" Taking a detour is alright as long as you face the leap of faith after that. "
Amon's voice rings throughout the darkness, Darzirak hearing those words couldn't help but find himself back in the past.
Even with his eyes wide open, he still could see it all like it was happening right in front of him. Like it was his reality, a reality where nothing could be changed.
[Recalling engraved memory 1]
" Where do I dream?
Can I even dream?
Must I only believe what's laid out before me?
Must I always find myself back in time?
Can I choose my memories as a reality?
Can make my dreams, my reality?"
Darzirak wonders as he slowly lays back down on the soft grass, gazing up at the starry sky.
" Must you always be doom and gloom?"
An old man chuckled as he slowly closes the distance between them with the help of his walking cane.
" No, but you should. That's the meaning of your name."
Darzirak turned to look at the old man with a grin as the old man slowly sat down next to him.
" Doom and gloomy, Zord. Never found happiness in that name, never found peace in it either."
Zord huffed at his own name, ending his sentence with a scoff.
" If you haven't noticed, you would also find your life force in the name. Neglect it anymore and you'll fade out of existence."
Darzirak reminded but he knew that nothing he said now could ever change Zord's mind. The demon had enough and just wanted his soul to be returned back to hell. Be stripped of his memories and personality, return back to the source within the earth's core. Where the wheels of time would give his soul a fresh start, a soul that was free to be taken by any god and be reborn as a new existence.
" Darzirak, the envious dreamer... Don't you ever find that name tiresome? Aren't you sick of playing the same old tune over and over again?"
Zord asked as he lay down next to Darzirak. His sharp maroon eyes stared into Darzirak's ruby-red eyes. A stare, so sharp that Darzirak couldn't help but feel like his friend saw right through him. But then Zord smiled and almost instantly Darzirak felt acknowledged, accept, and respected. Darzirak felt more than at ease, he felt Zord truly saw him for the darkness Darzirak is and didn't shy away.
" I do. Which demon wouldn't? Even though it's in my nature to be envious, even though Helder himself picked me after seeing I was the envious human in the whole world at the time. After decades of singing the same old tune, even I would want a change of pace but I do not wish to turn back human and die."
" Do not wish it or fear it? Darzirak, I see you. I know who you were, I know who you are. You can't hide anything from me, old friend."
" Who doesn't fear it? Everyone in this universe fears death! Even the gods themselves. You have gone through death before don't you fear it too? Don't act like you don't. You may be able to see me but I see you too. I hate it when you do that. "
Darzirak frowned which only made Zord chuckle. Darzirak glared at his friend as he waited for Zord to stop laughing. It took Zord a while but he eventually did and did his best to stop laughing at Darzirak's angry face. Zord turns away from Darzirak, gazing at the stars above.
" I do fear death but I will not allow fear to stop me from my goals."
" Must inner peace be that important to you? You could choose anything in the world why choose to pursue that?"
" Because it's all that matters."
" Our friendship is all that matters to me."
Darzirak voice out. Zord finally met Darzirak's gaze.
" Then I hope you would befriend me again in the next life."
Zord smiled, his old face wrinkled with such happiness that Darzirak almost didn't recognize him. For the first time, Darzirak saw his friend truly happy.
"Doom and gloom never did suit him."
Darzirak thought to himself with a smile.
" What's the rest of your envious dream for today? Won't you tell it clearly to me, so I remember you exist?"
" My envious dream is only for my Lord of the underworld Helder to hear and remember I exist, not for you... But just for today, I'm feeling generous and will allow you to have the honor of remembering me."
" Oh, how generous."
Zord sarcastically commented as he rolled his eyes. Darzirak couldn't help but laugh and upon hearing Darzirak's laugh, Zord couldn't help but laugh along with him.
" Gaze upon the sky,
from darkness turns to light
embers of another day burns away
wheels of time how they spin
changing away all I know
one day when I look at myself
can I even recognize?
The only familiarity I find are within the sky
as the moon and sun, continue on
their endless lover's dance
Is this the dream?
Is this reality?
Does it all even matter?
Within this cycle of time
that keeps on turning
Grim reaper lurks within the shadows
My trembling shaking hands
avoids his path as much as it can
Braver one standing tall
greeting death with a smile and a hug
finally sprouted wings and flew
Under the sun the brave one shall spend the rest of his days
Even if I was the Braver one's shadow
I won't even amount to a third of his courage
Darkness is all that I am
Darkness was all that he was
Yet there he goes making his dreams into his reality
Here I go, cuffing myself to the shadows
My trembling hands, finding ease in the cold shackles
hidden away from the boney grip of death
Knowing just that,
I understand how much it matters,
not to people
not to the world
but to him
a dreamer that grasps his dream
a dreamer, dreaming with his eyes wide open
a dreamer dreaming his reality."
" Yeah, it definitely doesn't suit you."
" What doesn't?"
" Darzirak the envious dreamer. Darvirak, the free dreamer, suits you much better."
" You know, changing one letter in my name doesn't change the meaning of my name."
" It does as long as you believe it. If you believe it then it's yours. I believe in you, I'll never stop believing in you, and I'll never give up on you. So, don't give up on yourself. Throughout the centuries, if you only can remember one sentence about me. I hope you'll always remember this one."
" Meh, easier to find you in the next life and ask you to remind me."
" Hey! Not even I might remember this in my next life! Heck! I won't even remember that I ever existed in the next life! You better remember it!"
Zord ordered as he sat up and pulled Darzirak upright just to shake Darzirak back and forth.
" Huh? Remember what? Zord is a rain cloud that always brings doom and gloom? Ok, I'll remember that."
" Not that!!"
Zord exclaimed and Darzirak instantly burst out with roaring laughter at his friend's expression.
" Sorry old friend, look like I have completely forgotten it. Maybe you should just stay by my side and help me remember."
Darzirak seriously said in a joking tone as he grab a hold of Zord's hand, pulling Zord closer.
" You... truly mean that... Darzirak... set me free and I promise to return to you. No matter in what form, I shall always return. No matter in what life, I shall always be your friend, your brother, and on your side. Well, maybe not so much on the last one... Depends on the situation."
Zord promised as he holds Darzirak's hand.
" You better, I was your coffee maker! In the next life, you shall be my coffee maker... Or better yet! A butler!"
Darzirak says with a sad smile as he lets go of Zord's hand slowly.
" Keep talking like that and I'll make you cough out every penny to keep me working for you."
Zord threatened with a laugh.
" Zord... I do not believe in the gods answering prayers but I pray each passing day for you to change your mind about return to the source..."
Darzirak softly says as he stares at the distance between his hand and Zord's hand, wishing that the distance would never grow and that Zord would always be just a touch away. Darzirak hoped in his heart as he takes Zord's hand in his, entwining his fingers between Zord's.
" Darzirak..."
" Should the day ever come... that we aren't together. You will continue to shine like Gold, in my memories."
" *Chuckle* So desperate to keep me, even if it's in a dream?"
" If me dreaming about you keeps memories of you alive, then let it be the only dream I ever dream for all eternity."
Darzirak whispered into Zord's joined hand before kissing it.
Zord
[These are the first of many memories engraved upon Darzirak's heart.]
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