The Heart Of Gaia - Chapter 4 Unexpected colleague

“Where am I?”

I found myself laying in a pool of light, I felt the warm water touching my whole body. I didn’t sink nor drown. I lifted myself and took a glance at my surroundings everything was devoid of shadow but then from afar I saw a figure. I stood and as if in a trance I wandered towards it, my mind was blank; lightheaded. Closer, I moved and I had realized that this figure was not in a constant shape, it looked like it had shifted forms each step I took. It morphed into a different animals, one after another until finally it stopped into a human figure. We were two feet apart, this creature was beyond explanation and somehow I felt calm while facing it. Soon it turned around, it was faceless, an enigma…

“What are you?” I asked.

it smiled and said.

“I’m nobody.”

“Where are we?”

It only continued to smile as it pointed downwards. I faced the water beneath my feet and there I saw a familiar green orb, its size was still the same.

“Enormous” I thought as I was fascinated by it.

“Do you hear it?”

“hear what?”

“Listen” said the enigma.

I closed my eyes and concentrated…

*Bump… Bump…*

I heard a faint pulse, I followed the sound and it came directly below. It had sounded like a beating heart as I went on my knees and pulled my ear into the water. The beating was calm, peaceful. I stared at it in amazement as roots from it came out and attached itself to the soles of my feet. The line itself was very thin but when compared to the enigma, it was lacking. I felt constant energy flowing inside me as it pulsed. This rejuvenating feeling was unfathomable…

*Rumble*

The whole place was shaking along the strong rumbling of the untainted sky. Then I heard a familiar voice. my eyes fell towards the enigma.

“What is happening?”

“Wake up!”

“What?!”

“Wake up! Knoxx!”

Everything turned dark as I heard a friendly voice calling my name. I rose from the bed and felt confused with a slightly irritated look on my face. I turned to look at my father.

“Must you do this every time?”

“Must you always wake up late?”

This dream had been recurring often lately, I’m used to it by now. Ever since the fight with those bandits two nights ago. It was the same scenery every time: The orb, The enigma, the bright area where we always meet. I’ve always feared the figure in my dreams but each time we met, I slowly felt more comfortable around it.

We arrived at Hennely yesterday before dark , we sold the wagon along it’s contents and kept a horse for each of us. The money we received from that is what my father used to funds our nightly stay. So far our search had been in vain, we’ve only ever asked random people here. Sooner or later we’re going to run out of money.

“Come on get ready, we’ll be havin’ breakfast downstairs and search the town right after”

“Alright alright.”

*Yawn*

We made our way downstairs. We were greeted by the morning bustling scenery, tables and chairs were filled with people, a beautiful waitress running around while receiving orders from partially drunken rude men. We took a seat near the entrance so that we could leave as quickly as possible. The longer we stayed the more attention we attracted from people. Especially for my father, with his enormous size, it was quite easy to be the target of curious men. I’m surprised that no one tried to approach us yet. I told my father that we should’ve at least bought some cloaks or maybe just for him. “No” he said that it’ll attract more people since a cloaked large man would definitely be suspicious. So we tried to act as casual as we could.

“What can I get you two?”

“I’ll have bread with meat and for the boy…”

My dad glanced at me waiting for what I wanted.

“I’ll have soup please.” I said then smiled.

She left quickly after what I said with her cheeks blushed red.

“Did i say something?”

“haha! that young maiden is interested in you” he said in a teasing tone.

“No! she isn’t… is she?”

“Look at you! red like a tomato!” he started laughing.

We chatted while waiting for our food. My father later had bobbed his head towards the right as if

he were signalling me something. I took a glance and saw a bunch of young men on a round table, from the way they were staring; It smelt like trouble. I ignored them–My father was looking for his comrade using the same phrase he told me back at Yorkburgen, apparently it was a code that only a select few know. He had been very cautious in choosing the people he used the code on. I told him that it’ll be faster if we split up, it was too dangerous he said so sticking together was the best option.

Soon we had finished breakfast and moved out into the town, the town was busy and large, we’d be taking our time looking. We spent the whole morning and afternoon in the market. He asked several people but usually this people didn’t know anything. I was near a vegetable stall while I watched him talking to random people. I wasn’t just idling around, I looked for potential people that could provide information. My eyes rolled around trying to look for something that might seem interesting and by the bridge I saw a lady sitting by the river side. Her bright and curly orange hair was shining underneath the sun, she also had worn a beautiful green dress. She bobbed her head with utmost tranquility then she saw a budding flower and with a quick motion of her hand, it bloomed. After that she stood as a crowd passed by my vision; she was gone.

In a while my father came back just before sunset, so far he found out that there was an informant in town. The person hold him that she had a distinctly bright orange hair. I told him that I saw a person like that not too long ago. “Tomorrow” he said that we’ll find her for sure but as of now, we headed back to the Inn. We moved through the main road and was met by a crowd of people blocking the streets.

“What’s going on?” I asked one of the people in the crowd.

“Don’t ya know? One of the Cyneweard Bailiffs is here!” the man exclaimed.

We moved deeper into the crowd to get a better view, all I saw was a carriage that was slowly moving towards the town hall. My father nudged me and told that we have to leave soon. It was bad that one of the high ranking officers were here, rumors must had spread around. It couldn’t be coincidental that this person came here. We left as soon as we could, slipping through the crowd. We finally arrived at the Inn.

“So are we going to leave soon?”

“We leave later at midnight, It’s too risky to keep searching here.”

The moment we stepped inside the Inn, I immediately recognized that bright orange hair from afar. She was talking with the waitress that served us this morning. I told him that she was the person I saw this afternoon so we made our way to talk to both of them. The lady left right before she saw us nearing and thus only had to talk to the waitress.

“Excuse me miss.” I asked.

“Yes? how can I help both of you?”

“May I ask who was that lady you were talking with?”

“Oh you mean Madame Lockewood? The owner?”

My father looked surprised.

” Could we plea–”

“Can you please pass her this message?” he said hurriedly.

The girl was starled as he leaned into her ear.

“In nomine dei libertas.” he whispered as he pulled himself back.

“I can’t believe it…” he muttered to himself.

I looked at him, as I’ve realized that this was the first time I saw him like this. He was completely dumbfounded. The waitress had left already and was headed towards the basement. We waited quietly in hall while noises of merry-making were echoing throughout the area. After several minutes she came back.

“She’ll speak to both of you now.”

We headed down the basement, I could tell that it was just used for storage. The stuffy air made it a little hard to breathe but soon enough we came to a halt in front of a door. She told us that Madame Lockewood will talk to Hector first and then she’ll say when I could come in. So I had to wait outside and that she’ll keep me company. I saw my father head inside as I was left with the waitress. Everything was awkward because she was just staring at me intently.

“Could you please stop staring?”

“Why? does it bother you?”

“Well… it is a little rude.”

Even after what I said, she was staring rather diligently with her sparkling hazel eyes. Now that I see her up close, she looks near my age. I tried averting my eyes and ignoring her deep gaze but she inched forward causing me to step back.

“Uh… is something wrong?” I said quite nervously.

She moved closer and closer until I was backed up against the wall. We were face to face, I could feel myself sweating with nervousness and cheeks blushing red. I didn’t know what to do–Soon she licked my cheek but oddly enough she started sniffing. From my neck she moved slowly all the way down with both of her hands on my chest. As soon as she was nearing my lower stomach I bolted away towards the door while covering the bulge with my left hand; eyes closed.

“When are you going to tell hi–” female voice.

“PARDON ME!!” I shouted as I rudely entered.

“I’m sorry Madame but PLEASE! control your employee!” I nervously exclaimed with cheeks flushed as I bowed in front of her.

“What are you doing Knoxx!” my father sounded displeased.

“Haha! it’s quite alright! It’s my fault for leaving you two alone, what did you do now Higime?”

“I didn’t do anything! hmp!”

she pouted, arms crossed.

As she came into the room, she had white bunny ears drooping down the side of her face. I was mesmerized and shocked at the exact same time.

“It’s your first time seeing one huh?” said Madame Lockewood.

“what is she?” I said.

“A Faustian… her kind is not of this country. Allow me to introduce her, she is Higime Lockewood. she’s like a daughter to me.”

I saw her bow like a princess towards us.

“I taught her manners but sometimes she acts rudely”

“I couldn’t help it, he smells funny!”

“I know he’s a little different.” said Madame Lockewood.

As she placed her hand on my shoulder, our eyes met. Her eyes were like burning bright emeralds as if she was staring directly into my soul. Her voice had a tone of that a noble, the way she walked back towards her chair behind the large table hinted elegance. Her fine and slender physique could make any man fall for her.

“Please take a seat everyone, Allow me to introduce myself to Knoxx. I am Cordelia Lockewood, a former colleague of your father and the South regional leader of the Liberators.” as she held out her hand.