MLTNL P6- "Caring"

"Caring" is the sixth Part of "Miracula Luxia: The Northern Lights". It was released on 13.03.2020.
== Plot ==
Having completed five of the Challenges so far, Jared continues towards the sixth Challenge with newfound hope and dedication.
The sixth (and penultimate) Challenge will test Jared's ability to feel remorse and help the people around him, big and small, rich and poor- a very important trait that every hero must have within them.
== Story ==
With a flash of light, the spirit teleports Jared in another room for his next challenge.
The spirit stares at him without talking for a few seconds, then nods.
"Jared."- He begins- "I've always wondered about something, ever since you came into our temple to be tested."
"Ask away, spirit."- Jared says without fear.
The spirit doesn't say anything for another few seconds. Then he opens his mouth to speak.
"My question is: How caring are you for the ones who are not in your family?"
Jared raises his eyebrow.
"Well, there is one obvious answer to this question and it is that I care for every person around the world, whether they're family members or not."
The spirit nods.
"But that is for the good people around the world, not the bad ones. Am I right?"
Jared nods.
"But what if a person, who is evil needs help. Will you help them out? Or will you leave them to suffer?"
Jared looks down, lost in thought. This question has clearly managed to make him search for the answer deep in his mind.
Finally, he looks up, ready to respond to the spirit's question.
"Whether the person is evil or not, whether they have harmed someone I love, or just a good person in general."- He says- "No one deserves to suffer. If the person is wounded, I will help them out and send them on their way with a warning, hopefully cleansing all thraces of their evil ways while doing so."
The spirit nods.
"But you didn't do the same for The Crones, did you?"
Jared shakes his head.
"Yes, I could have saved them, but sometimes, my vengeful self takes over and I am unable to control him. I admit it, if my uncle's death didn't happen, I was going to let them live and imprison them instead of killing them."
"It was just... everything happened so fast that I couldn't think about a good decision in time. So I did what my vengeful heart told me to. There... there was no other way."
The spirit smiles.
"Yes. I know how it feels. Sometimes, you must resort to killing the ones who killed your loved one to avenge their death. Their deaths were inevitable indeed."
"Anyway, for your next Challenge I am going to teleport you in a town. You are going to walk around and see how life has changed it, how much everyone suffers after all the attacks from foreign forces."
"I will give you a huge sum of gold. People will ask you for money and, if you feel like being a good person, you may give them a certain amount of your choice. So, you better make every penny count for them. Good luck... Jared."
With that, the spirit emits another flash of light and teleports Jared in a large town.
The boy recognizes the town as Peliad- a town of pure poverty, mentioned by one of his aunts to him a long time ago, back when he was just a child.
"Aunt always told me a lot about this town- about how poor they are, how desperate they have become and how it is always troubled by thieves, bandits and other such miscreants."- Jared says to himself- "Well, it is about time for me to check it out and help as many people as I can."
Jared walks around the town, inspecting every inch of it- its streets, its shops and, most importantly, its houses.
The streets are mostly empty, as expected during a time like this. What few people are left don't even talk to each other. They just look down with empty stares, feeling desperate.
Jared walks around and stares sadly at those people.
"I wish I could do something to help them."- He says to himself.
At this moment, he notices a child sitting on a nearby street, quietly crying and repeating to itself the words "I don't wanna die".
Jared approaches it without hesitation and asks what is wrong.
"My parents died and I was forced to live on the streets because of that."- The child responds- "After the normal life that I had, I am now an orphan who just wants some love. That's all."
Jared smiles and hugs the child.
"You should know that you're never alone."- He says- "Wherever you are, you will always have someone by your side. If not physically, then spiritually. Your parents will never abandon you, even if they are dead. They will always be with you."
"When you are alone, think about me. Think about what I just said. I hope that those words will make you feel at least a little bit better."
"Also... "
He leaves 350 Coins in the little boy's bowl. The boy smiles.
"Thank you, sir. I'll make sure to tell everyone about your kindness."
Having said that, the boy goes to a nearby bakery to buy himself a bread.
"It feels good to be good."- Jared says to himself and notices a girl crying nearby.
The girl sits on the porch of a house, crying while her parents are being carried away by an ambulance.
When Jared comes closer to look at her, he also notices something that the doctors didn't. The girl is very wounded. She has a huge wound on her arm that she is trying to hide from the doctors, unsuccessfully trying to stop the bleeding with her sleeve. Unfortunately, her plan is not working.
Jared approaches the girl and looks at her. Somehow, the girl understands that he is a good person and looks back at him.
"Is everything alright?"- He asks her.
The girl shakes her head.
"No. Mommy and Daddy were killed in a car crash and I don't feel so good."
She shows her wound to him.
"It hurts so much."
Tears begin to form in Jared's eyes and fall down on his knees as he blinks.
"I've had that feeling before, when I lost my mother. Sometimes, you must lose someone important to you. But from such a young age? Her emotional pain is probably much bigger than her physical!"
Jared holds her hand in his and smiles.
"You should remember that you are not alone. I know that I won't be here forever, to motivate you and make you feel loved (and so will be most people around), but you need to remain strong. I know how it feels to lose a loved one- it has happened to me as well, but please, little girl. Don't give up! Fight the desperation with all that you have in you. I know that you can win this fight!"
The girl smiled, though she is still tearing up from what happened.
"Thank... thank you, mister. You're the best."
Jared smiles.
"Don't mention it, little one. Also, you can have this... "
He gives the girl 1000 Coins.
"And this... "
He lifts her arm up and bandages it with a piece of his old clothing (that he keeps in his backpack). Soon, the bleeding stops and the little girl is able to move her arm freely again.
"To help you recover from this horrible accident."
The girl hugs Jared and slowly walks away to rest. That is when Jared notices how badly her leg was twisted from the fall. It must cause her a lot of pain.
Jared stops her and helps her bandage her leg.
"Rest for a while here."- He says as he takes her to a nearby bench- "Soon, you will feel much better. I promise."
The little girl smiles.
"Thank you, mister. If only there are more people like yourself, the world will be much better."
"If only. Yes. If only."- Jared says as he stares at the other people in disbelief.
Those people did not helo this child in need after what happened to her parents. They just ignored her and moved on.
Jared doesn't hate them for that, but he still watches them with silent loathing.
He finds an apple in his backpack and realizes that it is the apple that he tried to eat before going into the temple. The apple is still mostly intact, indicating that Jared was probably not that hungry at that time.
The little girl looks at him, curious about what he is holding in his hand.
Jared looks at the apple, then at the girl.
"I cannot leave her to starve like that. She needs food, and I have it."
He sighs.
"It is better for her to have it, not me. I can live"
Jared opens the palm of the girl's hand and gives her the apple.
The girl smiles and thanks Jared.
"I have a question, mister."- She says- "When you have a daughter, will you treat her like you treated me?"
Jared smiles.
"No matter if the child is in my family or not, whether it is a brother or sister, or just a child in need, I will always treat them well and help them out. I... I just cannot stand the sight of someone suffering. That is all."
The girl smiles again.
"I heard about you, mister. You are that person who brings joy and hope to the good people around the world. I am lucky to have met you."
Jared nods and smiles as well.
"And so am I. Farewell, little one. And don't forget that you will never be alone, no matter where you are."
The girl waves as Jared disappears into the distance.
Suddenly, the boy is teleported back to the spirit. When that happens, his pockets suddenly feel lighter.
"Jared"- The spirit says- "What you did today... has showed me that you are a true hero. Your generosity towards those poor souls- the boy and the girl has really made me think that your soul is indeed as pure as you claim it to be."
"In my eyes, you have proven yourself as a true hero. And soon, you will prove yourself to the whole world. Very soon."
Jared smiles.
"Of course. My heart just cannot ignore their cries for help. It is impossible."
"And that is why you are a true hero, my friend."- The spirit says approvingly- "But there is one last challenge for you to complete. Are you ready?"
Jared nods.
"I am always ready. I won't give up, not when I've gone so far. I will keep fighting until the bitter end."
"Bring me to the last challenge."
The spirit nods and teleports himself and Jared in another room- the room of the last challenge the young hero has to complete to show prove his worthiness to the world.