Aziel is Me?

(Back in the Treehouse where Jayce drained himself of trying to narrate every detail of his dreams...)

"You truly loved that damnable mortal... Aziel. At this age, they would call you a major simp! Because of that mortal, you have wasted everything! ...Everything."

An angry scowl. It was a heartfelt shout full of hostility, it belonged to the entity that has been restraining Jayce just so he could hear him narrate Jayce's dreams.

The static voice which is previously flat and monotonous in its tone turned aggressive, no longer unbothered, and has reached its limits. It seems to hate the idea that Aziel became a mortal, while Jayce is smiling from ear to ear at the mention of Larra in his story.

He is still tied tightly by an invisible force, currently confused why in the middle of his engrossed and immersed storytelling did the unknown entity suddenly scowled at him.

'Is he mad at Aziel? or is he mad at me? This unreasonable guy...'

Jayce could only wriggle his head in confusion. He looked above the ceiling and to the window but he could not find any shadow or sign which could have told him where the entity is. This feeling of helplessness to the unknown is unbearable, It made him feel annoyed.

First, he was disturbed from his sleep, then captured and then asked to tell his dream, now he is being scolded for no reason.

Was it his fault that Aziel is such a simp?

'I ain't Aziel and I ain't simp either!' Jayce thought.

He felt like weeping for getting aggrieved while continuing to feel exasperated by this encounter as the invisible grip that Jayce is feeling hardens. Until eventually, as if the sermon finally concluded, the static voice hurled some scream before saying,

"Skip to the details! I fucking hate that mortal... Try to recall much deeper! What happened to Auriol?! What happened after you returned?!"

Jayce is left fumbling, left for no words.

"But... I was just getting to the good part! I am about to tell you that lovely scene where Aziel is finally able to touch Larra and converse with her. Also... That Xiev guy... I think he tried to harm Aziel—"

*Bam!*

Jayce could not even finish his sentence when he heard a loud thud that sounds like a slap! He did not felt being slapped, though he definitely heard a slap.

'Did this guy slapped himself?'

Jayce assumes so as his thought trails to something else...

"Hmm... I don't understand. Returned... you said? What returned?"

Jayce hesitantly asks to the grunting static voice in his head.

"Argghhh! You... Ah"

The entity sighs sounding so tired as if it had given up explaining...

"Being reduced into a mortal... Did you happen to fry your brain into dust? How could you..."

"Hey! Enough with the insults already, you are the one who barged here without notice! If only I could see you, I would have ripped your skull out!"

Jayce quickly retorted, narrowing his eyes into a piercing glare—he had the look that resembles a beast getting cornered.

Both of them were agitated and they screamed against each other. Jayce is clearly frowning. He got bored being tied while he levitated to the ground. It has been such a long time since he ever felt this helpless.

The feeling of being vulnerable made him react in this manner. He tried reaching his toes but to his dismay, he did not even move an inch.

And as Jayce ignored the rumblings of the static voice resounding in his head, it finally got his attention with its following words...

"Even a lowlife scum can sometimes brighten the world. Jayce De Vera, you are the reincarnation of Aziel."

Hearing those words made Jayce stop. His whole body froze as if suspended in animation. His eyes dilating, his breathing quickening and the emotions he felt while recalling everything...

'Aziel is me?'

It might have been an absurd concept. The theory of reincarnation had long since been debated by people, yet having these reoccurring dreams that seem to connect together like pieces of puzzles... It would be hard for him to deny.

"Oi! Don't make me laugh,"

Jayce released a hollowed laughter, and the expression on his face evidently showed signs of bursting.

"Me?! ...A Gang Lord?! ...Is actually sacred? What a joke!"

It must have been the craziest dream he had is what Jayce concluded, hearing the static voice say those words with all certainty.

"No... This is just a dream, right!? Am I getting crazy!? Did I turn soft after all these years of bloodshed!?"

Jayce starts to panic he is roaring defiantly against the invisible entity who detains his ability to move, at that moment he tries to desperately move but no amount of effort serves his struggle.

The more he tries to break free, the more that the grip on his ligaments and tendons tightens.

It lasted for an hour before he gradually felt weakening...

"Ah... this life. It sucks."

Jayce murmurs to himself as he felt his vision getting blurry. He then lost his consciousness, falling asleep—unaware of what would greet him next.

Seeing the development of the situation went dry, the entity reluctantly released Jayce. The lifeless body soon fell to the wooden flooring of the treehouse.

"Rest well, Aziel... I'm sorry."

Before Jayce's collapsed he could hear the apologetic tone of the entity yet his body showed no signs of moving.

There was silence, only the chirping of the cicadas outside the treehouse can be heard.

After a couple of minutes passed, the invisible entity, at long last! Revealed itself.

Scarlet eyes that embody the color of passion, it was deep red like blood—curiously watching Jayce as he lay there quietly, breathing steadily. If the entity wanted to kill Jayce, this is the right time to do it, yet he did nothing. A proof that the entity meant no harm.

Dressed in a fine black and white suit, one could tell that the entity that appeared in Jayce's room is a demon. It appeared in the figure of a human, tall and slim but its skin is pale.

With its pale face and a crumpled expression, the demon stared at Jayce before deciding to slowly carry him towards his bed. The way he carried him is so gentle as if holding a newly born baby.

"Don't worry... now that I have found you, no one would try to kill you again. Not even the Heavens!"

The demon whispered to Jayce in an overly tender tone, contrasting from his earlier angry scowl. After which, it observed Jayce for quite some time before gradually disappearing into a mist.

Gone.

Thus, Jayce's first encounter with the supernatural concluded.