Miracula Luxia C7, P6- "Triggerfinger"

"Triggerfinger" is the sixth Part of "Miracula Luxia" 's Chapter 7- "A New Beginning". It was released on 16.02.2020.
== Plot ==
After a few more minor skirmishes along the way, Jared and his allies finally reach the Castle. There, they speak to King Starrus The Second about the situation the lands of Avernum are in and also about possible plans to eradicate the one who is causing this turmoil.
== Story ==
Most of our heroes's journey was pretty uneventful. No more major bandit attacks, just a few stragglers who only amused the heroes a little bit.
Three hours later, the four heroes finally reached the outskirts of the Castle.
There, some jumpy guards inspected their supplies to make sure that they aren't members of Farrar's army. They didn't find any.
Satisfied with that, the guards let them enter the Castle without any interrogations.
The four heroes found the Castle much more different than when they were here one year ago. The place had literally turned into a well-protected stronghold, here to keep safe commoners and royalty alike.
The guards are no longer lazy and unattentive. Now they are much more organized, knowing that even a single mistake would cost them their lives. Or, worse, the Castle itself. When the heroes passed by them, they didn't give them a lot of attention. They just nodded at them and continued watching for potential intruders.
Aleks was surprised by how well the place was organized now.
"I've never seen the Castle in such a great shape before."- He noted- "Military and building-wise."
Jared nodded.
"I haven't come here for a long time. It feels like a whole new settlement."
"Now, now."- John interrupted them- "Well, the place looks nice, but you guys know why we're really here, right?"
Jared playfully shaked his head.
John raised his eyebrow.
"Really? You've forgotten already?"
Jared grinned.
"Of course I do know, silly! Talk to the King, figure out how to crush Farrar and his thugs and go back home- on the Surface. It's simple!"
John smiled.
"That's what I was expecting from you, good friend. Now let's go. The King awaits our arrival in his throne room."
Jared nodded and the four of them approached the throne room.
After being asked a few questions by the suspicious royal guards, they finally entered the room.
The King was sitting on his throne, lost in thought. When he heard the heroes's arrival, he smiled and stood up.
He approached Jared and shaked his hand.
"Jared, my boy."- He said- "The propecies were not wrong. You really are awake!"
Jared smiled.
"I am here, Your Majesty. I am ready to serve once again!"
The king nodded and sat back on his throne.
"Yes. I was expecting the arrival of the four of you. The situation our poor lands have gotten in... is very bad."
Jared shaked his head.
"Of course, Your Majesty. That's why we are here- to help solve this huge problem and save Avernum. Once again!"
The king smiled.
"Your entusiasm is noted, Jared. Well, you might be able to help us. However, there are many things you must do before you finally meet Farrar. What do you say? Will you embark on those little tasks and help our lands once again, in the name of all that is sacred?"
Jared nodded and bowed down. The other heroes did so, too.
"It would be dishonorable for us to say otherwise, Your Majesty. We live to protect. And serve."
The king smiled again and pointed to the west.
"As you say. First thing is first. To the west of the throne room, you will find the armory. Ask the armorsmith to give you one of his best outfits. To the east is the blacksmith. Ask him to give you the best weapons for a scout. And don't ask any questions about why it must be for a scout, okay?"
Jared nodded.
"Good."- The king said- "Once you are done, come back here. I have something special for you- an item which will remind you of someone very important."
Jared left the room and went to the armorsmith. He recieved a new set of armor- a jerkin that is both light and protecting, along with a new set of pants and boots.
After he put them on, the armorsmith looked at him.
"Looking good, kiddo!"- He exclaimed- "Check yourself out on the mirror, if you want."
Jared nodded and looked in the mirror. He noticed that there was something different with him, something which none of his allies told him about after he woke up.
His eyes were now light blue. But that's not the only weird thing about Jared. He could feel the power radiating off his skin- a new force, waiting to be unleashed. A new potential that should not be wasted on regular menial labor.
No, it is a much greater potential than doing such regular things. This potential... is the potential of a true Hero.
Noticing both of those changes, Jared shaked his head.
"They're probably here, because of my long stay in Avernum. I must carry on. Eventually, after I go back on the Surface, they will probably disappear and I will be normal again."- Jared said to himself, hoping for the best.
However, this was not going to happen. Well, maybe the color of his eyes will change back to its original state (Who knows?). But the power within him is never going to leave his body. That power will stay forever, until it is unleashed and used for either good or bad.
Yes. One thing is definitely for sure. Jared's life will never be the same, no matter how much he wishes for the opposite.
He left the armory, but not before thanking the armorsmith.
He entered the blacksmith's workshop. The man recognized him immediately and pulled him aside.
He gave him a shiny sword and shield, made from the finest enhanced steel (Much better than even Dharmon's crafts, needless to say).
"Here ya go, mini hero!"- The blacksmith said and grinned- "Did I mention that they're both enchanted? Our mages made sure that they have powerful enchantments and they meant business when they did so. Use 'em well!"
Jared nodded, thanked him and went back into the throne room.
He saw that the king was holding a familiar item. He looked closer and saw... a pair of goggles.
"Wait a second."- He said, amazed- "Those are... my uncle's goggles!"
The king smiled and handed them to Jared.
"I am sure that your uncle wouldn't mind if you used them for a while. So, don't be afraid to do so."
Hearing about his uncle made Jared sad once again.
He looked down while looking at the goggles in his hand.
"At least... at least a part of him will still be with me."
Aleks looked at his son.
"You still can't forget him, can you?"
Jared shaked his head.
"I never will, dad. Uncle was such a wonderful person. I don't think I ever will."
Aleks smiled.
"We made so many memories. Both pleasant and unpleasant. But what matters the most is that we all had fun while making then."
Jared smiled as well.
"I will never forget them."
He turned around and put the goggles on his head.
"Good. You are finally ready for battle."- The king said.
"So, I know that you have faced Farrar before, but it turns out that he is far deadlier than we thought that he would be. We... never imagined that he would send a whole army of powerful thugs to destroy Avernum. He started with Dharmon and Mertis and now he's headed for the Castle. He wants to conquer it and make the whole Avernum his servants once he does."
"There is only one way we can stop him- by weakening his army before they make the attack. Your mission will be to clear those troublemakers out and drive the rest away from our borders."
"But that will be your second-to-last mission. Your first one will be to help us regain Dharmon back to our side. Right now, the city is being ransacked by a bunch of thugs who try to gather all of its treasure for themselves. I want you to clear all of them out."
Aleks, John and Annie stood up to join Jared. The king shaked his head.
"No, friends. It will only be him who goes there."
Aleks was shocked.
"What?! Send... my son... there? In that treacherous territory? I disagree!"
Jared shaked his head.
"No, dad. I know that you are concerned, but I need to prove myself as a true hero. And this will be the prefect task to do so."
Aleks looked down and realized that there was no stopping him now.
"I understand, son. If it's your desire to fight alone. I will respect it. Carry on."
Jared smiled, turned around and headed towards the door.
However, he was stopped by Annie, who grabbed his hand forcefully, almost making him fall.
"Jared, no! I won't let you go alone!"- She yelled.
"Leave him be, Annie."- John said- "It's finally the time for Jared to prove himself as a solo fighter and you are ruining it."
Annie shaked her head.
"I can't let my friend go alone on this quest. I'm going."
"Annie, no... "
"I. Am. Coming!"
"I said NO!"- Jared screamed and lightly pushed her back.
She stumbled into a wall, confused.
"Annie."- Jared continued- "I understand that you are concerned about me. That you want to protect me at all costs. But there are times when the hero needs to act alone. And it is best for him to act alone, because of the nature of the mission- one person does it best."
"So do not try to stop me, because you won't achieve anything. Acting like a mother is not always the way to go."
He turned to his father and John.
"I bid you farewell. I will be gone. For now."
"Goodbye, son."- Aleks said to his son- "We hope that you'll succeed. Good luck and safe travels."
Jared nodded and looked at Annie briefly. She looked back.
Then he moved on and left the Castle to find Dharmon. Or what is left of it.
It is time for Jared to trigger the hidden potential within him and show the ones around him that he is not a weak hero, who has to depend on the actions of the people around him to succeed. No, it will be quite the opposite.
It is time for Jared to finally use his trigger finger to fire the finishing shots into the weakened bandits under Farrar's command who desperately try to ransack the ruins of Dharmon and make the city safe to use for the Avernites once again.