The Heart of Gaia

After having exhausted every ounce of Corr I had left from that last attack, I laid tired on the cold ground. I held the child closer as the large Corr generated roots above us slowly disintegrated into the thin air. The particles of left-over Corr sprinkled down like the early sign of winter snow. Each of it fell peacefully on my face with great subtlety, I closed my eyes and felt the gracious light touching my nose. For an instant that momentary peace made me forget the horrendous situation I was in...

*Boom* *Crash*

But the constant tremors that followed shook the ground as it woke my senses, I was forced to reopen my eyes out of panic. The enemy was still here, this is no time to be resting peacefully on the ground. I stared at this pitiful child wrapped around my arms, his skin and bones would be reduced to ashes the moment he gets caught in the mishap.

I slowly regained the strength to stand as I carried the child with both arms. From afar I could discern voices flying around the chaos, slowly the voices became clear, It was familiar. I took a turn to see who called upon me and there I saw that signature golden hair, along with that friendly face, running towards me.

"Madame! I came as soon as I could!"

I could sense urgency in her voice. I slowly moved towards her direction.

"YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!"

I glanced behind me, I felt the roaring Corr of Abellinda as I saw her. It felt like I was drowning beneath the pressure of her energy, I felt nauseous because her's was not of ordinary means. It was sickening, like the smell of a dead corpse. It was corrupted, like an animal except was under control by a parasite. I could still see signs of her humanly Corr but it was all for naught. I tried moving away as much as possible, a spell could definitely help but from that previous struggle my body had trouble harnessing Corr. No matter how much we can cast there is only so much our fullest capabilities can take...

"Corr-exhaustion... Damn! why now?!" Annoyed, I exclaimed to myself.

Corr-exhaustion was the state of a physical being at the limit of using Corr. Basically I can use little to no Corr at all, at this point I'm basically useless... Running was my only option but with my current state, I'm at the brink of falling unconscious.

The numbers grew once more, this time I could differentiate the original from the clones. They all charged towards me, like an army. No, army is an over statement because of their unorganized attack, they seemed much more like a stampede of raging bulls. I faced forward and saw Yela bright as the star that lit the gloomy confines of the Black Market.

"TAAAKKKEE COOVVEEERR!!" Yela shouted.

I fell to my knees and with the added weight of the nameless child my knees trembled as it crashed to the ground.

"Ack."

I bit my lip as the impact bruised my knees and I fell on all fours with my right arm barely carrying the child. The fast blinding light took shape of a bird that flew straight above me went zooming at incredible speeds. With the last bit of my strength I trudged onward, each step felt like boulders that made the flat ground seemed like an obstacle. From behind me was screaming of pained clones as their voices slowly dissipated into the air, lost to the eternal nothingness of the short lived lifespan they have. I stared at the sky the constant firing of magical projectiles split and rained upon the enemies behind me.

"Keep going! I'm only buying enough time!"

Finally I've reached her. Her face wore a really calm but tensed expression as she fired a barrage of magical arrows.

"H-how did you know where I was?"

She looked at me with worried eyes.

"There's only one person I know that could launch a full scale elemental spell like that!"

I remembered the large spell that I used, the roots from that spell was long gone, like all physical elemental spells they only last a few moments until they turn into Corr and disappear from our world.

I smiled at her fondly, I felt safe but as soon as I saw the innocent face I caressed and carried with care; I knew I'm still not finished. His innocence reminded me of my vow and a face from the past that ignited my current vigilance towards a certain goal...

Clear as the day it replayed in my mind, the pain of losing a love one can forever change a lifetime; not even time can heal wounds.

"Keep going Madame! I'll distract her! Reinforcements are waiting for my command!"

"What abou-- Argh!"

I stumbled slightly as I slowly passed Yela, a sharp pain in my chest made me stop in my tracks. I felt a warm hand on my shoulder, she came face to face as she asked worriedly about my welfare.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm f-fine..."

Her eyes flew towards the small boy I carried.

"Who's this?"

"Just a boy..."

Our eyes locked onto each other as I felt she understood why I saved the boy. She turned around and signalled into the silhouettes of the structures beyond the ruined area. Soon groups of knights came out rushing to our aid. I slowly placed the boy on the ground and covered him with my cloak in order to warm him a little bit. I turned to Yela and saw that she had a troubled expression on her face.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"I lost sight of the enemy..."

I turned around and saw the aftermath of the fight, everything has been turned to ashes. The whole area was cleared off as if been wiped out intentionally. I gazed deeply into the area and saw no signs of Abellinda.

"She must've hidden herself..."

"Or she could be dead... The spells I've been using lock onto enemies, even with her mirage as cover."

"That wasn't a mirage."

"T-then?!" Yela answered hesitantly.

"Yes, they're clones."

"B-BUT HOW?! To make and maintain that many? She would have exhausted herself already?!" She replied shockingly.

"I don't know how... But it seems they have the capacity to do so, her Corr isn't that of a human."

"They?!"

I paused for a moment as I saw her widened eyes.

"Bailiffs..." I muttered.

"So she's one of them..."

"Be careful, it's better we retreat and regroup than face her right now. We have other problems to deal with."

"But shouldn't we take her on right now? We could at least lessen future problems, especially now that she's injured."

I contemplated on what she said, it seems right to dispose of her right now. I know how her abilities work, if the timing is right we could defeat her. I'm sure that spell I made did some damage at point blank range, it would take some form of ability or miracle for her to escape that.

"No, we retreat... Lives are at stake here especially those that can't defend themselves."

She nodded, although I could tell that it was tugging at her.

"We have to notify the others of the situation."

"Already taken care of! Because of your squadron they fully informed us of the situation. The others have taken necessary procedures--"

"MADAME!!"

That familiar voice resided in my head, it was my second in command. I turned towards him as he waved joyously at the sight of my safety. There were at least ten men running towards us, it seems most of them were comprised of Yela's team and that he was the only one from my squadron that came.

I've never doubted his loyalty and his unwavering passion to strive for our cause. His name was John Frederick, He's been with me on a many operations for over the years. We've built a bond that was built over the years, he was a good and honest working man, his years of experience led to his current rank. Each time I told him that he should stop joining the fray, since a family was waiting for him. A son, a daughter and a loving wife. Every time I said so, he would always answer...

"If men like me don't fight...Then who will? If it's a chance to give my family a future they deserve. Then I'll make sure they see it."

That line of his always stuck to my head, it reminded me that no matter what happens, people will always have a reason to fight. But no one expected him to do it, not even myself nor his comrades. If he chose his family over the Liberators, they'd gladly let him leave and erase his memories as protocol demands it. Then how is it that I feel a deep sense of melancholy even though I knew that he was fully prepared to loose his life.

*CRASH!*

Dumbfounded, I saw the entire reinforcements get wiped out before they reached us as Abellinda came out from the shadows of the structures behind them. The moment I saw her it was too late, she blasted most of them with magic. Shocked, all I could do was stare idly by while having to bare with my uselessness. Everything around myself became inaudible because of the explosion, Yela was enraged as she pulled on her bow preparing to attack. I looked at my hands as I tried to charge up Corr... I forced myself and felt my arms burn up from the pain, the veins in my hands were visible as my arms had been trembling from the struggle.

"DON'T WORRY!"

John's voice reminded me that I could hear properly again as I gazed towards his direction. I could feel Corr building up on my palms as the pain grew intensely, every part of my body was trembling and screaming. Instinctively my body knew it was wrong.

"IN NOMINE DEI LIBERTAS!" John shouted.

After he shouted I saw him uttering his final words as I read his lips.

"Take care of my fami--"

As his head got sliced off and went rolling away on the ground. Three of them still managed to save themselves but were horribly injured. Abellinda was a wreck, completely different from her calm and collected demeanor from before. She wore a crazy look on her face as she grinned inhumanely while towering above the dead bodies. She stared fiercely at us as I noticed her injured shoulder. It was probably from Yela's ability or from mine.

"YOU M*THER F*CKERS WILL PAY! NO ONE! NO ONE LAYS A FINGER ON ME AND GETS TO LIVE!"

I turned to Yela, her face was calm but her eyes were empty. As if devoid of all emotion until she came to me.

"Mr. Frederick would hate to see you lose yourself, get some rest and I'll handle this..."

The conviction of her words made it clear, she won't back down easily. Her eyes weren't devoid of emotion, it was filled with anger and sheer will. I could feel her determination the moment she pulled on her bow. I had to say no, It would be a disgrace to the dead if I held back. I'll fight with all that I can, just like John... If I can't do the same like them then I don't deserve my rank and title.

She pulled on her bow and I focused every Corr I could possible gather, It was a standoff between us and her. Abellinda knew this and with her smirk she gladly accepted our challenge. Her aura flared up as she started chanting a spell of her own. While Yela blasted out her strongest spells with each pull on her bow she prevented Abellinda from foolishly charging in. I did only what I could as I mustered up Corr from the deepest confines of my strength and will power to support her.

Each of her arrows flew in a shape of an eagle desperately trying to hit their mark while Abellinda dodged each with her inhumane agility. I had an Idea, right now I know for sure that she doesn't care for me anymore. She is currently focused on Yela, knowing her, she'll make sure she hits her mark especially when agitated like this. I'm pretty sure that she'll have a plan of her own, even angry or emotion-filled. She had always been level-headed despite her cheery character. I activated a spell that covered us from the enemy attacks thus letting her freely fire at will without any setbacks; this was the last thing I could do.

The endless stream of attacks raged on with both sides. The enemy was still as lively as ever but Yela wasn't doing any better, I couldn't hold the barrier any longer this had to end soon. I felt my body aching with excruciating pain from having exceeded my limits.

"I'll pull the barrier back! I can't hold it anymore! We need to think of something and quickly!"

"Bring the barrier down, I have a plan!"

"What is it?"

"Just trust me!"

I looked at her carefully and felt that I had no choice. Ultimately I brought it down, Yela stopped firing, Then Abellinda closed in the distance in a manner of a few seconds.

"FINALLY! TIRED ARE WE!?"

As she lunged towards us with daggers in both hands. In that moment something was off, that large crater left on her shoulder was now smaller in size. It wasn't bleeding anymore...

"Don't get too cocky..."

Yela smirked, the moment Abellinda hit the ground in front of us as we dodged. She couldn't move anymore. As if she were paralyzed. The ground below us glowed with light, I saw that underneath our feet was a Runic Circle.

"W-when did you?!"

"Ever since I've been raining arrows on you, even before you killed my... men."

"Oh you mean those useless bags of meat?!"

"Meat!? D-don't you feel a slightest hint of guilt for what you did?"

She smiled proudly and didn't say a word.

That brief pause by Yela explained everything, it was suppose to be a trap as I realized. She must've been regretting it, If only she called them sooner they would've survived. Her teary eyes that held back its pain in front of the enemy. Having exhausted my entirety I fell sitting on the floor. I wanted to say something but I doubt that my words could ever calm her down, I know what it feels like to be responsible for a life.

Abellinda struggled as she might but her body wouldn't budge.

"Don't even try to move, it's practically impossible. That's a Tier 7 magic spell trap only made possible by the men you just killed."

"I'll just use this then!" Abellinda exclaimed.

Her Corr level rose then slowly died down.

"W-what?!" She said quite annoyed.

"It won't work, I already prepared everything for this trap. Corr is suspended those caught in it except for those in the center. I made this with my squadron just in case we fought off against a Bailiff, looks like it's working properly..."

"H-HOW DARE YOU! YOU THINK YOU CAN DO THIS TO ME?!"

"Talk all you want..."

She held her bow and started chanting.

"I'LL F*CKING KILL YOU! I'LL HUNT YOU DOWN! IN THIS LIFE AND THE NEXT!" Abellinda Threatened.

Her bow grew bright with yellow glowing light. She pointed this towards her constrained face.