Chase grinned as he felt the power within Jack. It was almost breathtaking. Holding Jack so close to him, he feared that the power may be what drew him to the boy in the first place. The hidden power, not the raw talent. But perhaps the raw talent was the power, a leak if you will. But Chase knew one thing, he was a selfish dragon and dragons were rather possessive.
Currently, Jack was sat in the library, reading a book he chose at random from a nearby shelf. Ironically it was about phoenixes and firebirds. Jack snorted at the garbage that were words on the page.
"...lives in volcanoes, much like dragons they lay their eggs in lava in order to keep them warm. What? Sure if you wanna cook 'em... What bullshit. We lay our eggs near lakes, cold ones if we are lucky, the colder the better. Not all phoenixes and firebirds are made of 'fire', sometimes the fire is cool. A cold blue flame. Morons." Chase chuckled at Jack's outburst. Jack lifted up his head and grinned.
"Oh hey, sorry. I take it you wanna talk now?" Chase nodded.
"If you will." Jack smiled.
"Of course, I am your mate now, aren't I?" Chase chuckled, shaking his head.
"Not yet, my dear. But yes you will be." Jack smiled.
"So, what do you wanna talk about?" Jack smiled as he put the book down and walked over to his Master. Chase took his hand and walked them both to a table that placed at the other end of the room. Jack took the initiative and took the seat as Chase sat in the other.
"Preferably, I would like to start at the beginning." Jack nodded.
"The 'wizard'?" Jack mentioned, complete with air quotes. Chase nodded.
"There wasn't a wizard then?" Jack shook his head.
"More like an old man who stumbled across an abandoned nest by accident. Thought the egg was a ducks, went to cook it but it hatched. Needless to say... Hi!" Jack giggled, Chase growled quietly when he heard that the old man was going to eat his Jack. Jack heard it but quickly remedied that.
"Oh no! Luckily I was cracking out of the egg before he even got me on the fire, let alone out of the egg! The old man realised his mistake! He looked after me Chase... He was my earliest memory." Chase nodded at the genius and gestured him to carry on.
"Anyway, when I was born, needless to say the old man was confused when he realised that I hadn't been a bird or a reptile." Chase stopped him for a moment.
"You weren't born as a phoenix?" Jack shook his head.
"We are clever creatures. Plus I am not an ordinary phoenix. I'm sure you have come across firebirds that are pure red, brown or purple in colour. I am red and white. A mix if you will. You know what the red stands for?" Jack projected at the warlord.
"From what the 'legend' says I would believe that the red was the fire, or perhaps the dark part of you. The white then being the good, as you are supposedly neutral. But we know which side you wish to go." Chase grinned, with a hint of malice but mainly playfulness. Jack grinned back and blushed minutely.
"Correct, Chase. I represent the union of yin and yang, therefore neutral." Jack explained.
"I know, my Jack. I do know the basics of Chinese mythology, but did not know the actual facts. I apologise that my knowledge is rather sparse." Jack smiled.
"Don't worry, Chase. If you have questions then I will answer them. If we are to be together forever, you deserve the truth." Chase took hold of the albino's hand and stroked it.
"Of course, my love. Should there be anything you do not about me, which I doubt, since you are my number one fan." Jack giggled at the terminology.
"Duh!" Jack giggled again. Chase reclined his hand and sat back.
"So this old man, he became your 'father' as it were then?" Jack nodded and sat back as well.
"Yeah, he was a great man. I grew up as a human boy, but he knew straight away that I wasn't. Obviously. It was the icing on the cake when he caught me playing with fire." Jack laughed. "The old man's face when he saw that I could manipulate it." Chase chuckled.
"I'm sure he was rather surprised."
Jack looked thoughtful then his cheery expression turned sad.
"Unfortunately, I can't remember his face. He was a great person, kind. He was undoubtedly good. But that doesn't matter." The emotions flittered across his features.
"He was murdered, over crops. It was a stupid and unneeded. He was a mere farmer. It was just after he found out that I could transform into a bird. He knew of the legend. But was unaware that we could reproduce. As legend of phoenixes go, there is supposedly to be only one." Jack fiddled with his hands as he spoke, Chase noted. He always had tiny hands, almost like that of a female.
"In Greek mythology, it is said that the phoenix lives in Arabia, near a cool well. Every morning at dawn, the sun god would stop his chariot to listen to the bird sing a beautiful song while it bathed in the well." Jack raked his hand through his firy red locks. Something Chase loved about the boy, ignoring his antics. His eye were also something Chase loved. they really were like rubies.
"In Egyptian mythology, the ancient Egyptians linked the myth of the phoenix with the longings for immortality that were so strong in their civilization, and from there it's symbolism spread around the Mediterranean world of late antiquity. The Bennu bird was usually depicted as a heron. The Bennu was the sacred bird of Heliopolis. Bennu probably derives from the word weben, meaning 'rise' or 'shine.' The Bennu was associated with the sun and represented the ba or soul of the sun god, Re. In the Late Period, the hieroglyph of the bird was used to represent the deity directly. As a symbol of the rising and setting sun, the Benu was also the lord of the royal jubilee. This Egyptian phoenix was also associated with the inundation of the Nile and of the creation. Standing alone on isolated rocks of islands of high ground during the floods the heron represented the first life to appear on the primeval mound which rose from the watery chaos at the first creation."
Jack loved to talk, Chase knew this. He inwardly chuckled as the boy continued to go off topic but refused to stop him. His voice was beautiful to listen to.
"In Arabic mythology, The Arabian phoenix was a fabulous mythical bird, said to be as large as an eagle, with brilliant scarlet and gold plumage and a melodious cry. Making its home near a cool well, the Phoenix would appear at dawn every morning to sing a song so enchanting that even the great sun god Apollo would stop to listen."
Jack stopped there.
"Sorry I'm rambling and going off topic. Basically, I was the only one known, by the old man, that was born from an egg. The daughter of the old man, she took me in. Kept me safe from those who sought me out. The old man had written out a poem, which was the riddle. When that was found rumour spread out about me, well the phoenix that is." Jack explained. Chase nodded.
"Firstly never apologise, I like it when you monologue. Secondly, the old man sounded like he used you." Jack nodded.
"In a way, yeah. But that's okay, I didn't mind, I was only in my first life. I learned quickly. I sort out a dragon, to tell me what I was and why I was here." Jack smiled sadly.
"He certainly told me, but then mysteriously disappeared." Jack looked up at him with a playful accusation look. Chase grinned unapologetically.
"Which one?" Jack laughed, and banged the table with his fist in jest.
"Damn it, Chase!" Jack giggled. Chase chuckled along with the genius.
"Anyway, doesn't matter. I've practically lived my whole life, under protection. Under the protection, of the Spicer family." Chase nodded.
"I see, so how many lives have you lived? Roughly." Jack looked perplexed.
"Shit... You're asking me to count?! Too freaking many!" Chase laughed and Jack laughed along with him.
"Jack, that will be all for now. Dinner is almost ready." Chase grinned as he flicked his eyes to the door. There stood was a white tiger, she bowed her head in respect to the two males. Jack stood when Chase did.
"Good, I'm starving."
