Miracula Luxia C6, P12- "In The End"

"In The End" is the twelveth and final Part of "Miracla Luxia" 's Chapter 6- "The Great War". It was released on 26.12.2019.
== Plot ==
It is time for Jared, Aleks, John and Annie to strike back at the Barghan thugs!
A well-planned strategy is required in this situation and the soldiers of Fort Emerald are ready to help with that.
Just when they thought that they would win the war against the thugs, a tragedy befell Jared and left Aleks desperate.
(Of course, it won't be spoiled here. You will have to read the Part to learn of Jared's fate)
Will Jared and his allies survive the war?
== Story ==
Jared and his allies entered the captain's office and were greeted by him.
He watched as they sat down on the nearby available chairs and looked at Jared.
"Thank you for coming to me, Jared."- He began- "It's very unfortunate for all of us to fight the people of Bargha, but it seems like we will have to."
"So, what's the plan?"- Jared asked him.
The captain looked at the door and sighed.
"The Barghans have seized an old fort nearby and use it as their base of operations, as told by our scouts. Our best bet is to attack it, destroy its gates and make them pay for attacking us. But I told my warriors that I would ask for your approval first, since you have fought in one war already and have lost someone dear to you."
Jared looked down. He knew what and who the captain was talking about- The war against the Order of the Black Fist and his uncle- Jason whom he lost recently to the hostiles.
He clenched his fist and landed it on his leg.
He looked up.
"So, what do you say, Jared? Do you approve of our plan? Or should we think of something else?"
Jared thought about it and remembered how the Barghans captured John and Annie without any reason whatsoever.
Now the boy was angry.
"No one can take my friends hostage like that!"- He said to himself- "Those fiends must pay for their crimes!"
Jared nodded and looked ahead.
"You have my approval. I know, it may be a hard mission, but I know that we can succeed. It's for the sake of Avernum, after all! If we do not succeed- our beloved lands will be in great trouble."
The captain smiled.
"Your words are always appreciated, especially by us- the normal soldiers. We trust people like yourself to help us with such major decisions, When I learned about how you defeated the Order of the Black Fist, I knew that you would become someone that we could fully trust."
"And now, my beliefs have been confirmed. Thank you, Jared Kaos, for making us believe once again."
He stood up from his chair, walked outside and approached the soldiers (who were listening to their conversation).
"Soldiers! It is time for us to finally defeat those Barghan fools and show them that we're stronger than they think. Are you with me?!"
The soldiers cheered and raised their fists up in the air.
The captain smiled.
"Then let's go. Heaven is on our side. We will win this battle, together. We will fight to the last breath and defeat as many of them as possible. To arms, my brothers!"
The soldiers cheered once again and left the fort to west, leaving a few brave guards and mages to guard the fort while they are gone.
The captain looked at Jared.
"Alright Jared, you know what to do. Me and my soldiers are at your service. We will trust you and your allies to make the tough calls, so make them right, okay?"
Jared nodded.
"Of course. I will not make any promises, but I will do my best to make sure at least most of you folks survive."
"Then it's set. Let's go!"- The captain exclaimed and they left the safe confines of the fort to fight the enemy outside.
They joined the soldiers. Jared, Aleks, Jason and Annie went up ahead while the soldiers followed them entusiastically.
Soon, all of them were near the gates of the Barghans's seized fort.
Jared approached the gates.
"Barghans! We come with peace! Come out and raise your hands in the air. We promise that we will not hurt you!"
However, his call went unanswered as several Barghan archers aimed their bows at him.
They prepared to shoot him down. Until Jared's father realized that they were going to shoot at him.
"Jared, arrows!"- He warned his son and pulled him out of the way, taking an arrow in the shoulder in the process.
Fortunately, the arrow did not hurt him, thanks to his armor which bounced away from it after hitting it.
The friendly soldiers saw this as a sign for war and charged towards the gates, intending to take them down and attack the soldiers inside.
The attempt proved to be successful as one of the stronger soldiers managed to use his force to bend over one of the bars- enough for most of the soldiers to get in through there.
Jared, John and Annie managed to destroy the bars of the second gate, allowing full access through there.
"This is what you get for not accepting our offers of peace, killing innocent people and capturing my friends! Prepare to fall apart!"- Jared yelled and entered the fort, followed by most of the soldiers, John, Annie and his father.
In there, the situation wasn't much better as some of the friendly soldiers were killed by the archers on the walls.
Fortunately, Jared managed to shoot the two archers in the head, making the situation much more bearable.
The hostile soldiers charged in, but were easily repulsed by Fort Emerald's captain and his soldiers working together, managing to slay a few of them in the process.
Seeing that the situation is pretty dire, some of the Barghan thugs used potions which they grabbed from their pockets.
"They're using strength potions! Be careful!"- Jared warned everyone as the hostiles approached them.
The bandits did indeed use strength potions, because their blows took out some of the friendly soldiers much easier.
Jared panicked his small group began to fall apart.
He looked at the captain.
"What do we do now, Jared?"- The captain wondered, unsure what to do.
Jared looked at the gate behind him.
He knew that he had to escape.
However, he also knew that by doing so, it would be a very cowardly move. Leaving his allies in the open like that? Unthinkable!
He looked at the bandits.
"Now is not a time to surrender, Captain. It's time to be heroes. Let's fight back!"
"But Jared! Now is not a time to be heroes! We must flee, for God's sake!"- John yelled.
But Jared did not listen to him.
"No, John. We've gone too far to sink into the mud and lose our pride. We've lost too many loved ones. No, I will fight them until my last breath. And I will not stop."
Jared drew his sword and charged at a nearby hostile. John tried to stop him as his father and Annie fled back, but failed to do so.
Annie looked at her friend.
"Jared, don't be stupid! Come back!"- She yelled, but her warning went unanswered as Jared was surrounded by 10 bandits.
However, he managed to fight all of them at once and kill them with his spells and his trusty bow and sword.
A large man approached him.
"Playtime's over, worm!"- He said and charged at him.
Jared managed to parry his attack and land and swing his sword at him.
He managed to wound him, but it was like he didn't feel any pain.
However, he managed to wince a little, sending him back.
He looked at his fresh wound.
"Impressive. You managed to wound me. That is... good. But I won't let you do more than that."- He said and attacked Jared once again.
Jared fought valiantly against the man, but in the end he managed to stab him in the shoulder.
Without solid armor like his father's, Jared's shoulder was pierced by the blow. He fell to his knees and blood started coming out of the wound.
Aleks looked back.
"No! Jared!"- He yelled, grabbed his sword and charged at the huge man with the intent of saving his son.
John tried to stop him.
"Mr. Kaos, don't! It's... it's too late for him!"
"No, John!"- He yelled- "Everyone deserves to live, especially people who have saved us so many times. And I won't let my son die! Never!!!"
John looked at him and admired his speed.
"He's amazing, isn't he?"- Annie grinned.
"What a great father. If only my father cared so much about me and fought so well, we could have been a great team. Like them."- John said and looked ahead as Aleks continued running towards the huge man.
The man bended down and smiled.
"Yes, this is exactly as I suspected it to be. My foes dying. Their hopes fading. Just like that."
"You don't have much life left, Jared. You have done much, but you won't be able to do more than that."
"Any last words, worm?"
Jared looked at him with pure hatred.
"If... if it isn't me who will slay you, Farrar, it will be one of my allies. They will crush you, eventually. Remember that."
Farrar laughed.
"Ha! Or so you think. You hope, and you hope, and you hope even more. And what does hope give you in the end? Nothing! You have to achieve everything with your own two hands to succeed."
"But I shouldn't stray away from the battle with pointless topics. It's time for you to kick the bell!"- He exclaimed and prepared to plunge his sword into Jared's chest.
It looked like he was going to succeed in killing Jared. John, Annie, the captain and the surviving watched helplessly as he was about to do so.
Everything was going to end here. Hope was going to fade away. The people in Avernum were going to be much more desperate.
Jared looked at the necklace his aunt gave him a few years ago and reminded himself of how his uncle- Jason used to joke that it had actual magical powers.
"I'm sorry, Uncle. I let you down."- He said to himself- "I thought that I could fight enemies without your help. Me and my foolish heart. Now look at what's about to happen! I'm... I'm not going to be a part of this world anymore."
"Well, at least I will be with you up there. I'm coming, Uncle. Wait for me."- He said and closed his eyes, ready to take his final blow.
"JARED!"- Everyone (Except for Aleks who was still running towards Farrar) yelled, seeing that their friend was about to die.
"Die, worm!"- Farrar yelled and plunged his blade into his chest.
However, a strange force stopped his blow, sending him to the ground.
Jared opened his eyes once again.
"I'm... I'm not dead?"- He muttered and looked down.
He saw his necklace shining and felt a strange presence coming from nearby.
Suddenly, a spirit came out of the necklace and punched Farrar in the face.
"You think that I would let my Nephew die, you worthless son of a gun?!"- The spirit yelled in an otherworldly voice- "Fat chance! Fat chance!"
Aleks looked at the spirit and recognized his dead brother- Jason.
"Jason? You... "- Aleks was unable to say the words.
Jason smiled.
"It's okay, Brother. I am here just as an embodiment of hope and joy, a simple spirit who is here to protect his loved ones."- He responded.
"I may be dead, but that doesn't mean that I will stop existing! Not until my loved ones are still alive!"
Aleks smiled.
"I'm glad that you're back, Brother. And thanks for the help. Now let me finish this."
Aleks dropped his sword and started punching Farrar in the face.
Farrar tried to fight back, but was unable to do so due to Aleks's incredible rage and strength which left his face more and more wounded with every single punch.
Jason looked at his nephew.
"Now there is one last thing that remains."- He said.
"And that is?"- Jared wondered.
"Surviving, of course! Don't die on me, Nephew. I want you to live and become a great hero, not die- killed by this pathetic worm of a person. Just don't!"
Having said that, Jason's spirit entered the necklace once again.
Jared held it in his hand. It seems like the necklace holds a fragment of his spirit- the overprotective part, obviously.
And it seems like, should he survive, his uncle's spirit will aid him in his travels.
Jared smiled as his father continued to punch and kick Farrar in the face until he was stopped by John.
"Stop! We need him!"- He yelled.
"Let me at him!"- Aleks yelled back- "I will kill him! I will make him unrecognizable! I will tear him apart!"
"Mr. Kaos, there's no need for that. Let's just take him as our prisoner."- Annie suggested.
Jared tried to stand up, but failed.
"Dad, they're right. Leave him be."
Aleks looked at him. He was amazed by his son's words.
Fortunately, he decided to leave Farrar alive.
He was barely moving, his face completely brutalized by all of the blows, leaving him almost unable to speak.
Aleks, John and Annie approached Jared.
"Take him into one of the most secure... prisons."- He said weakly- "He won't be able to hurt you... in his current... state. Even... if he wanted to."
John and Annie nodded and took Farrad.
"Come on, sweetheart."- Annie said- "You're going to be imprisoned for quite a while. Especially for what you almost did."
"And, for almost killing my friend..."- John added and kicked him in the groin.
Farrar screamed in pain, blood coming out of his mouth.
"Yes, that's right!"- Annie exclaimed- "Scream! Because this is the only thing you will be able to do after what happened today."
John and Annie went to the captain and he helped them carry their new prisoner away.
The soldiers left the now-deserted area. The captain looked at Jared and his father one last time and walked away.
"Son, please, don't die on me! Please!"- Aleks said, tears in his eyes.
Jared smiled.
"I already did my part, Dad, Besides, no one needs my help anymore. And no one will truly miss me."
Aleks looked down in disbelief.
"No, you're wrong!"- He screamed.
"I would."
Jared sighed.
"Of course... you would. It's not you... if you don't say that."
Aleks smiled and hugged his son.
"I won't lose you. Like I lost your uncle. I won't lose anyone else! I promise you that. We will save you and you will be able to fight again."
Jared looked at his father and sighed.
"Don't you... see that, Dad? It's over for me. You must... continue fighting... without me."
Aleks looked at his son's wound. It was really severe. Jared's blood was draining fast and there was little the priests in Avernum could do for him.
"I know... that the world without me won't be the same, Dad. But don't lose hope. I know... that you can do it. You... and everyone else. I know that you will survive!"- Jared said, possibly his last words.
Having done that, he smiled and closed his eyes.
"NO! SON!"- Aleks screamed in anguish as he held his dying son in his arms.
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However, Jared's father did not stop believing that he could save his son from death. With Fort Emerald's captain's suggestion- to take him to the Castle, he, John and Annie carried him there.
There, the priests checked his condition and determined his fate.
"He's still alive!"- One of the priests exclaimed- "But... he seems to be in a coma from all the damage that he took in that battle."
"We need to keep him in the Castle until he recovers, which hopefully will be soon."- Another priest said.
"As you say. I will trust your judgement."- Aleks responded and looked at his son as he was carried away to be healed and patched up.
Three days passed and Jared did not wake up.
"There is only one other way to save him."- One of the priests said grimly- "We must send him to one of the restoration halls in the Tower Colony, to see if he can survive like that. If he wakes up, that will be a blessing from God! But, if he dies... "
He shaked his head.
"No. We mustn't think about that. We must save this poor young man, after all that he has done for us."
"Yes, you're right."- Another priest said as she looked at the child.
"So, what do you say, Mr. Kaos? Shall we send him to the restoration halls?"
Aleks nodded.
"Yes, please! Anything to save my son!"
Some of the priests left the Castle along with Aleks, John, Annie and King Starrus The Second (Who came with them along with his soldiers to help the process.
After a few days, the party reached the Tower Colony and took the unresponsive Jared into the restoration halls.
As the priests were doing so, X looked at him.
"What a brave boy."- He said- "He reminds of when I was young. So entusiastic. So... motivating. We mustn't let him die, my friends."
Aleks nodded, ready to do anything to save his son.
The priests placed Jared in a large pod that was in the middle of the room.
"That pod has special magic which keeps the person within it alive, possibly for several months and even years."- X noted- "The pod shall keep the boy safe for the time being. When the time for him to wake up comes, an alarm will sound in the halls. Make sure you hear it, got it?"
Everyone nodded and left the area, leaving Jared to rest.
Everyone, except for Aleks who stayed in the room watching his son rest in the pod.
"Aren't you going to come?"- X said.
"No."- Aleks said stoically while looking at his son's pod- "He is my everything and I will be here when he wakes up. I won't miss out the moment."
"But what if he never wakes up?"- The old man said grimly.
Aleks looked at him angrily.
"Shut up, old-timer! My son will survive, you hear me? He will!"
X sighed.
"Whatever you say. I won't complain. The boy seems to be recovering and he may actually survive. Stay here to see when he does."
Having said that, he left the room, leaving Aleks with his son.
Aleks looked at his son's pod and sighed.
"Hey Son. I know that you probably can't hear me, but I just wanted you to know that I'm here. I managed to save you from that wreckage and now you're safe in the Tower Colony among friends and family."
"I did it, Son. I saved you. I didn't know I could, but I did."
"Just like I saved you from dangerous animals before. Remember how the neighbor's dog almost bit you when you were little? Yes, I remember that too. I barely saved you from it, but it didn't go without some pain."
"But I don't mind that. As long as you are safe and sound. Because that's what matters the most to me."
"And no. What you said earlier- that your life doesn't matter to anyone and that no one will miss you is absolutely wrong. In fact, it's the opposite."
"But not for me. Barely anyone knows me and won't care if I'm gone. Your life matters much more than mine."
"You're a new hope. Someone who can change the world for good and bring joy and hope to everyone. And keep them safe. As for me? I am just a small fraction of the huge puzzle that we call "The World". Nobody will miss me."
"I know, I know. Your Mother will be very angered and sad when she hears what I say, but it doesn't matter. She can't stop me from risking my life for you. To help you survive"
"And that's what will happen- you will survive and continue helping those people. Okay? And if I don't make it until the end of this run- do it for me as well as your Uncle, Jason."
"I know that you can do it, Jared. You are the hope. You are the stars. Make the dreams come true. Make me proud."
Having said that, he sat on the ground, waiting for his son to finally wake up.
== Trivia ==
* "In The End" is the final Part released in the 2010s, as well as the final Part of Chapter 6- "The Great War".
* This Part was released on 26.12.2019- the second day of Christmas.
* It is implied that Jared will survive the ordeal and wake up from his coma in the next Chapter. However, this still has to be seen when its first Part is released.
* This Part is perhaps one of the most meaningful in the whole "Miracula Luxia".
* Aleks's monologue implies that he's ready to do whatever he can to keep Jared alive and well- something that not many fathers would do for their children in the real world.
* Jared's status is left "Alive", despite the fact that he's in a coma, further indicating that he will survive (As mentioned above).
* Farrar is introduced as one of the biggest antagonists in "Miracula Luxia", trying to conquer the Abyss and then Avernum and to kill everyone who stands in the way of his dream. He also almost kills Jared which makes him the only major antagonist who almost succeeds killing a protagonist/main character (Not counting Jason who was actually killed by the Crones)