[center][u][h1]Belivahnn[/h1][/u][/center] [center]Part Five[/center] "It has been a year since their passing, I have looked down upon my city and seen nothing but black for emotion reigns through my soul... Everyone smiles, everyone sees the light of the next day but for me. My hair turns dark, and my brothers and sisters, do their best, and they have tried setting me up with nobles' daughters from those far-out places I have not visited since my crusade across this world. In the time since their death things have gone wrong, but this city is still white behind the dark film of sadness that covers my eyes. I feel him grow near, the one who created me, the god of destruction and death. I know that he is near, not in distance yet, but in the time that he has set for this galaxy. His goals have fallen in line with a parade of destruction. It will still be a long time; those I have been raised with have grown old, and those who raised me have passed into eternal life. I feel them watching me, I feel their souls around me." - Words of Fire 12:86 [hr] It was a years later, he stood on a balcony, and the world was white for all that he could see, lights of eternal fire lit each street, and snow came down gently upon the glassy stones that made his city fortress. Outside he saw the fields of white as snow had accumulated deep outside the city, and he knew that the first true winter since his parents passing had come. "Twenty years my brother." an old gaunt man said behind him, moving beside the Angel, "twenty years since it has snowed, I sense your melancholia has passed for this is a good sign." "I have decided that I would rather see the world through a better light than through poems and dramatic words in a book that the priest's followers read a million times to understand my sadness. It is understood by all who have lost something, I only wish that for a moment I could have them back." "I have given that up, I feel as if I have the power, but I care not to use it... it is unnatural, they were not taken by sword or poison, they were taken by the beauty of nature, and in their last moments before they were buried they were together, and are together eternally. I care not for that, only that their memories are around. Their statues, busts, and paintings have been seen around the city, as well as those lost to us during the wars and many others who died to age." "With you, many here live to sixty, even seventy, before in the stories most people lived to forty if the reached past the age of ten. The beasts of the north have fled this world, and your kingdom has shined through it all, farms and families are scattered, thievery, and murders are almost non-existant, the cults of old have died out and those that wished to keep the old ways out have perished in their senseless burning of Chortle. While the land was blackened for years, you made sure that the beautiful colors of life have refurbished that area. Those families who lost are some of our best servants and writers here now." "Yes... but now my worry is not of that, this world... even without me would be stable, if this world never changed it would be perfect. Simple lives that are fulfilling. We have most of our world secure, only the northern most pole is untamed, and that is because it is unnatural like the hearth of this city. It is still tainted unlike our home, where whispers once spoke to me, now only the memories of our parents remains. But that place all I heard is their scream." "Then do what you have done with our home, and create a beautiful city there upon it, cleanse it with fire and rebuild it." the old man laughed for a moment before finding a seat within the room behind the balcony, "remember when I was young and when the plants tried to eat me... no matter what was planted those maneating things would come back. I haven't seen one here since I was thirty..." "I haven't seen one in a long time, not even in the north... but if you think it will help... I will build a city, in the shape of a phoenix there... the sign of new life to come back, and for those living there that they are safe." [hr] It was the dawn of a new day, and the angel stared at the white stones... He saw nothing, but he knew his mother was right, that the symbol of the phoenix was the final pathway to this worlds salvation. It was upon the metal home he was born in, it was etched in many places throughout his world, and it was a sign that contained the evil which once ran rampid, the cultists of his world feared the image. When he asked why, it was almost a natural instinct to them to fear it. He saw no reason for a symbol so rare to cause someone such distress. He cared not, for the rebellion had failed, and faith was that upon the fire. For fire was life. In his travel around the city as dawn slowly broke over the white stones, he saw something odd, the stones were not white but golden. It sent distress down his spine, and fear racing back up but he felt warmth from it. He saw the golden phoenix of the city he had been building over the past twelve years. His brothers and sisters were dead, but their children continued, and still run much of the world. They still break fast with him, and take care of him for they are family. His warriors in white steel, and dark leather were coming out of their tents, and not one of them moved after seeing the sight that befell them. It was nothing but a golden horizon for an hour as the star which warmed this world overtook the city slowly. "My lord... it is on fire." one of his guardians said in horror. "No... it my mothers gift... look upon the city, and see that it is safe... but the sun has perfected the stone... this is the closest point to the sun... Its warmth is strong..." the angel said quietly as he stared frozen for a moment, almost as if he had seen something or heard someone; there was no corruption, nothing whispering to him, or was there, was there a voice in the back of his head. He knew what he built was right, but this was not a phoenix he had made... it was something else. He had felt sickened. But at that moment the Angel felt something far away, he felt something which had this two-headed bird upon him a thousand times over in gold for that is all he saw. It was a gift from his mother, the gift of seeing what was to come next. And to embrace it. [hr] Two hours after within the cities capital district the right head of the two headed bird. Johannes stood staring at something in the sky, then the ground in front of him, as something unexpected happened, something in armor with tall crowned helmets had appeared in front of him, he had not experienced this, or knew of what it was, but they spoke the language as he did. "Johannes, it is kind to meet you." said a male figure echoing through his helmet before it was removed, and when the helmet was removed the tallheaded, long ears of an Eldari were shown plain and true to the Angel. "I am Illor, and these are my companion's Yrued, and Ialian." he said as he moved his hands over to two other figures, both of them bowing their heads. We have brought food from off world for we are coming to your world. I know bringing food to ones home is the sign of good fortune, and we wish to warn you of something you may know exists in this world. We were sent trusted by those in high honor to warn you of what will come." "He knows Illor, that is why he built this place... to cleanse it of corruption." came a feminine voice from the one known as Yrued, "It is clear he feels it and wishes to rid himself from it. We best not distur-." "My morning rituals have been disturbed already, but you three seem to have come a long way... I know this corruption, but it is gone now... I know what I am looking for, what I feel... But instead, sit, and let us talk... enjoy the moment of peace. I know you come from the heavens, I know you are not the only thing there in the void beyond my sight... However, I wish to explore it for myself, spread my wings, and see it, but that time is not now. In the moment, I can still learn, and listen to you each. I would enjoy it, you each have grace and elegance to your movements, although you had caught me in a moment of thought, I still saw much of what your people are capable of. " With that, he saw the three go, he had grown fond of them, they were intelligent creatures, not as much as he, but they were a welcomed change of pace, the one that could feel and almost divine his words he enjoyed the most. The female known as Yrued, she was kind beneath, but had a thorny coat around her actions and voice. She was distant, but had replies or almost continued sentences before they started. She was engaging, much like the blind priest who helped guide and teach him in his youth had. He wondered if she was around fifty, though he suspected much older, he did not pry to see if this woman was the reincarnation of his old mentor in the body of this Eldari woman. He did not believe that, for he still heard his voice in the capital. He felt them depart, and once again, he was alone. They had brought exotic things to him, as well as seeds from other worlds, and he was told that the fruits would be edible to his people and to the creatures of the world. The members of the envoy each enjoyed the natural way he sent his home city with plants hanging from walls and trees lining avenues. To recreate that here as the final etch to outline the streets of this golden city was something else. He knew the city would be beautiful. It was already a spectacle to be seen, his work was everything to him, and he had done it. He had learned some of them, but they turned the questions back to learn more of him. He felt as if it was an interrogation from all but Illor. He felt they had grown fond of him and his kindness, well, at least Illor, the other two were stoic and disciplined. But after some time, they did become much friendlier. Almost as if he had flipped a switch or convinced them of something. He was just a gentle soul in his heart, and they had realized that in his hopes. He hoped to meet them again; when he looked back up into the heavens, he noticed they were gone and that it was night. A day spent talking to those from another world. Johannes stood, hopefully he could make it downstairs in time for dinner.