The Heart Of Gaia - Chapter 22 Consequences

*Gasp*

I awoke from my slumber, what I saw before me was a simple abode. Like homes built by lawless men of the forests, devoid of society and law of a ruling authority. It was made from clay with drapes of animal skin that hanged about throughout the interior.

The native construct of this humble home somewhat was familiar, although this wasn’t the home I’m used to.

“So you’re awake?”

I heard a familiar voice.

“Who are you?”

I turned towards it and saw the entity that made home to my mind.

“Oh it’s just you…” I sneered.

That blackness in the shape of a human being stood at the end of my olden bed. It just stood there with an ever looming presence that unsettled my nerves.

“What do you want?”

It stood in silence. Completely ignoring my remark. It’s shadowed presence flickered like flames affected by the slight pace of wind, while under a green-ish light.

The faint light that illuminated the room, was from a small Viscorr that lain on a table top behind it. It’s careful but very distinctive luminosity reminded me of something, but could not come to mind.

“Where are we?” I questioned.

But only silence met me, as I felt it’s gaze deeper into me with piercing inorganic eyes.

I felt unnerved by it’s focused unyielding appearance so as I result I tried moving away; no use. My body was stuck in the same position–oddly enough it started moving on it’s own.

It was frustrating to have a body that defied it’s own mind, both hands brushed my face–I didn’t feel any warmth.

Cold, it was icy cold.

Soon enough it stood, I tried to speak but it was futile. After a short morning routine, this body came to view of an open window.

The bright light shone upon my face as I saw a lively scene. Children roam free, frolicking amongst the grassy plain.

Adults tending to their own businesses, shepherding sheep, joyous laughter of dabbling men, farmers tending to crops, and the like.

It was a marvelously perfect example of a utopia, as the fresh air with a hint of sweetness came blowing through from a nearby floral field.

Although clearly lacking the modernization of my time, it was oddly satisfying as if I belonged here.

The beautiful scenery was interrupted by a shadowy figure at the edge of the village, that turned every head towards the lost stranger.

“Salve!”

A voice blurted out as my body reacted as if to retort with the same lively manner.

My eyes slowly blurred from there as the scene around me began to change… What language was that? although it was new to me, somehow I knew what it meant but couldn’t get the words out of my mouth.

An abyss appeared from nowhere that swallowed my entire being.

Was this me? but the movements were the same as before, I felt stuck, chained to another person’s body. We turned towards the left and from afar I saw a monolithic mountain, large enough that it’s top had been covered by the fluffy clouds above.

Though through the veil of soft pillows from the sky was a light seeping through the empty spaces in between. The light was bright, as though another sun had been placed there. It was a warmth that I was familiar with…

“Argh…”

My head ached at the thought of a blurry memory, it was barely a thought at all. I tried reminiscing through my mind, I was left with a bad taste in my mouth and a sore temple trying to resurface the past.

Down the dirt trodden lane surrounded by a forest, was the entity again.

“Are you mocking me?” I thought.

It wore a smile that ran towards me.

“Salve!”

There it is again, that word that constantly played about in my head.

As it neared me, my body slowly fell deeper into it’s abysmal figure that consumed my very being. I was in the dark yet again, wandering in the cold void.

This time I awoke, what awoke me was a soft finger against my cheek. Slowly, I opened my eyes and saw a feminine figure.

“Salve…”

She spoke in a very endearingly soft voice although I couldn’t understand her language. It was that word again ‘Salve’ I wonder what it meant.

She cradled me in her arms as I saw the rest of my unresponsive body.

“A baby?!” I exclaimed to myself.

The mother figure that carried me with utmost cautiousness was maybe the birth giver of this child-like body of mine. Her facial features were a blur as I struggled to make out that face placed on her head.

The warmth of her body felt ever so lovingly against mine, how come I could feel this time…

Like a snug little bundle of joy I giggled at the motion of her hand against my face. A while ago I felt detached from the bodies I took but now; it’s natural.

I felt a little disturbed when to top of my head felt wet as she embraced my tiny body tighter than before.

She continued to lay me where I once rested and there I saw the entity once more but in the shape of an infant like me.

Darkness, again never failed to disrupt my mind. As the child-like void enveloped my being for the third time.

“What is happening!” I shouted.

All this constant scenarios happening consecutively didn’t make sense but somehow they meant something.

Like Deja vu from a recent dream it’s as if this had happened before, the feeling of reminiscing a certain past but I was certain these aren’t mine or are they someone else’s.

I felt inoperable and useless as my body spun around the swirling pool of emptiness that was strong enough to bend me to it’s powerful currents.

Slowly I drifted with the forceful tide that carried me towards the unknown. The vast uncharted waters was disrupted by whispers.

Soon it turned into cries of men that filled my ears as my eyes adjusted to the view of a bloody battlefield.

I hastily turned to look around as a person pierced through my body, it bolted towards the other side armed with a sword and shield.

Shocking, as my whole being was some sort of ethereal character–Floating amidst the horror that surrounded me.

The loud explosions of Corr reverberated throughout the area. While I remained the ever so observant spirit in the middle of the ongoing war.

“I’ve never seen so many knights…”

Though I was constantly anxious by the scenario that played around me, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride watching the courageous knights.

I saw one of their enemy, a man dressed with barbaric clothing that held no piece of protective garment above it. As stupid as it may seem, he charged towards the overwhelming number of knights.

*BANG!*

“Ignorant.”

I told myself, as the man slaughtered hundreds of men with a single spell and kept raising the numbers as time went on.

The magic was immense, the sheer pressure was suffocating, it could render the feeble-minded individuals unconscious.

Another one of it’s colleagues seem to be not too far behind him, floating mid air as it rained down destructive bolts of pure Corr on their enemies.

Although outnumbered, they were winning against the odds with only at least five men from my perspective that fought the endless tides of steel charging towards them.

“NAM MIHI IN POPULUM!”

A nearby fearsome warrior shouted a foreign language that completely caught my attention.

He flew above my head, glowing with unmatched luminosity that brightened this large cavern where the battle took place.

What followed was a constant chanting of men.

“TITAN!”

“TITAN! TITAN!”

The endless voices of men continued to shout the word “Titan.” It was familiar to me.

My head throbbed harder than before, as the pain felt like my brain was splitting open. The noise helped worsen my state.

I couldn’t stay in place as I fell squirming on the ground with my non-existent physical being.

As my eyes rolled towards the horizon, I saw a silhouette of a character charging towards me.

Nearer and nearer as he went, slowly his image grew clearer in my eyes.

He wore no helmet had a clean haircut sitting on top of his head, his armor didn’t shine as it was filled with scratches and dents that clearly reminded his foes of his experience in battle.

No weapon nor shield in both hands, but bore a strong grin on his rough facial features that he carried proudly like a weapon.

There was one thing that was iconic to his fearsome look and that was the handle-bar mustache that laid below his nose.

“F-Father?!”

As the glowing entity above me clashed with my father. The result was a blinding shock-wave.

I closed my eyes as I braced for the impact… My recent memories came along with the shock.

As I reopened them I saw the lone inhabitant of my mind.

“What was all of that?” I asked it.

Silence met my question.

“What happened to me? Where is my father?!”

“There is consequences to every action, and truth once you peek through the Heart of Gaia.”

“What?!”

It’s very existence dissipated into dust as it let out it’s final words…

*GASP!*

*Cough!* *Cough!*

I coughed as I felt the dryness of my throat, my body was shivering with pain and fatigue.

Was this really it?

Am I not dreaming anymore? I wondered.

Hesitantly, I opened my eyelids. Brightness seeped into my eyes as I saw the Large Viscorr up close and personal.

I tried moving but to my surprise, every inch of my body was aching with unbearable pain…

“Y-you’re, finally… awake.”

I turned towards the familiar voice with precaution.

What I saw was horrifying… With every bit of strength I could muster, I forced my body beyond its limit.

Tears went rolling down from my face as I fell crawling towards him, the searing pain embedded in my body couldn’t compare to this feeling of dismay.

He was finally in my grasp, a few meters away, if only I had the strength to save him.

“Only a few more paces!” My mind exclaimed.

I wanted to scream but I was so weak and pained that my jaws were shut closed.

Finally I stopped beside him…

His once lively eyes were now slowly draining of life.

He had large wounds on his chest and stomach that I could clearly see it’s contents, the insides were burnt to a crisp that brought out a disgusting aroma.

He slowly faced towards me.

“Knoxx, s-son…”

I was too weak to answer.

“N-no words?”

His voiced trembled and crackled with exhaustion, I felt his disappointment in my silence. If only I could answer I would!

“I-I’m sorry…”

Don’t say you’re sorry please.

“I-I was, n-never, your father–”

I didn’t care, I wasn’t mad, I was just upset that you never told me.

“B-but you, were, always… my son.”

Please don’t! I’m begging you! Gaia! You’re my only hope! If you’re out there! Save my father!

He’s the only one I have!

I’ve got so much more to give him! Please!

“L-Live.”

with his dying breath he wore the biggest smile that I’ve ever seen on him.

Along with it was a deep scar within my heart that caused pain than any other physical wound could ever bring.