My Soul card is a Reaper

After a moment of silence, Shuichi finally let out a breath, smiling faintly. "That's more than fair."

Azzy also smiled, "Thank you for the understanding. Instead of arranging a meeting, you can send your descendant to the same school as Orion. That way, they can get to know each other outside of our influence."

They drank their tea in quiet agreement. After finishing off the tea, Shuichi left with a better mood.

Next came the Elven King.

King Neymeryn swept in like moonlight, tall, graceful, and carrying the quiet intensity of someone who didn't waste time.

"You know why I'm here," he said.

Azzy nodded. "Same answer as the one I gave you in the meeting."

"This merge... it'll be more complicated now. She took the oath of not to marry anyone but you. And it will be akin to hell to her, to keep seeing you every day, but…" Neymeryn muttered.

Azzy didn't hesitate as he replied. "In that case, I could erase her memories. Just the ones of me. The feelings, the waiting, everything will be gone from her head, including the oath she took, and she can have a clean start."

That caught Neymeryn off guard. He looked up sharply and asked. "You could do that? Memory erasure is easy, but selective memory erasure… is very difficult for even a demigod. Only a god can do that."

"No need to worry about it. I can take care of that." Azzy said, giving him an assurance. "What I might do is going to be brutal. But... It's kinder in the long run."

The Elven King stood there a long moment, weighing the offer. Then he gave a slow, reluctant nod. "I'll take the opportunity to bring her to you in an unconscious state. Thank you."

"Of course. Anything for a friend." Azzy smiled.

Just as he was about to walk away, Azzy stopped him. "Wait. You didn't ask about any compensation yet."

Neymeryn didn't look at him and merely replied, "Saving my sister from suffering, it is enough for me."

When he was gone, Claire's voice filled in his head. "You're really going to wipe her memories?" she asked. "That's cruel."

Azzy sank into the cushion with a sigh, rubbing his temple. "Isn't it better to let her suffer?"

Claire replied. "No, to be with someone or not is someone's choice. You are taking away that choice but clearing her memories. More importantly, it is our bitter memories that make us what we are. Do you really want to take that away from her?"

He let out a long sigh. "The old me would have thought the same as you. Would've danced around it, avoided it, let her suffer in silence just so I could keep my conscience clean."

Claire said nothing.

Azzy looked down at his hands. "But something's changed. I think you know it too, Claire. After the breakthrough... I don't know. I think I see the world differently now."

"Well," she said, sipping slowly. "At least you're not pretending it didn't change you."

Azzy gave a hollow laugh. "There's no point in pretending."

*

Later that evening;

The banquet hall shimmered under golden light.

Floating lanterns drifted just under the ceiling, casting soft glows across the tables where laughter, half-hearted diplomacy mingled.

Servants moved between dignitaries with grace. Musicians played something elegant in the corner.

Selene stood near one of the towering windows, her eyes fixed on the night beyond. It just looks like it is a daytime despite the fact that it is an evening, making one lose the sense of time in the clan.

"What are you thinking?" a familiar voice asked, breaking into her thoughts.

She turned slowly.

Orion stood a few feet away, hands shoved in his pockets, looking like he didn't quite belong in the embroidered banquet robe he'd been forced into. His tie was crooked. His mood, more so.

"Not interested, Orion," she said without blinking.

He blinked. "Huh?" He thought they got closer at the violet pavilion. Why was she acting this way again? She intends to maintain this character or something?

"What do you mean, not interested, Selene?" Orion asked.

Selene turned fully to face him. "I like someone else. If you were planning to flirt or test the waters or whatever, just… don't."

Orion raised an eyebrow, half amused. "Okay, I'll play along."

"I'm serious," she added, cool and firm.

He gave a short laugh, playing the character. "Relax. You think I'm chasing you?"

"You tried last time."

"That was small talk. Barely." He tilted his head. "If I were interested, I would have made an effort. You know, cornered you during meetings, made sure to sit beside you when the old folks were busy."

He looked away briefly, then shrugged. "You're my dad's best friend's daughter. That's like a permanent warning label. If I start chasing you, that would mean I'm prepared for extreme consequences."

Selene let out a quiet breath, half-smiling despite herself. "Well, at least you're honest."

"Painfully," Orion muttered, grabbing a grape from a tray nearby and popping it into his mouth.

For a second, silence settled between them before he added, chewing the fruit. "By the way, you are the only person in this entire hall who is in my age group, you know, that I can talk to? If you want to know my intentions…"

Selene sipped from her glass. "What about Affea?"

"Affea's family," he said quickly. "And while she is only 6 years older than I, there was this generation gap between us. She's my aunt, you know. It's awkward to treat her as a friend."

"That sounds about right."

"Ugh… if not for you, I would have already look for an excuse to get the hell out of this damn place… It's just frustrating and suffocating here… That's why I'm staying at Violet Pavilion these days."

Selene leaned against the window frame and glanced sideways at him. "Why do you hate this place, anyway? It's your ancestral home. Your father is the Monarch, the strongest person on the planet. You can do anything you want."

Orion went quiet for a moment. Then he glanced up at the chandeliers and replied, "Because everyone looks at me like I'm supposed to become something I'm not. I don't belong here."

Selene watched him, surprised by the sudden honesty.

He rubbed the back of his neck, then grinned crookedly. "Also, the food sucks. I mean, there's high-class steak and all, but I like normal food more. I like burgers and pizzas more. Food needs to be consumed to fill your stomach and also your heart. These people eat like it is some kind of formality or something." Leaning forward a bit, he whispered. "Did you know that lady from the Haze Clan ate a banana by using a fork and knife? You can just literally peel it off with your hand and eat it simply."

She laughed softly. "Now that, I agree with. I, too, don't like these high-class class elegant customs or whatever. I just like to eat what I want to eat."

"I know. You filled your plate with chicken wings last time." Orion grinned. As Selene laughed along, Orion hesitated a bit but asked. "Friends, then?" He offered a toast with his empty grape skewer.

She touched her glass to it gently. "Only if you promise not to flirt again."

"Deal," Orion said, eyes rolling, thinking in his head, "I swear this girl has dual personalities or something."