My Soul card is a Reaper

After a while;

The white peaks of Camelot's mountains shimmered under the golden afternoon sun.

Clouds drifted like soft veils, casting fleeting shadows over the pristine snow and glistening rock.

As Azzy stepped onto the familiar path that wound through the royal retreat, he felt a familiar warmth, peaceful yet nostalgic.

And then he saw her, his friend whom he trusts the most.

Leah stood a few steps ahead, wearing a white fur cloak lined with golden embroidery.

Her eyes widened as she met his, and without a word, she rushed forward and wrapped her arms around him.

The hug was tight, trembling slightly, but after a moment, she pulled back with restraint, composing herself like a noble princess once more.

"You're back, Azzy," she whispered. "I missed you a lot."

Azzy gave a small smile. "Still as beautiful as ever."

Leah blushed faintly and looked away. "You haven't changed either. Not even a little." She let out a soft laugh. "You could pass for seventeen."

Azzy chuckled. "I take that as a compliment. But you, honestly, you haven't aged a day."

Leah rolled her eyes. "You say that, but you're the one defying time. I just take care of myself."

They sat down on a nearby bench carved into stone, overlooking a frozen lake below. The silence between them was warm and familiar.

"Congratulations," Leah said after a moment. "I can see you broke into the demigod realm."

Azzy nodded, his tone soft. "Thank you."

"And... Claire?"

There was a pause. Azzy looked at the distant horizon for a moment before replying, "Claire passed away."

Leah blinked. Her gaze dropped. "I'm... sorry."

"I married someone else. Her name was Leiza. In another world. I didn't expect it to happen, but... life's strange like that." He paused. "We had a son named Orion. He's here now."

Azzy didn't hide anything from her. He went on about how he went into Elysium, met some angels, got into the academy, met Leiza on a mission, then broke up with Claire, got with Leiza, married her, and then invaded the god's palace, fighting Claire, and abducting her, before the Reaper take control of his body to kill her with his own hands, captured by the archangels, saved by a god, and going on with the breaking through.

Leah exhaled slowly, as if absorbing the details of his story. Then she said, "It was the curse, wasn't it? The Curse of Eros."

Azzy shook his head gently. "I don't deny the curse exists, but I don't believe Claire died because of it. To blame only the curse is... like discarding the choices we made. We can blame the curse if we are walking down a road and then, without any warning, a storm strikes us. But if we choose to walk into the rain and unfortunately get hit by a lightning strike, you can only blame your choices and the bad luck."

Leah stared at him in silence for a moment and commented, "It looks like you have grown wiser.

"Well, after facing so much, I had no choice but to grow." Azzy sighed, watching the horizon.

Leah hesitated, then looked at him. Her expression was serious now. "Azzy… there's something I have to tell you. I don't know if this is the right time to say, but if I don't say it, I will feel guilty about it."

Azzy turned to her. "What is it?"

Leah took a deep breath and replied. "You actually have another son."

His eyes narrowed. "What?"

Leah met his gaze evenly. "He's mine."

Azzy stared, confused. "We never…"

His mind reeled to the flashback.

Before he left for that journey, he made a deal with her. In exchange for protecting the clan and his people from other clans, which he feared because of that prophetic dream of the Blood Clan turning vampires and causing mayhem in the clan, in return, she asked for his semen.

"But I believe we agreed that you would cryopreserve my semen and will only use it after I return." Azzy frowned.

Leah nodded. "That was the deal. But I made a different choice. I didn't want to risk the quality degrading over time, even with preservation. And I was also worried whether Claire would agree with our arrangement, and you were known to be a henpecked lover. But at the same time, I desperately wanted a child with your bloodline to secure Camelot's future. So... I used it the same year you left. I'm sorry…"

Azzy fell silent.

For a moment, he said nothing and just looked at her. His emotions weren't anger or betrayal. Just surprise. And slowly, a kind of realization.

"What's his name?" he asked at last in a calm voice.

"Zion," Leah said quietly. "He's seventeen now. Strong, intelligent… He's everything I hoped he would be."

Azzy breathed out, long and slow. "I want to meet him."

Leah nodded. "He's here. At the royal training grounds. He knows about you, by the way. He has quite idolized you since young."

Azzy gave her a sideways glance, a faint smile playing at the corner of his lips. "Heh, is that so? Then, I guess I don't think I would escape without another spar today."

*

The royal palace of Camelot stood tall like a fortress out of time, its white spires piercing the clouds, its golden banners fluttering in the cool mountain wind.

Azzy walked beside Leah through the grand halls, past armored guards and bowing attendants.

They finally stopped before an ornate door inlaid with runes of protection. Leah inhaled deeply and gave a nod to the guards.

Inside, the chamber was simple, more of a personalized training hall than a prince's royal quarters. And at the center of it stood a young man, dressed in a dark-blue training uniform, sweat glistening on his skin as he wiped his brow with a towel.

He turned at the sound of the door. Sharp amber eyes. Chiseled features. Shoulder-length dark hair tied behind. And even at a glance, Azzy could see it, the blood of both parents running pure and potent in his aura.

Leah stepped forward with a soft smile. "Zion. There's someone I want you to meet."

The boy raised an eyebrow and then looked at Azzy. A second passed. Then another.

And then suddenly it clicked.

"Father? Lord Garcia?" Zion's voice was low, tentative.

Azzy met his eyes and smiled. "I've heard a lot about you, Zion. Your mom couldn't stop praising you."

Zion blinked once, then slowly walked up. Without hesitation, he bent his head briefly. "Zion greets Father."

Azzy didn't expect the warmth that welled up inside him. He placed a hand on Zion's shoulder. "You don't need to bow."

Zion straightened up and gave a faint smile. "Of course, I should. I'm meeting you for the first time, after all."

Leah cleared her throat. "It's not the first time. You should do that every time you meet, Zion."

Azzy laughed. "Relax, Leah. I'm not so uptight about rules as you are." He then looked at Zion and asked. "We are meeting for the first time, but I haven't brought any presents with me. Tell me, Zion. Do you want anything?"

"Eh? Present?" Zion looked at his father.