A Darkening World And A Sleepy Protagonist Chapter 17 (Unedited)

The way he trembled as if he had been left out in the ice cold rain brought a smile to rouge stained lips. The type of smile that in no way reached those coal black eyes of his. The eyes of one that had not an ounce of pity or sympathy for the being before him. 

The shivering man knew he was within the den of a great beast whose hunger never faded, and his chances of escape could be compared to trying to find a needle in a haystack. The shivering mans gaze shifted upward to look upon the face of the one whom held his life in his hands. Meeting an ice cold gaze paired along oddly with an amused smirk. 

It really didn’t match, and made a sickening feeling swim within his stomach.

It was hard to imagine someone as old as him would be so afraid of such a young looking man, whom looked to be in his early twenties. He wasn’t particularly large or bulky, well from what he could tell from where he kneeled. Yet despite this, this man, no this evil being, before him made him feel as if his soul was laid out bare before him. As if at any moment he could simply reach out and pull his soul from him, leaving his body a empty husk. 

For this particular person, it was possible. He had felt the fingertips trace the edges of his soul before. He didn’t want to experience that again, it was far to frightening. Even more so the ones he had seen it done completely to. 

This was especially terrifying when you consider demons aren’t ones you should usually be able to take souls from, to reach in and rip it out without harming the main body at all was completely unbelievable. Then to be able to place it back in…

He began to tremble more, unable to speak out a word no matter how much he struggled to make even a single sound. It was difficult because he was afraid. 

“Throw him in the pig pen” A voice that made ones body feel as if ice water was being poured deep inside them filled his ears. 

“W-Wha-” Surprise crossed his features, before all the color seemed to leave his face. He couldn’t utter a single word more before he felt as if he were choking on the air around him. His hands quickly went to his throat to try and relieve the pressure uselessly. Even as he was dragged out all he could think about was what he had done to make him angry. 

–

How he wiggled, the look of surprise in his eyes made him want to laugh. Just because he prolonged his demise didn’t mean it wouldn’t happen, after all men like this he really couldn’t stand. He only let him live longer because it was useful for him.

But now he was no longer needed, and finally he wouldn’t need to look upon his disgusting form no more. 

“Pity to the pigs to have to view such a creature” He spoke as if he did feel bad in some way about it, of course towards the pigs. However the smile upon his lips spoke otherwise, after all it was satisfying to depose of such men. 

The candle flames which lit up the large room flickered as if a sudden breeze pushed against them. It caught his attention, although he was in no hurry to tilt his head forward to look even further down by where his feet were crossed in front of him.

“Lillian, you’ve returned quickly. Not even notifying anyone before entering?” Coal black eyes focus in to look at the little gothic Lolita girl who knelt a few feet away from where he sat in the silver throne. 

“I apologize your Majesty. It is just I felt this was very important to tell you right away” She kept her head bowed, locks of blond hair tied up into twin tails stood out on the dark lack of her black headband. 

He sat up a bit straighter, coal eyes becoming more focused as he looked upon the small girl. 

“Raise your head and tell me what it is.” If she said it was important then he knew enough it would be good to listen. 

The girl raised her head, rose colored eyes shinning brightly. She had a look of admiration in her eyes, a big difference to the fear of the one who had been kneeling in the room previously. 

“Your Majesty, it is very interesting news that I bring you. Their is a rumor among the people of a blessed child sent from the heavens to save the people.” She spoke rather cheerfully, gaze unwavering. 

“Rumor? You come here based on a rumor, Lillian don’t waste my time.” He went back to relax in his seat, wondering why she bothered with this and began to debate a punishment. Looking at her with cold eyes.

“But your Majesty, lower level demons have been returning massively while human souls retake the bodies. They speak of a child with such great power they left the bodies of flesh just to get away from him.” She seemed unbothered by the stare, continuing on as her heart beat quickly in her chest. 

“Huh?” His attention was caught once again, mind drifting away from punishment as he thought on her words.  “..and where is this occurring exactly?”

-…..-

How incredibly busy the village had become. A much brighter version from what it once was with the abundance of people in the streets and land filled with ready to harvest crops. 

Despite this positive change, Neal was not to happy. 

It was way to noisy and he hadn’t been able to sleep properly. People just kept coming over to them wanting to speak with or seek aid from Azarias. That or bring him gifts and offer him strange fruits. Gathering around them whenever he headed out with Azarias hand in hand.

Even building a shrine so they could worship the heaven sent child, really it was to much. When they wanted to take Azarias to place him in a moveable throne and parade him around Neal had enough and ran away. 

“You…are…getting.. to… heavy… to… carry…” Neal panted, leaning against a tree to catch his breath as Azarias looked down from him from up in the same tree. 

It had only been a month and Azarias had grown a fair amount once again. He now came up to Neals neck in height, hair all the way down to halfway down his back. He resembled a thirteen year old child, with the few differences of his mismatched eyes, scales and such. 

No one really questioned it since they saw it the magic of heavens sent child, however Neal just wondered more what this child was who came from the egg. It was so much easier to not question these things though, it seemed like to much of a headache and this place was strange enough to him as it was.

“Does that mean you won’t hold Us in your arms anymore?” Azarias pouted, looking straight at Neal as he hung upside down on the low tree branch. 

“I just don’t think I can carry you, your growing to fast.” This child was far to attached, not that Neal disliked it but…when was the last time he was separate from Azarias?

Right, before he found that egg. 

Well whatever, it was much more comforting then being alone. However it may be good to start teaching Azarias to be more independent incase they ever needed to separate in the future. After all, didn’t children always leave at some point?

Huh, that is a rather lonely thought…

Well he wouldn’t push it for now, it hasn’t even been a year after all. No matter how quick Azarias seemed to be growing. 

“Hmm…” Azarias frowned, seeming upset about the idea of not being in Neals arms as they walked together. However after a moment his eyes lit up and he jumped down from the branch. 

Neal had no time to react as he watched Azarias flip in the air before tackling him to the ground. He let out a small groan as colorful leaves flew up around them.

“Then, once We are big enough We can just carry you! They you can sleep as much as you want even as we are traveling!” Azarias stated this in a cheerful tone, sounding as if he had the best idea ever.

Neal was still recovering from being tackled, looking at the boy with a rough laugh. 

“I’m to big to be carried, I don’t think it will be possible for you to carry me in your arms as I have you” He reached up a hand to ruffle his hair, enjoying the soft feel of it. 

Maybe piggy back once he became an adult, but in the arms. Neal had trouble seeing that. Then again even piggy back was a bit much, Azarias was really to tiny any young to be doing such things. 

A golden flash crossed Azarias eyes and Neal pressed his lips together as he noticed the change. 

Azarias must have felt challenged some how by his words, he looked so determined as if ready to prove him wrong. 

Ah, it reminded him of that race he had with an older child in the village whom stated he was the best runner. Speaking down on Azarias who had Neal carry him pretty  much everywhere. Only for Azarias to swoop in to prove him wrong. 

Little guy if you have so much energy and can run fast, then please just walk on your own.

This kid really was so attached. Perhaps a bit to pampered. 

“You know, once you are bigger then me you..” Neal paused a moment, a bit hesitant to say this as the idea made him a bit uncomfortable. Wetting his dry lips with his tongue he continued “..can probably go out on your own. I can stay and sleep in the village while you go do whatever you want without worrying about me” 

He didn’t like the idea of sending Azarias off on his own, but he had to make Azarias aware of the possibility. After all, he couldn’t expect him to stick by him forever. 

Azarias blinked, looking at Neal as if he had grown three heads. 

“Why would We leave alone? We would rather be with Neal, it does not matter how big We get” Azarias spoke as if he was stating a fact before gently rubbing the tip of his nose against Neals while smiling cheerfully. 

“After all, it is the most comfortable by Neal’s side.”

Such a cute kid, although Neal felt he should introduce independence a bit more he felt to tired to. As always he felt like snoozing away, and he had no care on the time of day. He simply grabbed ahold of Azarias, moving him off him before rolling onto his side and shutting his eyes. 

“Lets…take a nap..” Those were his last words before he knocked out completely. Finally away from the noise, he could sleep peacefully. 

Azarias gave a small shake of his head while smiling, reaching a hand forward to brush some hair out of Neals face.

“Falling asleep in the woods, Neal you really have no sense of danger” He spoke in a slightly scolding tone before sighing. He looked around, taking in the colorful area of trees sporting various colors. It was fall after all. 

A cold breeze made him shiver and he quickly cuddled up into Neal as if trying to steal his warmth. He didn’t like those cool breezes at all, the one flaw of being out in nature was this cool breeze. Otherwise it was rather blissful for Azarias.