Miracula Luxia C4, P3- "Thinking About You"

"Thinking About You" is the third Part of "Miracula Luxia" 's Chapter 4- "Estavius". It was released on 03.10.2019.
== Plot ==
Meanwhile, Annie stays in Formello and hopes that her beloved friend will return soon- safe and sound.
== Story ==
While Jared and his father walk along the road to the Tower Colony, Annie sits at the porch of the Inn, lost in thought.
Akari approaches her.
"What's wrong?"
No response.
She lightly tapped her on the shoulder.
Annie turned around.
"What is it?"- She asked.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Don't ya worry about it."
Akari smelled her. 
"Wait. That smell... have you been drinking recently?"
Annie sighed.
"Even since Jared left to fight those guys, I fell into a depression. Drinking kind of eases my tedium and helps me forget that he ain't here anymore. At least for now."
"You really shouldn't, Annie. It's bad for your health. Besides, what would your grandpa think if he even learned about this?"- Akari scolded her friend.
Annie shrugged.
"I'm sure he'll be fine with it. Now leave me to my thoughts."
Akari reluctantly left her friend standing on the porch, dreaming about seeing Jared again.
She returned in the Inn and told Annie's grandfather that she was alright, but lied about her drinking.
"It is so sad. After Jared left, she became a totally different person- almost ignorant to her surroundings. Easier to anger. Trying to stray away from us."
"But... I understand. Leave her alone. Maybe she'll get better soon."
Not likely. Not until she hears that Jared has returned.
Meanwhile, Annie stands on the porch and looks at the dark sky.
She sees clouds.
She imagines a familiar person.
She imagines Jared being one of those clouds.
"Oh Jared. If only I could come with you. I will keep you safe."
"Unlike those cowards."
She glanced at the happy people in the Inn.
"Jared" smiled:
"Maybe you can! But I am far away now..."
Annie interrupted him:
"No matter. I will find you, at all costs."
The cloud shaped like Jared smiled and faded away.
Annie wondered. Where could she find him?
She went into the Inn and motioned for her grandpa to come outside with her.
He did so and she whispered to him:
"Grandpa, I need to go find Jared. I'm far too worried about him."
"But... it's too dangerous. And I'm sure that Jared's father is there to protect him. He doesn't need your help."
Annie began to tear up. Tears were streaming from her eyes.
"She really wants to help him. I cannot refuse. Here's hoping that she returns safe and sound... "
"Alright. But promise me you will come back as soon as you can. Otherwise, I will be too worried to let you go."
Annie winked.
"No worries, dear grandpa! I will return. As soon as I find Jared and his father and bring them back home safe and sound."
Miles smiled. He had never seen such dedication and devotion for someone to protect another person who wasn't even part of their family.
"Then prepare well. Tomorrow morning, you will go. You will be alone, so make sure you're well-protected."
Annie nodded, still excited about her chance to see Jared again.
In the morning, she picked up her most important possessions- A leather jerkin, a steel dagger, a pair of sturdy traveling boots, a shirt, leather pants and a pair of scale gloves.
She approached the gate. The guards were about to let her through, but stopped when the Mayor appeared behind her.
"When were you going to tell me?"- He said.
"Huh?"- Annie looked at him, wondering what he was talking about.
"You're going to Jared. I already told you, he is safe! His father is with him! Plus, he knows how to fight well, so I am sure that he will manage to fend off the monsters."
"He doesn't need you."
Something in the words of the Mayor greatly angered Annie.
"You ignorant fool! Don't you see that Jared's full potential hasn't been unlocked yet? And what if his father is with him? Both of them can die to monsters! Or bandits! Or worse!"- She screamed at him.
"I am Jared's friend and I need to ensure his safety!"
"We're all his friends, Annie!"- Akari tried to intervene- "He told us to stay away from his quest- and we will." "Please reconsider. You will only hurt us if you go. And I'm sure that Jared will just turn you away- he wants to keep you safe. Especially after what happened to you recently."
"Reconsider?!"- Annie glared at her, her eyes describing hate and her soul- anger.
"I won't reconsider! And you know your place, sweetie. Because... I'm. Not Going. To. Come. Back!"
The guards tried to hold her back, but the Mayor stopped them.
He sighed.
"I guess there's no convincing you to stay. At least let me assign you two of my guards. They will protect you."
Annie smirked.
"I'll be fine, Mayor. I'm a mighty fighter."
"You keep them. You will need them if the rogues attack you again."
That's right! The rogues were going to attack Formello for sure, since it was a primary station for passage to Northeastern Avernum.
The Mayor sighed, again.
"Well, okay. It's your decision, after all. You're 16 years old- a respectable age for a young woman."
"Isn't that right, Mr. Mitchell?"- He looked at Annie's grandpa.
He nodded.
Annie started to leave, the guards letting her pass.
However, Akari tried to stop her again, grabbing her arm.
"Wait!"
"What if the rogues try to hunt you? You'll be all alone and you won't be able to fight off all of them!"
"Grrr... don't worry. I can handle this. It is for Jared, after all. I must survive!"- She said while pulling her arm off Akari's grip, leaving her angry and confused.
Everyone in Formello watched Annie leave.
"Alright, everyone! Get back to work! Show is over!"- The Mayor shouted, trying to cool off the heated situation.
The townspeople returned to their work.
Meanwhile, Annie was hurrying along the road to Silvar.
She approached the city, but decided not to go in it.
"He must have been here. But... it's been one week since he left. So he probably left for another settlement."- She thought to herself.
She looked at the road.
From what she learned while talking to the Mayor last week, this was the road to the Tower of Magi.
"This is where he must be heading! The Tower of Magi!"- She said to herself, again.
She started heading towards the Tower, but was stopped by one of the scouts of Silvar and brought to the city.
She was brought into the City Hall.
The Mayor saw her.
"Why are you wandering around the roads alone, sweetie?"- He asked her.
"Let me go! I'm trying to find my friend, Jared!"- She responded, trying to leave.
"But Jared isn't here anymore! He left a few hours ago!"- The Mayor exclaimed.
"But, you must stay here. You'll be safe until he comes bac-- "
"No!"- She screamed and stormed off.
The guards tried to go after her, but were stopped by the Mayor.
"Are you sure, Sir?"- One of the guards asked- "She seems like a person who can easily invite trouble."
"Leave her. She looks like she can handle the monsters outside."
"And she has such an explosive personality. Not typical for a woman, especially a girl. So she's probably strong as well."- He said to himself.
Annie proceeded to wak along the road after she stormed off.
Soon, she was going to see her beloved friend and help him complete his quest.
This thought filled her mind with happiness and calm.
She also thought about her mom, dad and bigger brother.
"Mom is dead. Dad is probably dead. But Onii-Chan... Maybe he's in Avernum, too!"- She thought to herself.
"Don't worry, Onii-Chan! Sit tight and wait. Your little sister will find you and bring you to Formello!"
With the goal to bring back both her beloved friend Jared and her dear big brother, she held her head high up, ready to face any challenge in order to save them.
== Trivia ==
* This is the first (And currently only) Part which doesn't include Jared as a recurring character.
* "Onii-Chan" (Presumably お兄ちゃん) means "Big Brother" in Japanese.
* The title of C4, P3 was originally supposed to be "Desire for What Is Lost", but the idea was scrapped in favor of a nicer and more fitting title- "Thinking About You".