MLTP Part 13- "Remind Me"

"Remind Me" is the thirteenth Part of "Miracula Luxia: The Prequel". It was released on 22.01.2020.
== Plot ==
Aleks managed to survive his encounter with the band of goblins in Part 12 of the prequel and continued ahead towards Paris.
However, his journey led him into another forest (Yes. Another one.). This one, however is actually more dangerous than the ones Aleks and his allies have passed previously, posing an almost impossible challenge to a lone hero.
Will Aleks manage to survive another challenge before finally arriving in Paris?
== Story ==
After a few hours of walking without resting, Aleks got very tired and decided to find a place to rest for a short time before moving on again.
The sun was going down. He assumed that it was 5 PM already.
He heard his tummy rumbling again and patted it.
"Yes, yes. I know. At this time, I usually grab something from the fridge and watch something on the TV. But now? Now it is different. No TV. Not that much food. Almost no commodities left. My life is not the same as before."- He said to himself before moving on.
As he ventured further into the dark, cold forest he noticed that the trees were moving. He tried to escape to safety, but to no avail. The forest managed to block his only way out with its deadly roots.
"Oh, come on!"- He yelled and looked ahead.
The forest was dark, so there was no way to figure out what (or maybe who) might live in there and ifthey are friendly or not. 
It seemed like Aleks had to venture futher into the forest to find out the answer to this question. But it might also mean that he is exposing himself to whatever dangers lie within.
Aleks looked back at the roots which were blocking the exit and shaked his head. He looked down and teared up.
"Why?!"- He said- "Why is this happening to me? After all that I have done for the ones around me, will I be the one to perish? To die in this cursed forest and never be found again? But... I don't think it matters anymore. My allies are probably in Paris by now, my wife is with them an she is safe there. She will probably give birth to our son and worry about me for a bit, but after a while she will forget about me and move on in favor of taking care of our son. I will just be a forgotten piece of the puzzle that will never be found, that is what I will be. Well, let it! Let the forest engulf me! Let it take my life! My family is safe and I know that they won't need me anymore. Let it!"
He fell on his knees and started to cry.
"I'm sorry, Seiko. It's for the best. I know that you won't forget me, but please do. Find another man who doesn't want to take such incredible risks to protect his family. Maybe you'll be happier with him than you were with me... "
As he looked down, he didn't notice the spirit of the older Seiko looking at him.
"You fool! Did you already forget what you promised the poor girl when she asked you about the dangers of the world?!"- She yelled at him.
He looked up.
"... Remind me what I said?"
Seiko sighed.
"That you would always be there for her and the kids! And that you'll always be their guardian angel- protect them from harm, keep them safe. And, most importantly, did you forget that your kids will need a father to feel truly happy?!"
"No, they don't."- Aleks stopped her- "Their mother is enough for them. They won't need me. I will just be a vague memory that will be forgotten as the hands of the clock move forward. That... is what I will be to them. I know that well."
"Oh really? And what do you think you're going to do? Let yourself get killed by a bunch of wild monsters and get eaten alive by them? Pathetic, Aleks! Pathetic! I thought that you were tougher than that."
"But I'm not going to stop you. I won't cry for you, or try to remember you if you die. Because I will know that you were a coward who just gave up on life and allowed himself to get killed by the creatures of the forest."
"I'll only tell you one thing. If you really want to die so bad, at least do it in an honorable way. Fight against them and die fighting! Be a hero! Try to escape! Be the almighty Aleks Kaos everyone at your hometown is talking about!"
Having said that, the older Seiko disappeared, leaving Aleks alone in the forest.
Aleks looked up. Seiko's words have actually given him the necessary confidence to survive and escape.
"When I saw this imminent danger, I thought that it was over for me. That I cannot do anything else. But this Seiko made me realize that I still have something worth fighting for. Yes, maybe it's my friends. But I forgot about the most important thing- My family. They're still alive and I have to fight on. If not for my sake, then it must be for theirs! My family still needs me as much as I need them, as much as I don't realize it. Family, here I come!"
Having said that, he began walking through the forest without a drop of fear left in him. He didn't fear death anymore and didn't want it so hard. But he knew one one thing- if he was destined to die here, then he was going to die a hero, not a coward.
After searching for a way out for what seemed like three hours, Aleks finally found something which was more interesting than the forest behind him.
A secluded grove with a hut in the middle of it.
When he knocked on the hut's door, a hunched old man answered his knocks. After making sure that he is not a wolf of any other hostile creature, he welcoms him in and explains that he is a hermit who prefers the solitude of the forest than the noise of the big city of Paris not far away from him.
He excuses himself for trapping him in the forest and tells him that there is a way to get out. There is a pack of wolves to the west of the hut which are causing trouble. One of them is wearing a small white necklace on its neck. That necklace is the key which will open the way out.
Aleks nodded and went outside to deal with the creatures. As promised, there were some wolves which the young hero easily dispatched. After doing so, he looked at their necks, but didn't see a small white necklace on any of them. He didn't want to return to the hermit without the necklace. He looked, and looked. And looked. But he didn't find one.
Dispirited, he returned to the hermit's hut to tell him about what happened- how he managed to kill the wolves, but didn't find a small white necklace.
The hermit smiled and placed his weak hand on Aleks's shoulder.
"Well, sonny, you surely didn't find one, but you should know that I lied. There was no small white necklace on any of the wolves which you killed so entusiastically. No, that was just a test to prove your worth to the world. And you just passed it."
Aleks looked at the hermit, confused by what he just said to him.
The hermit pointed at Aleks's heart.
"There may not be any treasure on the outside, but look at what's inside of you. Because there lies something which is more valuable than any jewel or weapon you will find in your adventures."
"And that is?"- Aleks said and looked down. He finally realized what the hermit meant.
"Oh! My... my heart!"
"That's right. Your heart beats for every good person that lives on our little planet. You wish to protect them and will do anything to vanquish the evil which threatens them. Isn't that right?"- The hermit asked.
Aleks nodded.
"Good. Then go ahead. You don't need a necklace to pass those unending roots. Believe that you can do it and you will escape."
Before he left, the hermit told him one last thing.
"I know that you currently have a single daughter and a son who is going to be born soon. I've prepared something special for both of them. Maybe I will meet them in the future and give them those little gifts, who knows?"
"Well, at this point only Fate will tell."
"Yes. Yes."- The hermit replied, holding two miniature boxes in the palms of his hands.
"Now go, Aleks. Your family needs you. Do not let them down."
"What about you, mister? Aren't you going to come with me?"- Aleks asked him.
"I would love to. But I think that I will remain living in this small hut for a few more years. After that? Maybe I will move somewhere else. We will see."
Aleks walked out and tried to pass through a thick wall of brambles.
Somehow, the wall of brambles withdrew, letting him pass. What a miracle!
It seems like the light in his heart was enough to convice the roots to go down and let him pass. As well as the fact that he had no more fear in his heart and an actual goal in his mind.
After getting one last good look at the forest, Aleks sighed.
"Well, I guess we will see you again, old man. I hope that it will be soon."- He said and continued walking towards the city of Paris.
At this point, there were only two days worth of traveling on foot left for Aleks to reach the city. His journey was finally nearing its climax.
== Trivia ==
* The Hermit is actually a very familiar character who becomes a good friend of Aleks's daughter in the future. It is also possible that he might appear in the original "Miracula Luxia" series, though it still has yet to be seen.