My Soul card is a Reaper

"What is it?" Azzy turned his head to ask.

The Clan lords also shifted their gaze to Affea.

Affea then replied. "Since you no longer think I might be a suitable successor to you, you can give some thought. You have other heirs to fill the position."

Azzy frowned. "But, I believe I clearly said once. My blood will not succeed me."

Affea objected to it. "If a heir represents the Garcia family, you cannot just think about your own blood or our own family. You have to take the entire Garcia family blood into account. What if some qualified individuals arrive in the clan from those exiled families or those Garcia bloodline that are living in the outside world? You may never know. And most importantly, your son has every right to contest as the descendant, just like me or anyone else. You can't take away that right from him."

"Hmm…" As Azzy fell into thoughts, remembering that he didn't just have Orion, there was this half sister he had too. She was also a descendant.

In the meantime, the clan lords exchanged glances with one another. Even though they weren't speaking, their gazes were saying the same thing. Affea is the only one in the clan who can dare to speak to their monarch, this way. Perhaps, it would be better for her to continue as the clan heir.

Sorting out his thoughts, Azzy gave a nod. "Alright. That is an internal issue of our clan. We will discuss it later."

He shifted his gaze and gave them all a knowing look, one they couldn't quite read.

"Anyway, last but not least, I'm sure some of you already heard bits of it through your little channels about the decisions made in the last Hidden Clan meeting. Though none have been implemented yet, and some leaders may still reconsider because of the passage of time, you have to be informed of a thing that was decided when I left."

Azzy folded his arms as he announced. "The Death Clan village will merge with two hidden clans, the Minamoto and the Elves. Together, we will move to a new land and build a new country."

Gasps erupted from one another. It looked like none were actually aware of this matter at all.

This surprised Azzy, but he nevertheless continued to speak calmly, "When that happens, the Elder Council will naturally expand. Once the new structure is in place, each of you, clan lords, will be retitled Duke or Duchess. You will govern your clans under a unified national law. It was for this reason, I revoked all those professions and land authorities of yours earlier so that you would be prepared for the upcoming changes."

After a pause, Azzy leaned back fully. "That's all for today. If anyone has anything to say… You may speak now."

No one spoke.

Not a single voice rose. Not even in protest.

They could only obey the orders and consult the elders in their respective interclan meetings, thinking of how to turn these into opportunities.

One by one, they stood and exited the room in silence.

When the last of them left, Azzy looked to Affea.

"Go and check on Mother," he said softly.

As she left his sight, Azzy shut his eyes and took a deep breath. "Okay, you dealt with it successfully. You said everything you had in your head and didn't make any mistakes. But let's go through everything I just said and consider any possible consequences that I missed before. I also have to talk to my mother once she wakes up. I need to settle down Leiza and Orion. Talk to Dad. Then, the hidden clan leaders… Fuu… a lot is there to be done…"

"Hey, you promised that you would take me to my mother and my sister, too." Claire chirped in his head.

"Yeah, yeah… I know that…" Azzy sighed.

The sun had dipped lower by the time Azzy reached the Starlight Clan compound again.

"She's awake," he said quietly as he passed the silent guards and the elderly staff in the hallway.

He reached the third floor, outside the same quiet room.

Inside, laughter was heard.

Izora sat on the couch, smiling like none of the past seventeen years ever happened. Her face lit up as she listened to Affea, Leiza, and Orion, her hand on Orion's wrist as if he were her own.

Then she saw him. "Azzy…"

She stood at once and, without hesitation, wrapped him in her arms. Her warmth felt different now.

Azzy closed his eyes, hugging her back. He couldn't help but smile in relief.

But when he pulled back, his face had changed. "Mom… actually, I need to talk to you about something," he said gently, his tone firm. "Alone."

Affea picked up on it instantly. "Got it. Leiza, Orion… come, I'll show you your rooms."

One look at her husband's face, and Leiza also understood it. "Alright, Ms. Izora," Leiza said with a small smile. "We'll talk later, okay?"

Izora nodded, already watching her son's face change into that serious expression as the door closed behind the three of them.

Silence filled the room again.

Azzy didn't sit and instead said. "It's about Dad."

The light in her eyes dimmed immediately. She turned away, slowly sitting back by the window. "If you are here to ask forgiveness for him, that is impossible."

"He made a deal with the Reaper," Azzy said, walking over. "I believe you remember that, don't you?"

She said nothing.

Azzy then said. "In exchange for power and return from your deep state hibernation state, he promised to be the guardian of the clan. After the demise of Lord Pierre, the clan didn't have any guardian. He has to return to the clan and take up his duties. And also, his daughter. She is…"

Izora's shoulders stiffened, interrupting him. "Don't start with that girl again."

"She isn't just his daughter, Mom. She's also…"

"I know who she is, Azrael," she cut in, voice tight. "I know she's blood. That doesn't change what she is to me."

Azzy inhaled, walked around to face her. "She's a descendant of this clan, the direct descendant of the founder. And you know what I said to the clan lords, about exiled ones having a right to return. Wouldn't it be hypocritical for me to reject her because it is my family?"

Izora frowned deeper, her gaze avoiding his as she stayed silent

Azzy continued. "Mom, that woman has been dead for years. Why hate on the dead, already? And what did that poor child do?"

Izora's fingers trembled slightly as they gripped the windowsill. "So what? Her shadow still lives in that child. Whenever I see that child, I only remember her mother and his betrayal. Do you want to do that to your mother, Azzy?"

Azzy's voice softened further. "But Mom, was it her choice to be born? To be dragged into this?"

Izora didn't answer.

"She's not her mother," Azzy went on. "She didn't do anything to you. And I'm not asking you to welcome her with open arms. I'm just asking you to let her live here. To let her belong to the land of her ancestors."

Izora closed her eyes, tension in her jaw still sharp. "I don't know what I'll do if I see her. I might rip her to shreds."

Azzy promised. "I'll do my best to keep your paths from crossing. But I can't ask the clan to accept the forsaken and hypocritically shut the door on my own family. What would clan lords think of me? What would people think of me?"

Silence stretched again.

Then, quietly, Izora whispered, "You're the monarch of this clan now. And the head of this family. If you believe it's right… Then the very least I can do is support you."

He let out a breath of relief upon hearing those words.

"I just…" she continued, her voice trembling, "I don't want them saying things about you behind your back. For that, I'll try my best to bear their presence."

Azzy stepped forward and pulled her into a hug again. "Thank you," he murmured, holding her close. "Thank you for understanding me."

She held him tight for a long moment, then pulled away, wiping the corners of her eyes.

"Go on then, Monarch," she said with a mock sternness. "You have a lot of headaches, to solve I believe."

Azzy laughed under his breath. "Don't remind me."