My Soul card is a Reaper

Later that evening;

A heavy silence hung in the air of the private chamber inside the Garcia Palace.

Azzy leaned against the marble window frame, his gaze locked on the falsely bright sky, even though people were sleeping. The soft rustling of robes behind him let him know Leiza had taken a seat, with her expression unreadable.

Finally, he turned to face them, Leiza and Orion, both seated on the long velvet couch. "I… have something to tell you."

Leiza straightened. Orion just crossed his arms, brows furrowed, sensing the tension already.

Azzy exhaled and announced. "Today, I just found out that I have another son."

There was a stillness as if the whole palace itself held its breath.

Orion stood up abruptly. "Another what?"

Azzy held up a hand. "Let me explain…"

"No, no, please do, Dad," Orion snapped. "Go ahead and tell me how many more surprises you've got lined up. Another secret child? A second family? Maybe a third one on some other planet we haven't visited yet?"

Leiza closed her eyes, massaging her temple. "Orion…"

"First Blackwings, then your powers and identity, and now, you have another son? Just how many secrets you held, Dad. Do you plan on revealing one after another, every day, or something?" His voice cracked slightly with displeasure, clearly evident on his face. "It would have been better if you had not shown up in our lives at all, and continue to live with your other wife and son."

"Enough!" Leiza's voice cut through the air like a whip. "Don't speak to your father like that. Listen to what he has to say."

"What's to say, Mom? I don't know whether I could believe anything he says right now. Does he really get stranded near that black hole as he claimed? Now, I really wonder…"

Orion glared at Azzy for a long moment, his fists clenched, then turned and stormed off, slamming the door behind him as he disappeared down the corridor.

The echo of his footsteps faded, and silence returned.

Azzy let out a deep sigh and looked over at Leiza. "I'm sorry. I really was not aware that I had a son, too."

She stood up, folding her arms. "It's fine. He's young. He needs time." After a brief pause, she then asked. "So, tell me how this happened? Is it your ex-girlfriend?"

Azzy shook his head. "No way. What happened was…"

Azzy recounted the story of how it was a deal with Leah, in exchange for his semen. It was like he was a sperm donor. That's it.

"Leah's not an ex or even a love interest. I don't see her that way. She's a friend, but a close one. That's all. And I told you before, Leiza… you're my first. I never even kissed her once…" Azzy suddenly paused, remembering their kiss once that was later destroyed as he reversed time back then. "Well, just once… but that doesn't count."

Leiza raised an eyebrow. "You kissed her?

Azzy paused, rubbing the back of his neck. "It was… an accident. There's nothing between us, seriously. You've got to believe me."

Her shoulders eased slightly, but her eyes still held a sliver of guarded emotion.

"And don't worry. While I acknowledge him as my son, he isn't a part of the Garcia family. My sole heir is Orion, and you will be my only wife, Leiza." As he tried to reassure her, a chuckle escaped from Claire's spirit, in his head. "Then, if I gain a body and want to marry you, you won't marry me, Azzy?"

"Shut up, you are making it harder for me to think about something." Azzy casually snapped at her in his head and returned to reality, speaking to Leiza. "You can be assured that he won't be living here at all, although I hope you allow him to join our family dinner this Sunday. I told you earlier. I'm planning to gather all those directly related to me for the dinner so that we can talk. And I hope to resolve my parents' issue before anything."

Leiza studied him for a long moment before she let out a breath, lips curling faintly. "Hmm… but words won't just convince me, though."

Azzy smiled micheviously as he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her toward him. "So, what do you think I should do to convince you, though?"

She placed a hand gently on his chest and replied. "Well, this and that…"

"I'm afraid I need more elaboration…" Azzy lowered his head to kiss her neck, earning a giggle from Leiza.

"And one more thing," she added, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You're telling Orion. Not me."

A while later;

Azzy stood in front of the ornate door for a moment before knocking once. Then twice… No answer.

He pushed the door open slowly and knocked on the door again.

Orion was seen sleeping on the bed, facing the other side.

Azzy stepped inside, quietly closing the door behind him. "I'm not here to argue."

Orion didn't respond and continued to act like he was asleep.

Azzy took a breath and sat down on the edge of the bed. "I'm sorry. I know that you are angry and frustrated as you learn more and more things about me, but it was too fast, to the point that you couldn't easily digest the entire situation. But I just want to say that nothing changes. You are still my son and my heir. Your mother is still my only wife."

Taking a brief pause, Azzy observed Orion, who didn't flinch a bit. Azzy continued. "How about this instead. You want your neural chip gone, right? It will be done."

At this, Orion's body twitched a little bit as words slowly came out of his mouth. "Will you really do it?"

Azzy couldn't help but smile, listening to the reply. "Yes, why not. And it wasn't just. If you want to live somewhere else, far from this clan, I'll arrange that, too. Your mother… she's starting her company soon. She won't have time to hold on too tightly. You just have to train harder and show your mother that she doesn't have to worry about you, and you have everything under your control."

The offer lingered in the air like a lifeline.

Orion couldn't help but sit up and replied in a steady voice. "Alright. But first, I want to use the storage card."

Azzy nodded. "Done.

Orion finally looked at Azzy and said. "Alright then, I forgive you for turning my life upside down in a week."

"Alright. Thanks." As Azzy moved toward the door, Orion spoke up again. "About that dinner…"

Azzy paused and turned back. "Hmm?"

"I'll be there."

A small smile curved Azzy's lips. "That means a lot."

He walked out of the room, the door closing gently behind him.

Inside, Orion sat still, looking at his hands. "Freedom… that's all I wanted. If I get that for attending the dinner, I would bear his presence."

Garcia Clan Training Grounds – Next Morning;

A quiet fog hovered over the training grounds where dew-kissed stone tiles stretched endlessly, enclosed by tall obsidian walls.

Azzy stood at the center, calmly waiting as Orion approached from the hallway, dressed in a sleeveless black training robe.

"You ready?" Azzy asked softly.

Orion gave a silent nod.