Chapter 94: Astaroth Darlex
Amidst the heavy silence, Theos took the first step to break it. “I’ll get to the point since if we’re both similar in anything, it’s that we don’t like to waste time.”
“I want you to be my ally”, he said earnestly.
Astaroth didn’t even react to Theos’ words, but just stood there, like a stone whose only functionality is to stare at him.
Finally, after about ten seconds, when even Theos himself felt uncomfortable, Astaroth answered. “Allies? We cannot be allies.”
Astaroth’s deep, husky voice conveyed the seriousness in his words, like infinite wisdom, that would baffle every living being. And in this case, even Theos was mildly surprised.
“Why can’t we be allies?” the black-haired man asked, frowning.
He couldn’t let Astaroth refuse just like that. While anyone could make their own decisions and he would be untroubled, the reality was that Astaroth’s strength and talent could be a great benefit, now and shortly.
Astaroth knew this, so his frown deepened. With an angry expression, he spoke words that Theos never expected to hear from him.
“Do you think everyone is a tool? Don’t think I don’t know what you’re planning, don’t think you know everything in this world either. Right now, the only difference between you and me is that I am more human, I am more realistic about my ambitions, and besides, I am…”, Justt when Astaroth was about to speak more, he suddenly fell silent, leaving to the imagination the next words he was going to say.
Silence again reigned in the surroundings, as if the world itself was frozen in time before the conversation of two of the greatest geniuses.
A hidden and despicable genius.
A famous and beloved genius.
Thinking about it, wouldn’t Astaroth be more of a villain than he is? Everyone is afraid of him, and he hides his ultimate power most of the time; even in most of the novel, Astaroth’s true power is never shown.
But Theos, with indifference and coldness, simply nodded at Astaroth’s words. What could he say, excuse himself? More than anyone else, he knew his ambitions were unrealistic, especially for this world; his ambitions were almost an impossible dream.
Nor could he deny his lack of humanity; the truth was he was willing to do anything to gain power; if it meant more power to protect his loved ones, why not take it?
Without realizing it, Theos’ morality was falling into an abyss with no hope of redemption.
Or so he supposed when Astaroth spoke again. “Don’t make the same mistake I did,” he said, His words and expression conveying deep regret over his short, but chaotically rich life.
Without Theos realizing it, Astaroth was already at his side, almost colliding shoulder to shoulder.
Turning around, Theos could see with his own eyes Astaroth’s somber and solemn face, different from his usual menacing expression.
Carefully and cautiously, Theos asked. “What mistake must I not make?”
Inexplicably, a smile was born little by little from Astaroth’s lips, curving upward. However, his somber and solemn face remained this time, adding a sort of amusement to his countenance.
Theos saw the vivid image of a face, a person, plunged little by little into a boundless madness.
“The mistake, the mistake of not thinking that your actions will not haunt you for your whole life, the mistake of plunging into madness, that feeling, emotion, and state of mind that most never have a return.”
Passing by Theos’ side, Astaroth finally walked away, each step carrying inexplicable burdens in life, as his words traveled through the air, each sentence carrying a deep and different meaning that left Theos pinned in place, not knowing which way to turn.
‘What the fuck was that,’ he thought to himself, in shock at those words that not only impacted his mind but his very heart.
Massaging his temples with his fingers, he began to calm down. The shock and uneasiness gradually subsided.
Thinking more deeply about everything Astaroth said, Theos had nothing to contradict, nothing to defend. Those words, he knew more than anyone else that they came from experience, you must of empty words.
‘My actions will haunt me for the rest of my life… Insanity is a place of no return…’ Theos pondered silently, raising his head to look at the sky, that Sun that was slowly leaving to greet the cold night.
Ignore Astaroth’s words? Sure, he could do that perfectly well. He could do it and go on with his way of thinking, his way of doing things, and his style.
But that was not what life was about.
The goal of Theos is to become more and more powerful, to rule above all… But what good is all that if he doesn’t have the wisdom to back it up? What good is all that power when the mind is rotten in madness, in endless bloodlust?
No.
The laughter, full of mockery and self-reproach, also contained great amusement… Great amusement is produced by the very madness of the situation.
“My mind has been rotting and I didn’t realize it…” he muttered to himself, pausing to look straight ahead and smile slightly.
“It’s truly funny… Funny that a person I just met can say a few words and that alone describes me so well.”
That said, Theos didn’t have much to complain about either; after all, sometimes the best advice comes from a homeless person, a person about to die, your dearest relative, an insignificant stranger, a government slave, or an empowered king…
Anyone, even animals and objects, can give you a great lesson in life.
Theos began to walk again, his thoughts wandering everywhere and at all times, in an endless cycle that only ended when he reached his destination.
Who exactly was Astaroth Darlex? Besides referring to himself, did his words have a deeper or hidden meaning? Would the original Astaroth say such words?
Theos didn’t know, but what he did know was…. Each of the questions would be slowly resolved…
~
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