The Heart of Gaia

"Today's meeting will be a reconfirmation of the plan from two days ago. With our lovely leader, Madame Cordelia Lockewood to supervise." He pointed towards me.

As Bardel lively started the meeting of the conference, Ranked members of the Liberators gathered at the round table with each taking a seat of their own. I was the acting Commander of the South regional section of The Liberators and overseeing the whole plan was my task. So I gathered members whose abilities would prove to be useful in the impending operation. I gazed upon the figures surrounding me and saw different types of Corr correspending to each character. To my left was Harrison Trawly also known as Hackman had contained a very energetic type of Corr within him that matched his aggressive personality. He trained under Bardel and had glorified him ever since thus becoming his right-hand man. On my right side was Yela Scholenne, a promising young talent that had gained the title of Marshal within her two years of joining the Liberators. Several sergeants was in position among the table to keep the plan in order.

"Ever since the late King, Carlisle Cyneweard had died. The whole kingdom was in shambles, His son Arthurio Trembly Cyneweard a member of the Liberators, was the successor of the crown and had promised a very bright future for all of Ystallia. Unfortunately He had been trialed for murder and treason against his own father ultimately meeting his demise, along with his family. The Liberators could not save his family with the exception of his only daughter, due to lack of connections within the court she was taken by the crown. Our goal is to look for his daughter and our intel shows that the child was locked away, hidden within the dark confines of the Black Market slavery. With the preservation of the original inheritor, we can put an end to the tyranny of Milliard Cyneweard. Ever since he sat on the throne, he has been expressing his power through the display of brutality and injustice..."

Arthurio Trembly was a great man, he joined the Liberators a couple of years ago. He has introduced many men that had been loyal to our cause, many of them had aided the organization in more ways that I could remember. It was because of him that The noble family of the Bardels have joined. He longed for a prosperous country of equity, where there would be no cruelty among men and discrimination. A truly admirable man that sought to correct the wrongdoings of his father. With him gone and his brother to take his place, Ystallia will forever be in ruin.

"Bardel Sir! My group is to be positioned by the northern area of the Black Market?"

"Yes! Yela! near the walled center of the city. You'll be causing a distraction by starting an uprising."

With the operation happening tonight we made sure that every man attending was following the plan accordingly.

"Apart from the distraction your team will be observing the guardsmen and the authorities of Everglow; the last thing we want is a Bailiff."

"In case of a Bailiff showing up, they won't be sending ten of them into a single location. There would be at least two of them at Everglow to dispose of threats. So we, the high ranking officers will be facing them. We'll be moving fast and efficient, as long as our cover lasts, we keep moving to further our objective while under the cover of the ongoing chaos. To prevent such an event happening."

"While the rest of the members will be led by the remaining officers which are Myself, Cordelia and Hackman..."

He motioned towards me as I stood up to explain the details.

"The three of us will be leading a search party in each section of the Black Market, since the slaveries are separated. The main goal is to find the princess, secondary of which is destroying active organizations in handling slave trade to free the oppressed. Lastly is to find the culprit behind the grisly acts of inhumane experimentations."

I paused, as my memory of the disfigured victims resurfaced.

"The monstrosities born from these experimentation laboratories had gradually increased through the years, people from around the country have been spotting sights of said horrendous creatures.

With only our people lending a helping hand in disposing them. We've recently found a lead after a long time of collecting information through the help of our men in the area. Apparently large amount of people have gone missing within the Black Market for the past few years. Today is the day we confirm its location and put an end to this macabre."

"Now for a more detailed explanation from our very brightest member."

I motioned towards Pip thalwar a recently recruited member that studies these victims, apparently they still can't determine how the process works but somehow they use high concentrations of Corr and manage to force them within the victims. Due to the unstable amount their bodies try to cope ultimately leading to deformation of physique, the chances of survivability is low as human bodies can only contain a specific amount of Corr within them and more of it could lead to death. Those that survive are not human anymore, they're the monstrosities we find and capture. They retain very little of their humanity, acting as wild beasts, attacking what ever and who ever is in sight. However they don't last long, as they slowly disintegrate enough that it destroys vital organs or limbs, eventually succumbing to the wounds. However Pip Thalwar speculated that the reason behind the experimentations might be simple. He theorized that it was for enchancement, as the creatures had possessed incredible physical capabilties and if they had retained some form of intelligence, judging from the Corr contained in their bodies. The power of the spells they could use would be catastrophic to others as well to themselves.

After the assembly the day slowly passed by as I had done my daily duties, attending to most substantial matters within Bardel Fortress. Finally at sundown, members of the Liberators met at the designated locations only known to the participating groups. In the middle of the Large teleportation circle was myself among the many cloaked knights, I wore my best battle gear to prepare for the impending fight. Soon the mages chanted towards the circle as the area grew bright with light; I hope we find Leo.

We arrived at the Black market unhindered, I signalled my team as we moved towards separate locations of slaveries.

"Madame... We have a problem."

As one of my men that handled communications with other squadrons came to my side.

"What is it?"

"Apparently, there is a problem with the 158th squadron. It seems that one of the recruits from Bardel Fortress managed to join the transportation."

"Well, it's either we let this recruit join the operation or waste a teleportation circle to bring him back."

"You see... It's your recruit ma'am, Knoxx Abbot."

That stubborn child, I told him that I'll do something about it. Why did he have to come...

"See to it that Hackman delivers the recruit to Bardel, he'll know what to do. We'll still proceed with the operation."

"Yes, Madame."

I would personally bring myself towards Knoxx but I can't compromise our goal by wasting time traveling over to their position. Bardel would send that child back; I guarantee it. As long as there are

no Bailiffs around and no one knows his location, he'll be safe. Bardel was the closest within proximity of Hackman that's why I sent him there. We moved towards the first slavery and positioned ourselves while we waited for the signal from Yela at the center of the city. Moments later voices of men could be heard from a far as groups of the people passed by the alleyway we were in. They all carried some form of weapon, almost all of them were miners that worked for Everglow due to the pickaxes they were carrying; I could tell. The citizens here were comprised of merchants, slave traders, miners and ordinary people that grew here. The slums of everglow also known as the Black Market was known for it's high deviant activity, here you'll find almost all forms of corruption. Guardsmen don't really enforce the law down here as most of them are usually around the center of the city by the walls. The center of the city was protected because it was the only known way to the higher levels of Everglow. Passing through the gates of the walls were a criminal offense and could lead to death.

With most of the citizens gathered at the middle of the city, I made some of my men create a distraction up front while the rest I led through the back. We captured the slavers and freed all of the slaves. The operation ensued as everything went through smoothly, countless of people were freed. They were instructed to wait at specific locations to get transferred by the Teleportation circle but oddly enough most of them didn't want to leave, to them this was home and it took some time to convince them. So far we've only freed five areas with very minimal casualties, somehow the situation was too desirable; I've got a heavy feeling. After that I've received information that Knoxx escaped from Hackman, he was nowhere to be found. I've instructed that he's to be found immediately, "He's definitely as stubborn as Leo" I thought to myself. This is getting out of hand, if he gets captured by enemies then our future plans will be doomed. Hackman was on his trail and currently looking for his whereabouts, without him the plan is already delayed. At this point

the search for the princess will already be in vain.

My squadron continued with the plan and had captured another slavery. Our intel shows that this area was the last time the princess was seen.

"Do you know anything about the Princess of Cyneweard?"

"Oh do you mean that bloody traitor? she dead ain't she? along with her family!"

"Where is she?!"

"How would I know? even if I knew do ya think I'd tell you fools?"

The interrogator stared at me, I checked the Corr of the slaver. I could discern people were feeling some form of way just by staring at their Corr, it would waver or change depending on their mood. So if they lied I knew almost immediately but apparently this person wasn't lying. With my expression, he knocked the person unconcious.

"So far Madame we've only got nothing from these men."

"We're going to keep looking, even if we can't find her. The least we could do is help these people."

I gazed upon the abused, chained close to one another like animals. We freed each of them, one by one, removing them from their bounds. Their Corr seemed lifeless as if all vitality had been used, these poor souls lost everything. There were at least a hundred slaves here but something caught my attention as we freed them. Most of the slaves emitted the same energy, the Corr of each indivdual was identical as if they were all copies of the same person. From afar I felt an ominous presence, its piercing gaze went through me. I turned and from the darkest corners of the warehouse was the same Corr, it was surging strongly from the void. It felt murderous and inhumane, an abomination of a former human. The ghastly figure slowly came out of the shadows as it voiced out.

"Hmm... I didn't expect you to look somwhat attractive."

"You're not human are you?"

"That's pretty rude. I expect a woman like you to have some form of decency."

"I'm sorry, pardon my rudeness... But who are you? if you don't mind."

"I'll have you know, I'm still completely human..."

Her voice hinted a flirtatious tone as she caressed her voluptuous shape.

Who am I? it doesn't matter... more importantly who are you? what are you doing? those slaves are property owned by the crown."

"These people are alive, beings like you and me. They don't deserve to be treated like objects." I exclaimed.

"Once you put on those shackles, you're property and right now... you're stealing property." she said menacingly.

"We're just giving back what these people truly deserve."

I motioned towards my squadron to formation. The identical figures slowly swarmed us with their overwhelming numbers. Those that strayed too far from the group were killed almost instantly, among them was some of the captive.

"Madame, we're surrounded..."

"Brace yourselves..."

They slowly closed in towards us as I raised my hand in preparation for the slightest movement of aggression.