My Soul card is a Reaper-Chapter 952: Alexander’s past

Estella folded her arms under her cloak, began to say while carefully choosing her words. "As far as we know, he belongs to a branch family of the Magnolis household. And from what our intelligence gathered, he used to be considered completely talentless. No potential at all. And neither did he have any kind of connections or background. His parents work there in Magnolis Manor, his father as a gardener, and his mother as a caretaker for the heiress." She shook her head. "After getting into some kind of fight with a cousin from the main-branch, he and his family were expelled."

Azzy’s brows rose. "Expelled?"

"Yes," Estella nodded. She walked a little closer to Orion’s bed, as if the act helped her remember the reports. "After he was cast out, he and his entire family vanished for about three years. No records. No sightings. Nothing. Then last year... he returned alone as a nine-star Arcana Master. In broad daylight, he killed the one who bullied him, but no one dared to reprimand a Supreme realm expert, much less file a case. Neither the family nor the state police."

Selene looked down as if remembering the sight of Alexander overpowering the boy.

Estella continued, her tone heavier now. "After that, he didn’t stay there anymore and began challenging eight-star and nine-star rank experts across the southern continent, winning every battle he fought. Some of them joined him and founded the guild Ouroboros." She grimaced slightly. "Though calling it a guild is... generous. In reality, it is more or less an organized criminal organization."

Selene nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I heard of the guild, too. Some of them are very dangerous people."

Estella continued, "Not some... but most of their members are former high-ranking criminals who either escaped prisons and were pardoned by WAMO for their services. Ouroborus takes requests from wealthy families, large companies, and private organizations. Their work mostly consisted of settling disputes. Other than that, they do deep-sea exploration and mining in the frozen regions of the Arcana world. They go to places where no one else dares to go."

Azzy absorbed all of this quietly, narrowing his eyes. A force like that... created by a supposedly talentless branch family member? That didn’t happen naturally.

"And his sudden rise in strength?" Azzy asked. "No clues?"

"None," Estella said. "No one knows how he got stronger or where his power comes from."

Then she hesitated. "Actually... there is something unusual."

Azzy’s gaze sharpened. "What is it?"

Estella pressed her lips together for a moment. "Alexander Magnolis has the life force of a civilian."

Azzy froze.

Estella explained, "We confirmed it multiple times. His lifespan is that of an ordinary human. He isn’t long-lived. He won’t live past this century." She shook her head. "That is why the hidden clans never bothered treating him as a threat. Because if he is mortal and limited, then he will fade naturally."

The silence after those words was heavy.

Because Azzy knew exactly what that implied:

A man with no talent.

A man expelled from his family.

A man who disappeared for three years.

A man who returned with power beyond reason.

A man whose lifespan remained unchanged.

Someone like that wouldn’t have that progress through training, no matter how much hard work they did and what kind of miracle power they awakened.

Someone like that received power.

Borrowed it.

Or made a deal.

Azzy didn’t hide the faint surprise on his face, though it passed quickly. The detail about Alexander’s lifespan was too odd to ignore, but the more he thought about it, the more curiosity replaced concern. "Interesting," he murmured, fingers lightly tapping his wrist. "I guess I should meet this Alexander after all."

Estella’s brows drew together immediately. Her voice carried both warning and frustration. "You cannot go into his lair and punish him by yourself. That goes against world laws, Azrael. Especially for you..."

Azzy shrugged, almost casually, though the edge under his tone didn’t soften. "I’m not going there to punish him. But he did hurt as a savior—my son, who saved countless lives during the crisis." His eyes hardened just a little. "I just want an explanation of why he did it. Moreover, that demoness is with him. A demoness of unknown origin is within the mortal world—naturally, the hidden clans should investigate. That’s the proper procedure, isn’t it?"

Estella pressed her lips together, unable to argue with that. More than the reasoning, she could see that Azzy was trying to play loopholes. Selene glanced between them anxiously, as if unsure whose side to stand on.

Azzy let the subject drop with a flick of his hand. "Anyway," he said quietly, "I have other things to handle right now."

He turned back to the bed where Orion still lay unconscious, his breathing steady but shallow. Azzy’s gaze softened for a moment—only a moment—before he looked at Estella.

"I’m returning home," he said. "I’m leaving Orion in your care for the time being."

Then he turned to Selene. "Pass the message to him when he wakes. Tell him his parents are waiting for him. His clan is waiting too. The tournament is close."

Selene blinked in honest confusion. "Why not just take him with you? You could bring him back right now."

Azzy smiled faintly—a patient, easy smile, but there was something firm beneath it. "If I take him when he’s unconscious, it’s no different from abducting him. He still hasn’t given consent." He rested his hand briefly on Orion’s shoulder. "He needs to return of his own will. Until then, I won’t drag him anywhere."

Selene bowed her head. "I... understand."

"Just deliver the message," Azzy said. "And let him decide for himself. Whether he wants to go home or return to the tower."

He straightened, dismissed his angel wings, and turned toward the door. "I’m leaving."

He had barely taken a step when Estella suddenly followed him. "Wait. I need to speak with you on the way."

Azzy stopped, then nodded once. "Fine."

They exited the residence, walking side by side before lifting off into the air. The village stretched beneath them—homes carved into moonlit stone, walkways glowing dim blue, clan members watching curiously as the two figures floated above like drifting stars. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Estella broke the silence first. "So," she said, voice deceptively casual, "what do you think of Selene?"

Azzy sighed deeply, rubbing his forehead. "Are you going to do this again?"

"Why not?" Estella smirked. "I’m not asking you to marry her and take her away. Our clan follows the matriarchal system, Azrael. Even if you marry her, she stays here. She won’t interfere with your current marriage." She tapped his arm lightly, teasingly. "You wouldn’t have to do anything except visit occasionally. Spend time with her. That’s all."

Azzy stopped midair.

Not slowed—stopped completely.

Estella blinked, realizing he wasn’t amused.

His face had hardened, no warmth left in his expression. "I don’t want to insult your clan’s traditions," he said quietly, "but seriously... Estella... are you truly happy with your marriage to Gideon?"

The words hung in the air like a dropped blade.

For the first time since they began talking, Estella didn’t have an immediate reply. Her mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out. Her eyes flickered—not with anger, but something else. Something complicated. Something she wasn’t ready to admit aloud.

Azzy waited calmly, giving her the space to answer or avoid the question as she wished.