MLII C5, P5- "Never Forget"

"Never Forget" is the fifth Part of "Miracula Luxia II" 's fifth Chapter. It was released on 07.04.2021.
== Plot ==
Having to turn away from the mission at hand to protect someone who is important to him, Jared returns to the city of Paris in order to save his grandfather from a dangerous assailant, being forced to kill the person if he has to.
This will be an eventful day for everyone.
== Story ==
Jared looks around. He does not see his father, nor someone who is about to attack him anywhere nearby.
"Seems like the wanna-be murderer isn't here."- Tholmen says- "Or, at least, not yet."
He turns to Jared.
"Be on your guard. We're not out of trouble just yet."- He says to him- "Whoever this culprit is, he's still looking for your grandfather. In order to keep him safe, we must find him. As soon as possible.
Jared nods and starts to explore the city. After being told how Allister looks like, he starts to ask the citizens on the streets about him. Unfortunately, nobody knows who he is or, more importantly, where he is.
Just as he is about to give up start looking for the culprit without anyone's help, a little boy and his mother approach him. He immediately recognizes them.
They are Erika Redmark- the granddaughter of the legendary Archmage from Avernum with the same name, as well as the boy that Jared helped during his second visit in Silvar.
"Jared. We heard that you're searching for a villain who is trying to kill your grandfather."
Jared raises his eyebrow.
"Yes, I do."- He says- "Do you know where he is?"
Erika looks at her adopted son. Then, she looks back at Jared.
"We know who he is. He approached us and he looked like he was serious about his motives, whatever they are."- She responds- "He looked at us with anger in his eyes, as if we are the ones who did something to him. Said his name is Allister and that he's looking for a person known as Lethal Kaos. Of course, I immediately recognized the surname. I have heard about Mr. Kaos before. I met you, a younger member of the Kaos family. However, I genuinely didn't know anything that would actually help him out. I told him that I'm not sure, but he pointed his weapon at me. He thought that I actually knew something about it. Then, he pulled the blade away from me and pointed it at my son. He said that he will be the one to suffer, should I tell a lie to him. I begged him to leave him alone, but he just stared at me coldly. Fortunately, the city guards stepped in, forcing him to run away and leave my child alone."
She stops talking for a few seconds and formulates her next response.
"Now that I think about it, I think that I caught a glimpse of the same man a few hours later."- She adds- "He was heading towards a large residence to the north. His weapon was drawn. And, when I looked closer at the sign above the front door, I remember that it said "Kaos Residence". "
Jared gasps.
"This means that he is going to attack my entire family!"- He says to himself- "Both grandpa and my sister are in danger!"
He looks at Erika.
"How long ago did this happen?"
"The sighting?"- Erika says- "Only a few minutes ago. He might still be there."
Jared thanks her for the information, tells his allies and walks towards the Kaos Residence with them.
Erika's son looks at his mother. He seems to be very worried.
"Are they going to be okay, mommy?"
Erika hugs him.
"They are, my dear. I have no doubt in that."- She says and looks at Jared- "As long as the young hero is with them, they will succeed."
The child smiles.
"One day, I want to grow up and be a hero like him!"- He exclaims- "He's so brave!"
Erika smiles as well.
"Maybe you can become a hero, dear. Who knows?"- She says- "If so, I'm sure that you will do great."
Having said that, Erika continues to watch Jared as he approaches the residence. Her son does the same.
Meanwhile, Jared and his allies get closer to their destination. Soon, they hear a scream.
"Please! Leave him alone, I beg you!"- The muffled voice of a woman is heard in the distance.
Jared immediately recognizes it.
"Sister!"- He yells, draws his weapon and runs towards the residence.
There, he finds three people standing next to it. The first one is standing next to a wall. The second one is pointing a blade at him. And the third, Jared's sister, is holding his arm and trying to stop the attacker from harming the man next to the wall, her grandfather.
"Allister, I'm so sorry."- Lethal says- "I didn't know that you felt this way for so long! I didn't know that she was so important to you!"
The other old man, the one that Jared and his allies have been looking for, shakes his head.
"You know nothing. Nothing!"- He yells- "You simply sat there. You watched her die in your arms and you did nothing to help her out! She died for you, Lethal. She wanted you to keep your family together and what did you do? You ran away from them! You ran away and left them to their fate, like the coward that you have always been!"
Lethal shakes his head.
"Unfortunately for you, I beg to differ."- He responds- "First of all, what happened in the past... remains in the past. I respect Tanya's sacrifice. I honor her memory. I cry at night, knowing that she's not beside me anymore. But I understand that she did it out of love. Second, what I did many years ago was for the same reason Tanya gave her life- to protect my family from something worse than an untimely demise. I was still a hunted man, Allister. What I did back then saved their lives, at the cost of endangering mine even further. It was a painful decision, but I did it because I loved them, not because I was a coward. And, if Tanya was still with us, she would understand the risk that I had to take. She was a good girl. She would have loved them all, just like I do right now."
He puts down his weapon.
"Please, Allister. Let me live."- He continues- "My family needs me more than you can imagine. My granddaughter is still hurt and she needs my help. My son and my grandson have gone on a dangerous mission and they need to know that I am still here, that they still have my support. What you're about to do is not going to bring her back. It's just going to harm our family, the one that she loved so much, that she tried to protect, even giving her life away to prove her loyalty. My demise is only going to bring chaos, not order."
Allister shakes his head.
"Shut up, you old traitor!"- He yells- "Sure. She cared about you. She wanted you to live in her name. But you're still responsible for her death. And, because of that, I have to end your miserable life right here and right now."
He points his sword at Lethal's chest.
"Die, Kaos!"
Marinette tries to pull him away.
"No! Stop!"- She yells- "Let him go!"
Allister smirks.
"Get away from me, little girl."- He says and pushes her away.
Unable to keep her balance, she is about to fall to the ground. Fortunately, Treviass rushes forward and catches her just in time.
Angered by Allister's actions, Jared draws his weapon, runs towards him, grabs his head. Without any hesitation, he punches him with all his might.
Allister stumbles backwards, trying to regain his composure. He looks at the person who tried to attack him, surprised.
"Who... who are you?!"
Jared stares at him angrily.
"My name is Jared Kaos and the man that you are trying to kill... is my grandfather!"- He yells- "And if you mess with my family, you mess with me. I will not let you harm him!"
Allister smirks.
"Acting just like your gramps, I see."- He says- "Well then. You will die along with him!"
He pushes him backwards and kicks him in the stomach.
Jared draws his weapon and attacks him, but he avoids the attacks without much trouble.
"He is pretty agile, for an old man."- Jared says to himself- "I have to find another way to weaken him."
He jumps backwards, draws his bow and aims an arrow at him. 
Allister raises both of his hands and smiles.
"Go ahead, kid."- He mocks him- "You still won't be able to kill me!"
Unbeknownst to him, Jared has armed the bow with an explosive arrow. That is the reason why he is surprised to see that he is aiming the arrow at the ground next to him.
Too late, he notices the sparks coming out of the arrow's tip. He tries to dodge the incoming blast, but fails and is thrown into a nearby wall by the explosion.
While Allister regains his bearings, Jared approaches his grandfather.
"Grandpa! Are you hurt?"- He says.
Lethal looks at him and smiles.
"Jared. I'm so glad to see you. Thank you for saving me."
Jared nods and turns to Tholmen.
"Take my grandfather away from here."- He says.
Just as Tholmen is about to do this, Lethal stops him.
"No. I want to stay here. I want to talk to him, to convince him that he is doing something wrong."- He says to his grandson- "I know that there's still a voice of reason within him. I know that there is!"
Jared shakes his head and points at Allister.
"Look at him, grandpa."- He responds- "This man tried to kill you. He blamed you for something that happened decades ago and wants you to play because of it. Sure, giving him a second chance is always an option, but are you aware of the danger that we are putting ourselves into by doing this?"
However, he has no more time to reason with his grandfather. Allister gets up and attacks him.
"I feel bad about having to kill a promising child like yourself, but it seems like I have to."- He mutters- "So, forgive me. However, this must be done. You stood in my way and I will have to kill you to reach my goal."
Noticing that Allister is moments away from killing his friend, Treviass thinks fast and grabs a loose brick. He slams it into his head with all his might, disorienting and wounding him in the process.
Then, he tries to kill him, but is stopped by Jared.
He shakes his head.
"I appreciate your help, Treviass. However, this is a problem only a member of the Kaos family can solve properly."- He says- "This man tried to kill my grandfather, to ruin our family. I want to be the one who deals the final blow."
Treviass nods, stands back and watches as Jared approaches Allister, weapon drawn.
"I've had enough of your tricks, old man!"- He yells at him- "Either kill me and get on with your mission or die with honor. There is nothing in-between!"
Allister does not say anything. Instead, he draws his weapon and swings it at Jared.
Moments later, he gets ready to deliver a powerful blow. Jared forms a magical shield around him, but it is shattered almost immediately by the incoming series of attacks.
Although he is trapped in a corner, Jared does not back down. He parries Allister's attacks, tries to strike back and does his best not to show a sign of weakness.
Finally, he finds a weakness in his fighting style. He swings his sword at his left leg and brings him to his knees.
Allister tries to strike back, but is stopped when a person casts a binding spell at his hands, immobilizing them.
He stares at the person as she approaches the two of them.
Jared smiles.
"Thank you, Ms. Redmark."- He says.
Erika nods.
"So, this is the person who threatened me and tried to kill my child."- She says.
She kicks him in the stomach.
"I hope that you learned your lesson, fool."
She looks back at Jared and steps back a little bit.
"I'll let you deal the final blow."- She mutters.
Jared looks at Allister and points Demonslayer at him.
"Old man. For the short time that we have known each other, I hated you."- He says stoically- "You tried to kill my grandfather because of something that happened in the past. You harmed my sister, who was still wounded after everything that she was forced to suffer. You tried to make our family desperate with your foolish actions. And, most importantly, you shamed yourself in front of everyone else."
He glares at him.
"Tell me. In a situation like this, does a person like you deserve a second chance?"- He continues- "Do you deserve to be spared, to be given the chance to live another day, to repent your sins and show the world that you can change, even after you were emotionally scared by those traumatic events that happened in the past? Do you think that you can overcome your grief and anger, once and for all?"
Treviass sighs.
"Something tells me that you aren't going to decide for him."
Jared shakes his head.
"No."- He responds stoically- "Every person can make their own decisions, whether they are good... or bad. It is up to them whether they want to plunge into the deepest depths of the Abyss... or strive to go towards the gates of Heaven."
Allister looks down. His eyes are filled with tears.
"Just... just end this."- He mutters- "I'm done with trying to fight for something so futile. I just want to see her again. That's all I want to do."
Jared looks at him. He lifts his hand in the air, ready to perform this bold deed. Everyone watches sadly as Demonslayer's blade slowly comes closer to Allister's head, as the inevitable is about to happen.
However, just as he is about to kill Allister, Jared stops. He pulls his blade away and takes a step back.
"Even though you are a bad person who has to be punished, you are still dear to my grandpa. I cannot bring myself to kill someone who is a close friend of our family."- He mutters- "Because of that, I shall spare you. I can see the regret in your eyes. I know that you did not want to do this, that you were forced to act by the Slithzerikai, thinking that they are helping you in achieving your inner peace. Mark my words, I will make whoever is responsible pay for tricking you like this."
He looks at the sky and sighs.
"There, grandma. I spared another life."- He says- "I hope that you are proud of me."
Everyone gasps. They clearly did not expect this to happen.
Allister breaks down in tears.
"I did not deserve any of this, but thank you, young man."- He says to Jared- "Thank you for showing mercy to me."
He turns to Lethal.
"I... I don't know what to say."- He mutters- "Words can't describe how guilty I feel for trying to harm you, my best friend. I'm sorry."
Lethal nods and smiles.
"I forgive you, Allister. The mistakes that you made shall remain in the past."- He responds- "Now, let's continue fighting for what is ours. Let's work together to create a new, safer world for our children and grandchildren!"
Allister sighs and watches as two guards apprehend him and take him away.
Soon, the crowd that gathered desperses. Only Jared, his grandfather and his allies remain.
"Grandpa, I am sorry for leaving you like this."- Jared says- "I did not know that this man was trying to kill you."
Lethal smiles.
"Everyone makes mistakes, Jared. There's no need to be sorry about them."- He reassures him- "But that's not important anymore. I'm safe and sound and Allister is being taken to prison. I will leave this nightmare behind me, in the hope of finding something new."
Jared nods.
"I do not think that it is safe for you to stay here anymore."- He says- "Do you want to join us in our adventure?"
Lethal smiles sadly.
"I would love to help you out, but... "
He points at Marinette, who is leaning against a nearby wall.
"Your sister, she was hurt during the dawn of the Slithzerikai invasion in our lands. She tried to protect the citizens of Paris, but risked her own life in the process."- He responds- "Now, she has to stay in the Kaos Residence and heal. I'm the only one who can keep her safe for the time being."
Treviass steps forward and approaches Marinette. He helps her stand up and smiles.
"Don't worry, Mr. Kaos. I shall take care of this lovely maiden while you are absent."- He says- "Your grandson needs your help and advice, more than he ever has before. I hope that you understand how serious this situation is, because he needs all the help that he can get. It is clear that you are much more important to him than I am, so carry on."
Jared raises his eyebrow.
"But Treviass! You said that you want revenge on the Manburner!"- He says- "Are you going to abandon your sacred mission, just like that?"
Treviass shakes his head.
"No. I still want to have my revenge. I want to join the fight and help you out."- He says and looks at Marinette- "She needs the help of someone who is young, determined and capable and you need the help of someone who is dear to you."
He smiles.
"The world needs you, kid."- He continues- "Don't let it down."
Jared wipes a tear from his right eye and nods.
"I will not let it down, Treviass."- He says- "I will win this war."
He approaches his sister and takes her hands in his. Both of them stare at each other for a few awkward moments.
Finally, he decides to hug her. So he does.
"I missed you so much, sister."- He says- "But I am afraid that I will have to leave you behind again. I am so sorry."
Marinette smiles and hugs him back.
"It's okay, little brother. I missed you too."- She responds and pats him on the head- "We'll be praying for you. Safe travels."
Seiko approaches her children and smiles.
"My dearest. You're both safe, at long last!"- She says.
Jared nods.
"We reunited one year ago, when I saved Paris from an ancient evil."- He says- "Even though she mostly stays here, I know that she is safe and that makes me happy."
Seiko looks at her daughter.
"Mari, I'm so glad that you found your brother."- She says- "Seeing both of you in a time like this gives me hope for a brighter future."
Marinette smiles and hugs her brother.
"Of course, mom. He's the most important person in my life."- She says- "I do whatever I can to motivate him, even if it's from far away. No matter where he goes, we're never truly apart."
Hearing what her daughter just said to her, Seiko starts to cry.
No, it is not a trick of the lights above them. She really is crying.
"All this time, I've been hoping to see my family whole again."- She admits- "Now that the two of you finally reunited with each other, I can see that my sacrifice was not in vain. My dream came true and I feel proud, as a loyal wife... and as a caring mother."
She shakes her head.
"The circumstances force us to be separated, once again. But I know that we will reunite, even though I'm not among the living anymore."- She continues- "Farewell, dearest Mari. Know that we will always be with you, in spirit. And soon, we shall return."
Marinette nods and smiles.
"I'm counting on you, mom."- She says- "Keep Jared safe for me, okay?"
Seiko nods.
"I will, sweetie."- She assures her- "I will. I promise."
With that, Jared hugs his sister again, bids farewell to her and Treviass and joins his allies in going back to the Surface.
The four of them step through the portal and return to the fort that they took away from the barbaric Slithzerikai.
"Still abandoned, I see."- Tholmen says- "That's a good sign."
Jared nods.
"Yes, but one thing is still not clear to us."- He says- "We fought for so long, but there are no boats left. How can we possibly get to the central island without risking our lives in the process?"
As if to answer his question, a huge battleship arrives at the docks. A person leaves it and approaches our heroes, along with two guards.
The person who left first approaches Jared and smiles. It is his father- Aleks Kaos.
"It seems like my dear son needs help again."- He says- "Well, here I am. Ready to help!"
Jared smiles and hugs his father.
"I am glad to see you again, dad."- He says.
Aleks smiles and hugs him back.
"Me too, child."- He responds- "Me too."