Miracula Luxia C7, P2- "Telling It All"

"Telling It All" is the second Part of "Miracula Luxia" 's Chapter 7- "A New Beginning". It was released on 03.02.2020.
== Plot ==
While traveling to Almaria, Jared decides to completely explain what happened in his dream to his father, John and Annie, revealing what happened to Annie back there.
== Story ==
Five hours had passed since our heroes left the (mostly) safe confines of the Tower Colony to travel to the (slightly safer) town of Almaria.
While leaving a small merchant outpost (where the heroes slept for the night) Jared stopped in the middle of the road.
Something was worrying him.
Aleks and Annie looked at him, confused.
"Is everything okay, Jared?"- Annie asked him.
Jared looked at her, then looked down and sighed.
"Sorry, Annie. I've just been thinking... about what happened in my dream."
"A dream is a dream, son."- Aleks replied- "Reality is much more important than a simple dream."
"I know, but... the dream. It seemed so... real."
Aleks raised his eyebrow.
"So."- He said- "Do you have anything else to tell us about this dream of yours? Was everything that you told us back at the Colony all about it... or is there something else that you remembered just now and you want to reveal it to us?"
Jared nodded.
"I remembered it all, dad. It is like a clear day to me now."
"You see, my journey to Paris and trying to find the ones who destroyed it... I wasn't exactly by myself. I was joined by a young man named Lancelot, a beautiful young lady named Stephanie. And Annie."
Annie yelped.
"What? I was... with you. And... my brother, Lance? You saw him?"
"It was just a dream, Annie."- Jared quickly replied to her.
She sighed.
"I know, but it gives me a little hope that I'll finally find him, wherever he is and whatever he's doing right now."
"Anyway, don't let me stop you. Tell us what happened to the people in your dream. And me."
"Well... "- Jared continued- "Back then, we were in a loving relationship.
This surprised and intrigued Annie. Her eyes widened.
"Interesting. Anything else?"
"Well, we fought the enemies together. I talked to you about our mutual problems and you always showed sympathy for my pain."
"And?"
"The ending of the dream... was not exactly a "happy end"."
Annie raised her eyebrow. Aleks shaked his head.
"What do you mean by "not exactly a happy end" ?"- Annie asked Jared.
At first, he didn't want to say about what happened in the dream, but, pressured by his father and Annie, he decided to reveal it, painful as it was to him.
"Annie, you... didn't exactly make it."
"What?!"- Annie exclaimed- "Why did I not make it?"
Jared looked down. Guilt was written in his eyes.
He looked up again, no longer looking like the young, cheerful boy he was before. He looked like someone who had just lost a person dear to him- desperate, weak and sad. There wasn't a single trace of the old Jared.
Fortunately, this effect only lasted for a few seconds. Seeing that Aleks, Annie and John were worried about him, he reverted back to his neutral look.
Though, even though he stopped looking so down, the sadness was still staying in his eyes, unable to disappear.
A tell started falling down his face. He tried to wipe it, to no avail. Seeing his attempt to wipe a tear, John offered him his handkerchief.
After wiping the tear, Jared continued with the explanations.
"Annie, it is painful for me to say this, but... back there, you died protecting me."
"I... what?"
"You heard it. You died protecting my foolish self who didn't know how to properly dodge an attack from a well-hidden enemy."
"You died in my arms. And I... I... I couldn't do anything to save you. Anything!"
Driven by guilt and rage, Jared approached a nearby cavewood tree and started banging his head on it, but was stopped by John who slapped him in the face.
"No, Jared!"- John yelled- "This was just a dream! Not a reality! Stop blaming yourself for something that didn't really happen!"
"Jared's right, John."- Annie stopped him- "Something in his words makes it seem almost real."
"What do you mean by that? A dream is a dream, just like Jared's father said! It's no reality."
"But it might be a sign. A reminder of who we are. What we promised to each other when we met- to protect each other from harm."
"And that's how I died in your dream- protecting the person dearest to me from harm."
Jared looked down.
"I could have saved you. I could have done something. But I was too weak to fight back. I should have died back there."
Annie grabbed Jared's chin and gently pulled his head back up. He looked at her, confused.
Her eyes were showing signs of both fear and anger.
"Listen, Jared."- She began- "You did what you could. But sometimes, you can't save the person from death, no matter how hard you try. Plus, the person risks their life to save you from harm. You must honor their last wish and live on in their name, not die like a pathetic creature in an attempt to save them."
Jared sighed.
"Just like uncle?"
Annie's expression turned from "angry" to "sad" in just a moment after hearing what he said.
"I already know what you mean."- He continued- "What happened to you in my dream... was a reflection of what happened to my uncle. You both tried to protect me. And you both died protecting me. It's the vicious circle of life. People dear to me die to protect me, so I can stay alive. Why?! Why do they want to save me? I am just a small piece in this huge boardgame of a world. I'm not important to anyone!"
Annie shaked her head.
"No, Jared. You're much more important than you think. It's because of you the Vahnatai managed to fight against the "Order of the Black Fist" and crush it. The people of Avernum are thankful, because of your actions to save the land from danger. And it's because of you that I was saved from the sickness which was dooming me to die. Your charity was the one which made me feel better and eventually recover from the sickness. Don't think that I've forgotten about it."
"And, most importantly, you're the person who might make a difference in this new madness that is goin' on- to destroy the new evil. Jared, the people of Avernum don't need someone who is weak and indecisive to save them. They want a true hero- one who's not afraid to save them from harm, to risk his own life to keep them safe, whose bravery will always be remembered."
"It's time to be heroes again, Jared."- John added- "And don't you dare shrink from your sacred duties! You are a Hero, not a normal resident. No, you are not a normal person anymore."
Jared looked up and smiled.
"This is what my uncle wanted. He wanted me to keep helping the people around the world, be a hero in their eyes."
"And this is what I am planning to do. I won't give in to my grief. I will keep fighting on and try to change the destiny, impossible as it may seem."
"That's the spirit, son!"- His father cheered for him- "When your mother gave birth to you and when we named you, that is what I wanted the most- for my son to become a good person who can make his own decisions. And, before me I see someone who is ready to do a lot of things in order to save the innocent citizens of the towns of Avernum from harm. Am I correct?"
Jared nodded.
"Yes, dad. I am ready to help those people. Count me in! Together, the four of us will help the people of Avenum out and save them from this new evil."
"But we won't be alone."- Aleks interrupted him- "We will be helped by the citizens themselves. When they see how we fight the enemy so valiantly, they will follow our lead and fight the enemy themselves. Soldiers, shopkeepers, mayors, ordinary residents. Even the King himself. They will all help us fight the enemy when we give the word."
"I stand corrected."- Jared continued- "All of us shall fight this new evil. We will unite and show the enemy that we are not afraid."
"And now we just have to unite them."
Aleks nodded.
"Yes. It won't be an easy task for someone such as yourself, but I know that you can do it, son. Hearing about how you united the forces of the Vahnatai to fight the "Order of the Black Fist" along with the Humans truly brought joy into my heart. And hope that you can unite the people of Avernum as well."
"I will, dad. I will."- Jared said and smiled.
"Then what are we waiting for?"- Annie said- "First stop- Almaria. Our operations will begin there."
"Annie is right. Alright, my allies. Let us go in Almaria and help them out. And hear what they know about this new enemy."
They all agreed to that. Aleks, John and Annie let out a loud cheer.
On that happy note, our heroes continued traveling towards Almaria, singing the song "We Are The Champions" along the way.
== Trivia ==
* This Part is a tribute to the series known as "Telling It All" by geriatric1927 where he tells the people (on Youtube) about his past experiences in life- just like how Jared (in "Miracula Luxia") explained to his allies what he truly experienced during his dream.