Did You Mean It?
"Did you mean it?" The invisible man asks to the dreaming form in front of him. His voice is a soft tenor, but carries the air of an old man.
"Wait, who are you? What do you mean?" Zelgadis asks in response as he searches for his sword. But since this is a dream it is not there.
"Did you mean what you said Zelgadis," the hazy form asks. "That you are alright with me? I believe the exact words were, 'No, I'm fine with him now.' Am I right?"
Zelgadis starts to back away suspiciously from where he assumes the voice is coming from. In a hazy slumber Zelgadis attempts to sort through his feelings and thoughts, trying to decide whether or not to trust the familiar voice. Part of Zelgadis wants to attack the intruder, another part of him wants to protect and listen to it, with a desire to hear more.
"I did say that," Zelgadis finally says. "But how do you know that? Amelia, Lina, and Gourry were the only ones there to hear me. Besides . . . does it really matter?"
"It does mean something to me and I hope it means something to you," the voice answers. "I don't want you to follow down the same road of desire I did, on the steps of cruelty and through the gates of insanity."
Staring ahead of him a form begins to take shape and Zelgadis is pinned to his spot in anticipation.
"Don't open that door Zelgadis," Rezo says as his form solidifies in front of Zelgadis. He steps forward and puts a hand on his great grandson's cheek. "Keep your eyes on what you already have Zelgadis and don't let it go. I'm glad you found what I failed to treasure."
For a little while no words are said, but the two stand their quietly with Rezo's hand still on Zelgadis's cheek. Blushing slightly Zelgadis shifts his head away gently, but smiles at the man before him nonetheless. Rezo opens his eyes and smiles back.
"I domean it," Zelgadis says like a reverent secret. It is a promise, a belief, a hope.
At these simple words, Rezo moves forward and embraces his son as tightly as he can. Zelgadis is no longer a child, but a man and it shows.
"Thank you Zelgadis."
Edited 7/17/2020