Chapter 5: Aziel

Chapter 5:

Aziel

Brax wakes up to the usual tapping at his window. He hesitantly gets up to look out, but the body he sees waving at him is not a corpse. It is Aziel the way he remembers him in his memories. There is a faint glow around the golden phantom and he is grinning. Brax rubs his eyes, knowing it is one of his usual delusions, but for some reason, Aziel does not go away when he pinches himself. Brax runs outside and Aziel is there waiting for him.

“It certainly has been a while, Brax,” Aziel says.

“Aziel…” Brax whispers. “Why do you haunt me every night? Why won’t you let me rest and leave the past behind?”

“Hm?” Aziel is confused. “Me? This is the first time I’ve seen you since I died.”

Brax is silent.

“Though, if I had to guess,” Aziel continues. “I think it’s you who are haunting yourself and it’s you who is not leaving the past behind.”

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“Why are you showing yourself now?” Brax asks. “I must be going crazy or my booze tolerance has gone down with age…”

“Crazy? I wish you you were!” Aziel exclaims laughing. “If you were crazy, your life wouldn’t have turned out so bland. So… miserable.”

Brax has nothing to say to this.

“But don’t worry, beloved brother,” Aziel reassures. “It’s never too late to turn things around.”

“But why do you tell me this now? When I am old and washed up?” Brax asks. “My bones don't move so fast anymore and I'm always tired…”

“You would’ve never gone out before, even if I had shown up,” Aziel says. “But an opportunity has arisen! Kitsune has seen something wild involving that girl and you, by sheer chance, have been invited to go along with her. That girl is stronger and more determined than anyone. Stick with her and you will find exactly what you’re looking for.”

“If that’s the case, then I’d slow someone like that down,” Brax said. “I have no place on her journey.”

“That’s true,” Aziel says, laughing goofily. “You have no place within her journey… which is why you’ve got to make one. Become someone who can shake the heavens. Always remember, the path you take is the one you pave.”

Brax doesn’t say anything, but for some reason his eyes are wet. He wishes to embrace Aziel, but cannot bring himself to even face him. He looks down because he is ashamed of what he has become. He opens his mouth to speak once again, but when he looks up, Aziel has already vanished.