Reflection three : Mystic.\ / Pure bloodline. A true elemental. So often, we forget the difference. But… did you ever wonder how a bloodline can remain pure? The royal lines are not branched. So how is it that an elemental arises every generation?

It’s simple, really. There are, after all, four bloodlines. However the child of two bloodlines can never be an elemental. But the grandchild can. It is odd in that way. One would think the breeding of such powerful lines would be a chance answer and a last resort. In truth, it is a well-calculated and oft-practiced solution. A way to make the bloodline pure once again. A kind of dose of purity, I guess.

Every person has an elemental alliance. Two elements, one from each parent. An elemental, one of pure blood, would have the same for both. But what would happen if opposing elements were mixed. Wind and earth. Water and flame. Opposites attract, but at same time, they cancel each other out. That person would never be able to call upon the spirits of the elements.

But what if that person’s parents had been of the pure bloodlines? Well, that is how a mystic is born. \ /“Did you have to tell him?” Pyral ground out the question through clenched teeth as he watched the prince depart. The redhead next to him made no reply.

“Was it really wise, Phoenix? Letting him go like that?” The emperor’s question was much more practical, in truth, since the way back to the audience chamber was anything but simple.

“Hmmm? You mean, sending him off without a guide?” She giggled slightly. “Oohhh, don’t worry, uncle. He’s smarter than he seems. He is the heir to the throne, after all. And really, dear cousin, you’ll have to accept it at some point. You are part of the royal bloodline of Hyperion, no matter how much you may dislike that fact.”

“Obviously, I’m not.” He carefully ran a finger over the diagonal stripes across his face.

“Oh, but you are! He’s right, you know. It is more like four than three.”

“But either way, he’s here, in the city.” As the emperor spoke, the mystic sombered quickly.

“Yes. He is. There is nothing to be done about that. Meanwhile, I think I’ll look into these new elementals. I think wind’s pretty obvious. It’s definitely him. I think… he’s already been named.” She did not acknowledge their looks of surprise. “He’s aura is very strong. And my bets are on this representative from Rhea. She’s a white mage, right? That would go right along. It’s water that bothers me.” She paused for a moment, lost in thought. “I think… I’ll look into it.”\ /“Hi!” Phoenix positively chirped, smiling brightly at the less than thrilled man on the screen. “How are things in water-world, counsel member?”

“Phoenix. What an unexpected pleasure. I would think that you are busy with the conference.” He gave a tight smile. Phoenix beamed.

“Oh, but that’s the joy of having lots of people to order around. You don’t have to do anything yourself. But enough of that.” Abruptly, she seemed to become quite serious. “There is, in fact, a reason I called. What can you tell me about the representative, Mikhail?”

“Mikhail? Don’t tell me he’s already managed to insult someone. What exactly do you need to know and why should I tell you?”

“That’s quite simple. You have to tell me if you want us to stay good friends. And I’d like to know why a kid got sent here.” Phoenix was smiling again, while the counsel member sighed.

“Mikhail isn’t a kid. He’s eighteen.”

“Riiiight.” She stretched out the word, rolling her eyes. “So why him and not someone more… important?”

“You know the situation here. Everyone and his dog is claiming land and waging war. We can’t afford problems with the other kingdoms. So we sent someone unbiased. Mikhail, whatever his disposition, has no alliances with anyone. Only the training grounds, and that’s almost none existent. He’s an idiot, but he doesn’t need to be smart, just smile and nod.”

“Huh.” Phoenix seemed to ponder this for a moment. “Well, then, what about his friend?”

“Alta? She’s his sister. If Mikhail is unbiased, Alta’s just indifferent. That girl has a policy of not taking sides in politics. Wouldn’t get her mad though. She’s got enough fire power to turn a small town into an iceberg.”

“Where’re they from?”

“Hm… Well, I’m not sure… They were raised at the training grounds but I think, I think, they lived near Atlantis. Their parents worked there from what I understand.”

“Thank youu!”

The man only rolled his eyes as the girl waved cheerfully at the screen.\ /‘What the hell am I doing?’

“Oh just visiting!” The doorman smiled at the young man, opening the door wider. Really, it was so cute. Who would have thought the prince of Aeolisia would be so cheerful?

“Come in. I’ll get the representatives.” Zephyr beamed at the man. It never ceased to amaze him how far a smile could go. People really were so simple…

There was no one in the waiting room (or was it the reception room?), so he saw no point of walking around open mouthed. Leaning against a wall, he studied the room. Nothing out of the ordinary. It looked much like all the rooms at the Aeolisian residence. Very expensive and without any real character.

‘So what am I doing here?’ Zephyr sighed. ‘I wanted to talk to the representative. Mikhail, was it?’ He frowned slightly. ‘Elemental… Almost everyone believes that to be little more than a legend. It seems the emperor is not in their number. I wonder… what does this Mikhail believe?’

“He’s not coming.”

Zephyr jumped slightly, pushing himself off the wall at the sound of a voice. Spinning around quickly, he found himself looking at a young woman. ‘Alta,’ his mind automatically provided the name. She was with the representative.

“Eh? Wha’ do you mean? Is something wrong?” He looked at her with a confused expression, studying the girl.

She stood hands on hips, leaning slightly to the right, her expression closed. ‘Hair, brown. Plain. Eyes, blue… Blue-green. Makes sense I guess. Mark, left side. Probably strong in magic. Uniform… none? Well, it’s all blue, but I’ve never seen clothes like that. Interesting…’

“Mikhail isn’t here. He won’t be back for a while.”

“Huh? Where is he?” Zephyr smiled brightly. ‘What could a representative be doing? The opening ceremonies aren’t until tomorrow…’ The girl frowned slightly.

“He’s getting our weapons back. Probably just wanted to walk around with a sabier.” She shrugged slightly, her expression humoring. Zephyr smiled in return. He turned toward the door, leaving. He paused in the doorway, turning to say goodbye to the girl. Her expression had returned to an odd blank.

“But you know… You really shouldn’t do that. It makes so seem ever more of a creep.”

‘… What? …’ For the first time in years, Zephyr was absolutely speechless.\ /Phoenix stretched her hands above her head, trying to get her muscles to loosen up. She’d been shifting through the records for hours now. There was nothing, of that she was sure. The Oceanus royal line had no branches worth exploring. She hadn’t found anything on one Mikhail either, but that was understandable. He had been just a child when Atlantis sank, and most records had been lost then.

She had walked to the audience chamber to tell the emperor about this. He had not been surprised. Well, neither had she.

Walking back to the control room, as she called it, Phoenix had seen Mikhail. It had been pretty amusing really. He had been arguing with the guards and some clerks about returning his weapons. All entering the city had been required to surrender anything sharp or pointed. Mikhail had argued that, with the shadow things attacking, it was unsafe to wander around without any means of defense.

She had stepped in, getting him his sabier and his sister’s spear. Phoenix laughed to herself, remembering his expression. He might have been eighteen, but he looked twelve and acted six. He had practically hugged his “precious saber” and beamed at her.

‘Cute kid, really. And totally honest too. Not a shred of pretence.’

If anyone had seen her then, they would have hardly believe that this was really Phoenix, the fiery-tempered, impulsive and manipulative princess. Stopping in front of the doors, she smiled slightly, tinged with sadness. Sometimes, memories get the best of everyone.

‘… Phoenix! Sister, look! I got a sword! A real sword! Isn’t it great? …’

Slowly, she lay a hand on the doors, leaning her forehead against the cool metal. It was ridiculous, getting so nostalgic. Or was it melancholy? Did it matter? So what if he was here? He wouldn’t risk getting caught…

‘Idiot. Get yourself under control.’

She shoved the doors open and quickly walked in. And froze.

A myriad of glowing red eyes turned toward her, gleaming in the light. They hissed, baring their fangs, and they lunged.

Phoenix screamed.

A dark figure dashed forward, grabbing her arm and pulling her out of the room. As the doors closed once again, the image of innumerable moving shadows, eating away at the crystals, imprinted in her mind.

The doors slammed shut behind them as the stranger pulled her along. Red eyes looked at her, long dark hair dancing behind him. A small smile.

And then he was gone.\ /And viola! Chapter three of the rewrite. Phoenix is a completely new character that will play a pretty significant role. Sorry if this is confusing. It’s taken me a while to get this going, but now things get interesting. Unfortunately, Alta and Mikhail won’t be appearing in the next chapter. Or maybe even the chapter after that. I haven’t really planned it out.

I’m trying to work out my website, but it’s not going so well. But I did add two new pictures.

Oh yes. What should I call our mysterious friend? Any suggestions?