MLII C4, P5- "Guiding Light"

"Guiding Light" is the fifth Part of "Miracula Luxia II" 's fourth Chapter. It was released on 06.03.2021.
== Plot ==
On the brink of death, Jared is forced to accept the Inevitable. No one is there to save him. His body is getting weaker and weaker with each passing second. There is no hope left, only despair and regret.
However, something unexpected happens just as he loses his last fragment of hope. Something that keeps him afloat and gives him the chance to finish what he started and defeat the Unbound once and for all.
After performing this bold deed, he discovers a key ingredient for the potion of victory that he and his allies are trying to brew. An important item that was misplaced by the Slithzerikai that have been successfully keeping the Unbound alive for all this time.
It seems like there is still a chance for the Avernites to win this pointless war, after all.
== Story ==
Having lost all of the hope that he had until now, Jared imagines a world where he is reunited with all the people that he lost along the way- His mother, his uncle, Farrar.
It all seems too real for him. He smiles.
"Finally, I am home."- He says and starts walking towards them.
However, everyone disappears in the blink of an eye just as he gets close enough to get a good look at him.
"What?"- Jared says, confused- "What is going on?!"
"Jared, focus!"- A familiar voice is heard by him- "Nothing is over yet!"
And just like that, he is brought back to the real world. 
As he opens his eyes, he sees that someone has shielded him from the incoming blow.
It is Annie. Or, at least, her spirit.
"Annie!"- Jared says, watching his friend in dismay- "How is this possible?!"
Annie's spirit smiles.
"I managed to connect a part of my spirit with yours for the time being, to make sure that you survive this battle."- She says and adds- "You didn't really think that I would let you die like this, did you?"
Jared smiles and shakes his head.
"Of course I did not."
Annie nods.
"Then go! Show the entire world that you're able of defeating such a dangerous creature!"- She continues- "Ignore the pain and attack your enemy without any fear. Know that I will always be by your si-- "
Suddenly, the Unbound shoots another ball of flame towards Jared. This time, it shatters Annie's spirit into pieces.
As Jared watches her spirit vanish in horror, he hears her soft voice within his mind:
"-by your side... "
At first, Jared is unable to do anything. He falls to his knees and ignores the Unbound as it gets closer and closer to him.
"Annie."- He says stoically- "You tried to protect me. You tried to make sure that I will be safe and sound. You risked a part of your own spirit, just to keep our promise."
He stands up and draws his weapon.
"I will not let your sacrifice be in vain, Annie!"- He yells and attacks the Unbound.
The creature tries to kill him, but Jared manages to disorient it with a powerful chain of merciless attacks.
As it stumbles back to rest, Jared jumps on its back and stabs it in the back of the neck.
It roars and tries to throw him off, but fails. In the meantime, Jared forces it to turn around and slams its head against a wall.
When the creature tries to move away, he slams it again.
Having exhausted it completely, he jumps off its back and watches as it falls to its knees.
"Just as I imagined."- He says to himself- "No matter how powerful of wild a creature is, it still has a brain rattling within its thick skull. It cannot function without it."
He draws his sword and screams:
"Die, you heartless fiend!"
As the creatures tries to flee, he plunges Demonslayer into its chest, twists it and watches as it lets out its last roar.
Moments later, it falls to the ground and closes its eyes for the last time.
It is over. The Unbound is dead. Jared has emerged victorious.
As he cleans its blood from Demonslayer in a nearby river, he wonders whether the being that he saw in front of him was really a part of Annie's spirit or if it was just a wilder part of his imagination that expected her to protect him in this situation. One thing is for sure, however:
He will never know.
He stands up and kicks the Unbound's corpse. Satisfied that it is indeed dead, he looks around the cave.
In a corner next to the Unbound, he finds a small chest. He tries to open it, only to find out that it is locked.
"Oh, well."- He says to himself- "So much for some easy loot."
At the same time, he notices hanging around the Unbound's neck. It is a small necklace and there is something attached to the end of it- a small key.
Jared cuts it off with his sword and tries the key on the chest. Surprisingly, it fits perfectly.
When he opens the chest, he finds another key which is larger than the one that he used to open it.
"Seriously?!"- Jared says- "All this pain and suffering for a... a key?!"
"What a waste of time!"- He adds.
Somewhere near the entrance, he sees something shaped like a chest. He takes the key and approaches it.
Once he is close enough, he confirms that it is, indeed, a chest and not a rock that is shaped like a chest. This one is noticably larger than the one that he just opened.
Without wasting any time, he unlocks it with the larger key and tries to open it, but soon finds out that there is another keyhole.
"Those Slithzerikai are clearly very serious about protecting their secrets."- Jared says to himself- "It is as if they wanted to protect the content from someone, but from who?"
He tries the small key in the keyhole. It fits!
He turns it and unlocks the chest.
Inside the chest, he finds the final reward for his patience- papers.
He picks them up and inspects them.
Seconds later, he finally realizes how valuable they are.
"Those papers, they contain the secrets of the Slithzerikai!"- He says to himself- "They contain numbers of their troops, descriptions of their defenses per settlement, plans for attacking Avernite cities and the time when they will be executed, as well as locations of their encampments, outposts and even clues to where their main fortress is located!"
He looks closer and notices something strange.
"Hmm. It says that their main fortess is located on the Surface."- He continues- "I might be able to locate it, but it will take time."
On the back of one of the papers, he finds another valuable clue. It is the initial scematics of the Unbound, as well as its current design which they used to attack Formello.
"I should bring those back to the Commander."- He says and walks out of the cave.
When he reaches the city of Formello, the guards open the gates for him.
The citizens notice him immediately and cheer. They clearly did not expect our hero to survive such a hard battle, but they are still thrilled that he is alive.
One of the people steps forward, away from the crowd. It is Annie.
When she sees that her friend is back, she hugs him.
"So, I was right!"- She says proudly- "You did make it!"
Jared smiles and nods.
"No matter what I have to fight, I will still do my best."- He says- "That is the power of the true hero."
Annie smiles and hugs him again.
"I admit it."- She continues- "I was afraid to lose you. I didn't want to be alone. I... I wanted to be with you."
She looks up at him.
"And yet, here you are. Alive and well."- She adds- "Your sole existence warms my heart. I'm glad that you're a part of my life."
Jared smiles and says:
"I am glad that you are alright, Annie."
Annie gasps.
"O-of course!"- She says- "Me too! Me too!"
Jared continues to smile as his father approaches him and pats him on the shoulder.
"My boy has returned, at last!"- He says- "So, this means that the city is safe from that monster?"
Jared nods.
"It will never trouble us, dad. Not anymore."- He responds- "Rest assured of that."
Aleks sighs.
"The city's militia was too weak to deal with it. They were able to bottle it in that cave, but they were unable to slay it."- He says- "I'm glad that one of us was able to perform this bold deed and survive."
Commander Jones nods.
"Formello thanks you for defeating the Unbound, old friend."- He says- "You fought valiantly in the name of Justice... and you succeeded. Thanks to you, this city is a lot safer. At least for the moment."
Devin takes a step forward and looks at our hero.
"Umm, Jared."- He says nervously- "The Council heard of your recent victory and they... they want to talk to you."
Jared nods.
"I will see them soon."- He mutters- "Give me a minute."
He turns towards Annie and takes her hands in his. His eyes betray only a single emotion- concern."
"Annie, my friend."- He says- "When I was about to meet my end, I saw something strange. A figure that looked just like you. It protected me and gave me the strength to defeat the Unbound, only to get incinerated in the process. It was really painful to watch."
He is afraid to ask about the spirit, but he is unable to hold back for longer than he already has.
"Was that spirit a part of your soul?"- He asks.
Annie sighs. She touches her chest and takes a deep breath.
"The spirit that you saw over there... was a fragment of my memory about you. The dearest, brightest memories that I treasured ever since we met for the first time."- She admits to him- "That memory sensed that you're in danger. It wanted to protect you, to keep you safe from harm. It tried to get out of my body. So, I let it go. It took the form of a spirit resembling my current self and floated away."
She shakes her head.
"When it was destroyed, part of me was also banished from existence."- She continues- "Now, part of my soul is gone. It is hollow. Incomplete. Broken. Makes me desperate to protect what I have left of it, to not let it go that easily."
Jared sighs and hugs Annie.
"Annie, no matter how many fragments of your soul you have left, I will protect them with all my might."- He says and smiles warmly- "You are one of the dearest people in my life. A fragment of my own soul. An important piece of me that is a part the person that I am right now. I will never let go of that fragment, just like I will never let go of you. As long as you are still here, this is what matters the most to me. Please, Annie. Stay strong. Keep fighting. Do not let fear and despair cloud your judgement. And, for all that it matters, I want you to know that I am very proud of you. What you have done until now, it warms my heart and gives me more than a single reason to believe in you and in your ability to care and protect your loved ones. I know that you will always be there for me, and I am happy."
Annie begins to cry. She did not expect Jared to say something like this.
She hugs him back.
"I-I didn't know that you felt like this. I thought that I was just a simple friend for... for you."- She says tearfully- "Is this true? Do you really respect me so much?"
Jared nods and smiles.
"I do. And I always will."
Annie hugs him tighter.
"Th-thank you!"- She wails- "Thank you!"
Everyone watches as the two of them share an emotional moment. They cannot help, but shed a few tears themselves. 
Devin regretfully steps forward and lightly taps Jared on the shoulder.
"Jared?"- He mutters- "The Council... "
Jared looks at him angrily.
"What?!"- He says- "What do you want?!"
Devin raises his eyebrow.
"I-I... "
Jared shakes his head.
"Leave us alone!"- He yells- "I will talk to the Council later!"
It takes about fifteen minutes for Jared to calm Annie down, but he succeeds.
Once he is done, he lets go of her.
"I am afraid that I have to see the Council. It is way too urgent."- He says with distaste- "Will you stay here for now? I promise that I will be back soon."
Annie wipes a tear from her left eye and nods.
"Yes."- She responds- "I will be here, waiting for you. No matter how long it takes."
Jared nods and smiles. He takes a few steps away from her and waves. She waves back.
Moments later, he enters the building where the Council resides.
Its members look at him and nod.
"Is this the boy that we are looking for?'"- The youngest of them asks.
The oldest of them nods affirmatively.
"Indeed he is."- He responds- "Jared Kaos, the young hero who defeated both Dorikas and Rentar-Ihrno without breaking a sweat, is here."
He looks at Jared and smiles.
"Welcome, hero. We have been expecting your visit. We are glad that you accepted our offer."- He greets him- "Fear not. We are not here to judge you or blame you for the mistakes that you may have made in the past. We just want to welcome you in our safe haven and give you advice to defeat the ancient evil known as Sss-Thsss's Slithzerikai."
He looks at the other Councillors. Although they don't say anything, they completely agree with the elder. He turns back to Jared and smiles again.
"Now then."- He continues- "Shall we begin? There is little time left and we must act fast if we want to win this war."
Jared nods.
"I am ready, sir."- He responds- "Let us begin."