" As the princess cried for her handsome knight, moonlight suddenly fell upon a distant silhouette of a familiar looking heavy amour."
Philomel read the story out loud as Little One lay on the grass, listening to the story and making small babbling every once in a while wanting to have his input on the story. As the sun reaches its peak suddenly the purple barrier started flickering. Philomel instantly noticed and quickly close the storybook, rushing to slip an arm around Amon's shoulder and lift his upper body up. She grabbed Darzirak placing the sleeping demon onto Amon's chest.
The barrier finally disappears and the three of them fell onto the ground with a thump. Amon lets out a soft groan but drowsiness took hold of him, his head spun as he struggles to open his eyes. He could see Philomel vaguely and dreamt that he got up. It felt real to him which only made him even more shocked when he realized he hasn't moved. Soon it all didn't matter as everything faded into black and sleep took over him again. Philomel gently laid him back onto the ground.
" Well, looks like they will be asleep for much longer."
Philomel shrugged as she pulled out an apple from her satchel and bit into it. Little One seeing food quickly crawled up to her and drape himself over her lap.
" Ah, right. I think we still have a little stew left. Hopefully, you're old enough to handle some solid. "
Philomel awkwardly said for the 10th time, 3 days after Amon noticed Little One had grown a tooth, Little One finished his last bottle of milk. Amon and Philomel improvise a lot making blueberry juice, potato soup, and other types of liquid food they could shove into a bottle to fill Little One's belly.
Philomel pulled out the bottle from her satchel passing it to Little One. Little One instantly holds the bottle and started drinking from it without the help of Philomel. Something that Little One had learned to do since the 2 days they ran out of milk. Philomel picks up her new book and opens it to a certain page.
" Look, see this is the Princess, and riding next to her, is her knight in shining armor."
Philomel explain as she showed Little One the illustration. It showed a beautiful lady with golden curls riding a white steed next to a full black armor knight. Little One started at the painting within the book with a vague expression.
" Isn't she pretty?"
Philomel asked with a smile and Little One nodded causing her to laugh as she pats the baby's head.
" Now where were we?"
Philomel hummed as she held her apple in her mouth and flip the pages to where she last stopped. Philomel then continues to read the "Starlight's Guide".
The tale was about a bodyguard knight due to internal issues of the Kingdom and power struggle every one of noble blood was aiming for the throne. This endangered the Princess's life who was next in line for the throne. To keep the princess safe, they had to flee the kingdom, leaving the kingdom in the evil hands of her uncle to rule. They go on a long journey, gathering people to join the Princess's army to fight back for her crown. With her charm and inspiring words, she manages to get many on her side. In the end, the story ends with a huge battle, where the knight sacrifices his life to protect the Princess. He saves her life and makes her dream come true since the princess regains her crown and Kingdom thanks to him.
Philomel after reading the whole book couldn't help but swoon over the heroic Knight that risked everything to make the person he loves, dream come true.
" Awww!! Isn't he a dream boat?! That's what it means to be a true hero! That's what it means to prove your love to another!"
Philomel chimed to Little One as she held the book to her chest and lay down on the grass. Little One silently lay still draped over Philomel's lap as he watched Philomel. Darzirak suddenly started kicking and crawling on the ground. Philomel noticed and sat up.
" Darzirak?"
She called out as she reaches out and touches his cheek just to notice it felt wet. She turns her hand to see blood, Darzirak was crying out, blood. Philomel instantly turned to Amon fearing for the was doing the same but thankful he was just sleeping normally.
" What's the point? What's the point? What's the point? What's the point?"
Darzirak started mumbling as his kicking speed increased.
" WHAT'S THE POINT?!"
Darzirak suddenly screamed out as he leap up to his feet, heavily breathing before breaking down in sobs.
" Darzirak..."
Philomel whispers out his name in utter shock as she watched Darzirak's small frame crumble to the ground sobbing softly to himself.
" Zord... why?... why must you?"
Darzirak muttered to himself softly as he cried out blood. Philomel's gaze never left Darzirak as her hand moved to Amon, slowly shaking him.
" What's the point of living, if it isn't with you?"
Darzirak asked himself, his body slowly melts into shadow form and he disappeared.
" Hmmm?"
Amon sleepy questioned as he slowly got up.
" Probably a terrible way to greet someone right after they wake up but..."
Philomel trails off as she showed her bloody hand to Amon.
" I think you broke your demon."
Philomel repeated her conclusion in a stunned way as her brain was still processing what has just happened.
" I did what now? "
Amon questioned sleepy, still extremely dizzy from the sleep, he finally notices the blood on Philomel's hand.
" Mel! You're hurt?!"
Amon exclaimed as he gently touches Philomel's wrist. His other hand reached for his satchel and pulled out the water bottle.
" Oh, I'm not hurt at all. Darzirak was crying out, blood and I happen to touch it. "
Philomel shook her head and allowed Amon to wash away the blood with some water.
" Darzirak was crying out blood?"
Amon tilted his head, a little weirded out by the thought but at the same time confused.
" Yeah, it was pretty freaky. I didn't know demons could have emotions."
Philomel nodded.
" Emotions?... Ah! So that's why he wanted my blood!"
Amon exclaimed as he finally realized what had happened.
" Why did he want your blood?"
Philomel wondered out loud.
" My grandfather told me, all Demons were once humans. Exinious and Helder were annoyed by Lexi Bathory, who always blamed them for humans doing bad things. During the God war, Exinious and Helder decided to own it, and make it their banner. If the other gods wanted them to be evil then they truly wanted to show the other gods what pure evil was. Exinious created demonic energy and all humans chosen by Helder were infused with the Demonic energy turning them into demons.
Their body and mind may change but never the demon's subconscious. This is why many young demons have human features with a few exceptions. Only those who forget that they are human, lose all their human features. There's only one thing a demon never truly forgets and that is the habit of facial expressions. Even though they don't feel emotions or completely forget what emotions are. Their muscle memory will never forget to smile or laugh or frown. Demons do not notice it but no matter how warped they are they will always have at least that.
Darzirak is an ancient demon but unlike other demons, he carves certain memories into a crystal, so that he never forgets the things he wants to remember. He calls it his heart since he always keeps it protected inside himself. A magical crystal, that allows him to relive his memories by dreaming. This is why he forms a tenancy agreement with my family so that he can relieve a part of his life with the help of my family dreaming for him. "
Amon explains as he ate an apple and pats Little One's back who was now draped over Amon's lap.
" Okay that... actually explains why he is so obsessed with dreaming. But ... again... why did he need your blood?"
Philomel repeated the question, making Amon realize he went off track.
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