MLII C3, P1- "Here To Help"

"Here To Help" is the first Part of "Miracula Luxia II" 's third Chapter. It was released on 03.12.2020.
== Plot ==
After leaving the (relatively) safe confines of Paris behind them, Jared and John arrive in Duskwood after receiving disturbing news from John's father that there are still Darkside Loyalists who are attacking them in the area.
Unfortunately, multiple tragedies strike and disrupt the delicate peace that Jared and his allies have successfully achieved after Dorikas and the Darkside Loyalists were defeated around two weeks ago. More importantly, John experiences another traumatic event- witnessing the death of someone very close to him.
It seems like the future is not so bright, after all. There are still dangers lurking in the dark.
== Story ==
Somewhere far away, Jared watches a group of people. His weapon is drawn and his eyes are filled with immense hatred for them.
During his time away from home, the young man and his best friend have been hunting bandits, remnants of the Darkness of Duskwood gang that they defeated a few years ago. Initially, they had a lot of success in this matter, managing to kill the bandit groups one by one before they could hurt anyone. However, the bandits soon realized their mistake and regrouped, forming a powerful force that defeated the soldiers who were trying to hunt them down.
Unfortunately for them, sending out a single spy was the only mistake that would lead the heroes to their location. After forcing the information out of the bandit and killing him afterwards, Jared and John sneak into their lair and find them. However, a deep hatred for the bandits leaves John unable to help Jared, so he proceeds alone.
And now he is here. Alone, against a group of at least twenty bandits.
Their leader, an aging man with a wicked-looking blade sitting at his lap, steps forward and smiles.
"I expected our enemies to arrive eventually, but I didn't expect out biggest enemy to come back."- He says- "You're far away from home, Jared Kaos. And you're alone."
Jared shakes his head and points his bow at him.
"You do not see what kind of a mistake you are making right now!"- He yells at the bandits- "Surrender and I promise that we will have mercy upon you."
The bandits laugh.
"Nice try, kid."- The leader says- "But we won't be fooled by your sweet words. Not at all."
He looks back at his bandits.
"Let's kill the invader!"- He yells and charges.
Jared prepares to defend himself from the rogues. Just as he is about to strike down a bandit, however, someone else comes in.
It is a huge wolf. It growls and jumps on top of the bandit leader.
The man tries to push it away from him, but fails. Meanwhile, the creature bites him on the right leg, forcing him to fall down.
As he lays on the ground, it sinks its teeth into his skull, killing him.
Jared is horrified by this. He looks up and sees that the bandits have the same expression of horror on their faces.
Without wasting any time, they decide that it's not worth fighting back and try to flee the lair, intending to go somewhere far away.
Unfortunately, their leader has left some traps in the secret passage that leads out of the lair. Too late, one of the bandits realizes it, but is unable to warn his allies in time.
Soon, the rest of the bandits trigger series of traps which explode and engulf them in flames.
Jared shields his eyes with the palm of his left hand. Moments later, he pulls his hand away from his eyes and sees what happened to the poor souls.
All of them are dead, incinerated by the traps. The ashes and bits of broken armor and weaponry testify that.
He looks back at the wolf, which is farther away from the dead leader.
Meanwhile, John enters the room and surveys the wreckage. He sees his pet wolf, approaches it at pets it. 
"Good boy. Good boy."- He mutters.
He looks at Jared, who is still terrified by what he was forced to witness.
"Forgive me."- He says to him- "Fang can he openly hostile when he faces a group of enemies. This could be a problem... sometimes."
Jared shakes his head in disbelief.
"I am sure that there was a better way to deal with them!"- He responds and points at the ashes behind him- "Not like... like this!"
John raises his eyebrow.
"Another way?"- He asks him- "Jared, those people killed by mother. My brother was lost because of the crimes that they commited against us. Duskwood was almost destroyed because of them! And you're telling me that they deserve mercy?! That they... they... "
For a moment, John stops speaking. He looks into his best friend's eyes and sees the sadness within. Yes, Jared is clearly blaming himself for the deaths of the bandits who were trying to run away, even though he was not directly involved in them.
He sighs and looks down.
"But maybe even they deserve to be spared."- He continues- "I hope that they can find their inner peace in the sky above."
Jared nods and wipes a tear from his left eye.
"We should report what we have done to the commander."- He says- "He is not going to pleased, but it is not our job anymore. Now that the leader of the bandits is dead, I am sure that they can take care of the rest of those vagabonds themselves."
John nods and goes back from the way that he and his friend came from.
Just as they come close to the exit, they hear a scream. And it is not coming from very far away.
"Someone is in danger!"- Jared says and turns to John- "Let us hurry!"
Jared and John exit the cavern and follow the trail of blood just outside... until they find the source.
There is a man, lying next to a tree. A longsword is discarded next to him and he is severely wounded. A woman is sitting next to him. Near them, a dead bandit is lying on the grass, possibly one of the remaining bandits in the area.
The woman stand up and nods in greeting.
"Thank God you came here!"- She says, points at herself and then at the man next to the tree- "I am Samantha and this is my husband, Douglas. No, I'm fine. He's the one who needs help!"
Tears falling down from her eyes, the woman explains what happened. Apparently, a bandit attacked the two of them while they were in the forest. Douglas managed to kill the vagabond. Sadly he was severely wounded in the process. His wife has been trying to heal him, but to no avail.
"You are a renowned mage."- She says to Jared- "Please, please help him! I beg you. His... his time in the world is very short if you don't. P-please!"
Jared nods.
"I will try my best, miss."- He says stoically, kneels and casts a spell on the man's wound.
Just as it seems like the spell is working, the wound starts to bleed even more than before. Jared tries to stop it, but it is too large for him to seal with a spell.
Moments later, the man screams in agony and falls limp. It seems like he has finally succumbed to his massive wound. Jared tries to revive him, but fails.
Wiping a tear from his left eye, he approaches the now-widowed woman, looks down and shakes his head in shame.
"I am so sorry, miss. I... I tried to save him, but his wound was just too large for me to heal."- He says guiltily- "My condolences."
The woman does not say anything in response. Instead, she grabs the boy by the neck and screams. It seems like the death of her husband has managed to make her completely mad.
She angrily pushes him on the ground and starts to punch him in the stomach.
"M-miss! P-please!"- Jared stutters- "I-I am so... sorry!"
Instead of fighting back against the crazed woman, he tries to push her away from him. However, she is very strong.
Jared looks back at his best friend.
"John! H-help me!"- He stutters.
John is horrified, but when he sees that his friend is in danger, he rushes to his aid. He grabs the longsword of the recently deceased man and stabs the crazed woman in the leg, saving his friend's life.
Samantha stumbles back. She sees the wolf behind John, ready to attack her as well and realizes that she is outnumbered.
Without saying anything, she screams and slowly stumbles away into the wilderness. John tries to stop her, but ultimately fails and watches sadly as she runs away.
He looks back just in time to see an undead Douglas about to attack his best friend.
"Jared! Look out!"- He yells.
Jared gets out of the way just as John charges forward and pins the man at the stump of a nearby tree with his own weapon, rendering him helpless. He growls as the young man approaches Jared and shakes his head.
"This is... unbelievable."- He says, horrified- "First the captain and now him? Those bandits will pay for what they've done!"
Jared raises his eyebrow.
"Did you know this man?"- He asks him.
John nods sadly.
"He was Douglas Claire, a very close friend of my family. His son was my classmate when I was at school, but he died soon after the Darkside Loyalists invaded Duskwood for the first time."
He looks back at Douglas' undead self and shakes his head.
"At least he will be at peace now. Far away from this dark world. With his beloved son."- He says and sighs- "He is lucky."
Jared looks at the man sadly. He points his sword at his head, about to stab him.
However, he stops in the last moment, unable to do it himself.
John sighs and pats him on the shoulder.
"It's okay."- He says- "I can't do it either, no matter how hard I try to."
Jared shakes his head.
"So, what do we do with him?"- He asks his best friend- "What if he escapes and attacks someone? I don't want any of us to be held responsible for leaving an undead man in the forest, alive!"
John sighs.
"I understand how you feel, but I'm unable to put him to rest. It seems to be the same with you."- He responds- "The best thing that we can do in this situation is to leave him here and hope that a soldier comes up here and puts him down... for good."
Regretfully, the two boys leave the man behind.
Just as they are about to leave the forest, John looks back at him and sighs.
"Forgive me, my friend."- He says- "I hope that Heaven treats you kindly."
Having said that, he leaves the area with his best friend.
Just as they are about to leave, they notice someone crying in the distance. Not wanting to refuse help to a person in need, they run towards them.
When they are close enough, they see that the person is a short woman with beautiful, green hair, wearing a white robe.
As she looks up at them, they notice that she is not entirely human. Her eyes are sharp, intimidating and they cannot help, but feel the strong, magical energy within her very being.
However, even her intimidating appearance cannot hide her sadness. Tears still falling from her eyes, she looks at the two boys, evaluating how useful they will be to her.
Finally, she decides to reveal herself to them. She transforms into a woman with greenish skin and beautiful, green hair. Her eyes radiate with kindness.
"Oh my!"- John exclaims- "She is so gorgeous!"
Jared raises his eyebrow.
"It sounds like you have not seen such a creature before in your life."- He mutters.
John shrugs.
"I sure haven't."- He says- "What about you?"
Jared sighs and looks at the woman.
"It is the same for me, but that does not mean that I haven't studied about her."- He responds- "This woman is a Dryad- A magical creature, guardian of the forest who takes the disguise of a humanlike creature to speak with those around her. Sometimes, she can even turn into more... intimidating beings. If she is endangered."
The dryad smiles sadly.
"I'm glad that you know so much about me."- She says- "Maybe you will be able to help me, after all."
Jared smiles and bows down, a sign of respect towards those who are older than him. And it is more than clear that this Dryad is much older.
"We are sorry for the intrusion, mighty Dryad. We heard you crying in the distance and came to help."- He says respectfully- "May I ask about what is on your mind?"
The dryad nods and sighs. She points at two logs nearby and sits on one of them.
"Please sit down, so we can speak."- She says, her voice sounding soothing and calm, even whe she is worried- "I wish to hospitable, even when I am away from my home."
Jared and John sit down.
Jared smiles. His smile calm the dryad down by a little bit.
"As you can see, we are not your enemies. We promised that we won't hurt you and we did not."- He says calmly- "Now, we wish to know about the problems that you are facing. Do not worry, we are here to help."