"I owe you a lot for saving my dear child, young man!"- He exclaims- "But... I didn't catch your name?"
Jared smiles.
"It is Jared Kaos, sir. Also, you are welcome! Annie is a very good friend of mine."
Annie nods.
"I can confirm that! Me and Jared have been close friends for years!"- She adds.
Annie's father nods.
"Jared Kaos, huh?"- He says- "I'm glad to meet you, young hero. My name is Arlen and I've heard a lot about you. The people in almost every city of Avernum can't stop talking about the one who saved them from the Order of the Black Fist a year ago, the man who killed the Crones without any fear."
He clears his throat.
"Anyway, I am saying way too much. I am grateful to you for what you have done to help my daughter. I don't know what it is, but thank you for saving her life."
Jared nods. Then, he hears something outside.
He looks at Annie and her father.
"Sir, take Annie somewhere safe. I promise to be back soon!"- He says and runs off.
Annie's father looks at Aleks and sighs.
"So, from what it looks like, you must be Jared's father?"
Aleks nods and smiles. He shakes his hand.
"Indeed I am! Aleks Kaos, senior hero of the Kaos family- at your service! It is very nice to meet you, Arlen."
"Although... "- He adds- "We're in quite troubled times. And there isn't a lot of time to talk."
He prepares to leave and help his son.
"Now, if you will excuse me, I must take my leave. My son is still young and cannot handle every single enemy by himself. He still needs my guidance... "
Having said that, Aleks leaves the portal room, running after Jared.
John looks at Annie and her father and shrugs.
"Come with me."- He says- "I will lead you to Ghall-Ihrno's home. He will keep both of you safe from harm."
Arlen raises his eyebrow.
"Ghall-Ihrno? Who is that?"
Annie sighs and grabs her father by the left arm.
"Actions now, explanations later. Let's go, dad."- She says and leaves the building.
John takes one last look at the portal that teleported him and the rest of his allies to Avernum and back numerous times. He sighs, hoping to not have to use the same portal again and leaves the portal room himself, intending to keep Annie and her father safe and sound until Jared and his father come back and help them out.
"Annie is my love. I will never let anyone harm her."- He says to himself and walks forward, blade drawn.
A few minutes later, Jared and his father have cleared out the Darkside Loyalists that have managed to break through the defenses of the city... somehow.
"Now this is what I call a job well done! Nice work, son!"- Aleks says to his son.
Jared nods and smiles.
"We are such a great team, dad."- He says- "Nothing can beat us!"
Aleks nods.
"Yes! Father and son, always fighting for what is right!"
However, their conversation is soon interrupted by a scream not too far away from them.
Jared immediately recogmizes it.
"Annie? Annie!"- He says and runs toward where the scream came from.
His father runs forward as well, confused.
"What do you mean, son?"- He asks him- "Was that really Annie?"
Jared nods.
"I am absolutely sure of that."- He responds- "And she is in danger! We must hurry!"
Aleks gasps.
"Oh my Goodness!"- He says to himself- "Did the Darkside Loyalists find them? Did they do something to her father... or John?"
As they get closer to the place in question, the screams start to get louder and louder.
Soon, Jared and Aleks find the source of the screams.
"Do you see anything, son?"- Aleks asks Jared.
Jared looks around, but does not see anything. Or anyone.
"Nothing, for now."- He says.
Then he looks further ahead and sees his friend, Annie. She is trying to evade someone.
He gasps when he realizes that she is attacked by a Darkside Loyalist.
"Leave my friend alone, you loyalist freak!"- He screams and charges at him, sword in hand.