Miracula Luxia C7, P5- "Irreplaceable"

"Irreplaceable" is the fifth Part of "Miracula Luxia" 's seventh Chapter- "A New Beginning". It was released on 09.02.2020.
== Plot ==
While traveling towards the Castle, Jared, Aleks, John and Annie are attacked by a small band of Farrar's scouts who manage to slightly wound Aleks.
Jared starts to doubt his own abilities as a leader and thinks about continuing the adventure by himself, not wanting to risk the lives of his allies on this dangerous quest.
== Story ==
The heroes were very close to the Castle- the place where they could get training and fight against Farrar's army.
"Jared."- Annie tried to get Jared's attention.
"Yes?"
"What will you and your father do after this madness is over?"
Jared was surprised by the question and tried to answer it as well as he could.
"Well, we... we are not sure yet. But the first thing we will do is definitely to return to our home."
"Paris."- Aleks added- "A truly beautiful place. It's a shame that it has been so troubled lately."
"Maybe it's different now, at this time?"- Jared wondered.
"Let's hope so."
"But now, we have a quest. We have to defeat Farrar's lackeys and make Avernum safe again. Let's go."
Jared nodded and proceeded walking forward, not noticing a group of bandits moving behind them.
One of the bandits managed to grab Aleks, but he whistled to his son before the man muted him with his hand.
As Jared looked back to see the bandits, two more bandits grabbed John and Annie. One last bandit tried to grab Jared, but was quickly stabbed in the neck by him.
A big bandit tried to grab Jared, making him struggle to fight him. However, after a minute of fighting, Jared managed to kick him in the stomach and stab him in the head.
One of the bandits who was holding Jared's father hostage grinned at him.
"Well, well, well."- He said- "It looks like the little hero doesn't want to give up. What a shame. And we were thinking about sparing you."
The other bandits laughed at this.
"Well then. A job is a job. We're gonna take you hostage as well. You're more valuable to our boss alive than dead."
Just as two bandits approached him, Jared noticed something in his pocket.
He remembered a moment when he had woken up for a moment from his coma and noticed how his father slipped a weapon in his pocket, saying "It's for the best, son. You'll need it later.".
Aleks was right. Jared indeed needs the weapon now.
Once the bandits were at grabbing range, they tried to do so, but Jared surprised them by pulling out the weapon from his pocket.
"A handgun!"- The first bandit yelled.
But, before he could do anything else, Jared shot him in the head with a quick motion.
He did the same to the other bandit.
The other bandits looked down.
"Well then. If you don't wanna give up, we have to make you suffer."- The bandit who was holding Jared's father hostage muttered and tried to stab Aleks.
However, the man managed to evade the stab, only suffering a minor wound in the shoulder.
An angered Jared approached the bandit and grabbed him by the neck. His eyes were filled with rage.
"Pal, no. Don't do this!"- The bandit pleaded the young hero not to kill him- "I didn't kill your father. Don't ya have any mercy for a man... "
With a single shot in the side of the head, Jared executed him without a word.
The other bandits looked at Jared, rethinking their choices of whether to fight or run away.
Jared looked at one of them and pointed his handgun at his head.
"Tell me who is your leader and I might spare you."- He said stoically.
The bandit began to sweat. He realized that he had a family to feed and decided to abandon his post in order to keep them safe.
"I'll tell you. Just don't hurt us. Please."- The bandit said.
"Me and my comrades joined those vagabonds just to have enough money to feed our families. Nothing more than that. We weren't... bloodthirsty like the guys you killed."
Jared looked at him coldly.
"So... you want to be deserters from your leader's army?"
The bandits nodded.
"Fair enough. If you tell me about him or her and their location, I will let you leave."
The bandits sighed in relief.
The bandit explained to Jared that their leader is "Lord" Farrar- the cruel leader of the city of Bargha who managed to take over the city and drive the Spire militia away. Having done that, he established a huge encampment there and started sending attackers towards any nearby cities, managing to destroy Spire and send many of its residents back into the main parts of Avernum as refugees looking for homes to stay in.
"If you see some of those poor souls, please help them out by giving them a coin or comforting them that everything will get better."- The man said.
"Or both, if possible."- He added.
Jared nodded.
"In fact, since we're not in Farrar's army anymore... "- The man said and threw his hood to the ground. The other bandits did the same.
Jared saw that they were just regular, bedraggled and tired men with burdens in their hearts.
"We told you about Farrar. Now, can you please let us go? We need to go back to our families."
Before they could go away, Jare stopped them.
"Wait."- He said- "There is one last thing I wanted to offer you."
The former bandits looked at him.
"We're listening."
"You see, we need help here in Avernum. To fight Farrar's army, we need as many brave warriors as possible. And I see it in your eyes, that you are indeed what I am talking about. So, I offer you this opportunity. Fight for the army of Avernum and you will be safe and well-fed."
The bandits considered refusing, but the guilt in their hearts made them accept the offer.
"But... what about our families?"- The man from earlier asked Jared.
The child thought about this. Finally, he came to a conclusion.
"You can bring your families here. They will be safe. Bring them to a safe location and visit them when you can."
"Any safe towns here?"
Jared wondered about this as well.
"Well, there is the city of Almaria. They are good people and accept deserters from the enemy's army. You will be safe there."
The people thanked Jared for helping them and decided to bring their families to Avernum. They left the area to do so.
Meanwhile, Annie looked at Jared.
"Jared."- She said- "Are you sure that it's a good idea to bring a bunch of deserters into the lands of Avernum? I think we might be making a mistake here."
Jared shaked his head.
"Listen, Annie. It's for the best. The army of Avernum needs the help of every soldier they can get- a former bandit or not. That is how it stays strong."
Annie nodded and joined Aleks and John in walking towards the Castle.
However, Jared was not coming.
Annie looked back and saw him standing on the road, motionless. She approached him.
"What's wrong?"- She asked him.
No response.
"Jared, you're worrying me! Is something wrong."- She said.
Jared shaked his head.
"I'm not fit for a leader, Annie."- He said.
Annie gasped.
"What... do you mean you're not... ?"- She stuttered.
Jared looked down.
"I'm not even able to protect you from a small group of bandits, let alone a huge army of those vagabonds. What will happen if you're under my command? You will die, that is what will happen."
"Anyone can be a better leader than me. Maybe John. Definitely my dad. Anyone."
Annie shaked her head and embraced Jared.
"No, Jared. You're special to us. We don't want to let go of you, especially as a leader. You're a valuable asset to our team."
"In other words, you're irreplaceable."
Jared smiled.
"I still think that I'm not that much of a leader, though."- He said.
Annie looked at him, this time much more seriously.
"Look, Jared."- She said- "I know that you're worried. But the world needs you. Avernum needs you. We need you."
"This is not a time to be afraid. We must be heroes. We must help those people fight against Farrar's army. Understood?"
Jared nodded.
"I know. I was... just having doubts. But now I think that it is best for me to continue doing what I was doing until now."
"Alright, Annie. You have convinced me. Let's go to the Castle together."
Annie smiled and led Jared to his father and John, who were waiting for them a little bit further ahead.
"Did you have some doubts?"- Jared's father wondered.
Jared nodded.
"A few, but I feel better now. I think that I will be able to continue with our quest."
"Then let's go."- Aleks said and the four of them continued their journey.
And so, Jared became a brave leader once again, after doubting himself for a while. Convinced by his ever-faithful companion, Annie that he still has someone to fight for, Jared decides that Farrar's army is too much of a threat. Not just for Avernum, but for his family as well. He knows that if he fails this quest, he and his father will never be able to return to Paris.
It is up to Jared whether to lead his allies towards victory or defeat.