MLII C1, P13- "The World Is Changing"

"The World Is Changing" is the thirteenth and last Part of "Miracula Luxia II" 's first Chapter. It was released on 10.10.2020.
== Plot ==
Now that the Darkside Loyalists have been slowed down with the death of their mighty general- Lysstak the Beast and the remaining invaders in the perimeters of the friendly territory have been take care of, Paris can finally rest from this nightmare. Now, it is time for Jared and his allies to fight back against this nasty force of humans and Vahnatai, fighting side by side as they always have.
However, everything changes as everyone goes on their separate ways, leaving Jared with few people to help him out.
Although he is nearly alone against all of his enemies, our hero does not lose hope. He knows that, even though his friends won't be able to support him in this battle, he still forgives them for that and he will fight until the end to keep everyone safe, even if he has to do it all by himself.
Cities may be lost. Allies may come and go. However, hope will not fade away. It will always burn like a powerful fire in the hearts of our heroes, never dying out until the enemy falls. Or the other way around.
No matter what happens next, the fight between the Light and the Darkness shall continue.
== Story ==
John tries to get away, but Aleks stops him.
"John, my son asked you a question. You won't just go away without answering it, will you?"
John shakes his head.
"It's way too personal, Mr. Kaos. I... I want to keep it to myself."- He says and tries to back away.
Jared notices his concern and approaches him.
"Is it about Annie? Did something happen to both of you?"- He asks him.
John turns around and looks up. Havin no other choice in this matter, he decides to speak up:
"Annie is doing okay. I decided to speak with her, that's why I asked you to take me to her."- He says- "We talked about our relationship. All the things that we had to endure."
"After speaking to her for a while, I realized that we can be together no longer than we already have. Although I love her with all my heart, I can see that her love has faded away. We are no longer made for each other."
He wipes a tear from his left eye.
"And when I brought that up to her, she said that it would be better if we divorced."
Jared is shocked by this. He clearly did not expect that such a thing would happen between his friends.
"But... you can't just divorce! You still love each other, deep inside. And that is a fact!"- He says- "I don't want you to be sorry for the mistake that you made today. Please John, reconsider what you said to her! Do not leave her all alone!"
John smiles and pats his friend on the shoulder.
"I'm not leaving her alone, Jared. She's still got you. And her father."- He says- "I'm more than sure that both of you will protect her at all costs.
"As for good old me... "- He says and looks at the palm of his left hand- "I have another matter to take care of. And I don't want to involve any of you in it."
Aleks raises his eyebrow.
"What matter could be more important than protecting the world from the Darkshide Loyalists?"- He asks him.
John turns towards him.
"Although I want to help all of you out and not stop doing it, I have to do something very important."- He responds- "Recently, one of the people in my hometown came to me and told me that my father is sick. He cannot move and he requires medical attention. So, the person pleaded me to go with him to Duskwood to help him."
He shakes his head.
"But I refused his plea, because I wanted to help you defeat Lysstak the Beast and weaken the Loyalists."- He says- "And it seems like I have succeeded. So, now I must take care of the person who is also very important to me- my dear father."
Jared nods.
"I understand, John."- He says stoically- "If you want to go help your father, I will not object against it. Go ahead and do whatever you can to help him. I hope that the God above will be merciful towards this poor man."
John nods.
"Maybe you can help me out? Come with me in Duskwood and help me cure him?"- He asks his friend- "I would really appreciate your help."
Jared looks at John. Then, he looks at his father. 
He shakes his head, a clear sign of what he is about to say.
"I want to help you, John. I really do."- He says and looks around- "But this is my hometown. And Dorikas is still out there, ready to wreck havoc at any time he wants. So is Rentar-Ihrno."
"So, you already know that I cannot come with you. Not when the whole world is in danger."
Once he hears those words, John snaps:
"But my father needs help! And if he doesn't get it, he... he... "
"I don't want to lose my only parent! Not after what happened to my mother!"
He calms down and shakes his head, finally understanding that he cannot convince his friend to come with him.
"I see what you mean. You have your own problems and I have mine. I will go ahead and take of mine, then."
He nods to Jared.
"Good luck, Jared."- He says- "I promise to be back as soon as my father feels better. I won't let you fight those enemies alone for very long, I promise."
Having said that, John walks forward, soon disappearing out of sight.
Aleks sighs and looks at Jared.
"John... is a good person."- He says- "He is just very conflicted, whether to help his own family, his friends or the whole world. It's not easy for someone who has lost so many family members."
Jared shakes his head.
"He is just like me, Dad."- He says- "I have also lost people from my family, remember?"
Aleks nods.
"Yes. We all suffered a lot."
"And I'm sure that we will suffer even more if we don't win."- He adds.
The two of them head into Annie's tent.
They see Annie talking to her father. However, when she sees that Jared has arrived, she quickly turns to him and hugs him. Tears begin to form in her eyes.
"Jared, I had to leave him. I'm so sorry!"
Jared does not seem to understand what she means.
"Who? Who did you leave, Annie?"- He asks her.
She shakes her head.
"It's John. We've been together for so long, but... "
She sighs.
"It doesn't matter. There's no love between us anymore."
Then, she looks at her father and Aleks. Afterwards, she looks back at Jared.
"I... want to go outside. So we can talk. Alone."- She says to him.
Jared looks at his father and sighs.
"I am sorry, Dad. We must go outside."
Aleks smiles.
"Go ahead. No one is stopping you."
As the two of them go outside, both fathers look at each other.
"Don't worry about them, mon ami."- Arlen says to Aleks- "Jared and Annie are young. I'm sure that they will settle their differences soon and come back to us."
Aleks nods.
"Who can blame them?"- He responds- "They're children, but they're growing. Soon, they'll be too tall for this place and they will search for new horizons to explore."
Arlen nods.
"I'm looking forward to seeing both of them become responsible, young people."- He says.
"So do I."- Aleks adds.
Meanwhile, Jared and Annie walk outside and stare at each other for a while, unsure what to say.
Finally, Annie decides to embrace her friend.
"Jared, I made a big mistake."- She says- "Will you... will you forgive me?"
Jared smiles and pats her on the head, making her blush instinctively.
"Of course I do!"- He responds- "Neither of you have done anything wrong! I understand that both you and John do not love each other anymore and I respect your decision. I know that you have gone on separate ways on amicable terms and I am happy that you still respect each other."
Annie smiles and touches Jared's left cheek.
"Although I don't love John anymore, I still do love you."- She says- "So, is it a good time for us to be together at last?"
Jared is unsure what to say and before he can have a coherent answer, Annie kisses him on the lips.
However, this kiss only lasts for a few seconds, as Jared changes his mind.
As he stands back a little bit, he touches Annie's left cheek. Both of their pale faces are ruby red.
"Annie, I understand that you love me. That you want us to be together. But I think that it is better if you forget about this. It is... it is better for both of us."- He mutters, barely believing what he is saying to his friend to her.
He realizes that his heart is rejecting her. Pushing her away. However, he does not have the power to stop it. He simply stands there and listens to himself say those things to her.
Annie nods.
"I... I understand. Maybe we aren't destined to be together, after all."- She says- "But we can still be friends, right?"
Before his heart can say the wrong answer, Jared finally takes control of himself and says:
"We will always be friends, Annie. No matter what happens next, I will always care about you."- He says- "And I hope that it is the same for you."
Annie smiles.
"Friends forever?"
Jared nods and smiles.
"Friends forever."- He repeats.
The two of them hug as their fathers watch them from a distance, smiling.
"Annie's such a good kid. Definitely a jewel in the crown of hope."- Aleks says to Arlen.
Arlen nods.
"She is indeed, Mr. Kaos."- He says- "Now, if you will excuse me, I must speak to her about an important matter."
Aleks nods.
"Go ahead, Mr. Mitchell."- He says and watches as he approaches his daughter.
Arlen lightly pats her on the shoulder, getting her attention.
"Annie, I understand that you want to be with your friends, but this is no time to be so heroic."- He says- "Right now, it is better if you come with me to Fort Monastery in Avernum. I work as the General there and I will keep you safe until this war is over. What do you say?"
Annie looks at Jared, expecting him to say something to keep her with him. However, he shakes his head, seemingly agreeing with her father's plan.
"Mr. Mitchell is right, Annie. I have endangered you for way too long and it is better if you stay with him for the time being."
Annie gasps.
"B-but what about you?!"- She says- "You still need help in defeating the remaining enemies!"
Jared shakes his head.
"I understand that you are worried about my safety, but you already know that I can take care of myself. Iam not a little child, for Goodness' sake! I am a grown-up boy who protects the people around him!"
He turns to Arlen.
"Mr. Mitchell, I want you to take Annie to Fort Monastery and take care of her. I promise to visit the fort from time to time."
Arlen nods.
"That's a good idea!"
"In fact... "- He adds- "Maybe it is better if you come with us. Annie may not bear your absence too lightly... "
Jared shakes his head.
"I would love to come with you. I really do! However, I still have people to protect. Everyone is still relying on me and I must destroy those enemies to keep them safe."
Arlen nods.
"Understood, Jared. I can see that you have an amazing sense of duty towards the innocents and you wish to protect them at all costs. And you don't want anyone to distract you."
He takes Annie's left hand in his.
"So, we will leave you alone."- He says- "But please tell us when Dorikas and Rentar-Ihrno are dead. News travel very slowly in Western Avernum, especially after the destruction of Fort Draco."
Jared nods.
"I will visit Fort Monastry as soon as this madness is over, to tell you about the deaths of our enemies. Rest assured of that."
Arlen nods again.
"We're counting on you, Jared. Don't let us down."- He says.
Jared salutes him.
"Yes, sir. I will do my best to cleanse this world of evil, no matter what it takes me to do so."
Arlen smiles and looks at his daughter.
"Annie, we're going to go to Fort Monastery now. Say goodbye to Jared."
However, she does not. Instead, she simply watches him without saying anything.
Arlen sighs.
"Anyway, it is time for us to go."- He says- "Farewell, brave hero. And good luck. We hope that you make it out alive!"
Jared nods and waves goodbye to them as they leave the area.
His father approaches him and sighs.
"I guess that we're alone again."- He says- "Our friends have left us behind, our enemies are everywhere and there's very little time left to act."
Jared shakes his head.
"Do not lose hope yet, Dad!"- He says to him- "We still haven't lost the war. There is still a lot more to achieve and a lot more enemies to defeat. We must not give up, not when the whole world is depending on us."
Aleks nods.
"You're right, son."- He says- "Dorikas is a dangerous enemy and he must be defeated at all costs, if we really want both Avernum and the Surface to be safe again."
Jared's eyes light up. 
"Well, what are we waiting for?"- He says- "Let us save this world by defeating the two greatest evils!"
Having settled their conversation once and for all, the two of them walk forward, intending to get on with their sacred mission.
On the way to the portal, however, they are intercepted by Lethal who seems to be very sad.
"Dad? What's wrong?"- Aleks asks him- "And where is Marinette?"
Lethal shakes his head.
"That's what I wanted to talk about with both of you, son."- He says- "Mari... was hurt by one of those loyalist freaks. She is currently in a critical condition. The doctors fear that she might die, if we don't keep her alive for a certain amount of time."
"However, now that John and Annie are gone, we are the only ones who can help her out."
Aleks gasps.
"No! Not my little girl!"- He yells and runs off to the nearby hospital to see her.
Jared and his grandfather stare at each other and shake their heads.
"This world will never be the same, grandpa."- Jared says.
Lethal shakes his head and smiles.
"No, Jared. This world may not be the same as before right now. However, this is only the case because of all the enemies that we have to face. This world will turn back to normal once the hostile elements are gone and we all know it well."
He points at the hospital and smiles again.
"So, what are you waiting for? Let's help your sister out. And, once we are done, let's help the whole world."
Jared nods and heads to the hospital with his grandfather, intending to save his sister at all costs.
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And so, one of the problems that is afflicting the world and its residents is gone at last, all thanks to our brave hero Jared Kaos and his loyal companions. Lysstak the Beast will no longer torment the innocent souls of the world with his corrupted philosophies.
However, everything is going to become harder for the boy as he has to fight his enemies with little to no help- something that will truly test his fighting ablilities, as well as his qualities of being a true hero.
On the contrary to what Lethal said, the world is indeed changing. Its people are becoming more determined and careful, its defenses- more powerful and its enemies- more cunning. Every second is spent in protecting a strategic location from being destroyed and the good people are always alert, unable to get any sleep due to the dangers that lurk outside.
And, even though there are still dangers roaming outside the perimeters of the city of Paris, this does not mean that they cannot be defeated. All it will take is for someone determined, smart and brave to get past the disorganized defenses of the Darkside Loyalists and Rentar-Ihrno's Vahnatai (Who are still in shock after the successful assassination of Lysstak the Beast) and kill their revered leaders, leaving them even more desperate and vulnerable to a counterattack.
Although the heroes may be separated for now, they are never truly apart. They will continue fighting to ensure the safety of the world and cleanse the evil that inhabits it, even if it is from a distance. And one day, when this war is over, they can finally reunite and live their lives normally.
Until then, all of them must fight the countless enemies, in attempt to keep the innocents safe from them.
As for our hero, Jared Kaos, he still has a long way to go. He has to prepare and train hard in order to have a chance against his enemies. Because, even though the enemy armies are disorganized, this does not mean that their leaders are not prepared to be attacked by him.
But this is of no concern to Jared. Because, as long as there are still strength and determination to fight back against the Darkness within the deepest confines of his body, he will gladly use every single bit of them to achieve the goal that everyone wishes to be dealt with- defeating both enemy armies and killing their leaders.
So, now is not the time to stand back and mourn the ones who have been lost. Now is the time to fight back against the enemy and show them that there is nothing that the heroes of the world cannot achieve when they fight together. When they stand united and determined.
Onward!