The Phoenix of the Glacier

There was once a young boy in a cold and distant tower. Hair white as snow and eyes blue as a glacier, he spent many of his days reading books of adventures had in lands and times of old. He would study both history as well as how to run a business. His mother was often overseas and his grandmother was always with her sister going to galas and events. His crisp attire was made for events he was never allowed to speak at, only observe. When he would seek to see the city, a driver and security detail would be assigned and there was no deviation from the course. No gaffes. No friends, as the common folk were always either leeches or liabilities. That’s what he had been told. An icy cage from which he had to observe the world.

He craved stimulation. Meaning beyond a glad bauble, but he dared not act it out. His family was all he had. Any stray action could cost not just him but his entire family everything. All their status and connections and with that their resources would follow. He would often sleep, not simply to pass time but because he could be whatever he wanted in his dreams. A hero, a villain, a monster, or just a quiet scholar.

Despite this, his own life stagnated, frozen perfectly still in this routine of propriety. He sighed as he pondered this, riding in the back of the armored sedan. It was only as they turned off from their intended route that his eyes sharpened. He could hear his great aunt Viola’s advice in his head, ‘Too many rich kids get snagged because they ask questions and fall asleep at the wheel. Don’t tip your hand. Prepare in secret. If they are grabbing you, their ambush becomes yours. If they aren’t, you hurt no relations and only you will know.’

As they pulled into an abandoned parking garage, he was already tugging at his left sleeve to prepare his preferred self defense tool. He glanced at his driver in the mirror but they were refusing to look at him. Probably from guilt. As the door opened and the figures in crisp black suits attempted to reach in for him. Good. He allowed the first agent to grab him, and leaned forward to sell he had been successfully grabbed as he pressed his left palm into the man’s abdomen. As the sedative began to spread, the boy struck his throat quietly to prevent any crying out. The boy pushed forward on the crumpling man and cried out in surprise, “What!?”

As the other agents turned and brandished unfamiliar tech. He assumed at first it was Lotus Industries, but the rest of their attire communicated something else. Maybe they contracted these weapons out. Not knowing what they could do, he tried to use what little time he had left to sell it like he was a typical hostage struggle. Quickly checking the pockets of his current shield, he found a device just like theirs. Dear lord did he hope this next part worked. He rolled over the figure and pulled the trigger on one of the hostiles. When a beam of white light came out and the agent only seemed to stagger some, he was confused. When another agent shot him he braced for the pain. 

But there was none. Instead he felt different. Stronger and lighter. Charging another agent, he put his palm into his gut too, turning to use him as a shield. The agent he shot seemed to have grabbed the first attacker and was heading towards their own SUV. Fine. No need to make this worse. He looked at the last two agents who looked confused and without leadership. Popping off two more shots from the oddly recoilless device, hoping it had the same effect and they too seemed to stagger. He did a roll with his current shield and threw him towards the agent’s vehicle. When his personal driver tried to run, he shot him with one of the beams, but the result this time was different. The driver fell limp to the ground.

As he looked with worry upon the man, one of the agents he just shot knocked the device out of his hands and snagged it off the ground before running to the SUV. As they peeled off in the vehicle and the adrenaline wore off, Avario LaBlanc could finally take stock of himself. He felt like he was breathing for the first time. What the hell was that? As he turned to see his driver, the man stood up and stared out of the dark garage to the open street. Just standing there staring. His eyes were glassy and distant.

Avario approached him, placing a hand on his shoulder. His driver wouldn’t turn to look at him. The man sighed, “This is cruel. No way forward or back.” Avario didn’t know what he meant, but recoiled when the man pulled a pistol out from his jacket, pointing it at Avario. The boy recoiled, feeling intense fear for the first time that he could recall. Somewhere he knew Viola had trained him for this, but in this moment, all he could think was how his life could end at any time. He put out his hands to try and calm the situation down, but the eyes of the man held no emotion or recognition. “It was supposed to get me free. Break the chains. I see how simple it was to believe that.” He smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes, “This is a prison I made. I was afraid. But I’m not anymore. Tell my family that I’m sorry I wasn’t stronger.” He fired a grazing shot at Avario’s leg to slow him down, he then smiled as he turned the gun on himself. “Better on my own terms than hers.”

Avario closed his eyes both from the pain and to avoid seeing what the man had done. His ears were ringing but he chose to pretend it was from the beam he had been hit with. Despite what his mind told him, he chose to hope he was wrong. He made his way back to his sedan and began looking for his phone. He had to call someone. As he found it, he had grown lightheaded and passed out from the strain and blood loss.

When he came to in the hospital, his grandmother Violetta was at his side, a gentle smile on her face, “There’s my little scholar.” Avario looked into her soft purple eyes with relief. He hugged her, much to her surprise. Even he was surprised with himself. Such outbursts of emotion were not very dignified, but he couldn’t help himself. He didn’t ask about his driver. He wanted to continue to live in ignorance. Just a little longer, at least until he got himself back together. She hugged him back hesitantly, and sighed with contentment. She eventually broke the hug and gave him a hesitant smile, “Darling Avario, I look forward to a written report of the events that transpired at some point, but given the circumstances, we are afraid you will have to remain in your room once you are back home. At least until we clear these matters up and ensure your safety. Viola insisted and she is correct.”

Avario wasn’t a fool. He could see she was trying to placate him, and she knew it wouldn’t fool him. Everything decent and by arrangement. But beyond that, he saw that something was bothering her. He gave her a hug again and she was again caught off guard. He sighed, “I know, Lady Violetta. I am sorry for being so bold. Forgive me on the grounds of my near death.”

She returned the hug and laughed, “No, Avario. You are fine. I am sorry. I’ve worked so hard to protect you. This was my failure.” She held him close and sighed, “And you may refer to me as grandmother if you desire.”

He nodded and released the hug, locking eyes with her, “I appreciate that, grandmother. As for the report, I’ll do what I can to have that together for you soon. How is Lady Viola doing?”

She hesitated but explained, “We are at a fragile time for our company and so she could not appear here for you.” He nodded as if this was normal but she smiled, “I know you and her are close. Trust me, it is killing her to be unable to visit you here.” He nodded again accepting this. She had trained him for eventualities like this. There was no way that she wasn’t worried. Still, he hasn’t felt like this before. Restraint. Formality. Something had shifted and changed and he didn’t know what it was but these things that once mattered so much couldn’t be further from his mind. Sensing the shift, his grandmother put her hand to his head to check for a fever. Once she did she smiled a little. “You seem to be truly okay.”

He was startled at her comment and she just laughed softly. He cleared is throat and explained, “I don’t feel like it.”

She shook her head and spoke firmly to him, “Now now, just because you don’t feel typical doesn’t mean you aren’t okay. Sometimes there is nothing better than a break to a routine. It gives you a chance to grow in a new direction. Just keep your nose clean and I’m sure it will be okay.”

He looked at her in surprise but nodded. She cupped his cheek for a moment before leaving the room. He looked out the window and for the first time truly began to see the hustle and bustle outside the window. So many living their lives. He tried his best to again, not think of his driver but his mind kept drifting back to it. Thinking about it now, he never got the man’s name. He never asked him how his day was. Never wondered about his personal life. He sat there in somber silence while he considered these things.

He was still pondering them when he returned to his room. Before typing up his report, he wanted to ensure their accuracy so he went to look up the man’s name in the employee database. Hard as he looked, he couldn’t find him. Using what knowledge he had of their systems and programming, he dug deeper. This man had been there for as long as he could remember. There was no way they didn’t have records. The deeper he dug the more he found a freshly buried hole of code. A digital corpse buried where no one would find it if they didn’t know where to look. He tried harder and harder but there was nothing. A man he had never thought of twice was gone forever now that he couldn’t get him out of his head. He knew what this was. The man’s final words. The cold efficiency of the extraction by someone who knew the system as well as he did. But just like in the back of the car he could feel some part of himself trying to cling to his routine. His patterns. In one event all he wanted was a return to his frozen world.

He found himself staring out at the city, considering how many more people he never knew. Never considered. Forgotten. It wasn’t until Viola opened the door with force and a disappointed glare that he snapped to attention. Turning to face her, he spoke crisply, “I am sorry for my delay, Lady Viola. I will have the report ready soon.”

She walked up to him and hugged him in a mechanical and almost intimidating way. Her firm tone seemed to have disappointment within it but her eyes showed genuine care. “Avario. I don’t care about the report. I’ve taken care of the situation. I’m just glad you are okay.” He returned her hug hesitantly. She said all he needed to hear. He knew now.

He asked quietly, “What was his name?” When she looked at him in mild surprise he explained, “I wanted to make sure my report was accurate for Lady Violetta.”

Viola seemed to buy this excuse from him and shook her head. “Don’t worry about that detail, I explained everything to her and we are dealing with that detail. His family will be well cared for.” He nodded, she smiled at him, an appearance of relief on her face. She cleared her throat and stood up proper again. “Avario, I expect you to return to your studies. Bright and early tomorrow.” He nodded and gave a proper bow. She returned the bow and left again. She was always leaving him alone these days.

He turned to look out the window again and a new resolve began forming in his heart. As he was considering this, a knock was at his door and he turned to see a sharply dressed woman bowing in greeting. She smiled at him, “I am sorry for approaching you so late at night. I didn’t want to bother you. May I have a moment of your time?” He wasn’t getting any impression she was up to anything, but he definitely knew she shouldn’t be here. Still, curious as always, he motioned her to join him. She entered and looked at him as if reminiscing before she began what he realized was her pitch, “You are beginning to see the world for the first time in awhile. Seeing the little details you had been numbed to. Injustices buried under your nose.”

He growled, “I don’t know what you want, but it’s worse. I was afraid. The routine was so clean. My books, my stories, my dreams. Then it all goes sideways one time and it becomes messy and unclear.

I still don’t know who those men were.”

She nodded, deep in thought, and then looked out the window at the setting sun. She asked, “I take it you don’t want to live under that fear again, right?” He hesitated and she laughed, “It’s okay. My father once told me that people need a routine. A shelter from the cold world outside their window. It doesn’t make you weak. You just need courage to step into the cold every now and again.”

He nodded, looking out at the sunset himself, “Yeah.” He sighed, “I’ve read so many stories of brave heroes who risked everything to save the innocent. I never thought I would be the evil minister.”

She put her hand on his shoulder and stated, “You were just ignorant. But you are done living with your eyes closed. You have been reborn.” She reached between him and the setting sun as the golden light bathed the world and her hand seemed to shine with crimson light. Eventually, she turned her palm over and in it was a bracelet emblazoned with the likeness of a Phoenix. She looked at it with mild surprise and offered it to him. “Avario Zoge LaBlanc. The power of the Phoenix awaits you if you choose. If you embrace it, your courage will blaze a new path of revolution. The world you have known will be rebuilt with the ashes you create.”

He took it and stared at it for a moment, as if pondering the offer. As the sun finished setting, he went to discuss the situation with the woman, but she was nowhere to be found and his door was closed. He turned the bracelet over in his hands as he considered the situation. It clearly happened, but what had it meant? Regardless, he knew he couldn’t run from these mysteries anymore. But he would have to be careful. If he acted too openly it would only hurt other innocent people. A delicate touch would be crucial as he moved his plan forward.