Author’s Note: For a brief moment, “Eternity’s Irys” was called “Mixtape for Saving the World” and every chapter shared a title with a song so if you put a playlist together of chapter titles, you’d have a mix tape. I’ve always wanted music to be an important factor in my story, which isn’t exactly easy considering the format. Jeron’s conduit is his guitar and his creative passion lies in music. Sylus, being a Voidlord, has a complex relationship with music that I’d love to get into, but spoilers? Back in the day, music was going to be a weapon, but instead it exists on both sides of the war with very different meanings.
Anyway, let’s see how this one pans out!
I sat in the truck, head back against the headrest, waiting for the wailing noise coming from the speakers to become music again. Over time, I’d come to recognize the Void’s erasure of “The Devil’s Headlights” lively swing. Their names and music would scramble in my mind and to fight back, I’d listen through the noise until I remembered everything. Their smiles, their laughter, their passion… Gone. Stolen and erased. This was a near daily ritual as I refused to ever forget anyone who impacted my life.
Sylus stood outside the door, crouched down, looking through the window. He’d long left me to my meditations. He had his own version of forgetting, but as he’d told me before, Qaitax would always remind him if for no other reason than to reduce his stress. I didn’t have that option. I had to remember on my own. Sylus could try to help, but I was always resistant until the noise became music again. So he’d leave me be while I forced myself to remember the day the Void stole my humanity.
Out of the corner of my eye, I watched him stand up. He held a piece of plastic in his hand and tapped it against the window.
I glanced at the stereo. The last track was almost over. Hubert, Amber, Utia, Rory, Emelio, Xandra… I remembered them now. I sat up and hovered my hand over the power button. I knew Sylus would wait for me, so I let their horns and strings strike their final notes before turning the stereo off and sitting back in my chair.
It never got any easier.
Opening the door, Sylus stepped back to give me room.
“What’s up, big guy?” I breathed.
Without a word, he offered me a cassette.
“What’s this?” I took it and studied the blank surface.
He shrugged. “It doesn’t always have to be bleak.”
“Hm?”
“Music. You only ever hear it in combat or in silent mourning. I, well, I just figured you might like a change of pace.”
“What’s on it?”
He nodded toward the truck. “Care to find out?”
I smiled as I got back in. I waited for him to come around to the passenger side before popping the tape into the stereo.
The tail end of a news report trailed off as music began to play.
“Wait,” I put a hand on his thigh, “Sylus, is this a mix tape?”
He shrugged.
“An old fashioned mix tape?!”
He shrugged again.
“You sat in your cramped sedan in the middle of the Creche Desert and recorded songs for me? For ME?!”
He scoffed. “It’s not that big of a deal.”
“Awww!” I leaned across the bench and threw my arms around him.
“You might not like them all.”
“What made you choose the ones you did?”
“They reminded me of you in some way.”
Awww!” I nuzzled his chest.
“And some I just liked but couldn’t remember the names of. Might run them past Daniel at some point.”
Every so often the songs would be broken up by ads or news or callsigns. I’d catch Sylus cringing at his imperfect recording, but I thought it was the sweetest thing I’d ever heard.
Judging by the interludes, it had taken him months to record it. News of the Void grew more frequent and callers became more concerned. Still, the music played.
I found something to enjoy in every track. Some I definitely jived with more than others, but I loved each and every one of them regardless.
Sylus wrapped his arms around me and held me tightly against him.
“You’re the sweetest little squid I’ve ever met.”
“I’m the only squid you’ve ever met.”
I laughed as I tightened my grip around him. It had taken him some time to accept the confusing dichotomy of calling him both “big guy” and “little squid”, but as with all my silly idiosyncrasies, he accepted it.
I closed my eyes as the music played.
“You are soooo beautiful… to me…” The words rumbled from his chest.
I sat up and met his teary gaze.
“I told myself I wouldn’t sing. I’m terrible at it.” He sniffed.
I ran my fingers through his thick beard. “You are so beautiful, to me, can’t you see?”
In the middle of nowhere, in the cabin of my mother’s old truck, under a Void-wrought sky of tentacles and brilliant starlight, we sang in each other’s arms. We sang loud and offkey. Too fast, too slow. Breaking voices, quiet whispers. We sang.
Until the music trailed off and the world was quiet once more. The tape clicked signifying the end of its playtime.
The stars in his eyes shimmered beneath his welling tears. I ran a thumb beneath them and a solitary drop escaped.
“Oh, Sylus.” I rested my head against him again. “Thank you.”
“Y-you’re welcome.” He croaked and sniffed. “I know it was a bit of a mess and some of my timing was off on recording and sometimes the quality was quite bad…”
I put a finger to his lips. “It’s beautifully imperfect.”
He smiled.
Author’s Note 2: If anyone’s interested, I’ll probably put Sylus’ mixtape together on some platform (Spotify). If that day comes, I’ll share a link right down here!
Author’s Additional Note: Since this has been my most popular post of all time, my illustrator, Rhett, decided to do a little sketch!
I love it so much! It makes my heart sing in ways I can’t express 🦑💜🦇
Eternity's Irys 