Cinco Storia Book One: Awakened

Chapter 6

The one night had turned into two days, putting the Council of Blondies with a realm to be responsible for on edge and restless as they await for Iason to break his silence regarding the matter of his return. Raoul had the issue weighing heavily on his mind. Give me tonight... Iason hasn't lived to his promise thus far.

The earlier meeting with the Council had turned into one heated argument as the other Blondies struggled amongst themselves. Chaos was inevitable, as everyone seemed to have a separate opinion but which in the end were aimed towards a similar outcome.

Raoul recalled how Orphe contested, "This madness needs to stop! Iason is completely jeopardizing what we have been striving so hard to restore! He's placed all our plans at a standstill! Even Eos has lost its usefulness."

"What would you want us do? Force our troops into the Tower as if to apprehend a criminal?" Gideon retorted. "This is Iason we're talking about!"

"Iason who's apparently not himself! Someone needs to bring him to his senses."

It was Raoul who had to be the arbiter of sorts once more. "You two, stop that..." They settled, although the quarrel was far from over. Raoul looked at everyone at the table. "Let's give him what he needs for now. At least he has not shut the systems down. We should be thankful that Tanagura has already been stabilized."

"But until when?" Orphe sighed.

Gideon was perhaps just as exhausted as everyone. "Perhaps you can try send him a message. Call him. Tell him to talk with us Raoul..."

But Raoul has tried. He had sent Iason a plethora of messages that the other just had not responded to, making it perhaps the most unnerving. Somehow, despite being the best of friends, Raoul wasn't certain he still had his friend's loyalty or trust any more.

Iason...please...

After the meeting, Raoul resigned himself to visiting the office Iason used to occupy, looking out towards the view of the Ocean, wondering if there would be an end to this and asking the same questions everyone had. He would certainly want to know what Jupiter had done to both Master and Pet, and the implications it will have on Tanagura's ancient, seemingly fortified rules. But then again, if he was correct and Iason had become Jupiter, then these may no longer matter. That or things will merely become even more complicated.

I love him Raoul...Love. Iason was and is still in love. Was it the reason why they'd survived the catastrophe and even Jupiter's scorn?

Raoul spent nearly an hour just pacing back and forth, thinking of a million things that could go wrong if Iason finally decided to call it quits. A year of absence. A year spent dreaming in a cocoon and like butterflies emerging suddenly. He could choose to end this madness in a number of ways Raoul might never even figure out. What if he's driven to the edge and finally just...disappears with perhaps the only person Iason might choose over all of Tanagura?

Raoul continued to ponder on these ideas, putting a scientific approach into each thought that crossed his mind although his mind might as well been bordering paranoia. Iason disappeared for a year and cast them all into the shadows. Jupiter died and refused to acknowledge anyone; the one he did he'd wrapped and stored away in Dana Burn, preserving him for the span of time that Tanagura was suffering. Heavy was the burden left. Raoul was without rest from the responsibilities. Iason couldn't possibly be considering passing it all back to him again was he?

His hand fisted. He wanted to believe they can still emerge from all of this. If only he could speak and reason with Iason.

Belatedly Raoul realized a beeping somewhere had chosen to disturb his reverie, and was almost cursing when he reached the switch and turned the comlink on. He was surprised to hear that familiar voice, which, despite its natural cold and coolness, was tinged with a sadness he'd earlier seen at the Tower. It rather surprised Raoul but nonetheless pleased him to finally hear from Iason.