She had always been alone. True, there was the one she served, the Decider, but she had been before any other life in the place of her birth. At least, she thought she had been born there, on the plane of flames and molten rock, born from the flaming rock, and she had danced in the flames, singing for the joy of existence. Areal, she named herself, a simple trill of song, and went about Truth's business in a flash of flames, doing as it bade her.
She knew that she was old beyond mortals' ability to count, but it had never bothered her. She was what she was. Phoenix, they named her, Bennu, Lifebringer, Fenghuang, Suzaku, Firebird, Akitori, Houoh, Eldest, and she preened at the last one for it was true. She was old before other life, but inside her came a niggling desire to be called by name. Even the Decider didn't use her name. Then again, the Decider rarely used words, simply conveying the information of where she was needed and why. Those who have seen her think her gentle, and those she has healed think that must be all that she is: A bird of magic, but a bird nonetheless.
They were wrong. She is the giver of life and bringer of healing to those she may aid, but she is first the Agent of Truth and has brought about death. She moves through Truth's plane in fire, and has gilded her talons on upstarts who are her task. She is life, and she is death and rebirth, she brings peace, but wars have been fought over her, all unknowing that she served something far greater than those who seek her.
She is lonely. The mortals have many legends of creatures like her, but she is the only True one, and while she has kept company with mortals when so ordered, be it to encourage them or deny them something, they knew only the Phoenix. Not Areal. So she sits on the gilded perch her latest task has brought her, watching the human she must keep from taking hold of Truth's stone, when the fire in her flares up and up and up, and she burns early and from her ashes watches the boy with hair a gold she has not seen in so very long, and eyes like her own, and power that echoes of the Decider, and she wonders why an alchemist has come here. Is it time for the debt this people owe to come due?
No, the portal remains.
When the boy goes, her assignment has been bound by alchemy in his wall, and the alchemy bore the Decider's touch. What was it planning? Had she not just burned she would have flown to him, duty forgotten.
On the horrible day when her power is dimmed, she knows that the Day of Reckoning with the Traitor has begun. But here she must remain, guiding her assignment to his Toll. Ok, and vanishing to be a mascot for their ridiculous games. Even her near infinite patience has its limits with this assignment.
At last, it was time. She laughed.
She brought them to the city. The very stone of the buildings rang with the Decider's power, and she admires the murals, knowing the skill of alchemy it took from even one of Truth's Alchemists to do this. Besides, she gets a good look at the Homunculus War this way.
His presence is a fire the match of her own. How many times has this human been to the Gate? She flies to him like to a beacon. He is a match for her, and the Decider's touch is strong on him. It is on his brother too, and lightly on the man and woman, but the homunculus carries it too. Why is he here? Why does he live?
And the Toll is taken through the last homunculus, and the boy the Decider spoke through knows her name. Areal, he calls her, and when the wizards are returned to die she flames back to the human who feels like kin, knows her name, and bears Truth's touch, singing in joy and triumph.
After so long unheard her name is precious, and rarely spoken. Goldie will do, as long as he does not forget. She is Phoenix. She is Fenghuang, she is Lifegiver and Deathdealer, Bennu, Firebird, and Houoh. She is Akitori, and Suzaku, and now she is Goldie as well. She is Areal, and she is no longer alone.
She is not alone. Not with him by her side, knowing her name.
A.N. Yes I know the tenses wander. It is deliberate. Areal is very old, existed before language was invented, and primarily communicates with Truth, which doesn't use words very often. I'm not even sure if she has the concept of tenses. Hope this wasn't too confusing to read.
Guest: I'm not sure Truth realizes being a parent means frustration with the child, but yeah, its touching. Thanks for the feedback.
Guest 2: Thanks, just thanks.
