Miracula Luxia C6, P10- "Justice Bringers"

"Justice Bringers" is the tenth Part of "Miracula Luxia" 's sixth Chapter- "The Great War". It was released on 23.12.2019.
== Plot ==
After rescuing John and Annie from the clutches of the Barghan bandits, Jared and the people of Fort Saffron think of a good plan on how to make them pay for their actions.
Soon, they figure it out. Allying themselves with the soldiers of Spire, they manage to make a difference that might actually matter for the survival of the Abyss.
Victory is in their grasp.
== Story ==
Jared and the commander sat at the far end of the war table.
The commander whispered something to the boy while the soldiers patiently waited for his suggestion.
Finally, they came to an agreement. They turned to the soldiers.
"We will need more help to counterattack those fools. And it happens that a nearby city might be able to help us out."- The commander started.
Jared nodded.
"Spire is the city we are talking about. They can help us make a difference and send those vagabonds running."
"Well, what do you say, soldiers?"- The commander continued- "Should we ask them for help?"
The soldiers looked at each other. They shaked their heads.
"Too risky, Sir."- One of them told the commander- "We can't ask them for help. We don't know what they will do to us!"
"Oh, come on!"- John exclaimed- "We can't just sit here and do nothing. We must strike back."
"Besides, this plan is actually good."- Annie added.
The commander nodded.
"Yes. You're right. I'm sorry, soldiers, but we must act. And soon. Who knows when those bandits will attack us?"
The soldiers nodded, still unconvinced by the commander.
The mobilization took them about a day when the commander and Jared went to Spire and asked the mayor for support.
"So, they captured your friends? And refuse our offers of peace? And they're thinking they can just get away with that?!"- The mayor said, infuriated by what happened- "Okay. My soldiers will help you. Let's show them how strong we are together."
Soldiers from Fort Saffron and Spire, along with our heroes and the commander approached the gates of Bargha.
The Barghan bandits tried to shoot at them, but failed as the archers were slain before they even had a chance ot do so.
"It's payback time, jerks! Nobody gets away with capturing my friends and trying to kill us!"- Jared yelled as he shot an arrow towards one of the bandits.
The soldiers fought valiantly to the end, slaying bandits in their way and smashing the gates open.
Soon, most of the bandits were defeated. However, more came out of the city hall, as well as a huge man.
They stopped and he looked at Jared. He grinned.
"So, you are the boy who took down the Order of the Black Fist, huh? Jared Kaos, if I'm correct?"
Jared nodded, keeping his hand close to his sword.
"Well, I'm the fabled Lord Farrar- former supreme leader of Bargha who was driven out of his fortress by a bunch of annoying adventurers five years ago."
"We thought you were dead!"- The commander said- "How did you survive?"
"Hah! You thought that I- the almighty Lord Farrar would be slain so easily? By a band of pathetic adventurers? Nonsense! They looked for me. And looked. And looked. But, in the end, they failed! I escaped and assembled my noble warriors. I became stronger than ever. And I returned! I took back my beautiful city from those weaklings of the city of Spire. But it was ruined. It was destroyed, almost to bits. Those bastards did not protect it from decay and the walls shattered."
"But we didn't give up. We rebuilt our city. Not to its former glory, but well enough for it to serve as our home once again. And our base, from where we could launch attacks against our neighbors. Spire, Barha, and maybe the other cities to the east."
"A week ago, some of those vagabonds attacked the city of Dharmon. Somehow, they managed to sneak through our fort and attack them."- The commander whispered to Jared- "Fortunately, the soldiers of Dharmon managed to kill them, but they warned us to increase our defenses from further threats. So we did."
"And that's how we came back to have our revenge on all Avernites. Yes! All of them!"- Farrar yelled- "Now that you are here, we can slay you. And show those wanna-be brave soldiers that we're coming for 'em."
Having said that, he and his bandits attacked.
Farrar went for Jared and swinged his huge blade at him. Jared realized that the man he was dealing with was not a regular vagabond.
He was a Dervish from the Empire!
His skin still had the color of someone who came from the Empire and his fighting skills were too good for an untrained Empire citizen. Or an average soldier.
Farrar continued hitting. Jared managed to parry his blows, but took a few steps back to recover.
The "Lord" did not give him a chance to do so. He prepared to deal a deadly blow towards his target.
Fortunately, John managed to stab him in the back and distracted him.
However, he didn't yell in pain. He didn't clutch his fresh wound. He just turned around and pushed John away, but didn't realize that Jared was behind him, ready to strike.
His sword was engulfed in flames, his desire to keep the lands of Avernum safe clear. He attacked Farrar and struck him again.
He wasn't affected by the flames which tried to engulf him. However, he still fell to the ground, wounded.
Jared tried to kill him, but was distracted by the bandits who managed to take their leader away through the north gate and escape to the northern lands.
The lands of the Giants.
The commander stared at them.
"Look at them run. Run, you cowards! You still won't see the light of the day!"- He yelled at them.
The bandits continued running away. Soon, they were out of sight, their screams of pain silenced by the night.
The crescent moon shined in the sky and revealed the carnage of the battle.
Many dead bandits. A few dead soldiers. Lots of arrows and discarded weapons littered the ground.
"That's a mess we must clean up after we retake the city."- The commander said, coldly.
"I know. But at least they're gone.
"Mhm. For now."
The commander knew that there's still much to do. They won the battle, but they still haven't won the war.
Farrar will be back. And he will try to retake his fort again, with a new force of bandits and other creatures.
They have to assemble a strong defense against them. And fast.
If not, well... it is more than obvious what's going to happen.
"We have to send soldiers here."- The commander suggested- "From both Spire and Fort Saffron. And maybe some from other towns in eastern Avernum."
Jared nodded.
"It's for the best. We can't let them come back and wreck more havoc. We must bottle them in there."
"Good idea, Jared."- The commander praised his idea- "Keeping them trapped is a good idea."
"But we must still warn Fort Emerald, because they might choose to attack it instead."
One of the soldiers tapped his shoulder. He looked at him and sighed.
"However, we cannot go there. We must make sure that Bargha is protected against those vagabonds. Can we count on you to warn them of this impending danger and keep them safe?
"Of course, Sir. You can count on us. We won't let them destroy Fort Emerald or any other Avernite settlement. Right, John, Annie?"
John and Annie nodded.
"You got it."- John said.
"Anything for our new home!"- Annie exclaimed excitedly.
The commander smiled.
"Then farewell, brave heroes. We hope that our roads will cross again and that we will fight side by side for all that is sacred."
"Maybe one day we will come back and help you folks out."- Annie smiled- "Until then, keep 'em weirdos in their place. Gotcha?"
The commander smiled again.
"You got it, Annie. We will."
"Oh, come on, Annie! I was going to say that!"- Jared said angrily.
Annie giggled.
"Sorry, sweetheart. You are indeed a smooth talker, but you're not the only one."
Jared looked at her. She did the same.
Then he hugged her.
"I'm glad you're back."
Annie smiled and embraced him.
"I'm glad that those two are reunited. They're definitely made for each other."- John told the commander and smiled.
"Are they friends?"- The commander wondered.
"A little bit more than that. We've been a team for a long time, almost inseparable. We looked out for each other, until I was forced to join the Order of the Black Fist and was forced to capture Annie. However, I realized my mistake and helped Jared defeat the leaders. And rescue Annie."
"She still despises me a little bit, but that's okay. As long as she doesn't hate me, we can still be friends. Good friends."
The commander looked at her.
"You did well, John. You didn't want to let your friends down and helped them in a time of need, even if you were on the other side of the war. We heard about the Order of the Black Fist's defeat a few days after it happened and we realized that it didn't happen without some help from one of their soldiers. And we're glad that it was you who helped the good ones."
"So, you've heard of me?"
"John Braveheart. Defender of Duskwood. Keeper of the faith. Makes lots of mistakes, but is willing to fix them. A really brave soul. How could I not hear of you?"
John looked at him.
"You... you're not originally from Spire, are you?"
The commander grinned.
"I haven't lived in Avernum my whole life. I chose to come here willingly. Before I came here I lived in your hometown. Six years ago."
John gasped.
"So... you're from Duskwood?"
"I am."- The commander touched his cheek slightly- "I was Commander of Duskwood until I was replaced by an incompetent fool. I had to go somewhere else afterwards."
John wondered.
"Wait! I know you! Aren't you Commander Andrew?"
"Andrew Smith, at your service!"
"I can't believe it, Commander."- John smiled- "I thought that I would never see you again."
"Wrong, my child. I escaped into Avernum and our paths crossed again."
Jared told John to come.
John sighed.
"I will be back. We have so much to talk about."
"And I'll be glad to do so. Thank you, John. I'm glad that you're here. It makes feel more at ease."
Having said that, the commander and his soldiers headed back to the fort with them.
After heading there, the heroes prepared to leave. The commander shaked their hands one last time and sent them on their way.
The mission was clear. The location was obvious. The enemy had to be stopped.
It's up to our heroes to warn Fort Emerald and help them keep the hostiles at bay. But they have to hurry to do so.
Time is of essence. Supplies are limited. 
It's time to be heroes once again.
Onward!
== Trivia ==
* "Justice Bringers" describes how the heroes attack Bargha and wish to show them that they can unite and fight together, unlike what the hostiles thought at first. They bring justice and peace to Avernum and eradicate those who disrupt the latter.