The Heart of Gaia

"Rise and Shine my Boy!" my father shouted.

I grunted and wanted to sleep some more but then I realized that if I did, he'd just come up here to bother me some more. So I forced myself to the side of the bed and sat down as I rubbed my eyes, slid my feet into my boots and tied them shut. I stood and went towards the window for some fresh air--I opened the window and took a deep breath...

"Oh I love the smell of fresh baked bread in the morning!" I muttered excitedly to myself.

I followed the smell of fresh pastry from my window and saw the baker kneading bread a couple of houses away. The smell got my stomach growling in hunger. Before I headed downstairs, I cleaned myself proper: combed my shoulder length, curly and sunset colored hair--I proceeded downstairs and there I met my father

cooking breakfast.

"Took you long enough my boy! there is corn bread and some boiled eggs! I'm about to head to work so I'll be leavin' you in charge of our home!"

"We don't have any meat?" I remarked.

"Be greatful with what you have, meat is expensive nowadays. Oh and remember! no going outside the ho--"

"The house without you father, I know, I know!"

"Good."

After that he slammed the front door shut as he hurriedly went away for work. He keeps telling me that as if I would sneak outside! anyway even if I did I can go without him, I'm already sixteen; I'm not a child. I ate breakfast and did all the morning chores around the house--since it was just me and my father we had to do the chores ourselves. I went sweeping around the rooms in a daze thinking about random topics but usually I thought what would the world be like? I've never really traveled apart from Yorkburgen a couple of times. I want to explore and see different things in life! like a castle! or maybe even the ocean! I've only ever read about them from books and pictured them inside my head; they all seemed wonderful.

I spent the next few hours cleaning around the house, from top to bottom, dusting and wiping away all dirt that had been there. My quiet morning session was interrupted with joyous laughter that came from in front of the house. I went to peak from the window and saw children playing outside, their care-free laughter and abundant smiles while frolicking about were wonderful although there was something odd about one of the children... The child had no face as they played about, but as I stared ever closer I realized that it was probably the dirty windows so I ignored it and grabbed a rag then started wiping the windows clean; might as well do every window.

In the afternoon, I cleaned the used pots and pans by the kitchen. I checked if we still had water--

"Empty" I thought.

I grabbed one of the two water containers and went to the well. There I lowered the bucket, waited for it to get filled as I admired the view of the forest and felt the warm light of the sun in this wonderful afternoon. In the midst of getting water from the well while pouring some into the jar, something caught my peripheral vision as if some sort of blurred object was aching for attention. Filled and ready to go, I glanced to my right where the forest was--In order to see this attention-seeking enigma that caught my curiosity. When I did, I only saw a figure of a man and like the child from before this man had no face as well... I stared intently with my skin crawling and screaming out of fear, but I felt something grasped my shoulder from behind that pulled me.

"Hey! I've been calling you, what are you looking at?"

As I turned I saw Jackson Leyland, he was the only son of Nolan and Leila Leyland; the employers of my father. Their business focused on masonry and construction within Yorkburgen, they couldn't exactly say no when they saw my father especially when a person like him could do two times the work of an average person. Jack was taller compared to me but only a few inches, had dirty-blonde colored straight hair and would have been a great person if only he wasn't so full of himself. Can't blame him though, since his family had better coin than us due to their business; he always worn better clothing than I did.

I turned around again and looked at the forest only to find disappointment.

"Nothing, I thought I saw something... What brings you here?"

"Haha!" he remarked.

"I only wanted to visit my old pal! because I know for sure he'd be bored to death!"

I led him through the back door and we went to the kitchen, he took a seat as I placed the water onto the shelve. I sat opposite of him at the table.

"So..."

"So what?"

"The Festival of Yorkburgen is happening tonight"

"Yeah I know. What of it?"

"It's going to be fun! merchants everywhere! people merry-making as they drank from one tavern to another!"

"I know what you have in mind already... I can't."

"Oh come on! I'm sure that he'll let you go and I'll be sure to bring you back just before midnight! I want my right-hand man beside me as we go through the streets looking out for voluptuous women!" he smirked.

"Even if I ask and he miraculously accepts, the chances are he'll be coming along! that won't be fun at all!"

"But you can't let your old man decide everything for you! you're already sixteen, you're a man now! when will you ever do something for yourself?"

"He says that it's too dangerous to be out there!"

"Dangerous?! what a load of rubbish? even if it was I won't be alive talking to you right now? right? right?"

I stopped for a moment and contemplated on what he said, I've never been out by myself my whole life and It's not like I'm going to be with my father for along time; I'm grown up. I can be on my own and I can protect myself especially if I'm with Jack, I doubt that something bad could happen. I'm tired of my father treating me like a child, I can hold my own and be responsible.

"Alright Jack I'll come along with you after dinner... just wait by the well behind the house and I'll meet you there."

"There we go! I swear you won't regret it! oh! we are going to have so much fun!" he exclaimed.

I spent the afternoon chatting with Jack and he told me all this incredulous stories that his father told him. His father having worked with a lot of people, It was hard to believe that some of these stories were true. Until this one story that caught my attention...

"Have you heard? the King of Cyneweard had been murdered in his sleep."

"Who would do such a thing?"

"Talk had been running around that it was his own son! the greedy bastard probably wanted the throne for himself and couldn't wait!"

"But he was the only son? I don't think that he'd do the deed?"

"Well they found the murder weapon with his son... poor lot. If you wanna do a crime! do it properly!" he said laughing ignorantly.

"Now who'll inherit the throne if his son will be placed to the dungeons?"

"They say that their distant relative will take the throne in their stead."

The kingdom of Cyneweard was the ruling body over the country of Ystallia ever since their assault on the Cursed children of Laxxo and their massive army they took down the demonic tribe and from there they started claiming lands, one after another. Well at least that was what the books say about their history. I've always wanted to meet the Great King Carlisle Cyneweard but looks like I won't get a chance. Soon enough Jack went home and told me that he needed time to "Prepare" himself for the Festival, He was foolishly going on and on about women... I wonder what made them so different and it's not like I've not met any women in my life.

I looked through the window and saw that the sun was setting so I immediately attended to the stove in the kitchen. I placed firewood in it, some kindling right below the stacked logs so I could start the fire--Right when the fire started my father barged into the door. As usual he lowered his head to pass through and placed a sack on top of the kitchen table.

"What's that?"

"Open it."

I slowly took off the covers and out came beef.

"WHOHOOO! we are going to have meat! I joyously exclaimed.

I took a look at him and when his thick mustache lifted; I saw a big and hearty smile.

"Now, son! time to chop some vegetables along with it! we can't have a beef stew without any vegetables in there!"

He placed on the table another sack filled with vegetables. As I took the materials needed for it. Soon enough we were eating a hearty meal, I remember him telling this morning that meat had gone expensive. So then I had to ask.

"I thought you said that meat had gone expensive?"

"I've gotten some extra money from Mr. Leyland since it was the Festival this evening, I worked extra. I can't have my son getting all skinny, you're already skinny enough! you need some meat in you my boy!" he said as he begun to chuckle.

"Hey! I'm not all skin and bones! I've got some meat on me!" as I tried to flex my arm as hard as I could.

"You call those muscles son?!" as he laughed hysterically.

After that everything calmed down and we were cleaning up the mess we had made. I remember my promise with jack and didn't wan't to go against my father about the topic so I thought maybe if I asked nicely he might let me go without him.

"So... you've heard about the on going Festival in town?"

"Yes I've heard, What of it?"

I paused for a moment and tried to calm myself down.

"I heard that a lot of merchants from different places are going to be there"

"Hmm... if you plan on going without me, I won't allow you."

"oh come on father! I'm going to go with Jack and I wont be any later than midnight!"

"We have talked about this and you already know the answer."

"But I'm not a child anymore father! I've grown, I can move and decide on my own!"

I saw his face disgruntled at what I've said.

"It's not like I'm going to be with you forever! I just want to be able to decide! and do ordinary things people can do! I want to see the world! I want to know what it is like to be out there! I want to know what knights are like? and what kind of plants are there! I want to see magic!"

"ENOUGH! YOU ARE NOT GOING!" as he stood and slammed his hand on the table.

I was pissed at him, I felt the creases of my face out of anger and clenched my fists. everything was silent right after that and I headed to my room.

"If he doesn't want permission from me, I could still go no matter what he says..." I muttered to myself as I slammed my bedroom door shut.

I fixed myself up and wore the best attire that I could, I slowly went out the window. One foot after another until I was on the roof top of the house, I walked around back and saw Jack waiting by the well.

"Jack!!" I whispered loudly.

He turned around and was shocked.

"What are you doing!?" he said back.

"I'm sneaking out! come on help me! get the ladder it's behind the house!"

"You could have just maybe sneaked out the back door?"

"My father is downstairs! so would you quit whining and hand me that ladder!"

I saw him speeding towards the back of the house and then he came back with the ladder and placed it.

"Hurry up and come down! your father is still in the kitchen! I peaked through the window."

I moved downwards slowly to not make a sound and made it safely. we immediately went to town which took a while because I had lived in the outskirts while he lived inside the town. As we were walking the streets I saw a whole lot of people and they all wore different clothing. All were better than mine: I had on a tie, slacks, suspenders and work boots but to me it didn't matter as I felt exhilarated from the idea of seeing the Festival! soon enough we were near the town gates and I saw the tall stone walls that protected Yorkburgen! Soon I heard Merry-making noises from afar.

At the gate I saw knights of the Cyneweard kingdom all armed up but instead of guarding they were drinking at the gates and letting people in, from there I saw the bright town of Yorkburgen! the place was swarming with people, merchants of every trade were here! we went around looking and trying everything that we could. I saw wonderful acts of entertainment as there was a play happening in the middle of town and merchants offered candy for one copper as I was about to, Jack nudged me with his elbow.

"What?"

"Look over there" he pointed.

I looked at where he pointed and saw a beautiful lady. A slender body with a wonderfully bright smile with long silky black hair, I could tell that

Jack very much liked this person.

"What about her?" I asked.

"Isn't she fine?" with a fond tone he said.

"Just go talk to her man!" I said as I pushed him towards her.

"Alright! I'm going for it! wish me luck!"

I smiled as he marched towards her, I followed him but not to close; only to watch from afar. As I was watching him my eyes drifted away along the people passing by my vision and in the crowd... there! I saw the same enigma in the forest earlier today, with my curiosity I followed it among the crowd--I tried closing the gap and squeezing myself in between the people in front of me. Finally I had reached it, so I reached out my left hand and pulled him around.

"What's the matter with you? do I know you?!" angrily he said.

"I-I'am sorry sir" I answered.

I must've lost track of it somewhere, so I took a look around and realized that I led myself in the middle of the market. Where merchants have come to sell their wares from far and wide. I might as well look around since I'm here already and I don't think I'd ever find that creature again. Upon walking around I saw a glowing crystal in the midst of the swarming people, I felt it calling to me somehow? The strong luster of it felt alluring as it's bright green color grasped my attention--I moved on my own under the trance of this weird object, it felt like I was staring into a person? from my vision it looked like it was pulsating? I heard my own beating heart matching the rhythm of this beautiful object. as I came close the luster got brighter, I reached for it

until...

"Five copper coins to measure your magical capabilities."

I nodded and patted myself down in a daze until I realized that I had forgotten to bring money, The merchant noticed.

"No coins? no deal..."

I stared at him with blank eyes and eventually, I couldn't resist my urge any longer and held the crystal with both my hands.

"Hey!" he shouted.

I felt power surging inside me, throughout my veins! muscles! everything! I stared intently at the crystal as it responded to my growing power, I felt my body lifting itself into the sky while I stared around my surroundings. The merchant who owned the crystal was in a state of shock and awe as he tried desperately to balance himself from the bursting force I was emitting, most of the people had fallen to the ground because of the overwhelming shock wave--everyone had the same expression filled with mixed emotions, my eyes felt like it was burning and then everything turned dark that I couldn't see anything. I tried desperately to see until I saw glowing orbs inside the silhouette figures of people, I then stared downwards and underneath the earth... I saw a gigantic orb so large that I couldn't comprehend it's size! it had veins that connected everyone into itself and for the first time I've never felt so enlightened. I blinked my eyes and everything was back to normal, the surging energy inside me was subsiding as I slowly lowered onto the ground. Once I had landed I stared at everyone around me, all of them had disgusted looks in their faces and in the crowd I saw my best friend with a sad but frightened look in his eyes. I moved my eyes to my far right and there I saw the faceless enigma except it had a smile on its blank face that sent chills down my spine.

"SON! GET OUT THERE!" someone shouted.

I followed the voice and there I saw my father in the crowd with a worried look on his face pointing towards a direction.

*AHHH!*

Random voices of people screaming at the exact same time...

The infernal screams immediately raised myself scared from the ground.

"What's wrong son?"

I woke breathing heavily and saw the forest before me with the view of the river.

"A dream." I said.

"A nightmare?"

"Ye-yeah, it felt so real? everything that happened yesterday played out in my dream exactly... except..."

"except for what son?" concerningly he asked.

"An enigma..."