The Heart of Gaia

I shook her hand. As they both explained to me that her and my father was in the same squadron back in the day. The reason why father was surprised of her existence, was because she was pronounced dead. She was one among the casualties during the war against the Children of Laxxo, after that she awoke from an unknown location that had conducted inhuman acts of experimentation. She was a victim, losing her eyes as a result but gained another form of vision that lets her see magical traces. Luckily had escaped the hellish place and sought to free the people that lay victims. Years later, by accumulating a group of people that aim for the same agenda she was recruited by the Commander of the Liberators which was a former colleague Rhysel Godfrey.

"If so? how can you see father?" I rudely asked.

"Not only the eyes can see..."

"but in you child, I see greatness."

"Greatness?"

"Yes... do you wish to learn about magic?"

I nodded and wanted to learn more about this, she told me that we'll start tomorrow. I looked at father with great excitement, as he stared back with a smile on his face. After that she explained about the Liberators, It was a secretive organization that plotted against the current tyranny that is the Cyneweard empire. They aimed to rid the country of their misdeeds to its citizens. She was responsible for the control of the south branch of the Liberators.

"You'll be under my protection Knoxx, don't worry." She said reassuringly.

When I heard that I felt safe for the first time since we left Yorkburgen. I heard my father sighing out of relief, we could finally be at peace after all that hardship.

"Tonight rest easy, we'll be moving to a safer location by tomorrow my boy."

"We'll be contacting Commander Rhys in the mean time." said Cordelia.

"I haven't seen Rhys in a while Cordelia, I wasn't sure I'd be able to find him... He came to me years ago saying that if I ever needed help go look for him using the code 'In nomine dei Libertas' but I'm glad, now that I found you this makes our situation lighter."

"Actually rumors had already spread around that the traitor had finally shown up along with the Chi--"

He stared sternly at Cordelia and It's as if she realized something.

"So its like that..."

*Ehem*

"As I was saying, with rumors spreading like wildfire. Rhys immediately sent people looking for you two. So we'd still find both of you eventually."

She cleared her throat and had continued talking. While my father and her was busy conversing on important matters, Higime directed me to another room in the basement. Where I rested expecting to see the bright sunshine of tomorrow. I dusted the bed, laid on it and finally stared onto the bland ceiling. The whole room hasn't been used in a while Higime said so, that would explain the growing number of the cobwebs. Lost in thought, I hoped that maybe by tomorrow everything would be fine. Back to the same old town of Yorkburgen, where my old friend was waiting. Oh how I miss the smell of freshly baked bread...

I found myself in a familiar pool. The same heavenly touched sky, I stood and walked aimlessly again. From far ahead I saw the master of this place, the same figure that visits this often daily dream...

"How come we always meet here?"

"Where is here?" it asked.

"Um... I don't know."

"Then how can you call it 'here' if you don't know?"

The enigma wasn't clearly making sense, but I deeply thought of an answer.

"In my head!" I exclaimed.

"It is what you believe it is..."

"Well, we're in my dream so therefore we are in my head."

"Then if it is, is that what your head contains?" he pointed below.

I stared downwards and saw the familiar ball of light, shining so immensely as it had before. It's beauty could not be described with words.

*Rumble... Rumble...*

"It's happening again." I muttered.

The enigma nodded and then he was uttering words that I couldn't register. Gibberish came from it's mouth until I couldn't bare the volume of it's voice.

*Gasp.*

I woke up gasping for air as cold sweat soaked my body.

"You have to tell the boy!"

I heard Madame Cordelia shouting from the wall, It was probably thinner that I expected. It had sounded as if she were arguing with someone. I leaned in closer to hear what they have to say. Curiosity bit me as I was the only "boy" that they could possibly be talking about.

"He must not know! you know this already!"

"If you prolong this any longer, it'll stray the child away!"

As I was listening, I asked myself "what was it that I must know?" as delved deeper into mind and thought that everything I wanted to know was concluded already. Even though it was definitely my father shouting. I shrugged it off as I slowly dozed off. The next day we left early in the morning, catching the first light of the sun. Hours had passed already since we left Hennely in a carriage, there was four of us inside: my father, myself, Madame Cordelia and Higime. They sat next to each other while my father and I were on the opposite side. There was the coachman driving and another who came as a guard. I felt the wonderful shine of the sunlight on my skin as I lazily rested my elbow on the windowsill. Outside was a clear field, the sky was spotless and the trees swayed along the strong gust of wind. I felt a strong presence from my left, I turned to look and only found Higime staring again. Then her mother scolded her on how it was inappropriate. Until my vision passed her, and out the window was a shadowy figure...

"Who's that?" as I pointed.

Madame Cordelia stood as soon as she saw the odd figure and opened the window.

"Coachman! make haste! we are being followed!"

"Yes ma'am!" he shouted.

Soon the carriage accelerated with great speed, it rocked against the rough gravel road, while we held tightly as we could.

"Who's that?!" my father asked.

"It's them..."

"Who's them?"

"One of the Cyneweard Bailiff..." as she frowned.

"How can you tell that it's one of them"

"That magic aura radiating isn't humane."

As she said that her eyes glistened, her face exuded disgust and fear but overall she looked pained as if staring at a pitiful child.

"Madame Cordelia! it's getting closer!" shouted the coachman.

"My arrows are not doing anything agai--" said the other man.

He was cut short, his voice was followed by screams of agony until the carriage crashed. When I came to, my vision was blurry and I felt a sharp pain on my forehead. Warm liquid ran down my face as I crawled towards three shadowy figures down the road. I heard crashing, explosions and shouting. Having been disoriented from the crash I couldn't make sense of it all. I worked up strength to stand up. I grunted out of pain as I felt my ankle twinging as I fell on all fours.

"Come on Knoxx."

I turned towards this person helping me, It was Higime.

"What's happening?"

"Madame and Mr. Hector are fighting over there! we need to move some where safe."

She pointed towards the three figures, slowly my eyes concentrated. There I saw both of them injured. They were fighting against this man, he had a sly look on his face, He smiled each time he was struck. His body was steaming with smoke as my eyes couldn't keep up with their speed. Father was striking back and could hold him off while Madame was not to far behind him casting spells. Higime raised me under my shoulder.

"We need to go!" she said.

"We can't! I'm not going anywhere, not like this!"

"We have to at least move!"

We limped away slowly from the fight.

"WATCH OUT!" someone shouted.

As a fast projectile was hurdled beside us, followed by a loud crash, causing us to fall flat on the ground in an instant. Dust clouds formed blinding our vision but slowly they began to dissipate and what I saw in the crater alarmed me. There I saw my father in pain in the middle of the crater, as soon as everything cleared up. I saw a man at the edge of the crater. He grinned that instilled terror in me, his disfigured face had a third-degree burn scar on the upper right regions of his head. The man had a messy hair on the remaining parts where the scar had not reached. He was wearing a loose shirt that was tattered along with brown trousers and leather shoes.

"Aha! so that's the kid!" he exclaimed.

"Stay... away from my boy!"

"Shut up old man! you're already beat!"

"Hello there young fellow!"

As he neared his body was steaming, I saw his body had no injuries despite their battle.

"My name is Hudson! Hudson Kuzmann!" as he neared, holding out his hand.

"Stop right there fiend!"

Cordelia shouted as huge vines grew around the man wrapping him in quick succession.

"Hurry up and stand children! get away as far as you can!"

"haha! nice spell! but can it hold?!" said Kuzmann.

The large intertwined vines were smoking until everything slowly burned apart, as he was about to step out my father jumped right in blasting him away with a sucker punch.

"We're proceeding with 'that' plan Cordelia"

She stared at my father with great frustration. I saw the conviction in his face, his fist clenched and chest out. Finally Cordelia let out a deep breath and ran towards us. She pulled me towards her along with Higime and went to her knees. I felt a deep sense of epiphany...

"What are you doing?!" I shouted.

She closed her eyes and grasped both of our hands as tightly as she could. She started murmuring gibberish as a bright light glowed around us. I could feel every inch of my body screaming out of fear as I crawled to her.

"Don't! Please!" I begged.

I stared at my father, I felt my eyes swelling up. I held out my hand towards him... He smiled back with tears in his eyes.

"THAT WAS A GOOD PUNCH! I FELT THAT!" shouted Kuzmann from afar.

"Father please! don't do this! we can all leave!"

"You know it's not possible..."

I started tearing up and crawled out of desperation towards Madame Cordelia.

"Please! I'm begging you! Don't do it!"

I saw her pained expression as a tear rolled down her cheek. She bit her lip out of frustration but continued her nonsensical muttering. I saw my father dash to meet the demon and it turned into a long slug fest between them.

"AHAHA! LET'S SEE HOW LONG YOU CAN LAST!"

I heard my father shout out his lungs as he continued to fight. The surging emotions pulled at my heart as every memory of him continued to flash before my mind. I pleaded towards Cordelia with every ounce of my voice pouring out.

"STOP! PLEASE STOP! WE CAN FIGHT!"

I tried moving towards Higime shaking her to wake up.

"PLEASE STOP HER! I DON'T HAVE ANYONE ELSE!"

She was out cold then I saw a trail of blood leaking behind her head. Right before Cordelia finished, I turned to look at my father one last time. He had already fallen to the ground, losing against the Bailiff. He struggled to move under his feet eventually he finally faced towards me uttering his last words.

"Don't, come, for, me..."

"NOOOOOO!" I screamed.

As my voice started reverberating during the transportation.

"Teleportation successful..." said Cordelia in a low tone.

I laid face front on the cold stone bricks that made up the floor motionlessly, devoid of any motion or reaction. Cordelia had stood up calling for help until we were surrounded with unfamiliar faces, they carried us away. My thoughts were filled with regret and my heart was deep in sorrow. I couldn't help not even a slightest but instead had cowered in fear and was a burden to both of them. I cursed my ankle, hoping maybe that if it weren't broken, just maybe, I could have done something. They placed me on a bed and had attended to my wounds, my consciousness was far beyond them and was stuck within the confines of my mind. I couldn't bare the exhaustion until finally I fell unconscious.