V5 Chapter 85 Darzirak's Tenant Agreement

Darzirak declared as he leap onto the bed, staring right into Philomel's sky-blue eyes, trying to show his sincerity. Unfortunately, his tail lay right next to Little One, who immediately grabs it and pulled. Darzirak's back legs immediately gave way as his stomach hits the bed, Darzirak yelped more out of surprise rather than pain. Little One immediately squealed with excitement at the sound pulling Darzirak's tail some more, wanting to hear the yelp again.

Darzirak's sincere expression turned into a very miserable, pouty expression as he watched a very happy Little One.

" Just to be clear, we aren't bringing Little One along when we pick a quest, right?"

Darzirak questioned as he grabs Little One's left leg with both paws and started pulling it.

" Eih?"

Little One babbled out of confusion as he finds himself being pulled further from Darzirak each time he pulled Darzirak's tail. Completely oblivious that due to Darzirak's pulling, they were going in a circle where the same distance between each other was maintained with both their pulling.

" We?"

Philomel questioned with a raised eyebrow.

" Me and you, duh. Who else is there?"

Darzirak stated the obvious.

" Aren't you Amon's demon? Isn't there a range distance? Or only Amon can use your powers or something?"

Philomel asked, extremely unsure how Amon's demon bond with Darzirak works since each demon bond is different for every demon.

" I'm not Amon's demon. I'm Amon's tenant, he may charge me whatever he wants as rent but it's up to me what I do in my free time and when I come home. "

Darzirak explains as he pushes at Little One's grip on his tail, no longer interested in playing tug a circle.

" So... anyone you want can use your powers?"

Philomel tilted her head, still unable to wrap her head around it.

" The ability to use my powers is one of the ways I pay rent. I can have as many apartments as I want but my size and power abilities depend on the envy of the landlord. Keep in mind, I may be trapped as a demon in the ultimate dream but it doesn't change the this is a dream that I'm dreaming of. I create every dream, the dream being good or bad depending on the dreamer and my mood. If I am in a bad mood then every dreamer in a 10 miles radius will have a bad dream."

Darzirak answers as he moves to the side to avoid Little One grabbing another part of him. Little One started babbling as he uses his hands and drags himself after Darzirak, his little hands shot out, trying to grab Darzirak. Darzirak was forced to leap over Little One and move a distance behind Little One.

" Wait... so you're... something like the dream of the weatherman? I mean the dustman?"

Philomel held her forehead, unable to believe that Darzirak is ... -In a very technical and probably a minor way- Is a key player that keeps the world running.

" Dustman is time! Why do I always get mixed up with him? He is the world's guardian just like the weatherman. One makes sure time is always flowing correctly through hell, heaven, and whatever is in between. The other makes sure the seasons change following the time flow. I am the small part of a dream that turns subconscious thoughts into images. I gift the world the ability to dream in return, I make people envious and sometimes have bad dreams. Can't tell the difference between good and bad without both elements being present, right?"

Darzirak tilted his head all the way around with a huge grin, one of his back legs was stepping on Little One's bum, making it much harder for Little One to turn around.

" You can rent as many apartments as you want ... why would you need so many?"

Philomel backtracked to ask, no longer interested since Darzirak is a demon and could be pulling her leg for all she knows. 

" So that I can vacation any part of the world, in a blink of an eye, see whatever I like. I am the ultimate dream and the ultimate dreamer. My true form lays in an enteral slumber, as my dream stumble around."

Darzirak answered as he scratches the back of his ear with his back leg completely forgetting about Little One.

" So, if you want, you can also create a bond with me and I'll be able to use your powers?"

" Yup, as long as I'm in your body, you can use my powers. If I'm not in your body, the bond is still there. You can still call upon me. Like Amon, you can even give me requests, granted that you pay me."

Darzirak jolted in shock when Little One suddenly hugs him, he allowed Little One to nuzzle his chubby cheeks against Darzirak's cheek for a while before putting a paw on Little One's cheek, pushing him away and holding him there when Little One went back, trying to hug Darzirak again.

" Can the bond be broken?"

" Of course, it can. If I don't pay rent or break any of the major rules in the agreement then you may kick me out, but that's all leash agreement. That's the type of agreement that I have with Amon since he is willing to allow me to rent for 50 years. Well... 34 more years now if Amon still wants me as a tenant."

Darzirak glumly admits as Little One starts pulling at Darzirak's paw.

" He can do that? Even though you haven't broken any of the rules?"

" Anyone can hire an exorcist."

Darzirak says with a long tired sigh. Philomel couldn't help but feel slightly bad for Darzirak. It was obvious that the weird demon cares much for Amon and Amon cares to a specific limit about Darzirak as well. Unfortunately, even after 16 years, their bond improved little to none which was why Amon was in this condition in the first place. But then again Philomel recalled back that night when Darzirak first made an appearance and the last words he laughed out before he disappeared.

( Darzirak shivered before a huge grin appears on his face.

" Landlord, I don't plan to live rent-free. Just ask me like that and I'll gladly pay whatever price you wish. Just remember, show any weakness and I won't hesitate to steal your home from you. "

Darzirak says with a huge grin showing off all his teeth.

" Then it will be you who lives without form and pay rent."

Darzirak whispers under his breath and then starts crackling such a loud evil laugh. His laughter roared echoing and shaking through the wall as all the candlelight went out at the same time.

Silence, there were no chanting demons, no scratching, no pounding upon the walls and window. Nothing but the sound of Philomel's heartbeat pounding against her ribcage. )

Philomel realized that Darzirak was a demon that was not to be trusted. His aim isn't the dead of Amon but the control of Amon's body. Each time Amon shows even the slightest mental weakness is when Darzirak whispers the dreams of shadows and tempts Amon into giving up his body to Darzirak.

That's why Amon's bond with Darzirak is so weak, Darzirak is only your friend when times are good and happy.

"The reason why Darzirak is acting all pitiful right now is to trick me into trusting him... but why would he need my trust?"

Philomel wondered as she stared down at Amon's pale face, trying to think like Amon and figure out what Darzirak is truly after.

" Is Darzirak's offer for help truly sincere? Or is this a huge trap to get a physical body? Why does Darzirak even need Amon's body anyway? He could have formed a bond with someone more gullible and gotten a body or bonded with someone so envious that much of his power is returned, where he could create a physical body with his shadow form. So why? Why become Amon's shadow?"

Philomel rested her cheek against Amon's hand that she was still holding between both her hands. Her head tilted slightly to the side from the lack of support but she still held Amon's partial fist hand to her cheek.

______________________________________________