RISE OF THE PHOENIX
The delegates were arriving; one ship landed on the platform closely followed by another, carrying officials dressed in glamorous and exquisite garments that immediately revealed their noble position. Prominent guests of power were escorted by a welcoming committee that would lead them through the grand halls of Xianti; the most marvelous architectural conference centre on Amoi, which was designed by the Blondie Sal'rhine and constructed under his close supervision. An outstandingly beautiful edifice that embodied many cultural pearls from different worlds of the past and present; it was therefore, also a historically and politically important gathering point and ideal for events like this.
Raoul greeted each of his guests personally as befitted a tactically brilliant politician. Ezkiel Siin was one of the most important key-players, but also familiar faces not seen in a long time, were approaching him with greetings and dry humor. Raoul took notice of was Verti Mediçi. He was followed by a handful of Pets and judging by the stories Iason had told Raoul, the dark haired girl with the short hair style had to be Matilda. She stood closest to her Master and unlike the other Pets, this one had true joy in her eyes. She appreciated her life even if she was subordinate to another person. She wore her delicate clothing with pride and her vivid charisma spread to her surrounding. Raoul approached Mediçi and they shook hands.
"I am very glad to be here," the elder Blondie began and Raoul nodded in response. Mediçi was a man of few words; he was mostly observing rather then talking and thus a little dull in the eyes of many. But Raoul had a feeling his presence would be beneficial somehow, for he had gentleness in his complexion that made him stand out from the other Elite.
The day was coming to an end and the meetings would begin tomorrow. The guests were to arrive a day early, for Raoul knew that if he would give them the chance to relax and get accustomed to the new environment, they would be less hostile in mind and after a good night sleep they could all converse on future matters. After an intense hour of arrivals, all the delegates were inside Xianti, relaxing and enjoying a light meal of tasty morsels and delicacies to nibble with wine or alcohol free beverages, which were flowing in quantities to quench even the greatest thirst. Fruits and sweets were offered in grand arrangements on rich buffet tables with decorative ice sculptures and lavish silverware. Large candelabras were illuminating the palatial hall and musicians were creating a soothing, luxurious atmosphere to which enjoyable social gatherings took place. It was all going well and Iason had watched it from a balcony above – from a distance. He wasn't going to show himself...yet. He was going to wait for a signal from Raoul, since this was all arranged on his command. Raoul was the leader of Tanagura, not Iason, and thus everything had to proceed according to his plans. However, Iason was most confident in Raoul. The Blondie watched Raoul from a distance as he walked around entertaining the guests with disarming jokes and conversations of mutual interests. The evening was most successful. After a while, as the guests settled in comfort and engaged in diverse discussions, Raoul broke free from the party and walked to the second floor balcony from where Iason, clad in a royal blue robe with embroideries over the chest and neck, was observing the events.
"So, what do you think?" Raoul asked and handed a glass of wine over to Iason. It wasn't so much as to give him something to drink, but a host never greeted his guests empty handed. By carrying a glass in hand, the host was ready for a toast and it made him appear more relaxed.
"I have to admit I am a bit nervous," Iason answered. "Where is Riki and the rest?"
"Riki and Naoki are moving about with some other Pets, but you can't se them from here, and Katze is just mingling to snap up anything interesting."
Iason could feel his body rocking to the powerful pounding of his heart. Nervousness was eating him from the inside, but it was time to reveal his presence to the rest of the world. Through the humming of the crowd it had come to his attention that there were some players in the Syndicate who were confident in voting down Raoul's proposals and thereby shaking the foundation of power on which he stands. If enough people were against him, declaring a vote of no confidence, then the ruler of Amoi would be replaced by a more docile candidate who would lead according to the wish of the Elite mass. However, there were some people who possessed more authority then others; the confidence of those players would have to be won. Who was a friend or a foe would be revealed in the coming days.
They took the way down the master staircase. Iason's magnificent royal blue garment with golden embroideries, swished to his steps as it slid over the ground. At first, no one noticed the resurrection of the Master, but as the first person dropped his glass at the sight of the approaching Iason Mink, others gasped with shock and surprise and the floating humming settled into dead silence. The stillness was so thick a sword could have pierced it like flesh, and even the tiny drops of water pearling off the surface of the sweating ice statues could be heard patting against the table surface. Iason was radiating confidence and overwhelming supremacy. He advanced closer to the flaxen Elites with graceful movements, though not too quickly, so that they could marvel at his superb essence that ascended over them like a delicate blanket of strength and aptitude. Words of superlative were not enough to describe the impression he left in their souls. The greatest and the most eminent had risen from the ashes like a Phoenix and he possessed more authority now then ever before. His essence was soaring through the frozen bodies in front of him and surrounded them with fierce ascendancy. He stopped a few steps above the deadened crowd, so as to make a statement of his power and superiority, which still entitled him to utter respect. Somehow he felt that as the leader of Amoi, he had never been this esteemed, and most likely never this feared. He raised his glass and announced their welcome and the opening of this historical event that would shape all generations to come. He could still identify the doubtfulness in their eyes; they couldn't believe that it truly was Iason Mink standing before them. The very first person who broke free from the immobilizing shock was a dear friend from the past; Verti Mediçi.
"A toast!" he shouted from the middle of the crowd and shattered the ice with a cheerful laughter of sincere reverence. "To the return of the Phoenix!"
Their voices joined in a chorus that hammered off the walls like a vibrating crescendo as hundreds of people announced their veneration for a great leader. Glasses were raised – shimmering above their heads like a sea of crystalline halo.
"To the Phoenix!"
Riki's heart almost burst with pride as he witnessed the reception of his master Iason Mink. There they were – the Elite of all the surrounding worlds. Icons of self-indulgence, perfect by nature and finely created beings of embodied superiority - creatures of light. Flawless beauties with sinister minds and dark souls that could make the streets of the Dark City seem cloudless and inviting. They hovered around like angels and they hardly seemed to touch the ground as they moved about. Riki observed them as he made his way through this flaxen forest of magnificence. He was drawn to them like the darkness seeking the comfort of the light in order to confirm its existence as the opposite of the two worlds. He came alive when he was in their presence; in the presence of Iason. Darkness could only exist in the embrace of light, just like bliss was the contrary of sadness – never emancipated from its opposite or it would never exist. Just like Riki. He couldn't live without worshiping his icon and nestling into the heat and love he radiated. He would always belong to Iason and never exist as a separate part or he would wither and die from this source of life that kept him whole and complete. The kisses he drank were flowing through his veins to keep him alive.
When the world came crashing down, mid-flight, he had realized that Iason was the only one to breath life into his soul. Iason was the heaven that shined down on him like a savior from the divine side of life – descending from on high to chase the darkness from Riki's heart that kept him a prisoner in Ceres. Iason was all he had waited for all his life but had never quite realized it. He watched his beloved Blondie as he mingled among his own, but never too distant to cast a concerned look towards Riki. The mongrel smiled to ensure the Master that he was all right and not alone even if he was standing abandoned among hundreds of people. As long as he had Iason he would never be lost – ever. Iason would illuminate the path before him and he would always find his way home – back to the heart of Iason; that heart, which contained the essence of life and made the Sun rise after a cold night. It harbored the very meaning to Riki's existence and he was devoured by that unbearable love that slipped him into silent bliss that would keep them intertwined far beyond the hands of Death. Nothing in the essence of the Creation could separate love so pure – so overwhelming – so Divine. They had reached for each other and found themselves past the boundaries of the mortal world and touched the face of God.