A Darkening World And A Sleepy Protagonist Chapter 11 (Unedited)

“Who is there?” Mismatched eyes scan the trees around him, searching for something not yet in sight. In the dark, something was there, looking at Azarias with a curious gaze. 

Once Azarias turned around his eyes instantly landed on the figure. They then widen in surprise as they took their appearance in, this was another human being such as he and Neal. His surprise came from not expecting to bump into others like Neal and him, after all when living with Neal the only others he saw were the animals. 

Despite it being dark Azarias could see this person quite well. The person being slim, tall, much taller then Neal was, and with heavily tanned skin which made their short cut bright blond hair all the more eye catching. Another difference of them compared to Neal was those slightly pointed ears and eyes as green as the forest around them. 

“I am Alik. Who may you be youngling? What are you doing out here alone in the woods? It is not safe for those as young and small as you.” The voice held a heavy accent of some kind, every ‘o’ he spoke was dragged out slightly longer then necessary and every ‘a’ sound was replaced with a ‘air’ sound. Despite this he spoke each word at a fair and slow pace as if to make sure the words got across properly and were not mistaken for another.

Forest green eyes look around, trying to see where this child’s guardian may be. Wondering if in all these years a new civilization was created in the lands all but forgotten by many.

“We are Azarias. What do you mean ‘not safe?'” Azarias saw no threat from the woods, after all he felt so at home out here how could he see it as dangerous?  What was their to fear? He really could not understand. 

“This is the land of the giant wolves. They are very territorial and if they catch anyone in their lands they will tear them apart. A child like you has no chance of escaping them, let alone be able to scare them off” The stranger steps towards the child, coming more into the moonlight. 

He had a very big ‘traveler’ vibe, although his height was not normal in human standers, and neither were his ears. His feet are bare without shoes, which was another odd thing, but Azarias did not find any of this odd at all. What was their to be odd about it? This was simply another living being standing in front of him, whos only strange thing was this air about him that drew Azarias closer to him.

Something about him made Azarias very curious of the man who looked no older then 28, he found himself wanting to know why it was he felt so drawn to him. 

“If it is so dangerous, then why are you out here?” Azarais was not frightened by the mention of these ‘giant wolves’. He didn’t understand what they were, but he felt he had no need to worry of anything born of this land. 

Alik gave a small laugh, as if amused by the child’s question.

“I have traveled these lands before, they do not frighten me. I am also a lot older then you child, and know of many ways to evade danger. If I did not, than I would be long dead by now” 

Azarias looks the person over once more, wondering what traveling exactly was but as he thought on it he found himself somehow knowing what it meant. 

Traveling, such a fun thing! How could he have not known what it was? To travel, to see the world unbound by anything and to do whatever he pleased. However to travel would mean to leave home, when he thought about Neal he felt that was not an easy thing to do.

“Why do you travel?” Their must be a good reason to travel, although for Azarias just to see things and fly freely seemed to be the best thing about it, why need any other reason?

“Because I must. I am doing so in place of a good friend who can not.” His tone changes to a sad one, as if he were having a flashback in the middle of speaking of old memories with this child.

Azarias is very confused by this, looking up at the man with confusion filled eyes. He traveled because he had to, for a friend? 

“Do you not like traveling?”

“I do not hate it. Its just..I only every became interested in it do to how much my friend dreamed of doing so” Alik was unsure why he was sharing such things with a child who looked no older then five, but he felt something about this child that made him feel incredibly comfortable around him. It reminded him of how he felt in his homeland, the place all of his kind felt the strongest and safest.

It was strange to feel this was with a lost chid, who seemed abandoned the more it seemed less likely for civilization to be starting again here. This small child abandoned in such a dangerous place, Alik could not help but feel pity for the poor thing. Human beings can be so cruel. 

Alik looks the child over, wondering how  long he has been left here but paused when he notices the scales that seemed to be apart of his skin. 

That…that is odd. He had not seen such traits in a child in hundred of years, could this child have some dragon blood in him? That was possible, although he had not seen the DNA so prominent before. Usually it was pretty nonexistent, and if it did show it would rarely. 

“Your friend?” So you did not have to travel alone. ” Why are you traveling if they are not with you? Why fulfill someone else’s dream?” Why not do what you wanted? It made no sense to Azarias. 

“I feel the most connected with him this way, and he is always so happy to revive a souvenir from me…well was.” Alik fiddles with something in his pocket, his stomach twisting around with his heart as he thought about this important person. He has collected many souvenirs, yet the only place he can bring them is the ruins where that person once lived. 

“Souvenir?” Azarias finds himself very curious of what this was, an excited feeling filling in his stomach tot he point he felt a bit ill. His eyes now match in a silver color, glowing softly under the moon light. 

Seeing the sparkle in the boys eyes Alik felt a tug at his heart. He fished into his pocket and pulled out a long transparent flute with pretty detailing of feathers around it, made from a type of crystal that light went through and shined brilliantly. He held it in a way the boy could see easily. 

“This is a special flute I got from the city of Crystalis, made by a very special carver. It took a lot to get it since things like money don’t persuade people there.” His eyes glazed over while he stared down at the flute, as if caught up in all the memories it brought with it. 

“I was excited to bring this to him because he told me how much he loved wind instruments, however many tended to break after he used them for awhile so he always needed to keep getting new ones. Something from this crystal is a lot more durable, so I was sure giving him this would make him really happily. Especially when made from a piece of  land he had never stepped on before.” Alik looked over to the child who had awe in his eyes, looking as if he were staring at a great treasure.

What was it that compelled Alik to reveal this important thing to a strange child? Perhaps after holding everything in for so long he felt he wanted to share his pain to someone willing to listen, someone who gave him such a similar feeling to that friend of his.

“It is so pretty. Are you bringing it to him now?” Azarias looks to him with a innocent gaze, not quite understanding the past tense used by Alik. 

“Yes…well no. He is no longer here to receive it. I have been carrying around and was thinking of bringing it to the last place I ever saw him..” Not that he would be able to see the excited expression of his friend when he dropped it off. After so long carrying it, continually getting sucked in by memory lane it was time to leave it and begin to put it all in the past.

“You are bringing it somewhere, but not directly to your friend?” This confused Azarias even more then before. After all, he went to so much trouble for that friend just to leave it somewhere, it didn’t seem right. Especially with something that looked so pretty and important. “Can…can We hold it?” If this person was getting rid of it anyway it wouldn’t hurt to ask to hold it would it? Besides he really wanted to look at this flute more closely. 

Alik was not surprised by Azarias’s desire to hold the flute, after all it did catch a lot of attention as the beams of moonlight shone through it. He looks down at it for a moment, a bit hesitant but soon decided to let the child hold it. After all he was going to need to be able to let go of the object soon anyway, so what harm was it to let the child look at it? Besides those excited eyes that looked up at him hopefully, he really couldn’t help himself.

“Alright” As he passes over the flute a very strange satisfying feeling came over him. With it he couldn’t help but soften his gaze as Azarias brought the flute closer to his eyes, lips curved up in a smile. It was surprising to see the child hold the flute so gently as if he were afraid of breaking it. The child very careful even without a single warning from Alik to be careful, the child was already treating it very gently. 

Azarias is filled with excitement. Having this flute in his hands made him extremely happy, he couldn’t help turning it around to examine the fine detailing on it. He soon found himself bringing the flute up to his lips, his hands automatically going into the proper position to hold the flute. It looked as if he were about to play, but instead traced his fingers over the several holes first, shutting his eyes and enjoying the strange but familiar feeling. 

Then he sucks in a breath of air, standing up straighter as he began to play a slow and gentle melody. His body knew what to do, even though he had never seen a flute once in his life since he was born not to long ago. 

He stood there playing, a soft breeze going by that seemed to circle around him as he played. Some leaves picked up from the ground and followed the circle of air, a few fireflies beginning to light up as well making the scene feel even more unreal. 

Alik is at a lost for words, staring at the scene in disbelief as he felt an ache in his heart. What was this? This song was so familiar, and the way the child played in no doubt this was exactly like his friend! Rather then the child, he saw in front of him that silver haired man whom was always appearing and disappearing without a single sound, the only trace the faint sound of a bell that would ring once and awhile. 

He fell onto his knees without realizing it, tears burning at the corners of his eyes blurring his vision as he stared upon this child. When he thought about it, wouldn’t he have reacted the same way upon receiving the present? So excited by it he would begin to play it right away, blessing his ears with a sound only he could produce so flawlessly. A song not written in any books, that could only be learned through direct teaching if you wanted it to sound right.

Not that Alik had any luck with such things, despite his species great skill for music he was not to good with anything besides singing. Oh and how tempted he was to begin singing along to the sound of this flute, shut his eyes and allow himself to be swallowed by his memories, this nostalgic feeling. 

“Faris” The name left his lips in a single whisper. The name he knew his friend by, a name he had only uttered to himself whenever caught up in his memories.

The flute playing stopped suddenly, the breeze becoming still. Azarias opens his eyes and looks over with two faintly glowing silver eyes at Alik. 

“Thank you, Alik.” His tone was different from before, sounding a lot more clear and was in a whisper. It sounding as if every word was carried to Alik by the wind. 

Alik moves to stand up, looking away a moment as he tries to compose himself once more before he started hallucinating the child as his friend any more. The single second he looked away only to look back and see the child right in front of him, holding the flute out towards him.

“You must have seen a lot of places, We are envious of such things.” The child looks over at Alik longingly at the idea of seeing different places. Traveling around seemed like such fun! Land all made up of crystal, how amazing that would be to see!

“Would…would you like to come with me?” Alik takes the flute from his hands, then suddenly blurts this out without a second thought. This child seemed abandoned here anyway, and to play the flute like that…he wanted to here more. He came out here to forget that friend yet here he was wanting to cling onto the one who reminded him so much of him. 

He felt afraid if he left the child here he would disappear as well just as his friend did on that trip so long ago.

“Really! You will take Us with you? We can go?” Azarias began to bounce on the soles of his feet excitedly, a small light beginning to appear where the tattoo of an anklet was on his ankle. His hair also had become fully silver, leaving no trace behind of the sapphire before. 

Alik felt he would not regret this decision, giving a confirming nod which made the child look even more excited and full of glee. Not giving a single reaction to the appearance change, after all he thought he was still hallucinating and maybe it was all apart of his mind trying to see that child as Faris. 

“Then yes!! We will go with you!!” Not a single hint of hesitance was in his words, instead he looks around wondering which direction they would head in first. 

“Keep close to my side child, I will be sure to protect you and teach you many things with our travels” Alik unknowingly became excited himself. After traveling along so long, having someone with him as it should have been so long ago made him feel complete. 

He offers a hand to the child whom takes it happily, willingly following him along as they began to move on from this area. 

Azarias turns his back to the direction ‘home’ was, not giving a second thought as he looked forward to traveling with Alik. What sights would their be to see? What kind of people could he meet? This was the start of an adventure he felt he had been waiting for, for a very long time. Whatever was holding him back then was gone now, finally free to do as he pleased. 

His mind is filled with the future, wondering what he would see and experience. Their was no room for anything else.

–

The sound of a bell jingles in the air making Azarias freeze in place. Rather then look down to the silver anklet dangling on his ankle, he instead turns his head to look back.  Despite all the trees and that in the way he could somehow still see the little home Neal was currently still resting in. 

Alik felt a tug and came to an erupt stop, looking over at what caused it. He saw the child still holding his hands looking behind him with a frown forming on his lips.

“What is wrong Azarias?” He askes, wondering what caused the child to stop so suddenly. 

“We..We can’t go” Azarias stated while letting go of Aliks hand, making him feel as if everything that was beginning to mend together had suddenly fall apart again.

The child didn’t want to come with him. Why? Their was nothing for him here. 

“Why?” He asked exactly what he was thinking, eyes locked onto Azarias as he looks back over at him. The silver beginning to return as it once was as the others returned as well. 

“Because We can not leave him, traveling is something We have wanted for a long time but…leaving him is not good, We can’t do that. ” Azarias could not leave Neal, the one who took care of him and made him feel so safe and content. No matter how much traveling sounded so amazing, it was not worth it at the cost of leaving Neal behind. 

Meanwhile Alik was in thought about Azarias’s change in his decision. So their was someone else, did that mean their was a home near here of some kind? If their was a parent to this child, or guardian of some kind truly there then Alik could not try convincing the kid to come with him. After all if he were that guardian and suddenly that person was gone..while he understood the feeling, he couldn’t do that to someone else.

“You sure? You are out here alone. Surely it would be better traveling with me” Yet he still tried as it did not feel right leaving this child.

“Yes, We are sure.” Azarias smiled up at Alik, seeming quite happy with his decision. “Now We must go. Thank you for allowing Us to play the flute.” With that the child ran off, disappearing into the trees. 

This left behind a very conflicted Alik who was unsure of leaving the child, so secretly he began to follow behind to see if their really was someone here for the child.

Azarias did not take long getting back to the home, rushing inside and over to Neal who laid sleeping in the bed. Despite his rushing he made no sound as he ran, only slowing down once he reached the bed so he could stop and crawl up onto the bed beside Neal. 

He wiggled himself into the blanket, grabbing ahold of one of Neals arms and pulling it over him. Once he got into a comfortable enough position he looked over at Neals face with a soft smile. 

The light hair looking soft and messy from sleep as it always did. Eyelids fluttering slightly but remained closed, Neal shifting his head slightly as if he were trying to nuzzle his face more into the pillow his head rested on. The scent of lavender fills Azarias’s nose making him relax in his arms instantly.

Yes, this was the best place to be. 

He reaches a hand out to gently stroke Neals cheek with a small hand before leaning over to nuzzle his nose against Neals before resting his head against the pillow and shutting his eyes. It didn’t take long to fall asleep in Neals arms, then again it never did. 

A shadow gazes in on this scene through the window, quiet as it watches Azarias fall asleep. This scene had not been one he had been expecting, he kind of hoped it would be a situation where he could take the child with him, however this scene made it not so. He could not put these two through what he had been, even though having that child with him made him feel something he had not in a long time since his friends passing.

He came into the house, careful to be quite as he came into the bedroom and glanced to them once more. Such a sweet scene, although it was strange to see something like this in the middle of giant wolves territory. Just what was it that kept any from coming over here? It seemed strange but Alik did not question it to much, instead he turned to the night stand and set down something along with a piece of paper. 

“I wish you well Azarias, in my travels I hope we meet again” He spoke softly while gazing at the two on the bed before making his leave. If fate wish it then they would cross paths again, hopefully.

Maybe then he could have a chance of asking him again to join him in his travels. 

–

(Example of when Alik was speaking, incase anyone is curious. I find its fun trying to say it out loud to see how it would sound.

“I airm Airlik. Whooo mairy yoooou be yoooungling? Whairt airre yoou doing oout here airlooone in the wooods? It is noot sairfe foor thooose airs yooung airnd smairll airs yoou.”

“This is the lairnd oof the giairnt woolves. They airre very territooriairl airnd if they cairtch airnyoone in their lairnds they will teairr them airpairt. Air child like yoou hairs noo chairnce of escairping them, let alooone be airble to scairre them ooooff.”

‘I hairve trairveled these lairnds befoore, they doo not frighten me. I airm airlsoo air loot oolder then yoou child, airnd know oof mairny wairys too evairde dairnger. If I did not, thairn I wooould be loong deaird by noow.”

“Becairuse I must. I am doooing sooo in plaice of air gooood friend whoo cairn nooot”

“I doo not hairt it. Its just I oonly ever becairme interested in it doo too hooow much my friend dreairmed ooof doooing sooo.”

And you can pretty much guess how the rest would be from this.

Also hope you enjoyed the chapter! Over 3000 words, usually keep to about 2000 per chapter but eh more does not hurt.)