Daevari -II-

Chapter 5: Hopeless Fall

Sascha and Xaaza had not visited Ari since that day with Cyrus. A week or so had passed, and Ari had decided to busy himself with the old training regimen the Khaeo had them do every morning, adding his own personal touches. What began as a way to keep his mind off Auovin and the others gradually became a daily routine. He did not want his skills to rust and wanted to remember everything Freir and Rein had taught him.

He had not seen much of Nis or Kaval either. Nis had warned him that they would be busy and to mind himself while they were gone. He intended to do just that, but he had questions for Kaval, questions he knew Kaval would surely answer.

Ari dropped his blade and drank thirstily from a bucket of water meant for the lesser demons. One approached him with a gold-encrusted cup, but Ari swatted it away. Water was water, no matter the container. The extravagance of this place was awe-inspiring yet constricting all the same. He wondered if he would have to behave and act a certain way once things became clear. He did not want the same role as a god that "Harun" had placed upon him. He had tasted that life and wished for it no more.

Exhaling deeply, Ari gulped down another handful of water. With the next handful, he splashed it across his face and hair, cooling himself. The sun was scorching today.

He stashed his blades back inside their usual places and started back inside. "Be mindful. They are watching. Always watching," the lesser demon who tried to offer him a cup whispered. Ari gave a slight nod in acknowledgement before venturing more inside.

There were always eyes upon him. They became more noticeable and more apparent after walking into the room full of demons. All the more reason for him to keep his skills sharp. The demon's warning did not fall on deaf ears. It seemed Auovin had his fair share of challenges here along with Cyrus. Fighting amongst each other... not much had changed except there were no humans to fan the fire between them as they once did.

Was Auovin not weary of it all? A wave of concern swept over Ari at the thought. Memories flooded back in vivid detail, compelling him to pinch himself to regain focus. With each memory, he felt himself unraveling. Every moment of remembrance was crystal clear, except for his scent. A small kiss, a simple touch, even mere proximity would trigger his recollection. But what about his taste? That memory remained faint, and it pained Ari not to remember when he once knew everything there was to know about him.

After bathing, Ari planned to visit the place Cyrus had shown him. Just knowing that Auovin frequented there was enough to make Ari feel closer to him. He cursed himself for not speaking to Auovin when he had the chance. What other opportunity would he have now? Although Ari had promised Cyrus he would talk to Auovin, the likelihood of seeing him alone seemed astronomically low. Ari feared what might be discussed, but the thought of leaving things as they were was even more terrifying. He could not stomach the idea, despite the potential pain it might bring. Cyrus had given him a glimmer of hope, embodied in that special place.

The words the lesser demon had whispered made Ari more observant of his surroundings. He did not want to be followed to a place Auovin had carved out of this suffocating environment. After bathing and dressing, Ari took different paths than usual, trying to remember the route. He had to circle back at least twice before he no longer felt eyes watching him.

When Ari finally opened the door, he was greeted by the endless beauty of flowers. The gentle sound of water from the fountain added to the serene atmosphere. The glass roof refracted light, making the room feel divine. He stood in front of the statue, admiring its beauty and wondering if the artist had experienced something similar.

Ari dipped his hand into the cool water, loving the way it rippled around him, submerging his hand in its tight embrace. He noticed a smell then. Withdrawing his hand, he tasted one of his fingers, his eyes widening in surprise at the delicious taste. It was sweet with a hint of bitterness, like lemon.