POWER: A Tale of Greatness

Chapter 22: Estuaria's Much Darker Side

At a diner, at the edge of a city, after a long, busy day of work, workers pass by to grab a snack and drinks to satisfy their cravings. Some of them sit on the diner counter, watching the live news on television.

"And now to the national news: The Department of Environmental Resource Management have continuously sighted illegal logging and mining activities in the Estuarian River Region, within the Estuarian Rainforest National Park where rare and endemic species are known to exist and one of them is the critically endangered species of man—The Atlantians." The news anchor reports. "According to an environmental analyst, if the pressure brought by the illegal activities in the region continues, we might see the extinction of our closest living relatives within the century. To give an in depth report, Sabrina Madrigal is in Parasolla. Sabrina."

"Yes, Mike." The screen shifts on video clips of the almost bald top of the hilltops and mountainous areas of the forest. "As you all can see, massive destruction is evident in the forests of Estuaria. Actually, my previous report last week has shown correlation with this report." The screen shifts on another clip, a news report from the past week, Sabrina interviewed a witness. "A local farmer in the region has witnessed strange activities in the area. Groups of armed men marching towards the depths of the rainforests. The following day, he heard gunshots and explosions coming from the same direction. Believed to be caused by the nomadic terrorists, he reported the said incident. This led to the deployment of hundreds of soldiers in the area to disseminate and observe peace and order. Encamped in the City of Parasolla, the military personnels of the Estuarian Armed Forces continuously patrols the region up to this date." A female reporter stated. "Yesterday, we visited the man for an interview, however, he is nowhere to be found in his house."

"Do you think this is caused by the nomads?" The anchor asked the reporter. "And do you think, what happened here is an unofficial martial law?"

"No, Mike. I believe." Before the news reporter could answer the last question, the signal jammed and the television turned static. A female attendant goes to check it for any malfunction. 

"Those Atlantians will do us no good. Just let them die already!" One of the customers sitting on the counter yelled. He wears long bluish trousers and a red, checkered, long sleeve jacket. His thick beard is the most prominent feature of his.

"Mister, please lower your voice, there are other customers that might get disturbed." The man—wearing a formal black suit, with a striped black and white necktie—on his left whispers on him.

"But I am just saying what we should do! And besides, those mountains regrow once and a while, so just let us lumberjacks cut them all off. I need to feed my family and my worthless wife!"

Three customers who we're eating at the diner stood up and made their way to the counter. Their long cloaks covered them from head to toe. Assumed as mercenary travelers, the locals ignored them.

"Who cares about those animals who gives nothing back at me, they are just annoyances in the–"

One of the mercenary travelers bumped him with its shoulder, almost making him fall forward. 

"Hey, A-hole! Are you looking for trouble?"

The man who bumped the guy placed their payment on the counter, telling the attendant, "Here's for the food. They're all tasty."

"Thank you, Sir. Come again!" The woman replied with a shy smile. 

Two more shoulders bumped the lumberjack, causing him to hit his head on his plate.

"What the–"

"Control that mouth of yours, human." A man with a rather weird accent pointed his finger at him, eyes gleaming white.